Maximillian Zaran was born in the United Kingdom. Early in his life, he was an agent of the British Secret Service: MI6 but soon chose to become a mercenary and assassin. Training himself thoroughly in martial arts and the use of various kinds of weapons, he became known as a supervillain as well.
His first battle against a super-hero was against Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung Fu (and Suee's half-brother), who easily defeated him. He later again battled and defeated Shang-Chi. He joined the Batroc's Brigade along with Batroc and Machete to steal Captain America's shield, but they failed.
He teamed with Razor-Fist and Shockwave to attack the Avengers West Coast on behalf of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Deltite to retrieve the Blood Tong.
Trick Shot then hired Batroc and his Brigade to take out the Avenger; Hawkeye. Zaran was hired by Giscard Epurer to attack Nomad. Architect offered big money to the first assassin that could kill him.[7]
Albino, disguised as a computer programmer in Virtual War Themes, asked Hawkeye for help in protecting a computer virus capable of creating chaos throughout the world from falling into the wrong hands. Hawkeye escorted her to her place of business and was attacked by Batroc's Brigade. Hawkeye managed to defeat Batroc's Brigade and found a mask with Augusta Seger's face on it. During the legendary Bloodstone Hunt, Zaran became good friends with fellow mercenary Batroc and fought Captain America but lost once more.
At one point in his life, Zaran also trained another fellow assassin and allowed him to use his code-name in battle. He later participated in the hunt for the X-Men thief known as Gambit, where he was apprehended by the local police.
Grasshopper came across Batroc's Brigade breaking into a building and decided to try and stop them. The Great Lakes Avengers rush to aid Grasshopper with the robbery and ask him to join the team, Grasshopper accepts shortly before Zaran throws a dagger at his head. The G.L.A. try to stop the Brigade with little result.
Later, Zaran traveled to England as part of the terrorist group R.A.I.D.'s attack against the city of London. Zaran and Machete were tasked with assassinating the Houses of Parliament, but they were stopped by an ad hoc group of superheroes led by Union Jack.
Escaping jail and facing the Thunderbolts, Zaran was forced to join said superhero group during the Civil War event. Zaran has been identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who are part of the Initiative program. Batroc's Brigade attacked a technology expo in Madripoor. But Iron Man and Cap were there to stop them.
