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Who is Marvel Comics' Diamondback? Everything you need to know about Captain America's iconic enemy and love interest

The character is notoriously bad at picking a side.

Diamondback image
Image credit: Marvel Comics

With the impending arrival of the Serpent Society in Captain America: Brave New World, it is the perfect time to catch up with some of the most iconic members of the snake-themed supervillain group. Diamondback was one of the original members of the Serpent Society, though she occasionally found herself siding with the forces of good throughout her publication history.

Curious about this villain-turned-hero-turned-villain before the new Captain America film comes out? Here is everything you need to know about Diamondback’s history and powers.

Who is Marvel Comics’ Diamondback?

Diamondback and Captain America
Image credit: Marvel Comics

Diamondback, real name Rachel Leighton, was a founding member of the Serpent Society, which is the group that the character is most often associated with. She has no superpowers, but she can throw her diamond-shaped knives with pinpoint accuracy and possesses incredible acrobatic skills to make up for this shortcoming. As a member of the Serpent Society, she spent years coming into conflict with S.H.I.E.L.D. and, most importantly, Steve Rogers when he held the title of Captain America. Despite her continued involvement with the Serpent Society, Diamondback and Captain America would engage in a tumultuous romantic relationship over the years.

That relationship eventually saw her expelled from the Serpent Society after she was falsely accused of giving the group’s secrets to the hero. However, Rogers would come to her aid and rescue her. Afterward, Diamondback joined Black Mamba and Asp in forming BAD Girls Inc., a mercenary group that offered the trio protection from the Serpent Society’s retaliation. This group would disband and reform occasionally throughout their history as needed to keep their members safe.

For a while, Diamondback joined S.H.I.E.L.D. as an agent, though she eventually returned to a life of crime when the Serpent Society – rebranded as Serpent Solutions – was reformed. However, she seems to be unable to pick a side and would eventually side with Sam Wilson – the new Captain America – to help him escape the group’s custody.

Is Diamondback coming to the MCU?

Fans of Netflix's Luke Cage series will already know that there was a character called Diamondback in the Netflix show, but that is a different character within the Marvel universe that goes by the same name. Confusing? Absolutely, but it does make introducing the Serpent Society character to the MCU in Captain America: Brave New World a bit easier.

Is Diamondback going to be in Captain America: Brave New World? We don’t know that for sure, but considering the character’s connection to Captain America and the involvement of the Serpent Society in the movie, it feels likely. It hasn’t been confirmed, but there is lots of speculation that Rosa Salazar, who played the title character in Alita: Battle Angel, will play Diamondback in the film.


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Trent Cannon

Trent Cannon: Trent is a freelance writer who has been covering anime, video games, and pop culture for a decade. (He/Him)

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