Huntsman

Huntsman is a serial killer who targets metahumans. He doesn't distinguish between "good" or "evil" metahumans. Just alive and dead.

He has been known to work alongside metahumans when he's been promised the opportunity to hunt more interesting metahumans- notably when recruited to ZODIAC. Extraordinary humans- people who become heroes without powers are also interesting to him.

## History

### Origin

Huntsman was part of an experimental super soldier program, but the military ultimately rejected him because of his sadistic tendencies- his conditioning had heightened his aggression towards metahumans and he couldn't be controlled by his handlers when in the field. They erased the programming and his memories and put him in the care of one of the scientists that created him. She gave him a new identity and helped him build a new life. Even while she lied to him about his past, the scientist fell for him and eventually the pair ended up in a relationship. The two settled into a normal life, they even got married, and for a while things were good. Until she was killed in an accident- during a fight between a superhero and a supervillain. Huntsman blamed them both. When he began going through his wife's things he found documents about his life, about what had been done to him- he learned of his power and where his wife worked. He broke into the facility, stole the weapons designed for his use and burned the place to the ground with his wife's co-workers trapped inside. In the chaos that followed he took on the name 'Huntsman' and started hunting down metahumans.

### "Sherwood"

For a time he impersonated Sherwood and began terrorising the streets of London killing metahumans- once even in broad daylight. Loxley suspected he was an imposter and this was confirmed after he saved the gravely injured Sherwood from one of his safehouses. Loxley then donned his mentor's costume and fought Huntsman to a standstill in the tower of Big Ben to save Sherwood's reputation as "Sherwood" was about to kill a number of corrupt bankers live on the news. Loxley, as Sherwood, managed to save the bankers but he took a beating from the Huntsman in the process. Loxley still carries the scars from Huntsman's axe on his arms.

### ZODIAC

Huntsman would later be persuaded by Hammurabi to join ZODIAC, with Hammurabi promising him a school full of worthy prey. When it was revealed to the group that Hammurabi was planning to betray the villains of ZODIAC after they broke him out of the Anchor, he joined Sanderson's proposal of a new ZODIAC under his leadership where he would be allowed to cut loose.

When the billion dollar bounty was placed on Sanderson's head, Huntsman wholly uninterested in the money, was happy to have a chance to prove himself greater than the other members of ZODIAC. He cut down a number of assassins pursuing Sanderson before leaving his side as bodyguard to hunt down more interesting prey- Team Hope. Beacon charged over to fight him directly and during the fight Huntsman overpowered him and sliced off his hand at the wrist, his axe cut through the bone like a hot knife through butter. He moved to the shadows and watched Team Hope panic, watched as Firestorm cauterised his friend's bleeding stump. He was planning to chase them down and prevent them reaching medical help, taking them out one by one, but then he saw that Sherwood and Loxley had arrived. Huntsman went straight for Sherwood who told Loxley to save Sanderson and stop Rex.

## Powers, Abilities and Equipment

### Enhanced Human Physiology

His entire physiology is much stronger than that of a normal human- with denser bone and muscle structure. Additionally, he has greatly reduced pain senses, heightened perception and can quickly recover from injuries thanks to his enhanced regeneration factor.

### Huntsman's Bow

The Huntsman's bow is made of heavy composite alloys, even wielding the bow is difficult for the average person but using it necessitates a high physical strength and a lot of skill.

### Nanosheer Axe

Huntsman's axe has a blade that is only nanometres thick, with Huntsman's physical strength behind it the blade can cut through most materials with ease.