Origin
Born in Bangladesh, Montpellier and his family immigrated to Spain when the boy was only three years old, settling in Barcelona. Little else is known about his origin. He was apparently born with his unique fighting ability. At some point he became a crime-fighter, occasionally teaming up with the other Barcelona-based hero, La Sangre.
Creation
Montpellier was created by writer James Robinson and artist Javier Pulido. He first appeared in The Shade #6. He draws heavy inspiration from the Montpellier snake.
Major Story Arcs
The Shade
Montpellier offers his assistance to La Sangre and the Shade, who are attempting to respond to a hostage situation set in motion by the Inquisitor. Using his detective abilities he uncovers the significance of the locations that the Inquisitor had sent a number of his acolytes to commit suicide at. He joins in the assault on the Inquisitor’s stronghold at the Sagrada Familia, helping to subdue a number of the Inquisitor’s acolytes. He is injured in the fighting, but nonetheless uncovers a minor technicality in the location of one of the suicides which undoes the dark-baptism ritual that the Inquisitor had been attempting. This allows the Shade to destroy the Inquisitor’s bomb and defeat the villain.
Powers and Abilities
Montpellier has an inborn capacity for an agile, “snaky” form of fighting. He also utilizes artificial venom blasts, projected from wrist-mounted cannons. He is extremely intelligent and a very gifted detective.