Title: Shroud
Artist: Mark Texeira
Premise: Max Q. Coleridge, a.k.a. The Shroud, has always had a simular problem to another relaunched Marvel vigilante, Moon Knight, in that his origin & motif are very familiar to more notable characters, namely Batman. Like Wayne, Max was traumatized by the murder of his parents by a gunman. However, he is also much like The Shadow (who predates Batman), as he traveled to an Oriental cult to learn how to manipulate shadows. He also is technically blind, but has a "mystical sense" that compensates and allows him to see in total darkness, much like Daredevil, or Dr. Mid-Nite. The one thing that Shroud can call his own is that he basically is an "undercover", a vigilante who prefers to pretend to be a villian to undermine crime from within. In this way, approaching a story with him should be an urban thriller much like the films HEAT or MIAMI VICE (the film version was quite gritty), or some urban stuff like CRIMINAL, THE HOOD, or UNDERWORLD.
Firstly, his design needs a tweak. The cape has to go; as Shroud's darkness cannot be used to teleport (like Cloak), or has any mass for outright solid shapes, like Darkstar, he has to rely on guile and prowess. For a physical fighter, a cape is a huge disadvantage. To keep the hood, a "hoodie" sort of design is suggested; everything is the same, only without the cape it seems sleeker. Shroud's advantage is that within his own darkness, he is master. He can see, he can confuse with gobs of semi tangible shadows to confuse enemies and his mystical darkness has even sometimes disrupted other extra-sensory powers. His style should also seem akin to a pitfighter, doing what is quick and effective, vs. being flashy.
Secondly, the recent CIVIL WAR likely did much to add "street cred" to a figure who, despite his best intentions, likely was becoming affiliated with the Avengers. True, he allied with Julia Carpenter, who is now in Omega Flight. But he ran from the law, broke out of Rikers, fought Wonder Man & Ms. Marvel, and took part in the final showdown in Midtown. This helps add to his credibility that he was always a villian. With Kingpin's reign limited with his prison stint and subsequent "laying low" tactics, and Hammerhead seemingly deceased for the moment, Nefaria (as in "Count Nefaria") is seeking to horn in and expand his markets, before the 50 Teams can be in place to disrupt his operations even further (it turns out that before CW, he has a wide empire of the states between where the superhuman element was rare). While the man himself prefers to remain out of sight since his Raft breakout, many supervillians who have remained in the country want to become "made" in his racket. His most recent "made members" are Electro, because of his aid in his freedom, and Man Mountain Marko, now called Triple M, who has continued using various hormones, steroids, and even MGH to become even stronger and tougher than he was before, so much so that sometimes he's called "Marko Pills" because he always is popping SOMETHING. Nefaria is currently paying for Dillon's legal team to get him out of prison following his arrest at the hands of Iron Man & SHIELD, but Triple M acts as a key go-between. He organizes the various things that Nefaria wants done, from pimping out prostitutes to shipping drugs or bootleg merchandise, to the occasional robbery. Nefaria's game is not to specialize in one or two things, but attempt everything. Cast out a wide net for the most profits.
Shroud decides that his best bet would be to attempt to become a made man in Nefaria's cartel and that means rising through the ranks, and part of that means ensuring that he is the only member of "crews" that Triple M assembles who either accomplishes a task or escapes. His only real ally, who knows what he is doing, is Skein, formerly Gypsy Moth and former member of his CA based "Night Shift". She still is slightly bitter over not being able to ensnare Songbird with her charms and while she does accompany Shroud sometimes and act as his supporting member, Max sometimes never knows if she may sell him out for a big score. The tale of Kingpin buying Daredevil's identity for nothing more than a hit of heroin for his girlfriend is a lesson every vigilante has to learn. His other connection is Nick Fury, who also is underground and provides Max with some funds and safehouses when he needs them.
Sometimes rigging some job entails leaving a "tip" to some established hero network, or rigging a machine, or deliberately engaging in rivalries with some of his given crewmates for a job so that when he does "backstab" them, it simply is their word vs. his, and if Shroud has the goods, why should Nef believe his rival? Unfortunately for Max, this time around he finds he is very good at what he does on both ends, and become rather successful. He could safely engrain himself with the Maggia after a while and live out a comfortable lifestyle, or he could continue his tightrope until something gives, and he winds up fighting for his life against a don who can wrestle even a Thunder God?
