Chapel

CHAPEL

Real Name: Bruce Stinson

Current Alias: Chapel

Identity: Secret

Alignment: Neutral / Antihero

Affiliation: Youngblood (Home Team); formerly Bloodstrike, Operation: Knightstrike

Overview

Chapel is a ruthless government assassin and a founding member of the Youngblood program. A former elite soldier with a dark past in black-ops, Bruce Stinson is best known for his unparalleled lethality and his signature skull-faced appearance. While he has served as a high-profile hero for the United States, his history is deeply entwined with a web of betrayal, including his role as the man who murdered his teammate Al Simmons, the man who would become Spawn.

Origin

Bruce Stinson was born in a prison in Joliet, Illinois, and eventually rose to become a highly decorated soldier proficient in unconventional warfare. During his career, he served in the elite clandestine unit Operation: Knightstrike alongside his best friend and comrade, Al Simmons. During this time, he was subjected to a series of chemical injections designed to optimize his physical performance.

Unbeknownst to Chapel, these injections were laced with a dormant form of HIV that his superiors, led by the corrupt Jason Wynn, could activate at will to ensure his absolute loyalty. Under Wynn’s direct orders, Chapel betrayed and murdered Al Simmons during a mission in Botswana, setting in motion the events that would lead to Simmons’ resurrection as a Hellspawn.

Creation

Chapel was created by artist and writer Rob Liefeld, making his debut in Youngblood #1 in April 1992. Like many early Youngblood characters, his design was partially inspired by Liefeld’s interest in gritty, uncompromising vigilantes of the era. Due to his central role in the origin of Spawn, he became one of the most visible characters in the early Image Comics universe.

Character Evolution

Chapel’s narrative arc is one of the most volatile in the Extreme Universe. After serving as a core member of Youngblood, his insubordination led Jason Wynn to activate the virus in his system, forcing his transfer to the undead team Bloodstrike. After learning the truth of Spawn’s identity, Chapel was hunted by his former friend; during a confrontation, Spawn disfigured Chapel’s face into a permanent skeletal visage.

Later, seeking the secrets of immortality, Chapel committed suicide and ascended through the ranks of Hell to become Lord Chapel, a Horseman of the Apocalypse. He was eventually separated from this demonic entity, returning to Earth briefly as a woman named Gazer before being restored to his original form.

Powers and Abilities

Augmented Physicality: Due to experimental chemical enhancements, Chapel possesses superhuman levels of strength, speed, agility, and endurance.
Master Assassin: He is an expert in guerrilla warfare, stealth, and high-stakes infiltration.
Weapon Mastery: Chapel is highly proficient with a wide array of firearms, specialized explosives, and edged weapons, including katanas.
Elite Combatant: He is a master of hand-to-hand combat and various martial arts, refined through years of black-ops training.
Tactical Mind: Despite his often reckless personality, he is a seasoned field leader and expert strategist.

Vital Statistics

Property	Detail
Height	6′ 4″
Weight	225 lbs.
Eyes	Brown
Hair	Black
Unusual Features	Skull face-paint/tattoo; later a grafted skull visage