Who the Clix? is a series of articles featuring information on comic book characters that have been made into figures for the popular tabletop game Heroclix. These articles are meant to help Heroclix players learn more about the characters behind their favorite pieces.
Today we look at the legacy character that dies in every one of his first appearances : Grasshopper
Appearances in Heroclix: Deadpool
First Appearance: GLA #1, GLX-mas Special #1, Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular #1
Team Affiliations: Great Lakes Avengers, Roxxon Corporation
Powers: Armored suit grants: Superhuman leaping via robotic grasshopper legs, Insectroid Sensors, Zoom Lenses, Minimal protection from attacks
Created By: Dan Slott and Paul Pelletier
The first Grasshopper, Doug Taggert was a part time Roxxon security guard who began to do some super-heroing on the side with the Grasshopper armor. The Grasshopper first meets the GLA when both sides stop an attempted robbery being committed by Batroc’s Brigade. During the battle the GLA invite the Grasshopper to join and he accepts, only to be immediately killed by a sai thrown by Zaran. The sai was intended for the GLA member Doorman, but passed through him as a result of his powers. Doug is later seen in an after-life limbo, when Doorman becomes the new Deathurge.
The second Grasshopper, Neil Shelton, was a security guard for Roxxon who found a more powerful suit similar to Taggert’s original suit. Shelton stops the villain, Killer Shrike, from trying to steal Project Z from Roxxon on Christmas Day. Dr. Cindy Shelton shows up, as a researcher on the Project Z device, and invites the Grasshopper to dinner (having had a crush on the original Grasshopper). Neil, knowing that he is Cindy’s long lost brother, attempts to escape via a “maximum jump” with his armor. However, this jump sends the Grasshopper into space where he promptly dies.
The third “All New Grasshopper” shows up on the GLI’s doorstep just in time to have his neck snapped by a grumpy Deadpool. After his death, this Grasshopper is revealed to be a Skrull imposter. Mr. Immortal is amazed by this revelation while Big Bertha thinks it was kind of obvious.