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Has nothing to do with familiarity with in-universe fiction.
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* GenreSavvy: Often shows signs of this.
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* BadAss: Taskmaster has on several occasions copied and used explicitly superhuman physical abilities in a pinch (Shi'ar martial arts, which require a lighter, stronger-than-human skeleton and musculature, and bullet-catching, respectively), and has taught himself to move at "twice the speed the human body was designed for" by watching video of various techniques on fast-forward.
** Additionally, he once underwent an experimental process to allow himself to copy actual superpowers via observation, but unfortunately, was interrupted before the process could fully "take".
** That said, he's still otherwise human and such feats take a toll on his body.
** Additionally, he once underwent an experimental process to allow himself to copy actual superpowers via observation, but unfortunately, was interrupted before the process could fully "take".
** That said, he's still otherwise human and such feats take a toll on his body.
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* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Taskmaster has on several occasions copied and used explicitly superhuman physical abilities in a pinch (Shi'ar martial arts, which require a lighter, stronger-than-human skeleton and musculature, and bullet-catching, respectively), and has taught himself to move at "twice the speed the human body was designed for" by watching video of various techniques on fast-forward.
** Additionally, he once underwent an experimental process to allow himself to copy actual superpowers via observation, but unfortunately, was interrupted before the process could fully "take".
** That said, he's still otherwise human and such feats take a toll on his body.
** Additionally, he once underwent an experimental process to allow himself to copy actual superpowers via observation, but unfortunately, was interrupted before the process could fully "take".
** That said, he's still otherwise human and such feats take a toll on his body.
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** While fighting the [[{{X-23}} new Wolverine]], he assumes that she has the same powers as her father. She uses this to her advantage when he makes him block a kick with his hand, only to pop her foot claws out while he's holding her foot.
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** While fighting the [[{{X-23}} [[ComicBook/{{X23}} new Wolverine]], he assumes that she has the same powers as her father. She uses this to her advantage when he makes him block a kick with his hand, only to pop her foot claws out while he's holding her foot.
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* ArrogantKungFuGuy: His ability to mimic the fighting style of anyone he encounters often leads to this, and he's been known to talk down to his opponents about how over matched they are while they fight. It gets him in trouble in ''All-New Wolverine'' while fighting Comicbook/{{X 23}}, as while he can certainly adapt to her ''moves'', he's so busy admonishing her on how hopeless it is for her that he completely forgets (or just plain didn't realize) that her claws aren't all in the same place as [[Comicbook/{{Wolverine}} Logan's]]...
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* HoistByHisOwnPetard: The nature of his powers makes this a legitimate possibility any time he mimics something his body is physically incapable of because of a lack of RequiredSecondaryPowers. In one issue of ''Deadpool'' he ''snapped his own spine'' while mimicking Slapstick's fighting style. Because while he can certainly learn the moves by observing, he ''can't'' mimic Slapstick's CartoonPhysics and RuleOfFunny powers, so RealityEnsues.
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* OneSteveLimit: Subverted in that he shares the same first name as Iron Man, but Taskmaster is very rarely addressed as Tony.
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* ArchEnemy: To Scott Lang not that he cares.
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* ArchEnemy: To Scott Lang Lang. Its not that he cares.mutual though; Tasky doesn't even consider him a threat.
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** PowersAsPrograms: A better way to explain his powers is this trope. His brain in the 2010 miniseries was said to be reformed after consuming an attempted recreation of the Super Soldier Serum. Now it acts more like a computer where it will "dump" what it finds is unnecessary and only keep fighting moves as well as some small analyzable cues in movement like a computer whose OS is set to delete anything not related to certain subjects. It's one of the reasons why he fights finesses in an effort to remember her, though due to her training he's able to tell she has no unique attacks only is replicating others like he does. It's been shown he's to be able to recall some things unrelated with fighting but only with a complex set of mental triggers.
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** PowersAsPrograms: A better way to explain his powers is this trope. His brain in the 2010 miniseries was said to be reformed after consuming an attempted recreation of the Super Soldier Serum. Now it acts more like a computer where it will "dump" what it finds is unnecessary and only keep fighting moves as well as some small analyzable cues in movement like a computer whose OS is set to delete anything not related to certain subjects. It's one of the reasons why he fights finesses Finesse in an effort to remember her, though due to her training he's able to tell she has no unique attacks only is replicating others like he does. It's been shown he's to be able to recall some things unrelated with fighting but only with a complex set of mental triggers.triggers, and has learnt to fake remembering people to hide this (which is largely why he wears a mask; no one can tell how surprised he is when they approach him).
