Welcome back to another edition of Nu-Perspective. Nu-Perspective is a column featuring redesigns and updates of various Nubian (black) comic book characters. The aim of the column is to spotlight underdeveloped, underutilized and all-but-forgotten black characters specifically, and showcase them in fresh, contemporary and exciting ways both visually and story-wise.
To finish off February (aka Black Panther month) we decided to focus on another character from the BP universe. Enter “Salamander K’ruel”. In the past continuity of the character, Salamander was one of the Wakandan agents working for Erik Killmonger during his original attempt to overthrow the Black Panther. He was an archer with explosive arrows who was mutated by the Great Vibranium Mound; so his body now grew thorns out of giant blisters. Salamander gets the Nu-Perspective below.
Check out his original look and story, and let us know if you like what we did with him. See ya in 2 weeks with another Nu-Perspective.
All characters are copyrights and trademarks of the respective publishers and creators. This column is used solely for artistic enjoyment.
Salamander K’ruel
Art by Shawn Alleyne. Concept by Shawn Alleyne and Fabian Wood.
Real Name: Salamander K’ruel
Current Alias: Salamander
Identity: Secret Identity
Occupation: Secret Police Enforcer
Place of Birth: Wakanda
Base of Operations: Primarily Wakanda; Mobile
Affiliations: Black Panther; Hatut Zeraze Police Force
Citizenship: Wakandan
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Comic book Origin: Marvel Universe Earth-616
Original Creators: Don McGregor, Billy Graham
First Appearance: Jungle Action Vol2 #15, May 1975
History: Formerly an agent of Eric Killmonger, K’ruel became a fugitive of Wakanda after Kilmonger’s defeat. He was always viewed as a pariah due to the hideous mutant barb-ladled boils that covered his body, and after years of despair he returned to Wakanda to beg for amnesty and the promise of a cure. In return, Salamander provided valuable information on other Wakandan conspirators he was once affiliated with, leading to a numerous arrests and a safer nation. After serving a reduced sentence for his crimes, Salamander was inducted into a black ops branch of the Wakandan Hatut Zeraze special task force, with the sole purpose of carrying out covert mission under the auspices of Wakanda’s geo-political interests. Although Wakandan science has helped with some of K’ruel’s physical condition, his isolation and self-loathing has made him very temperamental, causing him to act out with extreme force on occasion.
Powers: K’ruel is a Vibranium Mutate whose body was covered with festering boils which inject a toxin covered razor sharp pins. Training and Wakandan science have made Salamander skilled in launching his deadly barbs with impressive accuracy from any part of his body through precise muscle control and skin tension. He has also mastered the ability to augment their effects/symptoms (i.e. poison barbs, sleep barbs, paralysis barbs, etc). He is an exceptional hunter/tracker, an expert marksman, and is extremely proficient with a bow and arrow.
Paraphernalia/Weapons: Collapsible sonic Vibranium bow; arrow head arsenal with explosives, razor tips, etc; morphable bio exodermal armor; techno goggles.
Fabian Wood (Writer)
Hailing from the eastern-most Caribbean island of Barbados, Fabian Wood has long since been fascinated by the power of storytelling to inspire and invoke emotions – whether in film, comics or videogames. No longer content to be just an avid comic book reader and videogamer, he’s eager to exercise his literary acumen as an aspiring writer and reviewer.
Shawn Alleyne (Freelance Skillastrator/Instructor)
Born and raised on the island of Barbados, Shawn later relocated to Philadelphia in his teens, where he has lived every since. He is currently working in the demanding field of freelance art as a Writer, Illustrator and Instructor. Shawn constantly seeks to promote the arts, and so formed the comic book networking group Xion and the art group Artmada. Shawn’s personal work is produced under the Pyroglyphics Studios banner, a name roughly translated to “Hot Images”, meant to reflect his gritty self-taught style.
More of Shawn’s work can be seen here:
FB: www.facebook.com/PyroglyphicsStudio
IG: @Pyroglyphics1
T: @ShawnAlleyneArt
E-mail: pyroglyphics1@comcast.net
