during the heat of battle, even though this annoyed his teammates, especially team leader Prodigy. Another of the Slingers, the Hornet, became Ricochet's closest friend, and gave him special throwing discs to use in battle. Dusk, also a teammate, was attracted to Ricochet, but he did not have the same feelings for her. Using his leaping abilities and reflexes, Ricochet fought crime lords, mutated vermin, and even Spider-Man himself. Ricochet learned that Black Marvel had made a deal with Mephisto, the demon king, to recruit the youths who would become the Slingers, and that Mephisto held Black Marvel captive. Ricochet was the first to suggest abandoning their "mentor" when offered the chance to save him, but Hornet convinced him to free Black Marvel. Shortly after, the Slingers disbanded. Later, Ricochet became disillusioned because his efforts had not earned him any fame or recognition, and he blamed himself for the Hornet's death at the hands of a brainwashed Wolverine. He joined another team of teen heroes, Excelsior (now called the Loners), whose goal was to dissuade other superpowered young people from becoming heroes. During the aftermath of M-Day, when a majority of mutants lost their powers, Ricochet was one of the few who kept his abilities. The Initiative Johnny is being considered as a 'potential recruit' for the Initiative program, according to Civil War: Battle Damage Report. He is currently in Los Angeles alongside other 'retired' superheroes. He has been seen (along with the other members of the Loners) as one of the newer, part-time students at the Avengers Academy. Scarlet Spider Following Hydra's takeover of America, after a figure that appears to be the Hornet attacks a food delivery to a casino owned by Cassandra Mercury, Ricochet appears to save the Scarlet Spider from an attack by the Hornet, telling the other hero that he is there to find out how his 'dead' friend can be alive. Ricochet claims that he arrived in Las Vegas by chance to act as a new hero for the city, but although the Scarlet Spider allows Ricochet to accompany him to the casino that apparently hired Hornet, he webs Ricochet to the roof of the casino because he was unsatisfied with the other's explanation. Ricochet escapes the webbing by removing his boots, but when they confront the Hornet, he uses an amulet to summon an other-dimensional monster. Powers and abilities Ricochet has the mutant