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** While fighting the [[{{X-23}} new Wolverine]], he assumes that she has the same powers as her father. She uses this to her advantage when he makes him block a kick with his hand, only to pop her foot claws out while he's holding her foot.
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** During a fight against Slapstick, Slapstick managed to get his hand on Taskmaster's broadsword. As he attempts to swing it at him, Taskmaster attempts to mimic the way Slapstick contorted his body to dodge his earlier attacks. Taskmaster ends up breaking his own spine in the process.
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* KatanasAreJustBetter: Implied to be the reason for his carrying one in the Udon mini-series. Outside of UDON books however, he prefers double edge swords. (The preeminent swordsman in the Marvel Universe at the time of his creation was the Black Knight, so Tasky copied his skills.)
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* KatanasAreJustBetter: Implied to be the reason for his carrying one in the Udon mini-series. Outside of UDON books however, he prefers double edge swords.
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* PragmaticVillainy: For a while there he was the only Marvel villain who had never been captured because of his willingness to abandon his criminal endeavors whenever things got too hairy. As he said in his first battle with the Avengers, he might actually have been able to beat all of them, but it was too risky to try and there wasn't any profit in it.
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** The whole source of his powers being from an attempted recreation of the Super Soldier Serum puts this more into perspective as his body was unnaturally changed to do the erasing memories part.
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** The whole source of PowersAsPrograms: A better way to explain his powers being from is this trope. His brain in the 2010 miniseries was said to be reformed after consuming an attempted recreation of the Super Soldier Serum puts this Serum. Now it acts more into perspective like a computer where it will "dump" what it finds is unnecessary and only keep fighting moves as his body was unnaturally changed well as some small analyzable cues in movement like a computer whose OS is set to do delete anything not related to certain subjects. It's one of the erasing memories part.reasons why he fights finesses in an effort to remember her, though due to her training he's able to tell she has no unique attacks only is replicating others like he does. It's been shown he's to be able to recall some things unrelated with fighting but only with a complex set of mental triggers.
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** The whole source of his powers being from an attempted recreation of the Super Soldier Serum puts this more into perspective as his body was unnaturally changed to do the erasing memories part.
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* AmnesiacLover: He's married, but can't even remember it for more than a few minutes after his wife Mercedes Merced tells him. She implies this isn't the first time it's happened.
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* AmnesiacLover: He's married, but can't even remember it for more than a few minutes after his wife Mercedes Merced tells him. She implies this isn't the first time it's happened.
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* ArchEnemy: To Scott Lang not that he cares.
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* BigBad: Most of Scott Lang's sometimes involve him.
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** The miniseries which revealed his backstory, and revealed his WildCard TrueNeutral status is the result of him being too heroic to fully commit to being a villain, but hates himself too much to be a hero because he feels immense guilt for [[spoiler: leaving his wife when he lost his memory of her]] but doesn't remember what he actually did, and has convinced himself its an unforgivable MoralEventHorizon.
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* TakeThat: Gets into a fight with [[AffirmativeActionLegacy the daughters of]] Tarantula and Batroc the Leaper and, after expressing surprise since he [[MistakenForGay thought they were gay]], declares he hates [[CaptainEthnic ethnic stereotypes]] before shooting them both.
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[[quoteright:94:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/taskmaster_v2-01_2727.jpg]]
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* CardboardPrison: He works off his time by teaching heroes.
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* CardboardPrison: BoxedCrook: He works off his time by teaching heroes.
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* EpicFail: '''ANYTIME''' when Taskmaster fights Deadpool, mainly due to the former's [[SacrificedBasicSkillForAwesomeTraining inability to fully remember non-survival actions]] and the latter's ConfusionFu.
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* WildCard: Taskmaster will work for HYDRA one moment and ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} the next - his only loyalty is to the one paying him.
** Seemed to be changing when [[spoiler: despite MODOK's expectations, Taskmaster genuinely joined SHIELD's side, and seems to have liked Mockingbird.]]
** Seemed to be changing when [[spoiler: despite MODOK's expectations, Taskmaster genuinely joined SHIELD's side, and seems to have liked Mockingbird.]]
