Henry Peter Gyrich
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| Henry Peter Gyrich | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Avengers #165 (November 1977) |
| Created by | Jim Shooter (writer) John Byrne (penciller) |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations |
|
| Notable aliases | Secretary Gyrich, Bad News Pete |
Henry Peter Gyrich (/ˈɡaɪrɪk/) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a liaison of the United States government who is often opposed to the superhuman community.
The character was portrayed by Matthew Sharp in the live-action feature film X-Men (2000). In animation, the character has been voiced by Barry Flatman, Don Brown, and Jim Ward.
Publication history
[edit]The character first appeared in The Avengers #165 (November 1977) and was created by writer Jim Shooter and penciller John Byrne.[1]
Fictional character biography
[edit]Liaison
[edit]Henry Gyrich is the first person to be given the title of US Government liaison to the Avengers by the National Security Agency later by the National Security Council. During his tenure, Gyrich revokes the Avengers' priority status after taking issue.[2] The Avengers have to accept Gyrich's "suggestions" or have their Quinjets and other sensitive equipment confiscated. He limits the Avengers' active membership to seven members, forces the Falcon to join unwillingly to fill an affirmative action quota Gyrich sets, and installs various security measures for the team.[3][4][5] Gyrich also takes part in a Senate investigation involving the Avengers which claims the team are threats to national security.[6] When the investigation ends, the Senate committee gives the Avengers new guidelines and designates Raymond Sikorski as Gyrich's successor.[7]
Gyrich's a member of the Commission of Superhuman Activities (CSA), the oversight body on superhuman activities in the United States; he is part of the team that forces Captain America to resign. Gyrich also takes part as a special consultant in Project Wideawake, a program dedicated to capturing mutants.[8]
Political exploits
[edit]Gyrich is promoted to be Valerie Cooper's successor as the CSA's head. He uses Commission resources and remolds the vigilante Jack Monroe into the assassin Scourge in an attempt to kill all of Earth's superhumans before being stopped by the Thunderbolts.[9] Afterwards, Gyrich is reassigned to the US State Department and becomes the Avengers' liaison to the United Nations.[10] He leaves the position after the United Nations' relationship with the Avengers ends.
Following the Civil War storyline, Gyrich becomes the Secretary of the Superhuman Armed Forces.[11] Gyrich takes part in an inquiry involving the Initiative program and is removed from his position after getting into a heated argument with Iron Man.[12]
Following the Secret Invasion storyline, Gyrich is the main antagonist for Kieron Gillen's and Steven Sander's series S.W.O.R.D.,where he joins the eponymous group alongside Abigail Brand. Gyrich kidnaps several aliens, including Noh-Varr, Adam X, Jazinda, Karolina Dean, and Hepzibah, and arrests Brand and Lockheed. Gyrich is berated by Norman Osborn and arrested by Sydren.[13]
During the Civil War II storyline, Gyrich represents the United States as a member of Alpha Flight's board of governors.[14][6] He also appears with Alpha Flight in The Immortal Hulk, where he enlists the U-Foes to go after the Hulk.[15][16][17][4]
During the Krakoan Age, Gyrich initiates a plan to discredit the mutant nation Krakoa.[18] He recruits Wiz Kid as a mole for Orchis and the Guardian as support with an assassination attempt on Shi'ar empress Xandra.[19] However, Abigail Brand shoots Gyrich out of an airlock, sending him to die in space.[20][21]
Other versions
[edit]- An alternate universe variant of Henry Peter Gyrich from Earth-295 appears in Age of Apocalypse. Following a failed attempt to destroy Angel's club, Heaven, he loses his legs amidst "the offensive to blow the Seattle power core" and becomes the leader of a human resistance movement against Apocalypse.[22]
- An alternate universe variant of Henry Peter Gyrich from Earth-1298 appears in Mutant X #26. This version is a government liaison to the Avengers who displays animosity towards Captain America.[23]
- An alternate universe variant of Henry Peter Gyrich from Earth-1610 appears in Ultimate Spider-Man. This version works for an FBI strike team. Additionally, a clone who works for the CIA to establish oversight on Nick Fury and the Ultimates appears as well.[24]
- An alternate universe variant of Henry Peter Gyrich from Earth-91112 appears in What If...? (vol. 2) #30. Under the President's orders, he attempts to assassinate Mary Richards during her presidential campaign by disguising himself as Captain America, only to be thwarted by Mary and the Thing and confronted by the real Captain America.[25]
In other media
[edit]Television
[edit]- Henry Gyrich appears in X-Men: The Animated Series, voiced by Barry Flatman.[26] This version displays a vendetta against the X-Men. Throughout the first season, he works with Bolivar Trask to oversee the Sentinels' production until Master Mold betrays the two. In the series finale "Graduation Day", Gyrich speaks at an anti-mutant summit and attacks Professor X with a sonic gun before being taken away by security.[27][28]
- Henry Gyrich appears in X-Men '97, voiced by Todd Haberkorn.[26] He has been imprisoned in Ryker's Island, but he later breaks out of prison before he is killed by Bastion.[29]
- Henry Gyrich appears in the Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes episode "Imperious Rex", voiced by Don Brown.[26]
- Henry Gyrich appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, voiced by Jim Ward.[26] This version is the director of S.W.O.R.D.
