What's His Problem? James Bourne, a soldier in the US army stationed in Germany, fell in love with Melinda Wallace. Tragically, soon after they met, Melinda was killed in a terrorist attack. To avenge Melinda's death, Bourne agreed to join a top-secret anti-terrorist team, Omega Strike. During the team's training, he became romantically involved with Rowena MacLean. However, disaster soon struck again for Bourne. Omega Strike's first mission was to end a hostage crisis at an airport. Unknown to the team, their leader, Emil Tessler, had been paid to make certain Omega Strike failed. Joining Tessler in this scheme was Omega Strike member Gabriel Gant, as well as Rowena, who was actually Tessler's daughter. Gant arranged for Omega Strike to be ambushed and killed by the terrorists, and he personally shot Bourne while Rowena reluctantly looked on. But Bourne survived. Shattered by his team's deaths and Rowena's betrayal, Bourne became Solo, a fanatical vigilante determined to destroy terrorism.
People Who Think He's Not So Bad: Silver Sable, herself a proponent of the values of ruthlessness, had no major objections to Solo's methods when they worked together. Spider-Man repeatedly put up with Solo out of necessity, until Solo's trigger-happy nature finally got to be too much for the web-headed hero. The one person who really cares for Solo was Rowena. Despite her betrayal of him, Rowena always regretted the way things turned out between them, and she could never bring herself to kill Solo. Of course, she didn't do anything to stop ARES, her father's terrorist organization, from trying to do in Solo, so this was kind of an empty gesture.
Most Despicable Act: Solo actually did many good deeds, helping to thwart schemes by such villains as the Red Skull, Tarantula, the Viper, and ULTIMATUM, as well as numerous run-of-the-mill terrorist organizations. His "good deeds" during some of these jaunts included things like executing webbed-up prisoners, one of the reasons Spidey can usually be heard yelling "no more killing!" around Solo -- editor Jeanne. However, Solo crossed the line when he tried to stop his long-time foe, Gabriel Gant. Adopting the name Deathstorm, Gant killed Emil Tessler and took over ARES. After Solo finally defeated ARES, Deathstorm tried to teleport away. Solo, determined to stop Deathstorm once and for all, shot and killed him. Tragically, Solo's bullet passed through Deathstorm's body, killing an innocent bystander. Horrified at what he had done, Solo surrendered to the authorities. But this was too little and too late.
Future for the Character: Solo has not been seen since the tragic ending of his 1994 miniseries. Guilt-stricken as he is at having killed an innocent person, it is doubtful that he will ever take up the mantle of Solo again. But one never knows in comic books.
by Benjamin Herman
 Amazing Spider-Man 367 1992 |
 Spider-Man 20 1992 |
 Solo 1 1994 |
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