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* EvilMentor: He's does it for a living, running schools for mercenaries to train them as either {{Elite Mook}}s or full-fledged super-villains, although some of his students (like U.S. Agent and the original Spider-Woman) eventually qualified as heroes. He occasionally turns into a TreacherousAdvisor, especially when working for the Red Skull (in one case sending the worst students to be "sparring partners" for his boss, which was a death sentence) but can be more efficient by-the-book on his own sometimes hiring other super-villains to form formal academies, like the time Anaconda worked for him as a calisthenics instructor.
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** He also spends a huge amount of his down time absorbing knowledge and skills that he ''may'' have a use for at some point. If the cow excretions are hitting the rotary blade air circulating device and someone desperately asks Taskmaster if he knows how to remove an appendix/play a guitar/beat up people like Bruce Lee/land a plane, and he nonchalantly replies "I've seen it done," you ''know'' he's got the situation covered.
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** He also spends a huge amount of his down time absorbing knowledge and skills that he ''may'' have a use for at some point. If the cow excretions are hitting the rotary blade air circulating device and someone desperately asks Taskmaster if he knows how to remove an appendix/play a guitar/beat up people like Bruce Lee/land a plane, and he nonchalantly replies "I've says he's seen it done," whatever-skill-is-needed-in-the-heat-of-the-moment you ''know'' he's got the situation covered.
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* PunnyName:
** Taskmaster's real name is Anthony "Tony" Masters. Slur Tony and Masters together and what does it start to sound like?
** Taskmaster's real name is Anthony "Tony" Masters. Slur Tony and Masters together and what does it start to sound like?
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* StevenUlyssesPerhero: His real name is Tony Masters.
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* AwesomenessByAnalysis: As described above, he can copy the skills and movements (but not powers) of anyone he sees. Not only that, but he can use this knowledge to predict what his opponent will do next. Too bad it's useless against [[DeadPool people who are]] [[ConfusionFu nuttier than squirrel poo.]] And it doesn't grant him RequiredSecondaryPowers, like trying out a dive while he didn't know how to swim.
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* AwesomenessByAnalysis: As described above, he can copy the skills and movements (but not powers) of anyone he sees. Not only that, but he can use this knowledge to predict what his opponent will do next. Too bad it's useless against [[DeadPool [[{{SelfDemonstrating/Deadpool}} people who are]] [[ConfusionFu nuttier than squirrel poo.]] And it doesn't grant him RequiredSecondaryPowers, like trying out a dive while he didn't know how to swim.
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** He also spends a huge amount of his down time absorbing knowledge and skills that he ''may'' have a use for at some point. If the cow excretions are hitting the rotary blade air circulating device and someone desperately asks Taskmaster if he knows how to remove an appendix/play a guitar/beat up people like Bruce Lee/land a plane, and he nonchalantly replies "I've seen it done," you ''know'' he's got the situation covered.
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If he can\'t copy powers, then he doesn\'t fit this trope
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* AwesomenessByAnalysis[=/=]PowerCopying: As described above, he can copy the skills and movements (but not powers) of anyone he sees. Not only that, but he can use this knowledge to predict what his opponent will do next. Too bad it's useless against [[DeadPool people who are]] [[ConfusionFu nuttier than squirrel poo.]] And it doesn't grant him RequiredSecondaryPowers, like trying out a dive while he didn't know how to swim.
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* AwesomenessByAnalysis[=/=]PowerCopying: AwesomenessByAnalysis: As described above, he can copy the skills and movements (but not powers) of anyone he sees. Not only that, but he can use this knowledge to predict what his opponent will do next. Too bad it's useless against [[DeadPool people who are]] [[ConfusionFu nuttier than squirrel poo.]] And it doesn't grant him RequiredSecondaryPowers, like trying out a dive while he didn't know how to swim.
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cut trope
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* AwesomeYetPractical: In addition to the usual combative techniques, Taskmaster has also found use for his copying ability in his off-hours, allowing him to [[MundaneMadeAwesome perfect his golf swing and become a world-class chef]].
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* ''VideoGame/MarvelHeroes''
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* HiddenDepths: He was unhappy when he discovered that he would be unable to remember Finesse, who is possibly his daughter (all of her fighting skills are copied like his, so he can't remember her using them as he had hoped, and was very concerned about [[spoiler: Mockingbird]], right up until [[spoiler: she killed him while she was brainwashed]].
