History

Born in Chicago, Tanya Sealy was an ex-call girl selected by Roxxon Oil Company to partake in a covert operation to retrieve the mystical Serpent Crown. Working alongside with snake-themed villains such as Sidewinder, Anaconda, and Death Adder, Tanya received a cerebral implant that granted her low-level telepathy as well as the ability to manipulate the energy known as darkforce. Now known as Black Mamba, she would combine these abilities to telepathically pluck the image of an opponent's loved one out of their mind and then manifest a darkforce illusion which would lure her opponent in and suffocate them. Black Mamba proved herself to be a dangerous foe, facing off against heroes such as the Thing and Iron Man.

Noting her talents, Sidewinder invited Black Mamba to join his organization, the Serpent Society. Black Mamba immediately accepted - prior to working with Roxxon she had been a call-girl and, while the money was good, it was not steady and she was intrigued by the opportunity to make a lot of money with the Society. Black Mamba thrived in the Serpent Society, forming close friendships with fellow members Diamondback and Asp as well as becoming romantically involved with Sidewinder. Because of this, she remained loyal to Sidewinder when Viper managed to infiltrate and seize control of the Serpent Society, something that almost cost Black Mamba her life.

When Diamondback reformed from her criminal ways it affected Black Mamba. She, alongside Asp and Diamondback formed B.A.D. Girls Inc., a mercenary group. (B.A.D. being derived from the first letters of their respective codenames.)

Black Mamba was also part of Superia's Femizons, but betrayed that group to help Captain America and Paladin. Despite her heroic turn, she was not above committing morally questionable acts, as she led a drugged Hercules to an ambush. She would also later join Crimson Cowl's Masters of Evil, lured in by the temptation of a large profit. For a short time she worked with the Serpent Society again, but eventually found her way back to her friends Diamondback and Asp and rejoined B.A.D. Girls Inc. During one mission with B.A.D. Girls Inc. she severely embarrassed Deadpool when she revealed his darkest fantasy - to be given a back rub by his partner, Cable.

During the events of Civil War, Black Mamba joined Captain America's anti-registration group alongside Asp and Diamondback. She was later taken into custody by the Avengers, though she escaped and was most recently seen with several other villains in the Bar With No Name.

Powers and Abilities

Black Mamba can manipulate darkforce to create illusions based on images she telepathically gleans from her opponents. She also has an implant that allows her to breathe under water.