Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 4, 2026

Crossbones (character)

Crossbones is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Mark Gruenwald and Kieron Dwyer, the character first made a cameo appearance in Captain America #359, before he was fully introduced later that month in issue #360 and his name was revealed in issue #362.

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Brock Rumlow
Crossbones
Crossbones as seen in Captain America and Crossbones #1.
Art by Greg Tocchini.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceCameo: Captain America #359 (October 1989)
Full appearance: Captain America #360 (October 1989)
Named: Captain America #362 (November 1989)
Created byMark Gruenwald (writer)
Kieron Dwyer (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoBrock Rumlow
Team affiliationsThunderbolts
Hydra
Skeleton Crew
Assassins Guild
PartnershipsRed Skull
Sin
Notable aliasesBingo Brock
Frag
Mr. Bones
Abilities
  • Skilled military tactician
  • Expert hand-to-hand combatant, martial artist and marksman
  • Enhanced strength, stamina, durability, and reflexes

Crossbones (Brock Rumlow) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Mark Gruenwald and Kieron Dwyer, the character first made a cameo appearance in Captain America #359 (October 1989), before he was fully introduced later that month in issue #360 and his name was revealed in issue #362 (November 1989).

In his comic book appearances, Crossbones is depicted as a mercenary who is often employed by other villains such as the Red Skull and Hydra. He serves as one of the most enduring adversaries of Captain America, and even played a part in his assassination in the aftermath of the superhero Civil War. A black-and-white skull mask and an insignia on his chest symbolic of his namesake serve as Crossbones' visual motif.

Crossbones has been adapted in various media incarnations, having been portrayed in live-action by Frank Grillo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Grillo also voiced alternate versions of the character in the Disney+ animated series What If...?.

Fictional character biography

Young Brock Rumlow led the Savage Crims gang on New York City's Lower East Side.1 After he brutalized fifteen-year-old Rachel Leighton, two of her brothers assaulted Rumlow and he killed them. Rumlow fled, entering the Taskmaster's school for criminals, and within three years he became an instructor there under the name Bingo Brock.2

As a mercenary, Rumlow enlisted with Albert Malik in Algeria, serving him as Frag until he was sent to invade Arnim Zola's Switzerland chateau. Ultimately the only team member to survive the assault, Rumlow met and impressed Red Skull, who accepted Brock’s services and codenamed him "Crossbones".3

The Red Skull sends Crossbones to observe Helmut Zemo's progress acquiring the Bloodstone fragments and to obtain them.45 Crossbones stows away aboard Captain America's flagship and enters Zemo's ship to steal the Bloodstone fragments. Crossbones is forced to shatter the Bloodstone fragments when the Hellfire Helix uses it to take control of Heinrich Zemo's body; the destruction of the Bloodstone discorporates the Hellfire Helix. Knowing that his employer would be infuriated by the Bloodstone's loss, Crossbones kidnaps Rachel Leighton (now Diamondback). He challenges Captain America to retrieve Diamondback, but the Captain defeated him, although Diamondback escaped, and the Red Skull ordered Crossbones to desist and return to headquarters.6

Crossbones assembles the Skeleton Crew from the Red Skull's henchmen and led them on a search for the Red Skull, who had been missing since Magneto imprisoned him in an underground bunker.7 Crossbones is fired for questioning the Red Skull's alliance with Viper. Desperate to regain his position as leader of the Skeleton Crew, Crossbones kidnaps Diamondback.8 The two are captured and imprisoned, with Red Skull rehiring Crossbones on a temporary basis.

At the start of the "Heroic Age" event, Crossbones joins the new Thunderbolts team formed in the aftermath of Norman Osborn's siege of Asgard.9 Government agents, working with Luke Cage, add Crossbones to the team knowing that he cannot be reformed, hoping that his extreme methods will alienate the other Thunderbolt members and push them towards rehabilitation.10 During the team's first mission, Crossbones was exposed to corrupted Terrigen Mist.11 Crossbones manifests the ability to fire a powerful, piercing beam of energy from his face, which is theorized to have originated from his exposure to the Mist.12 Crossbones is discharged from the Thunderbolts after killing a police officer and apparently loses his powers.1314

During the "Devil's Reign" storyline, Crossbones appears as a member of Mayor Wilson Fisk's Thunderbolts.15

