Black Crow (character)
title: "Black Crow (character)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["characters-created-by-j.-m.-dematteis", "characters-created-by-paul-neary", "comics-characters-introduced-in-1984", "fictional-avatars", "fictional-characters-from-new-mexico", "fictional-characters-with-paraplegia", "fictional-native-american-people-in-comics", "fictional-navajo-people", "marvel-comics-characters-who-use-magic", "marvel-comics-characters-with-superhuman-durability-or-invulnerability", "marvel-comics-characters-with-superhuman-senses", "marvel-comics-characters-with-superhuman-strength", "marvel-comics-male-superheroes", "marvel-comics-shapeshifters"] topic_path: "geography/mexico" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Crow_(character)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox comics character "]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| image | [[Image:Black Crow (Marvel character).jpg |
| character_name | Black Crow |
| publisher | Marvel Comics |
| debut | Captain America #292 (April 1984) |
| creators | J.M. DeMatteis (writer) |
| Paul Neary (penciller) | |
| real_name | Jesse Black Crow |
| species | |
| homeworld | |
| alliances | |
| aliases | |
| powers | Various mystical powers, superhuman agility, skilled combatant |
| :: |
|image=[[Image:Black Crow (Marvel character).jpg|250px]] |caption= |character_name=Black Crow |publisher=Marvel Comics |debut=Captain America #292 (April 1984) |creators= J.M. DeMatteis (writer) Paul Neary (penciller) |real_name=Jesse Black Crow |species = |homeworld = |alliances = |aliases = |supports = |powers=Various mystical powers, superhuman agility, skilled combatant
Black Crow (Jesse Black Crow) is a fictional Native American superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
The Black Crow first appeared in Captain America #292 (April 1984) and was created by the writer J. M. DeMatteis and penciller Paul Neary.
Fictional character biography
Jesse Black Crow, a member of the Navajo Nation, was taught the traditional ways by his great-grandfather, who was a healer. Jesse left his New Mexico reservation at the age of sixteen, after his grandfather’s death, and moved to New York City, eventually becoming a construction worker on skyscrapers.
One day, while working 20 stories up, the scaffolding gave way and Jesse plunged to the ground. He survived the fall, but was left paraplegic. While comatose, Jesse received a vision from the spirit of the Earth showing him the plight of the Native American people. When needed, the spirit transformed Jesse into Black Crow, a mystical warrior, and protector of his people.
Black Crow is attacked by the demon D'Spayre, who hopes to defeat Black Crow by weakening his host body. Black Crow reveals himself as real to Jesse for a moment, showing Jesse that he is not insane and that the spiritual teachings from his great-grandfather were real. Jesse is strengthened by this vision and defeats D'Spayre. Jesse only remembers these events as a dream, with Black Crow believing that he will soon be ready to be told the truth in reality.
In Civil War, Black Crow is arrested and imprisoned in Prison 42 for opposing the Superhuman Registration Act. He is among the many prisoners who escape during a breakout arranged by Captain America.
Powers and abilities
Normally, Jesse Black Crow is paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair. He has the ability to undergo a mystical transformation into the Black Crow courtesy of an "Earth Mother" spirit once worshiped by his Navajo ancestors.
In his form as Black Crow, he has superhuman strength, stamina, durability, agility and reflexes, and is a gifted unarmed combatant. He can mystically summon fog and mist and has shape-shifting powers. His two most well-known forms are that of a crow or a bolt of lightning, but he has also transformed himself into mist, and assumed the forms of Spider-Man, Puma, and an actual puma. He retains his human intelligence in any form and can speak in animal form.
Black Crow can also mystically transport himself and others into the other-dimensional land of the Anasazi of Native American myth.
Black Crow has proven capable of communicating telepathically with Captain America, paralyzing a person through mystic hypnosis, and removing specific memories from a person's mind. He possesses mystic senses that are attuned to the spirits of mortal Native Americans and to their deities. He can sense the auras of other Native Americans and thereby learn about their recent past.
He is capable of creating visions and illusions in the minds of others, leading to speculation that some of the above-mentioned feats may have been illusions as well.
He carries a spear, which he spins to perform certain mystic feats such as cleansing negative magical energies. He also carries an ordinary longbow, arrows, and knife. He wears a pouch containing mystic herbs he can employ for various purposes, involving his knowledge of mystic rituals.
He also uses "freezing mist" that can paralyze other people and blank their minds for brief periods of time.
References
References
- (October 14, 2009). "Encyclopedia of Weird Westerns: Supernatural and Science Fiction Elements in Novels, Pulps, Comics, Films, Television and Games". McFarland.
- [https://books.google.com/books?id=3et4AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA195 Native Americans in Comic Books: A Critical Study]
- Captain America]]'' #292 (April 1984)
- ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' Annual #13 (September 1993)
- ''[[Civil War (comics). Civil War]]'' #6 - 7 (December 2006 - January 2007)
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