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* HiddenDepths: He was unhappy when he discovered that he would be unable to remember Finesse, who is possibly his daughter (all of her fighting skills are copied like his, so he can't remember her using them as he had hoped, and was very concerned about [[spoiler: Mockingbird]], right up until [[spoiler: she killed him while she was brainwashed]].brainwashed. Of course, it turns out he's not actually dead, as Mockingbird deliberately missed his vitals when she shot him]].
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moving to correct namespace
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[[quoteright:294:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/taskmaster_v2-01_2727.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:294:''"Personally, I think we've done enough of the [[ColdBloodedTorture beating and torture]] and I'm ready to move straight to the [[OffWithHisHead beheading]]."'']]
->''"That gig -- the [[AcademyOfEvil Villain Schools]] -- I had to get out of it. Think about it. All my clients were guys who needed training. It was always, 'C'mon, Tasky, front me the training. I'll make good after my first job. I'm gonna be huge, man. You just gotta teach me that badass [[ComicBook/ThePunisher Punisher]] move I saw on Entertainment Tonight." And the heroes, swinging in to bust up the free enterprise, I'm engaged in. And every time they do? I gotta find a new [[AbandonedWarehouse abandoned warehouse]] or a new abandoned drilling platform or, would it had never been so, a new circus to take over. Overhead? You don't know what overhead is until you've see what a guy gets paid to scoop up elephant %?$#!"''
-->-- '''Taskmaster'''
Taskmaster is a Creator/MarvelComics character. He first appeared in ''"[[ComicBook/TheAvengers Avengers]]''" vol. 1 #195 (May, 1980), created by David Michelinie and George Pérez. He serves as a [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor sometimes hero, sometimes villain]] of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. His trademark is the ability to [[PowerCopying copy the movements, and, therefore, skills of those he watches]], which he calls "photographic reflexes". What's interesting about him as compared to other power mimics is that he doesn't copy the powers of those individuals he sees, only their mundane skills. One example of this is when he's [[Comicbook/TheAvengers working for the 50 State Initiative]] and copies the movement skills of Comicbook/SpiderMan for use in training the Scarlet Spiders.
[[AC:{{Comics}}]]
* ''Taskmaster'' (2002)
* ''Taskmaster v.2'' (2010-2011)
* ''Taskmaster: Unthinkable''
* ''Secret Avengers Vol. 2'' (2013)
'''Storylines'''
* ''Comicbook/CivilWar''
* ''Comicbook/DarkReign''
* ''Comicbook/{{Siege}}''
[[AC:VideoGames]]
* ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3''
[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ultimate Spider-Man}}''
----
!!Taskmaster-Related Tropes:
* AmnesiacLover: He's married, but can't even remember it for more than a few minutes after his wife Mercedes Merced tells him. She implies this isn't the first time it's happened.
* AwesomenessByAnalysis[=/=]PowerCopying: As described above, he can copy the skills and movements (but not powers) of anyone he sees. Not only that, but he can use this knowledge to predict what his opponent will do next. Too bad it's useless against [[DeadPool people who are]] [[ConfusionFu nuttier than squirrel poo.]] And it doesn't grant him RequiredSecondaryPowers, like trying out a dive while he didn't know how to swim.
* AwesomeYetPractical: In addition to the usual combative techniques, Taskmaster has also found use for his copying ability in his off-hours, allowing him to [[MundaneMadeAwesome perfect his golf swing and become a world-class chef]].
* BadAss: Taskmaster has on several occasions copied and used explicitly superhuman physical abilities in a pinch (Shi'ar martial arts, which require a lighter, stronger-than-human skeleton and musculature, and bullet-catching, respectively), and has taught himself to move at "twice the speed the human body was designed for" by watching video of various techniques on fast-forward.
** Additionally, he once underwent an experimental process to allow himself to copy actual superpowers via observation, but unfortunately, was interrupted before the process could fully "take".
** That said, he's still otherwise human and such feats take a toll on his body.
* CardboardPrison: He works off his time by teaching heroes.
* CloakAndDagger: He's worked for just about every secret agency in Marvel that you've ever heard of. And a few you haven't.
* ConsummateProfessional: The mercenary that most fits this trope in the Marvel U. Other mercenaries are either too emotional and thus prone to goodness (ComicBook/SilverSable), too amoral (Bullseye), or too batshit crazy (SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadpool}}).
* CursedWithAwesome[=/=]BlessedWithSuck: Taskmaster's ability has been retconned so that he can only remember things related to fighting and survival. He can't remember things that he did last week.
