Andrew Chord

Andrew Chord
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Thor #411 (Dec 1989)
Created by	Tom Defalco (writer) and Ron Frenz (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Andrew Chord
Team affiliations	New Warriors United States Army

Andrew Chord is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is African American. His first appearance was in Thor #411. Chord was the mentor of Night Thrasher and the New Warriors. He is also the father of Silhouette and Midnight's Fire and the son-in-law of Warriors villain Tai.

Andrew Chord was an American soldier, an army sergeant during the Vietnam war. His unit (calling themselves the "Half Fulls") was in the plateau dus bolovens north of the Se Kong river in Cambodia where they were looking to scout locations for a possible landing base for American aircraft. His unit of six soldiers (including Night Thrasher's father Daryl Taylor, Diego Cassaes a.k.a. the Left Hand and the fathers of the members of the Folding Circle) encountered a mysterious building known as the Temple of the Dragon's Breadth. They soon encountered a seemingly English speaking Cambodian geriatric named Tai who restrained them via magic. Tai explained to the soldiers the history of her people and the need for the soldiers to mate with six young women from her cult. The soldiers were led to believe that through these matings their children would one day rule the world. Five of the soldiers agreed to this pact. Daryl Taylor refused his bride because he was already married to his wife Melody.

Chord was married off to Tai's only daughter Miyami and brought his new bride home with him to America. Miyami soon gave birth to their two biracial children, Silhouette and Aaron (Midnight's Fire). Miyami did not want her children to be used as Tai's pawns so she faked their deaths and her own in a car crash. Miyami left her children to be raised in Manhattan's Chinatown and departed for parts unknown.

Chord, believing his wife and children were dead, began to travel the world as a mercenary. He came to know the time-traveler Cable, who also spent time as a mercenary. Chord eventually returned to the Dragon Breadth's temple in Cambodia where he renewed his association with his mother-in-law Tai. Tai, believing her grandchildren were dead, sought to have a replacement to fulfill Chord's role in the pact. To this end she convinced Chord to resume his friendship with former Army buddy Daryl Taylor and his wife Melody. Chord became godfather to their infant son Dwayne Taylor. Tai one day returned and demanded Chord kill Daryl and Melody to fulfill his role in the pact. Chord reluctantly did as he was told and shot his friends in a crowded restaurant, right in front of six-year-old Dwayne. At this time Dwayne first met Tai and she erased his memory of the event.

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