Black Air
Encyclopedia
Black Air is a fictional former Governmental Intelligence department founded and operating primarily within the United Kingdom
in the Marvel Universe
, initially as an adjunct to the Ministry of Defence
. It was introduced along with Pete Wisdom in the Excalibur
series when it was written by Warren Ellis
.
).
The organization was introduced in Excalibur #86, and had entirely replaced the W.H.O, collecting alien technologies and specimens for use in combat and gene-splicing with human test subjects, respectively; at introduction, Black Air used the W.H.O's old links to the super-team Excalibur
to send them to investigate a civil uprising in Genosha
, with particular reference to anti-mutant ammunition. As an attachment to the team, field agent Peter Wisdom
was sent along as Black Air's representative. However, it transpired that the entire mission had in fact been a ruse; Black Air had in fact sent the mission simply to cause a commotion, that they might use this to their advantage, accessing whatever technologies or information were revealed by the investigation.
Following that mission, Wisdom took Excalibur member Kitty Pryde
with him to investigate the death of an old friend, ultimately leading him to Dream Nails, a codenamed Black Air facility which had dealt with xenobiological specimens, such as a race known as the Uncreated; these creatures had been experimented on within the facility to create Blood Eagle, a psychoactive virus that would consume the flesh of the host if they experienced any stressful emotion. Ultimately, Wisdom and Pryde destroyed the Dream Nails facility.
Later, in a bid to seize control of the country, Black Air allied themselves with the London Branch of the Hellfire Club
, an ancient "gentleman's club" devoted to power through non-traditional means, in order to both bribe the British Parliament, and raise an ancient demon from its crypt below London. The aim was to release it onto the streets, hoping to use the ensuing chaos to their advantage. Douglock, the being composed of Warlock
and Cypher
was to be used as the conduit to the crypt. However, Wisdom and Excalibur were able to enter The Blackwall, Black Air's HQ, and sever the link, rescuing Douglock, destroying The Blackwall and stopping the resurrection.
However, Black Air survived this loss of political and actual power, albeit in a much-reduced manner, operating only through a handful of splinter cells. One of these cells sent Sari St. Hubbins, a contract killer, to kill her former lover, Peter Wisdom, who was primarily responsible for their fall from power; simultaneously, they were responsible for the kidnapping and sale to extraterrestrials of Nightcrawler
.
When a (New) Excalibur, on the behalf of MI-13
, surfaced as a team, Black Air made an appearance as a private-sector rival operation. As to their current aims, numbers and strength, little is known yet.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
, initially as an adjunct to the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
. It was introduced along with Pete Wisdom in the Excalibur
Excalibur (comics)
Excalibur is a Marvel Comics superhero group, an off-shoot of the X-Men, usually based in the United Kingdom. Conceived by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer Alan Davis, the original Excalibur first appeared in Excalibur Special Edition , also known as Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn.The...
series when it was written by Warren Ellis
Warren Ellis
Warren Girard Ellis is an English author of comics, novels, and television, who is well-known for sociocultural commentary, both through his online presence and through his writing, which covers transhumanist themes...
.
Fictional organization history
Black Air, as a covert, secretive Intelligence department, was mandated with the investigation into and research of supernatural and paranormal phenomena, at first alongside, and then replacing another British Intelligence department, the Weird Happenings Organization (aka W.H.O, which is an obvious homage to UK sci-fi series, Doctor WhoDoctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
).
The organization was introduced in Excalibur #86, and had entirely replaced the W.H.O, collecting alien technologies and specimens for use in combat and gene-splicing with human test subjects, respectively; at introduction, Black Air used the W.H.O's old links to the super-team Excalibur
Excalibur (comics)
Excalibur is a Marvel Comics superhero group, an off-shoot of the X-Men, usually based in the United Kingdom. Conceived by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer Alan Davis, the original Excalibur first appeared in Excalibur Special Edition , also known as Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn.The...
to send them to investigate a civil uprising in Genosha
Genosha
Genosha is a fictional country that has appeared in numerous comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is an island nation that exists in Marvel's main shared universe, known as "Earth 616" in the Marvel Universe. The fictional nation served as an allegory for slavery and later for South...
, with particular reference to anti-mutant ammunition. As an attachment to the team, field agent Peter Wisdom
Peter Wisdom
Pete Wisdom is a fictional secret agent published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Excalibur vol.1 #86 , and was created by Warren Ellis and Ken Lashley...
was sent along as Black Air's representative. However, it transpired that the entire mission had in fact been a ruse; Black Air had in fact sent the mission simply to cause a commotion, that they might use this to their advantage, accessing whatever technologies or information were revealed by the investigation.
Following that mission, Wisdom took Excalibur member Kitty Pryde
Kitty Pryde
Katherine Anne "Kitty" Pryde is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 and was created by writer-artist John Byrne....
with him to investigate the death of an old friend, ultimately leading him to Dream Nails, a codenamed Black Air facility which had dealt with xenobiological specimens, such as a race known as the Uncreated; these creatures had been experimented on within the facility to create Blood Eagle, a psychoactive virus that would consume the flesh of the host if they experienced any stressful emotion. Ultimately, Wisdom and Pryde destroyed the Dream Nails facility.
Later, in a bid to seize control of the country, Black Air allied themselves with the London Branch of the Hellfire Club
Hellfire Club (comics)
The Hellfire Club is a fictional society within the Marvel Comics Universe that often comes into confrontation with the mutant superhero team, the X-Men...
, an ancient "gentleman's club" devoted to power through non-traditional means, in order to both bribe the British Parliament, and raise an ancient demon from its crypt below London. The aim was to release it onto the streets, hoping to use the ensuing chaos to their advantage. Douglock, the being composed of Warlock
Warlock (New Mutants)
Warlock is a fictional character, a cybernetic alien superhero published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in New Mutants vol. 1 #18 , and was created by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz.-Publication history:...
and Cypher
Cypher (comics)
Cypher is a fictional mutant character, a superhero from Marvel Comics. He first appeared in New Mutants vol. 1 #13 .-Fictional character biography:Doug Ramsey was born to Philip and Sheila Ramsey...
was to be used as the conduit to the crypt. However, Wisdom and Excalibur were able to enter The Blackwall, Black Air's HQ, and sever the link, rescuing Douglock, destroying The Blackwall and stopping the resurrection.
However, Black Air survived this loss of political and actual power, albeit in a much-reduced manner, operating only through a handful of splinter cells. One of these cells sent Sari St. Hubbins, a contract killer, to kill her former lover, Peter Wisdom, who was primarily responsible for their fall from power; simultaneously, they were responsible for the kidnapping and sale to extraterrestrials of Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler (comics)
Nightcrawler is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Universe. He has been associated with both the X-Men and Excalibur, originally appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, he debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1...
.
When a (New) Excalibur, on the behalf of MI-13
MI-13 (comics)
MI-13, sometimes written MI13 or MI: 13, is a fictional British intelligence agency in the Marvel Comics universe, operating out of Portwell House in Whitehall. It was introduced in Excalibur vol...
, surfaced as a team, Black Air made an appearance as a private-sector rival operation. As to their current aims, numbers and strength, little is known yet.