* DeadpanSnarker: Since his debut, But particularly when written by GailSimone.
* DependingOnTheArtist: Oh God, this guy could be the most triumphant example of this trope, even in the same series his mask looks more like a [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ctmj2UpM2Io/TI7nBGKx5QI/AAAAAAAAEeM/BkiO6BzhH-o/s1600/Taskmaster-1.jpg skull]] [[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ctmj2UpM2Io/TI7nMH1kntI/AAAAAAAAEec/bt8921OvqA8/s1600/taskmaster.jpg or]] [[http://www.comicbookmovie.com/images/news/the-avengers/taskmaster1.jpg like]] a [[http://iluvpress-start.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/440px-Taskmaster_Head.jpg ghost]]or [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gd8NBIma-zo/SiMqLU89euI/AAAAAAAAInc/M-uv-voaQT8/s400/Avengers+The+Initiative+24+-+taskmasternewinitiativeleader.jpg something else]]
* DownerEnding: His miniseries ends with Mercedes successfully getting him to remember her... only for him to sacrifice those memories again to [[HeroicSacrifice save her from the villain of the story.]] The worst part is she implies this isn't even the first time this has happened and that he's remembered and forgotten her ''dozens of times.''
** Avengers Academy also has one. Throughout the fight, he jokes with Finesse, before finally admitting that he might be her father, but honestly doesn't know -- and that soon he won't even remember her, because she's like him in that her fighting style comes from everyone else's; there's nothing that's really unique enough for him to remember her.
* DualWielding: Shows a fondness for doing this with pistols in the Udon mini-series and concurrent issues of ''Deadpool'' and ''Agent X''.
* EvenEvilHasStandards:
** In the "ComicBook/DeadpoolKillsTheMarvelUniverse" mini series taking place in an alternate universe, he's disgusted when he sees that Deadpool had killed the ComicBook/PowerPack, who are a team of ''kids''! He even says that Deadpool deserves to die for that.[[note]]Ironically, Deadpool himself usually has a strict intolerance of harming children, but this was a WhatIf story[[/note]]
** He mentions in the Udon Studios ''Taskmaster'' miniseries that he feels sorry for security guards, since they're usually underpaid, and prefers not to kill them if possible.
* {{Foil}}: To Deadpool, whenever he shows up. Taskmaster is calm and professional, while Deadpool is unpredictable and crazy.
* GenreSavvy: Often shows signs of this.
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor / PunchClockVillain: In short, Taskmaster seems to go with whichever side will make him the most reliable, most hassle-free money.
* HiddenDepths: He was unhappy when he discovered that he would be unable to remember Finesse, who is possibly his daughter (all of her fighting skills are copied like his, so he can't remember her using them as he had hoped, and was very concerned about [[spoiler: Mockingbird]], right up until [[spoiler: she killed him while she was brainwashed]].
* IKnowMortalKombat
* IdentityAmnesia: He's really an ex-SHIELD agent whose only reason for being a bad guy is the feeling of guilt he can't escape of abandoning his wife Mercedes. Even after the rest of his memories are gone, he can't escape it.
* ImprobableAimingSkills: Observation of ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}, the Punisher, Bullseye and others has given him this with a variety of implements ranging from the usual bows and guns to ''lead pencils''.
* LamarckWasRight: Finesse of ''ComicBook/AvengersAcademy'' has his powers and is implied to be his daughter, though he can't remember if it's true.
* KatanasAreJustBetter: Implied to be the reason for his carrying one in the Udon mini-series. Outside of UDON books however, he prefers double edge swords.
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: Justified a little better than most cases in fiction. It is explained in his mini-series that all of his explicit memories, which makes up his past, have been wiped out because of damage to the hippocampus. This leaves only the implicit ones, which contain his skill set, left.
* MadeOfIron: Has shrugged off multiple bullet wounds, getting drop-kicked through a wall by an enraged Spider-Man and being run over by speeding cars.
* TheMentor: Due to knowing the movesets of many heroes and villains, he's often hired for teaching others how to fight. For example, Agent X, in the eponymous mini-series, and the Iron Spiders, whom he imprinted with Spider-man's movesets.
* MoodWhiplash: His miniseries has a severe case. It goes from scenes involving a South American village full of Adolf Hitlers trying to kill each other to Taskmaster's inner monologues reflecting on how horrible life is being unable to have an identity thanks to his memory loss.
* MundaneUtility: He uses his powers to impress women, gamble, cook and perfect his golf swing.
