Real Name: Arthur Blackwood
Occupation: Former seminary student, now costumed crusader against paganism
Identity: Known to the police
Legal Status: Citizen of the United States with a criminal record
Other Aliases: None
Place of Birth: Decatur, Illinois
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Harold (father, deceased)
Group Affiliation: None
Base of Operations: Chicago, Illinois
First Appearance: THOR #330

History: Arthur Blackwood was a seminary student in Chicago who believed that the church should become more active in fighting paganism and godlessness in modem society. Dismissed from the seminary for getting into an altercation with a superior, Blackwood visited his family crypt to meditate on his life. There he had a religious vision of all of his ancestors who devoted their lives to serving God. In this vision he met the spirit of one of his ancestors who served in the Crusades. This spirit seemingly bequeathed to him the combined power of all his ancestors and dubbed him knight. When Blackwood awoke from this vision, he discovered a sword, shield, and knight's rainment had inexplicably materialized nearby. Blackwood decided to take up the sword and use his newfound power to destroy all pagans and infidels. As his first target, he chose the thunder god Thor, whose claims of godhood seemed blasphemous to him.

Calling himself the Crusader, Blackwood attacked Thor at a public assembly. Somehow the strength of his faith granted him sufficient power not only to hold his own in pitched battle with the Asgardian, but also to inflict upon Thor a seemingly mortal wound. When Thor reappeared a short time later, his wound fully healed by the power of Odin, the Crusader's belief in his own infallibility was shaken. The Crusader was unable to comprehend how a supposed agent of the devil like Thor could be superior to him, a self-styled messenger of the Lord. When Thor shattered his sword, the Crusader fled, filled with doubts about the righteousness of his cause. The Crusader is currently at large, the state of his faith and power unknown.

Height: 6 ft. 2 in.
Weight: 255 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Light brown

Strength Level: When his faith and self-confidence is at its peak the Crusader can lift (press) at least 20 tons. His physical strength diminishes as his faith falters, by some mystical link.

Known Superhuman Powers: The Crusader possesses superhuman strength, endurance, speed, and agility. Although the parameters of these attributes have yet to be measured, it can be noted that the Crusader is one of a select few mortal beings capable of facing Thor alone in physical combat. (It is possible, however, that Thor was holding back from the full exercise of his power.)

Weapons: The Crusader carries a sword and shield, composition unknown, strong enough to withstand repeated blows of Thor's uru hammer Mjolnir before shattering. The Crusader has gathered the broken pieces of his sword, presumably to reforge it.