Anton Nobokov is the supporting character of the Battle Action Force comic book. He is a Latvian defector who eventually joined the Action Force's Z-Force unit. During an engagement with the Red Shadows, Nobokov received life-threatening injuries and was presumed killed. Baron Ironblood recovered Nobokov's broken body and had him converted into his cybernetic enforcer, Red Jackal.
Appearance[]
Anton is a tall, broad-shouldered and solidly built man. His entire head is covered by a an armored, expressionless metal "skull" which resembles a very angular, shiny metal face. His hands are also obviously artificial, being metallic and segmented. His eyes are featureless blanks. His uniform consists of a red shirt and black pants, worn under a black open-front jacket with a broad collar.
Abilities[]
While Anton is primarily a vehicle commander, he is far from helpless in personal combat. Already a skilled fighter, his abilities were enhanced by his conversion into a cyborg. Aside from being far stronger than a normal human being, his cybernetic eyes enhance his marksmanship and accuracy. Additionally, he is able to channel power from his inbuilt Electronic Volt Facility through his hands. The energy can range from a light shock to instantly lethal. In addition, his cybernetics protect him in two ways. The first is the built in breathing system and oxygen supply that allows him to survive without air. The second is his metal skull, which is bulletproof.
Red Jackal will prefer to enter combat in his Hyena tank wherever possible. He is equally skilled as the driver or gunner of the tank, although he prefers to be the driver for the heavier protection of the crew compartment.
History[]
Anton Nabokov, a.k.a. Anton the Jackal, was originally a driver in the Soviet Army. Decorated numerous times for bravery under fire, he was considered to be the best combat driver in the Army, if not the world. In the early 1980s, his superiors gave him special permission to leave the Soviet army and join the newly-formed international antiterrorism strike team called Action Force. Anton became a member of Z-Force, AF's ground army, assigned as a jeep driver.
During a desert mission, Anton was ambushed by a force of Red Shadows. His jeep destroyed, he was blinded, badly burned with his face and hands nearly destroyed, and assumed to be dead by Action Force. However, he was captured by Baron Ironblood. Ironblood rebuilt him into a Cyborg, and offered him a position as the commander of his armed forces, presumably brainwashing him as he did all his other followers. Anton accepted, and took the code-name Red Jackal.
As Red Jackal, he was responsible for leading Ironblood's armored forces on numerous operations from his Hyena tank. After suffering several defeats, he became obsessed with beating Hunter, the commander of the SAS Force Wolverine tank. In spite of this, he remained a loyal servant of Ironblood until the Baron abandoned the Red Shadows. Angered over being betrayed, and with the rest of the Red Shadow forces falling apart, he swore revenge on Ironblood, and began to track him down to make him pay for his betrayal.
