Shaft (Youngblood)
Encyclopedia
Shaft is a comic book superhero created by writer-artist Rob Liefeld
.
In the early Nineties, Liefeld created the character for his Extreme Studios as leader of superhero team “Youngblood
”.
When then leader Battlestone was accused of misleading the team and was held responsible for the deaths of many members, Shaft went on to lead the team while Battlestone founded and became leader of Brigade
. Shaft also made an appearance in the Alan Moore
written "Judgement Day"
limited series printed by Liefeld's second comic book publishing company Awesome Comics
. In it he played a part in the trial of fellow Youngblood teammate Knightsabre
. Outside of Youngblood he was featured in a crossover with the Valiant Comics
heroes, notably Bloodshot
.
In 1995 he goes through a gender reversal in the 'Babewatch' event.
Shaft has a prominent cameo in the Shattered Image limited series, attempting to help keep the Earth from splintering off into six different versions.
-published Youngblood written by Joe Casey
. This team was a public relations front put forth by the US government. He is teamed with Badrock, Cougar, Doc Rocket, Diehard and Johnny Panic. Each member of the team has their own action figure line; they also star in the in-universe Youngblood cartoon show.
Shaft is featured in the Image United crossover that took place in November 2009.
Rob Liefeld
Rob Liefeld is an American comic book writer, illustrator, and publisher. A prominent artist in the 1990s, he has since become a controversial figure in the medium....
.
In the early Nineties, Liefeld created the character for his Extreme Studios as leader of superhero team “Youngblood
Youngblood (comics)
Youngblood is a superhero team that starred in their self-titled comic book, created by writer/artist Rob Liefeld. The team made its debut as a backup feature in the 1987 one-shot Megaton: Explosion before later appearing in its own ongoing series in 1992 as the flagship publication for Image Comics...
”.
Character biography
Jeff Terrel was an undercover FBI agent when he was approached by the government-sponsored Team Youngblood. He joined the team being an already accomplished archer. He adopts the name of Shaft and began the first of many adventures with the group. His first adventure involves the removal a fictional Middle Eastern dictator nammed Hussain Kussein. Part of Youngblood is concerned with public relations, as seen with the media relations expert Tymer in issue three. In the same issue, he leads a holding action against a prison break.When then leader Battlestone was accused of misleading the team and was held responsible for the deaths of many members, Shaft went on to lead the team while Battlestone founded and became leader of Brigade
Brigade (comics)
Brigade is a comic book published by Image Comics and later by Awesome Entertainment, created, plotted, and originally written by Rob Liefeld and first illustrated by Marat Mychaels as a spin-off to the then-popular series...
. Shaft also made an appearance in the Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
written "Judgement Day"
Judgment Day (Awesome Comics)
Judgment Day was a limited series published by Awesome Comics from June to October 1997 written by acclaimed comic book writer Alan Moore. This story delved into the Awesome Comics universe of characters created by Rob Liefeld, including Supreme, Youngblood and Glory.-Publication history:The...
limited series printed by Liefeld's second comic book publishing company Awesome Comics
Awesome Comics
Awesome Comics or Awesome Entertainment was an American comic book studio formed in 1997 by Image Comics co-founder Rob Liefeld...
. In it he played a part in the trial of fellow Youngblood teammate Knightsabre
Knightsabre
Knightsabre is a fictional comic book superhero created by Rob Liefeld.-Fictional character biography:Knightsabre was surreptitiously indoctrinated into the new Youngblood Program after he surpassed combat training in the Bloodpool...
. Outside of Youngblood he was featured in a crossover with the Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics is a comic book imprint published by various publishers since its inception with Voyager Communications, Inc. in 1989, later Acclaim Comics, Inc. Its assets were purchased from the bankruptcy of the Acclaim Entertaintment by Valiant Entertainment, Inc. in 2007.-Voyager...
heroes, notably Bloodshot
Bloodshot (comics)
Bloodshot is the title character of the American comic book series published by Valiant Comics.-Publication history:Bloodshot was launched in the mid 1990s on the back of a wave of popularity for the Valiant Universe. Bloodshot became an immediate hit with readers, as the first issue has sold...
.
In 1995 he goes through a gender reversal in the 'Babewatch' event.
Shaft has a prominent cameo in the Shattered Image limited series, attempting to help keep the Earth from splintering off into six different versions.
Present
He once again led Youngblood in the Image ComicsImage Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
-published Youngblood written by Joe Casey
Joe Casey
Joe Casey is an American comic book writer. He has worked on titles such as Wildcats 3.0, Uncanny X-Men, The Intimates, Adventures of Superman, and G.I. Joe: America's Elite, among others.-Biography:...
. This team was a public relations front put forth by the US government. He is teamed with Badrock, Cougar, Doc Rocket, Diehard and Johnny Panic. Each member of the team has their own action figure line; they also star in the in-universe Youngblood cartoon show.
Shaft is featured in the Image United crossover that took place in November 2009.