Film
[edit]Henry Guyrich appears in X-Men (2000), portrayed by Matthew Sharp.[30] This version is Senator Robert Kelly's assistant who is killed by the Brotherhood of Mutants and replaced by Mystique.
References
[edit]- ^ Wiacek, Stephen (April 2, 2019). Marvel Encyclopedia. DK. p. 159. ISBN 978-0593846117.
- ^ The Avengers #168 (February 1978)
- ^ The Avengers #181 (July 1979)
- ^ a b Gaber, Nabeel (May 7, 2021). "Immortal Hulk: The Avengers Will Still Take Orders From an X-Men Villain". CBR. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ Cronin, Brian (February 8, 2019). "When the Avengers Were Forced to Become Equal Opportunity Employers". CBR. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ a b Johnston, Rich (February 10, 2021). "Henry Peter Gyrich Returns To Type - Krakoan X-Men Comics Spoilers". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ The Avengers #235 (September 1983)
- ^ Uncanny X-Men #184–186 (August - October 1984)
- ^ Thunderbolts #49 (April 2001)
- ^ Black Panther (vol. 3) #34–48 (September 2001 - October 2002)
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #1 (April 2007)
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #12 (June 2008)
- ^ S.W.O.R.D. #1 - 4 (January - April 2010)
- ^ Captain Marvel (vol. 9) #6 (August 2016)
- ^ The Immortal Hulk #42-46 (February - July 2021)
- ^ Lealos, Shawn S. (January 15, 2021). "Immortal Hulk: Marvel's Classic Hulk-Hunters Return to Track Down Bruce Banner". CBR. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ Lealos, Shawn S. (June 7, 2021). "Immortal Hulk: An Avenger Betrays the Team to Save Bruce Banner". CBR. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #3 (April 2021)
- ^ Zachary, Brandon (February 22, 2021). "X-Men: A Classic Avengers Ally Is Part of House of X's Big Conspiracy". CBR. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #9 - 11 (December 2021 - February 2022)
- ^ Marston, George (December 31, 2021). "Abigail Brand is revealed as the X-Men traitor in SWORD finale, setting up X-Men Red". GamesRadar+. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ Factor X #1 (March 1995)
- ^ Mutant X #26 (December 2000)
- ^ Ultimate Spider-Man #100 - 105 (November 2006 - April 2007)
- ^ What If...? #30 (October 1991)
- ^ a b c d "Henry Peter Gyrich Voices (Marvel Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved June 15, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ Schedeen, Jesse (February 15, 2024). "X-Men '97: 5 Burning Questions After the New Trailer". IGN. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ Colangelo, B. J. (March 19, 2024). "Everything You Need To Remember About The Original Cartoon Before X-Men '97". SlashFilm. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ Polo, Susana (April 24, 2024). "X-Men '97's big villain reveal gives mutants their second-greatest enemy: AI". Polygon. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ Andrew Kevin Walker (June 7, 1994). "X-Men First Draft". Simplyscripts. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