* OnlyInItForTheMoney: He'll work for goddamn anyone if they pay him enough.
* PhotographicMemory: So much so that there's been some debate on whether it makes him super-human, mutant, or just "gifted". Supposedly, learning new moves overwrites other memories. However, while the "Learning moves erases my memories" bit ''sounds'' believable, it's false. The human brain can store a virtually unlimited amount of information. Even Taskmaster's amnesia is portrayed unrealistically. In real life, there is a condition where people lack the ability to form new memories, or at least, long term memories. Because of this ''they have no concept of time''. A man who obtained the amnesia in, say, 1980, ''would always think it's 1980''. Yet, when Taskmaster's amnesia is shown, its effects are nowhere near as extensive as this.
* PunnyName:
** Taskmaster's real name is Anthony "Tony" Masters. Slur Tony and Masters together and what does it start to sound like?
** His wife Mercedes Merced also counts.
* SacrificedBasicSkillForAwesomeTraining: The drawback to his abilities is that every time he learns a new combat skill, he loses his memory and any non-combat data. This was made up in the latest mini, as he often watches cooking and golf shows to learn those skills, and his first few uses of his abilities is learning to lasso and diving.
* SadistTeacher: Often seems like this to his students.
* StupidJetpackHitler: The latest mini-series makes his copying powers out to be the result of taking a formula devised by German scientists towards the end of WWII.
* SuperSenses: Is capable of perceiving and reacting to the world around him at faster-than-human levels, allowing him to function consciously while using his double speed ability and to perceive bullets in flight and catch them with his hands or otherwise deflect them.
* SuperSpeed: In addition to the aforementioned bullet-catching, he's also been seen shooting multiple arrows near-simultaneously (from a bow, which, being a direct copy of Hawkeye's, requires more arm-strength than the average fit, adult male human possesses to even pull back to its full draw-length even once) and killing half a dozen men standing yards apart from each other with a sword in less than a second. When other characters fight him it can seem like he's everywhere around them all at once.
* SuperStrength: Seems to exhibit a low level of this (despite ostensibly only being "peak human"), being able to generate enough force through a shield throw to temporarily short out ComicBook/IronMan's armour, knock giant characters off their feet despite being a dozen or so times smaller, casually punch a grown man several times his body-length through the air and hold his own against the superhumanly powerful Asgardians.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadpool}}.
----
[[caption-width-right:294:''"Personally, I think we've done enough of the [[ColdBloodedTorture beating and torture]] and I'm ready to move straight to the [[OffWithHisHead beheading]]."'']]
->''"That gig -- the [[AcademyOfEvil Villain Schools]] -- I had to get out of it. Think about it. All my clients were guys who needed training. It was always, 'C'mon, Tasky, front me the training. I'll make good after my first job. I'm gonna be huge, man. You just gotta teach me that badass [[ComicBook/ThePunisher Punisher]] move I saw on Entertainment Tonight." And the heroes, swinging in to bust up the free enterprise, I'm engaged in. And every time they do? I gotta find a new [[AbandonedWarehouse abandoned warehouse]] or a new abandoned drilling platform or, would it had never been so, a new circus to take over. Overhead? You don't know what overhead is until you've see what a guy gets paid to scoop up elephant %?$#!"''
-->-- '''Taskmaster'''
Taskmaster is a Creator/MarvelComics character. He first appeared in ''"[[ComicBook/TheAvengers Avengers]]''" vol. 1 #195 (May, 1980), created by David Michelinie and George Pérez. He serves as a [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor sometimes hero, sometimes villain]] of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. His trademark is the ability to [[PowerCopying copy the movements, and, therefore, skills of those he watches]], which he calls "photographic reflexes". What's interesting about him as compared to other power mimics is that he doesn't copy the powers of those individuals he sees, only their mundane skills. One example of this is when he's [[Comicbook/TheAvengers working for the 50 State Initiative]] and copies the movement skills of Comicbook/SpiderMan for use in training the Scarlet Spiders.
[[AC:{{Comics}}]]
* ''Taskmaster'' (2002)
* ''Taskmaster v.2'' (2010-2011)
* ''Taskmaster: Unthinkable''
* ''Secret Avengers Vol. 2'' (2013)
'''Storylines'''
* ''Comicbook/CivilWar''
* ''Comicbook/DarkReign''
* ''Comicbook/{{Siege}}''
[[AC:VideoGames]]
* ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3''
[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ultimate Spider-Man}}''
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!!Taskmaster-Related Tropes:
* AmnesiacLover: He's married, but can't even remember it for more than a few minutes after his wife Mercedes Merced tells him. She implies this isn't the first time it's happened.
