Accomplished dancer Ability to generate and project "venom bolts" of bioelectric energy that can paralyze or kill living beings
Asp (Cleo Nefertiti) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character has been depicted as a member of the villainous Serpent Society as well as the group BAD Girls, Inc., an all-female group of adventurers.
Egyptian Cleo Nefertiti took up her criminal career using the name Asp as part of the Serpent Society. There she formed a friendship with Black Mamba and Diamondback. During one her first jobs with the Serpent Society, she was contracted to kill MODOK, but ran into Captain America during the job. When Viper took control of the Serpent Society from Sidewinder; Asp, Black Mamba, and Bushmaster refused to betray their leader. With the aid of Captain America they managed to defeat the Viper.
Together with Black Mamba and Diamondback, Asp broke away from the Serpent Society and formed BAD Girls, Inc., who, while not being outright heroes, often aided Captain America and others in taking down various supervillains. During the Marvel Civil War the BAD Girls, Inc. sided with Captain America's forces. She later returned to the Serpent Society.
Asp was born in Tanta, Egypt, where she worked as a stripper. She was recruited into the Serpent Society by Sidewinder, who was impressed with her ability to generate paralyzing blasts of energy.[1]
Asp becomes firm friends with Diamondback and Black Mamba after Viper attempts to take over leadership of the Serpent Society. Viper captures and poisons Asp, Black Mamba, and Bushmaster after they refuse to betray Sidewinder. They are later rescued by Captain America and Diamondback.[2]
Asp joins Diamondback and Black Mamba in forming BAD Girls, Inc., adopting a new costume.[3] After being ambushed by Anaconda and captured by the Serpent Society, the B.A.D. Girls are rescued by MODAM. With other female costumed criminals, the B.A.D. Girls are invited to join Superia's Femizons.[4]
Asp is one of the few mutants who retained their powers after the events of M-Day.[5]
During the Civil War storyline, Asp and the other B.A.D. Girls were revealed to be members of Captain America's "Secret Avengers", openly opposing the Superhuman Registration Act. She took part in the final battle of the "war", but did not accept the offer of amnesty that came with Captain America's surrender.[5][6]
During the Avengers vs. X-Men storyline, Asp was once again seen as part of the Serpent Society, apparently having abandoned her attempts at reformation. The group was quickly defeated by Hope Summers during a botched bank robbery.[8]
As part of the All-New, All-Different Marvel, Asp appears as a member of Viper's Serpent Society under its new name Serpent Solutions.[9]
Powers and abilities
Asp is a mutant with the ability to generate bioelectricity that she can channel as lightning-like blasts. Upon striking a living being, the electricity causes a rapid paralysis of the nervous system similar to the effect of the neurotoxic bite of certain venomous snakes. Her body constantly generates and stores this energy, but it can be temporarily expended after firing several "venom-bolts" in rapid succession, requiring her to recharge. Asp can accelerate the speed at which her body regenerates energy by engaging in physical activity that increases her heart rate and metabolism.
Asp's "venom-bolts" have different effects depending on how far they travel before reaching a target and on how much power she uses in a single bolt. A full-force blast can instantly kill an adult human. Normally, however, her bolts paralyze her victims for several hours, but cause no lasting damage. She can also release blasts of lower intensity that do not instantly paralyze targets, but instead cause neural delays which result in a loss of muscular control and coordination. Her energy bolts can travel roughly twenty-five feet before dissipating.
When fully charged, Asp's body releases low levels of energy at all times, making prolonged physical contact with her fatal. She can also release a blast of paralytic energy through physical contact without any visible effect.
Asp is also an accomplished dancer with superb muscular control.
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