Emma Steed

Black Queen
Emma Steed as the London Black Queen
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	X-Calibre #1 (March 1995) (AoA version) Excalibur (1st. series) #96 (April 1996) (616 version)
Created by	Warren Ellis Ken Lashley (AoA version) Carlos Pacheco (616 version)
In-story information
Alter ego	Emma Steed
Species	Human Mutant
Team affiliations	Hellfire Club
Notable aliases	Black Queen
Abilities	Ability to create psionic weapons, Immunity to telepathy

Miss Steed (Emma Steed), also known as Black Queen is a fictional character created by Warren Ellis and Carlos Pacheco, a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe. Her first appearance as Miss Steed was in Excalibur #96. Emma Steed was an obvious homage to Emma Peel and John Steed, from the British television show The Avengers. Early art for the character, in fact, matched the appearance of Diana Rigg who played Mrs. Emma Peel.

Miss Steed initially appeared as Damask during the Age of Apocalypse, an event which caused the history of the Marvel Universe to diverge from its usual path. Although many Age of Apocalypse characters were alternate versions of existing heroes and villains, Damask did not appear to have an Earth-616 counterpart until Miss Steed was introduced over a year later.

During the London Hellfire Club's failed attempt to take over London using a demon, Emma Steed killed their Black King, who had been driven insane by the monster. She was apparently in contact with Onslaught as well, although their connection was never fully revealed. When Brian Braddock approached Steed about the chaos in London, she attacked him using glowing psionic blades attached to long burning chains, but her blades bounced off his forcefield, which he then threw at her, nearly taking her head off. The Black Queen's current whereabouts are unknown, although she may have been arrested by the authorities. She will make an appearance in X-Men Legacy vol.2 #16.

Ms. Steed was known as Damask and was the leader of the Pale Riders, a trio of assassins working for Apocalypse.