Powers and abilities

An expert combatant trained in warfare, Crossbones is an accomplished military tactician, and is thus able to formulate strategies on the battlefield. He also has extensive training in martial arts, street-fighting, marksmanship, and various forms of hand-to-hand combat. He once served as a student at the Taskmaster's school for criminals before becoming an instructor there himself. Physically, Crossbones is tall and well built, but moves with an athletic grace uncommon for a man of his bulk. In addition, he is proficient in the use of various weapons, such as guns, bows, and throwing knives. One of Crossbones' primary weapons are spring-loaded stiletto blades housed in his gauntlets. He also has experience with torture and brainwashing, having effectively "reprogrammed" Sin, and nearly so with Diamondback.

As a member of the Thunderbolts, Crossbones was exposed to corrupted Terrigen Mists during a mission,11 and shortly after manifested the ability to generate a circle of energy in front of his face which could fire energy beams capable of piercing and burning targets.12 The ability developed to the point where flames engulfed the entirety of his head while still allowing him to fire focused energy beams.13 Crossbones is not impervious to the flames he generates.13

Other versions

Heroes Reborn

An alternate universe version of Crossbones appears in Heroes Reborn as an enforcer for the Red Skull and Master Man's World Party.16

House of M

An alternate universe version of Crossbones appears in House of M as a member of the Hood's Masters of Evil.17

Marvel 2099

In the unified Marvel 2099 reality of Earth-2099, Brock Rumlow has been long dead. He is reanimated as a cyborg zombie and begins working for the Cabal.18

Ultimate Marvel

An alternate universe version of Crossbones appears in the Ultimate Marvel imprint. This version is a teenager and member of the Serpent Skulls gang.19

In other media

Television

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Frank Grillo as Brock Rumlow / Crossbones in Captain America: Civil War (2016) source ↗

Frank Grillo portrays Brock Rumlow / Crossbones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).21

Video games

References

References

  1. Captain America and Crossbones one-shot (May 2011)
  2. Captain America #400 (May 1992)
  3. Captain America #383 (March 1991)
  4. Captain America #359–360 (October 1989)
  5. Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017). Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History. DK Publishing. p. 242. ISBN 978-1465455505.
  6. Captain America #361–364 (November - December 1989)
  7. Captain America #367 (February 1990)
  8. Captain America #394-401 (November 1991 - June 1992)
  9. "Luke Cage Powers into THUNDERBOLTS as Heroic Age Leader". Newsarama.com. Archived from the original on February 12, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  10. Thunderbolts #144 (July 2010)
  11. Thunderbolts #147 (October 2010)
  12. Thunderbolts #149 (December 2010)
  13. Thunderbolts #150 (January 2011)
  14. Thunderbolts #151 (February 2011)
  15. Devil's Reign #2 (February 2022)
  16. Captain America (vol. 2) #3 (January 1997)
  17. House of M: Masters of Evil #1 (October 2009)
  18. Spider-Man 2099: Exodus #1 (July 2022)
  19. All-New Ultimates #4 (July 2014)
  20. "Crossbones Voices (Marvel Universe)". Retrieved February 25, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  21. Graser, Marc (October 29, 2012). "Frank Grillo to play Crossbones in 'Captain America' sequel". Variety. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  22. Breznican, Anthony (August 10, 2013). "Marvel: D23 debuts new scenes for 'Thor' and 'Captain America' sequels". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 11, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  23. "Frank Grillo talks Crossbones' return in 'Captain America: Civil War'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  24. McMillan, Graeme (October 25, 2018). "'Avengers 4' Will Feature Flashbacks, Says Actor Frank Grillo". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  25. Lawrence, Gregory (January 11, 2021). "Exclusive: Frank Grillo Returning to MCU as Crossbones in 'What If...?'". Collider. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  26. Haywald, Justin (July 11, 2015). "Check Out Stan Lee, Crossbones, and More New Characters In Lego Marvel Avengers".
  27. "'MARVEL Strike Force' Now Recruiting Heroes with Worldwide Launch". Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  28. "Tier List for Marvel Future Fight". Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  29. @PlayAvengers (August 25, 2021). "Crossbones has Black Panther in his sights. We're excited to announce Crossbones in Marvel's Avengers is voiced by @FredTatasciore!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  30. Blake, Vikki (August 15, 2021). "Crossbones is headed to Marvel's Avengers". Eurogamer.
External links