* AwesomenessByAnalysis[=/=]PowerCopying: As described above, he can copy the skills and movements (but not powers) of anyone he sees. Not only that, but he can use this knowledge to predict what his opponent will do next. Too bad it's useless against [[DeadPool people who are]] [[ConfusionFu nuttier than squirrel poo.]] And it doesn't grant him RequiredSecondaryPowers, like trying out a dive while he didn't know how to swim.
* AwesomeYetPractical: In addition to the usual combative techniques, Taskmaster has also found use for his copying ability in his off-hours, allowing him to [[MundaneMadeAwesome perfect his golf swing and become a world-class chef]].
* BadAss: Taskmaster has on several occasions copied and used explicitly superhuman physical abilities in a pinch (Shi'ar martial arts, which require a lighter, stronger-than-human skeleton and musculature, and bullet-catching, respectively), and has taught himself to move at "twice the speed the human body was designed for" by watching video of various techniques on fast-forward.
** Additionally, he once underwent an experimental process to allow himself to copy actual superpowers via observation, but unfortunately, was interrupted before the process could fully "take".
** That said, he's still otherwise human and such feats take a toll on his body.
* CardboardPrison: He works off his time by teaching heroes.
* CloakAndDagger: He's worked for just about every secret agency in Marvel that you've ever heard of. And a few you haven't.
* ConsummateProfessional: The mercenary that most fits this trope in the Marvel U. Other mercenaries are either too emotional and thus prone to goodness (ComicBook/SilverSable), too amoral (Bullseye), or too batshit crazy (SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadpool}}).
* CursedWithAwesome[=/=]BlessedWithSuck: Taskmaster's ability has been retconned so that he can only remember things related to fighting and survival. He can't remember things that he did last week.
* DeadpanSnarker: Since his debut, But particularly when written by GailSimone.
* DependingOnTheArtist: Oh God, this guy could be the most triumphant example of this trope, even in the same series his mask looks more like a [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ctmj2UpM2Io/TI7nBGKx5QI/AAAAAAAAEeM/BkiO6BzhH-o/s1600/Taskmaster-1.jpg skull]] [[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ctmj2UpM2Io/TI7nMH1kntI/AAAAAAAAEec/bt8921OvqA8/s1600/taskmaster.jpg or]] [[http://www.comicbookmovie.com/images/news/the-avengers/taskmaster1.jpg like]] a [[http://iluvpress-start.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/440px-Taskmaster_Head.jpg ghost]]or [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gd8NBIma-zo/SiMqLU89euI/AAAAAAAAInc/M-uv-voaQT8/s400/Avengers+The+Initiative+24+-+taskmasternewinitiativeleader.jpg something else]]
* DownerEnding: His miniseries ends with Mercedes successfully getting him to remember her... only for him to sacrifice those memories again to [[HeroicSacrifice save her from the villain of the story.]] The worst part is she implies this isn't even the first time this has happened and that he's remembered and forgotten her ''dozens of times.''
** Avengers Academy also has one. Throughout the fight, he jokes with Finesse, before finally admitting that he might be her father, but honestly doesn't know -- and that soon he won't even remember her, because she's like him in that her fighting style comes from everyone else's; there's nothing that's really unique enough for him to remember her.
* DualWielding: Shows a fondness for doing this with pistols in the Udon mini-series and concurrent issues of ''Deadpool'' and ''Agent X''.
* EvenEvilHasStandards:
** In the "ComicBook/DeadpoolKillsTheMarvelUniverse" mini series taking place in an alternate universe, he's disgusted when he sees that Deadpool had killed the ComicBook/PowerPack, who are a team of ''kids''! He even says that Deadpool deserves to die for that.[[note]]Ironically, Deadpool himself usually has a strict intolerance of harming children, but this was a WhatIf story[[/note]]
** He mentions in the Udon Studios ''Taskmaster'' miniseries that he feels sorry for security guards, since they're usually underpaid, and prefers not to kill them if possible.
* {{Foil}}: To Deadpool, whenever he shows up. Taskmaster is calm and professional, while Deadpool is unpredictable and crazy.
* GenreSavvy: Often shows signs of this.
