Ajax (Francis Freeman)

For others named Ajax, see Ajax (disambiguation) § Fictional characters.

Francis Freeman (also known as Ajax) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Joe Kelly and artist Walter A. McDaniel, the character first appeared in Deadpool #14 (March 1998).

Ajax
Ajax as depicted in Deadpool vs. Thanos #1 (September 2015). Art by Elmo Bondoc (penciler/inker) and Ruth Redmond (colorist).
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Deadpool #14 (March 1998)
Created by	Joe Kelly Walter A. McDaniel
In-story information
Alter ego	Francis Freeman
Team affiliations	Weapon X
Notable aliases	The Attending Ajax Abyss Man
Abilities	Enhanced strength Intuitive capacity Via implants: Superhuman speed, reflexes and agility High tolerance to pain

Fictional character biography

Francis Freeman, also known as "The Attending", is an enforcer at Emrys Killebrew's laboratory, known as the Workshop. He works with Killebrew to experiment on Wade Wilson, among others. After becoming Deadpool, Wade apparently kills Freeman.^[1]

Years later, Freeman resurfaces under the name Ajax and kills many members of Weapon X to exact revenge on Deadpool.^[2] Deadpool later kills Ajax by snapping his neck.^[3]

Blackheart later releases Ajax from Hell in an attempt to prevent Deadpool and Thanos from meddling in his plot to overthrow Mephisto. Ajax, now calling himself Abyss Man, locates and attempts to kill the two before they defeat him.^[4]

Powers and abilities

Francis has enhanced strength and intuitive capacity, as a result of genetic modifications by Killebrew. After receiving implants, he gained superhuman speed and agility. His nerves were also removed to increase his tolerance for pain.^[1]

In other media

Francis Freeman / Ajax appears in Deadpool (2016), portrayed by Ed Skrein.^[5] According to co-writer Rhett Reese, the character was selected to serve as the film's antagonist due to his "sadistic quality and his imperviousness to pain and what that implied about him" which "lands very hard on Wade Wilson and creates the fun antagonism".^[6] This version tortured Wade Wilson to activate his mutant genes and sell him as a slave. However, Wade escapes and seeks revenge after being disfigured. After Wade corners and injures him, Francis escapes when Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead distract his attacker. He and his partner Angel Dust later retaliate by kidnapping Wade's girlfriend Vanessa Carlysle. Wade, Colossus, and Negasonic Teenage Warhead confront Francis, Angel Dust, and their team in a scrapyard, where Wade kills Francis.

References

1. Deadpool and Death Annual (July 1998)
2. Deadpool #18 (July 1998)
3. Deadpool #19 (August 1998)
4. Deadpool vs. Thanos #1 - 3 (November - December 2015)
5. Skrein, Ed (April 7, 2015). "Ed Skrein on Twitter". Retrieved April 8, 2015.
6. Key, Matt (21 July 2015). "Deadpool Writer Rhett Reese Talks about Ajax and Breaking the Fourth Wall". Geek Girl Authority. Retrieved 6 January 2017.

External links

• Ajax (disambiguation) at Marvel.com