Hookwolf
<infobox> <title source="name"><default>Hookwolf</default></title>
<image source="Image"></image> <image source="image"></image> <group><header>Basic Information</header> <label>Civilian Name</label> <label>Aliases</label> <label>Gender</label><default>Unknown</default> <label>Death</label> <label>Age</label><default>Unknown</default> <label>Post-timeskip</label> <label>Ward start</label> <label>Relations</label> <label>Family</label></group> <group><header>Professional Status</header> <label>Occupation</label> <label>Classification</label> <label>Unique Features</label> <label>Alignment</label>
<label>Status</label><format><label>Location</label> <label>Teams</label> <label>Previous Team(s)</label> <label>Base of Operations</label></group> <group><header>First Appearance</header> <label>Worm Debut</label> <label>Ward Debut</label></group> </infobox>
Brad Matthews<ref name="powerlist"/>, publicly known as Hookwolf, is a member of Empire Eighty-Eight.
Personality
Hookwolf had "a tendency for violence and a thirst for blood", and sometimes thought that he would have done better in an era where martial glory was more valued.<ref name="11.e"/> Related to this, he followed something of a personal "warriors code" that supposedly guided his actions. Meadows was largely opportunistic, enjoying the protection of Empire Eighty-Eight after he murdered someone. He seems to have taken to their philosophy as a matter of course and likely did not believe it.<ref name="R1">Speculation by wildbow on Reddit</ref>
He refused to turn his back on The Chosen, calling them "his people". Shatterbird, who had studied him, left instructions to target his followers as part of his "tests" for the Nine if she were killed or if he refused to join, blackmailing him.<ref name="11.e"/>
Appearance
Brad is a big man, hairy, with long, greasy blond hair, an "E88" tattoo on one bicep, and a wolf superimposed on a swastika on the other. Usually wears a metal wolf mask in human form, as a reference to his favorite metal form.<ref name="5.2">Hive 5.2</ref>
Abilities and Powers
Hookwolf can transform into a shifting mass of hooks, blades and other weapons. He prefers to assume of the form of a large wolf-like creature, but is not limited to that shape.<ref name="11.e"/> Under the influence of Jacob, Meadows began showcasing his versatility assuming forms like like a Wolf-headed serpent or even an amorphous glob of blades.<ref>Interlude 26b</ref> Even when he appeared human, Hookwolf had metal encasing each of his muscles.<ref name="11.e"/><ref name="powerlist">Bread Matthews Hookwolf Can transform into mass of blades and metal objects, form roughly customizable - parahumanList, bolded edit by Wildbow.</ref>
Hookwolf perceives his power as him pushing metal out from a 'core', into which he can draw his fleshy human body for protection.<ref name="11.e"/> Hookwolf's eyes still remain human, but are protected by a shifting screen of blades.<ref name="11.e"/> It took him energy to create metal, although he was able to "recycle" it by drawing it back into his core.<ref name="11.e"/>
His alternate form can take an amazing amount of damage, being torn in half by Leviathan. However, when this happened, the 'core' remained undamaged. This allowed Hookwolf to shift his remaining half back into his unscathed human state.<ref name="8.5e2">Leviathan used his claws to heave Hookwolf off his face, tore the metal beast in half, and then threw the pieces down to the ground, hard. One landed straight on top of Shadow Stalker, the other almost seemed to bounce, rapidly condensing into a roughly humanoid form before it touched the ground again, landing in a crouch. Hookwolf backed away, the blades drawing together into a human shape, skin appearing as they withdrew. He brought his hand over his head and pointed forward at Leviathan. A signal for the next front-liner. - Excerpt from Extermination 8.5</ref> He was unable to change back for a while after being so depleted.[citation needed]
History
Background
Hookwolf was a trained fighter "before he was a fighter with powers".<ref name="11.e">Interlude 11e</ref> He fought in illegal lethal parahuman fighting rings alongside Stormtiger and Cricket before having to go into hiding to escape a murder charge.<ref name="7.7"/> Hookwolf had murdered someone who was considered an acceptable target by Empire Eighty-Eight and would fight alongside them for protection.<ref name="7.7"/>
He was known to have escaped while being transported to the Birdcage twice.<ref name="5.2"/> Because he was sentenced to the Birdcage, the normal steps to protect his identity weren't taken.<ref>Wildbow on Reddit</ref>
Story Start
Hookwolf had risen to being the right hand man of EE8. He also gained income from several illegal dog fighting rings.
Staged ambush on the police barricade during the rampage caused by E88's identities being revealed.<ref name="7.7">Buzz 7.7</ref>
Faced off against Leviathan when he came to the city, being one of the front liners who faced the beast.<ref name="8.5e1">A slash of Leviathan’s tail brought down two of the stuffed entities, and Hookwolf tackled him to ensure the Endbringer didn’t get a moment’s respite. Leviathan caught Hookwolf around the middle with his tail, flecks of blood and flesh spraying from the tail as it circled Hookwolf’s body of skirring, whisking blades. Leviathan hurled Hookwolf away. - Excerpt from Extermination 8.5</ref>
Post-Leviathan
With Empire Eighty-Eight's leadership gone, Hookwolf formed his own faction - Fenrir's Chosen, and started claiming territory and recruiting people in the devastated Brockton Bay.<ref name="9.1"/>
Slaughterhouse 9
He turned down recruitment by the Slaughterhouse 9 but after exposure to Bonesaw's agnosia miasma he was successfully recruited.<ref name="11.e" /> Forgetting his friends and loved ones and snapped up for the Nine.
Following this he was further twisted into a loyal member of the Nine shedding whatever fictions he had as a moral code while in the group.<ref>Interlude 16 (Donation Bonus 2)</ref> He slowly lost more and more of his mind as well.<ref>“It doesn’t sit well,” Hookwolf said. “I can’t articulate why. My thoughts are still cloudy.”
Bonesaw hit a button, and the lights began to flicker, the engine beside her starting to hum with a progressively higher pitch. With the flickering of the lights came glimpses of the things beyond. Light on glass and wires.
“I’d rather a Ragnarök than-" - Excerpt from Interlude 20</ref>
Would go into stasis with the Nine and come back for the Slaughterhouse 9000 war.
Post-Timeskip
Would meet his end when Foil pierced his organic core with one of her empowered projectiles.[citation needed]
References
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