Potential spoilers for episode seven of She-Hulk are following.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Episode 7 – The Retreat – is now on Disney Plus. And while the viewers are still While waiting for Daredevil to arrive in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) – we promise it’s coming – we met some new and unusual characters in the latest entry on the Marvel TV show.
The MCU Phase 4 project has done a wonderful job bringing Marvel’s minor characters to a wider audience, and She-Hulk’s episode 7 is no exception. It shows four new people that exist in the MCU – Man-Bull, El Aguila, Porcupine, and Saracen.
Who are these characters? What do the stories of their Marvel comics tell us? Could we see them again in the MCU?
Below we will explain who this new quartet is and whether they will reappear in the MCU on Disney Plus, in Marvel Phase 5 productions, and even beyond.
Man-Bull She-Hulk explained: who is the Minotaur-like Marvel character?
A supervillain by profession, Man-Bull is a minotaur-like Marvel character who made his comic debut in July 1971. Interestingly, the first appearance in the Man-Bull comic was in Daredevil # 78 – another link to the upcoming appearance of Man without Fear in the She-Hulk television series. He also crossed paths with Hulk, She-Hulk and other superheroes in the comics. Additionally, he stumbled upon a team of antihero / super villains known as Thunderbolts, so he may be reappearing in the MCU movie Thunderbolts. It’s very unlikely, but never say never.
Real name William ‘Bill’ Taurens, Man-Bull acquired his skills – and distinctive horns – after he was used as a guinea pig for an experimental bull serum. Subsequently, Man-Bull was infused with traditional superpowers such as superhuman strength, endurance, endurance, and speed. Oh, and he has the ability to empathize with cows. Conjecture.
In She-Hulk, he is less animal – in his appearance, anyway – and seems to be a more lovable villain / anti-hero trying to change his life. He is played by Nathan Hurd (Legion, Elementary) on the MCU TV show.
El Aguila of She-Hulk explained: who is the Matador style mutant?
The MCU is slowly starting to build its roster of mutant superheroes and villains. So far, we know that there are three mutants in the MCU, with Ms Marvel, Black Panther: the anti-hero Wakanda Forever Namor, and Wolverine – who will play Deadpool 3 – making this trio.
El Aguila brings that number to four. In the comics, El Aguila is a human mutant who has the ability to generate electricity, and is also an expert in close combat and a gifted swordsman.
Debuting in August 1979, El Aguila was introduced as the morally gray ranger who aided Iron Fist and Luke Cage – the latter then known as the Power Man – in defeating drug lords and other criminals. However, he sometimes acts as an anti-hero, and El Aguila locks up Hawkeye’s horns during one of the comics.
Given his matadorian appearance, which was mostly inspired by Zorro, it’s surprising that El Aguila and Man-Bull form a close bond in She-Hulk episode 7. Even so, the couple’s improbable friendship creates a fun side-story. El Aguila, whose real name is Alejandro Montoya, is played by Joseph Castillo-Midyett (Equalizer, Fear of the Living Dead). Don’t expect him to appear outside of a She-Hulk show unless Iron Fist and Luke Cage make their way into the MCU.
Saracan of She-Hulk explained: who is the first MCU vampire?
Blade may be the most recognizable vampire in Marvel’s superhero / anti-heroes, but that doesn’t mean other bloodsuckers don’t exist in the comics or the MCU.
While the Marvel Studios Blade movie is seemingly trapped in development hell, Saracen’s appearance in Episode 7 She-Hulk means there is at least one vampire in the MCU. Well, if you believe Saracen anyway. Other participants in Emil Blonsky’s meditation retreat do not believe that he really is is vampire, but there is evidence in the comics to suggest that he is telling the truth.
The group’s confusion is likely due to the fact that there are: two Saracen characters in Marvel comics. One of them, whose name is Muzzafar Lambert, is a mercenary traveling around the world who fought the Punisher on a regular basis. The second Saracen, whose name is unknown, made his debut in the comic book Blade: Vampire Hunter # 1 in October 1999. Little is known about this vampire Saracen, however, other than the fact that he is one of the longest-lived monsters in Marvel comic book history.
It seems the She-Hulk writers used the latter for Saracen’s first appearance in the MCU. In the Retreat credits, Terrence Clowe (The Harder They Fall, Dopesick) plays the role of Saracen, but makes no mention of Lambert. Unless Marvel put the two characters together to avoid confusion, possibly the vampire Saracen is the one that appears in She-Hulk Episode 7. Could he make a cameo appearance in Blade? Here is hope.
The porcupine She-Hulk explained: who is the masked hero of Marvel?
Alexander Gentry’s real name, Porcupine is a Marvel supervillain who usually clashes with Ant-Man and the Wasp in the comics. He made his literary debut in Tales to Atonish # 48 in October 1963, making him one of Marvel’s oldest villains. Like Man-Bull, he crossed paths with Thunderbolts, so could he also appear in this superhero movie? Again, don’t count on it.
Gentry, a scientist who designed weapons for the U.S. military, creates a super porcupine-style suit that can shoot feathers, gases, flames, or chemicals at those the user deems a threat. Gentry believes, however, that the U.S. government will not pay him for this work – a move where he keeps the suit to himself and uses it to rob banks and other institutions.
Two other Marvel characters also assumed the identity of a porcupine. The first was Billy Bates, another mutant character who first appeared in District X 13 in August 2005. Unlike Gentry, Bates owns the X gene, the strand of DNA that gives the host superpowers as he grows up. Unfortunately for Bates, he acquired the abilities of a real porcupine. It is able to grow and shoot enemies with porcupine-like spines, as well as distort its left arm into a long, deformed limb with serrated claws at the tips of its fingers.
The last person to adopt this coat was Roger Docking, who made his comic debut in May 2006 in Daughters of the Dragon # 3. He also wore a suit, although his work had skills other than Gentry’s, such as airplanes and night vision goggles.
Based on his more realistic MCU look, this isn’t the Porcupine version of Bates that appears in She-Hulk 7. Instead, it’s Gentry or Docking. However, the Retreat inscriptions do not specify who it is – we only know that Jordan Aaron Ford is playing Porcupine.
For more MCU-based content, check out our Marvel Videos in the Ordering Guide. Or you can read about every She-Hulk post-credit scene to date, or find out who might be the TV show’s main villain.