Origin
Kelsey Leigh was originally a single mother of two children living in South-East England. She worked as a English Literature and History teacher. Back when she was married, thugs invaded her home. One of them attempted to rape her: she fought back, hurting him and he cut her face with a broken bottle in revenge, scarring her permanently. Meanwhile, her husband, Richard, was too paralyzed with fear to help her. His guilt over that incident led to the dissolution of the marriage.
One day her and her family were involved in a brawl between the Avengers and the Wrecking Crew. When Captain America and Wasp was knocked unconscious Kelsey used his shield to defend him from a death blow delivered by Thunderball. Despite blocking the blow, the force of the impact caused her severe internal injuries and she died en-route to medicial facilities. She awoke in a ring of stones and was visited by a vision of Captain Britain, who was then ruler of Otherworld, and his wife Meggan and offered her the choice: The Amulet of Right or The Sword of Might. As she desperately wanted to see her children again she chose the sword as a means of defending her children. However, this was the path of violence and as a result the only way she could see her children was at the cost of their lives. When she returned to Earth and took the mantle of Captain Britain, she helped the Avengers defeat Morgan Le Fay and her forces. Kelsey was shown to be much more violent in her methods than her predecessor. When ‘re-united’ with Thunderball, the man who killed her, she impaled him on her blade, apparently killing him. She joined the Avengers so that she would be close to her children who were now in their care.
Creation
Lionheart was created by Chuck Austen and Olivier Coipel and first appeared in Avengers Vol.3 issue 77 (2004).
Major Story Arcs
Avengers Disassembled
During the events of Avengers Disassembled, She-Hulk went on a rampage and Captain Britain jumped in the way just as she had done previously. However, again this met with terrible consequences and she was once again put in hospital and her situation was critical. Eventually she recovered and returned to England leaving the Avengers for good.
New Excalibur
She then re-named herself Lionheart and became an active hero in England. Kelsey was then approached by Albion who wanted to recruit her, playing on her animosity towards Captain Britain for not telling her the correct decision to make. She failed in her task to defeat him and just before a battle between Albion and Captain Britain took place she fled.
Albion returned with an army of Shadow Captains and Lionheart at his side. Using a mystical device, he neutralizes all forms of modern technology, plunging Britain into a pre-industrial state. The effect is catastrophic. They join forces with Shadow-X and soon after Sage joins Albion’s ranks undercover as Britannia. Kelsey sees the error of her ways. She joins forces with Excalibur and helps defeat Albion and his Shadow Captains, restoring Britain to its former state. In acknowledgment of her help against Albion, the Government gives her a second chance working with them. Braddock suggests that it is time to set things right with her family and she is reunited with her children and mother. Pete Wisdom tells them that her disappearance was due to working for the Crown, working on a secret mission in the months since her “death”. No explanation was given as to why it is now safe for her to reveal herself to her children.
Powers and Abilities
Kelsey’s body has been mystically altered to grant her superhuman strength, agility, endurance, speed, reflexes and flight. Sword of Might grants her Superhuman physical attributes, force field generation and energy bolts.
Weapons
LionHeart wields the the Sword of Might , a mystic weapon that is invulnerable to all harm, capable of cleaving through any substance up to foot-thick steel. It serves to channel mystical energy so she never tires; this energy can also be used for destructive blasts our protective shields.
Characteristics
Gender–Female
Height–5′ 5″
Weight–130 lbs (59 kg)
Eyes–Blue
Hair–Blonde
Unusual Features–a long scar running down the side of her face (healed after receiving powers)
Other Media
Games
Marvel: War of Heroes
Lionheart appears in several cards in the mobile card game Marvel: War of Heroes. Her cards are:
- [Resurrected] Lionheart
- [Fateful Choice] Lionheart
- [Once and Future] Lionheart