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor / PunchClockVillain: In short, Taskmaster seems to go with whichever side will make him the most reliable, most hassle-free money.
* HiddenDepths: He was unhappy when he discovered that he would be unable to remember Finesse, who is possibly his daughter (all of her fighting skills are copied like his, so he can't remember her using them as he had hoped, and was very concerned about [[spoiler: Mockingbird]], right up until [[spoiler: she killed him while she was brainwashed]].
* IKnowMortalKombat
* IdentityAmnesia: He's really an ex-SHIELD agent whose only reason for being a bad guy is the feeling of guilt he can't escape of abandoning his wife Mercedes. Even after the rest of his memories are gone, he can't escape it.
* ImprobableAimingSkills: Observation of ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}, the Punisher, Bullseye and others has given him this with a variety of implements ranging from the usual bows and guns to ''lead pencils''.
* LamarckWasRight: Finesse of ''ComicBook/AvengersAcademy'' has his powers and is implied to be his daughter, though he can't remember if it's true.
* KatanasAreJustBetter: Implied to be the reason for his carrying one in the Udon mini-series. Outside of UDON books however, he prefers double edge swords.
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: Justified a little better than most cases in fiction. It is explained in his mini-series that all of his explicit memories, which makes up his past, have been wiped out because of damage to the hippocampus. This leaves only the implicit ones, which contain his skill set, left.
* MadeOfIron: Has shrugged off multiple bullet wounds, getting drop-kicked through a wall by an enraged Spider-Man and being run over by speeding cars.
* TheMentor: Due to knowing the movesets of many heroes and villains, he's often hired for teaching others how to fight. For example, Agent X, in the eponymous mini-series, and the Iron Spiders, whom he imprinted with Spider-man's movesets.
* MoodWhiplash: His miniseries has a severe case. It goes from scenes involving a South American village full of Adolf Hitlers trying to kill each other to Taskmaster's inner monologues reflecting on how horrible life is being unable to have an identity thanks to his memory loss.
* MundaneUtility: He uses his powers to impress women, gamble, cook and perfect his golf swing.
* OnlyInItForTheMoney: He'll work for goddamn anyone if they pay him enough.
* PhotographicMemory: So much so that there's been some debate on whether it makes him super-human, mutant, or just "gifted". Supposedly, learning new moves overwrites other memories. However, while the "Learning moves erases my memories" bit ''sounds'' believable, it's false. The human brain can store a virtually unlimited amount of information. Even Taskmaster's amnesia is portrayed unrealistically. In real life, there is a condition where people lack the ability to form new memories, or at least, long term memories. Because of this ''they have no concept of time''. A man who obtained the amnesia in, say, 1980, ''would always think it's 1980''. Yet, when Taskmaster's amnesia is shown, its effects are nowhere near as extensive as this.
* PunnyName:
** Taskmaster's real name is Anthony "Tony" Masters. Slur Tony and Masters together and what does it start to sound like?
** His wife Mercedes Merced also counts.
* SacrificedBasicSkillForAwesomeTraining: The drawback to his abilities is that every time he learns a new combat skill, he loses his memory and any non-combat data. This was made up in the latest mini, as he often watches cooking and golf shows to learn those skills, and his first few uses of his abilities is learning to lasso and diving.
* SadistTeacher: Often seems like this to his students.
* StupidJetpackHitler: The latest mini-series makes his copying powers out to be the result of taking a formula devised by German scientists towards the end of WWII.
* SuperSenses: Is capable of perceiving and reacting to the world around him at faster-than-human levels, allowing him to function consciously while using his double speed ability and to perceive bullets in flight and catch them with his hands or otherwise deflect them.
* SuperSpeed: In addition to the aforementioned bullet-catching, he's also been seen shooting multiple arrows near-simultaneously (from a bow, which, being a direct copy of Hawkeye's, requires more arm-strength than the average fit, adult male human possesses to even pull back to its full draw-length even once) and killing half a dozen men standing yards apart from each other with a sword in less than a second. When other characters fight him it can seem like he's everywhere around them all at once.
* SuperStrength: Seems to exhibit a low level of this (despite ostensibly only being "peak human"), being able to generate enough force through a shield throw to temporarily short out ComicBook/IronMan's armour, knock giant characters off their feet despite being a dozen or so times smaller, casually punch a grown man several times his body-length through the air and hold his own against the superhumanly powerful Asgardians.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadpool}}.
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