Man-Bull

For the creature in ancient mythology, see Lamassu.

The Man-Bull (William Taurens) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Man-Bull
Man-Bull as depicted in Howard the Duck (vol. 5) #3 (July 2015). Art by Jason Latour.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Daredevil #78 (July 1971)
Created by	Gerry Conway Gene Colan
In-story information
Alter ego	William "Bill" Taurens
Species	Human mutate
Team affiliations	Death Squad Frightful Four Menagerie Vil-Anon
Partnerships	Matador
Notable aliases	Minotaur Savage Bull Taurus
Abilities	Superhuman strength, speed and endurance Razor-sharp horns Bovine empathy

Man-Bull made his live-action debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, portrayed by Nate Hurd.

Publication history

The Man-Bull first appeared in Daredevil #78 (July 1971), and was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Gene Colan.^[1] The character subsequently appeared in Daredevil #95-96 (January–February 1973), Claws of the Cat #4 (June 1973), Iron Man #72 (January 1975), Daredevil #129 (January 1976), and Daredevil #144 (April 1977). The character did not appear again for some time, until The Incredible Hulk #341 (March 1988), and he then appeared in Marvel Year-in-Review '92, The Amazing Spider-Man: Chaos in Calgary #4 (February 1993), Captain America #413 (March 1993), and New Warriors #36 (June 1993). He disappeared again for a time, before appearing in She-Hulk #10 (February 2005), Gravity #1 (August 2005), Wolverine (vol. 3) #30 (September 2005), Spider-Man Unlimited #12 (January 2006), Underworld #3 (June 2006), and Punisher War Journal (vol. 2) #13-15 (January–March 2008).

The Man-Bull received an entry in the original Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #6, and in the All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z: Update #1 (2007).

Fictional character biography

William Taurens was born in Camden, New Jersey. He was hired by Mister Kline to round up people to test an experimental serum (taken from bulls) made out of mutated enzymes by his agent the Professor. Although assisted by Itch and Freak Face, his attempts were thwarted by Daredevil. As a result, he ended up being a guinea pig for the serum which turned him into a humanoid bull. Becoming the Man-Bull, he fought Daredevil, who defeated the Man-Bull by throwing him into a wall. Man-Bull reverted to his human form and was arrested by the police.^[2][3][4] When Itch snuck in the Man-Bull serum into Taurens' prison cell which permanently transformed him, Man-Bull attempted to take revenge on Daredevil and the two have clashed on several occasions. Man-Bull was later recruited by the Melter and Whiplash to join the Black Lama's Death Squad, where they encountered Iron Man at a comic book convention.^[5] Man-Bull eventually becomes more animalistic: he loses the ability to speak and gains fur and a tail. In this state, he is encountered by the Grey Hulk.^[6] As Man-Bull continued to deteriorate, he was recruited by Wizard to join his Frightful Four alongside Trapster and Dreadknight.^[7]

Man-Bull later regains his capability of speech and joins Armadillo, Equinox, Hypno-Hustler, Chip Martin, and Jackson Wheele at a Villains Anonymous meeting.^[8] Man-Bull later joins Constrictor, Tombstone, Warhawk, and a number of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in raiding an A.I.M. facility which was working on a Null android from technology stolen from Reed Richards.^[9] When Alyosha Kravinoff collects a zoo of animal-themed superhumans, Man-Bull is seen in one of the cages.^[10] He later battles Grizzly, who knocks him out and snaps off his left horn (which regenerates by his next appearance).^[11]

In the "Hunted" storyline, Man-Bull is captured by Taskmaster and Black Ant as part of Kraven the Hunter's Great Hunt and killed by Hunter-Bots.^[12][13] In Ruins of Ravencroft, Man-Bull appears alive, having been imprisoned at Ravencroft following its rebuilding.^[14]

During the King in Black storyline, Man-Bull is seen at the Bar with No Name when Mayor Wilson Fisk offers a job to everyone there.^[15] Man-Bull is later seen at Ravencroft during Knull's invasion. He, Figment, Foolkiller and Mister Hyde flee with the Thunderbolts in a van as they retrieve Sentry's corpse.^[16] Man-Bull and the Thunderbolts visit Fisk and blackmail him for money while planning to stay together as a team.^[17]

Powers and abilities

Man-Bull possesses bull-like physiology that gives him superhuman physical abilities, powerful horns, and the ability to mentally control other bovines. However, he is prone to periods of feral violence caused by adrenaline and the side effects of the serum that gave him his powers.^[18][19]

Other versions

Bull-Frog, an alternate universe funny animal variant of Man-Bull from Earth-8311, appears in Peter Porker, The Spectacular Spider-Ham.^[20]

In other media

Man-Bull appears in the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode "The Retreat", portrayed by Nathan Hurd.^{[3][4][21][22]} This version gained a cattle-like head and hair on parts of his body following an experiment gone wrong and is a member of Emil Blonsky's spiritual retreat, Summer Twilight.