Benjamen Briscoe had always lead a neglected life.
Born the only son of Olivia and Johnathon Briscoe, Ben was the apple of his mother's eye. Playful, creative, and deceptively bright, even from a young age.
Ben's mother died when he was only 5, a fatal car crash that left her deceased and his father crippled, always reliant on a cane. After his mother's death his father engrossed himself into his work, being the municipal court judge for district 12. His father, unable to cope with raising a young son proceeded to place Ben in as many after school activities as possible. Relishing the opportunity to avoid contact with the intention of creating a "Well rounded young man".
Because of this emotional neglect, and finding himself under an overwhelming new workload, Ben found himself withdrawing from basic human interaction. Never forming any lasting friendships, only talking with others if it was a necessity. Preferring to bury himself in his curriculars.
22 years later, Briscoe has grown into a reclusive adult, working a quiet dead-end job in a corner bookstore. Accepting in a meaningless, empty life of solitude.
Until he met her.
Peneople Freechild. The only person to ever really pay attention to him. The only girl to ever give him the time of day. The only one who ever made him laugh.
6 months after their first encounter in the bookstore, they were engaged to be married. They had grown fond of taking after dinner strolls through the neighborhood, always hoping to catch a glimpse of "Superheroes", Penny was always fascinated by the dazzling array of lights and abilities these rising personalities seemed so fond of showing off.
It was one such evening, that would destroy Benjamen Briscoe's quaint, quiet little world. The evening Penelope Freechild was killed. By one of the Superheroes she adored so.
A skirmish had broken out between local golden boy "The Kinetic Kid" known for his sharp wit and spectacular displays of firework like pulses, and a D-list super villain by the name of the "Ebony Wasp". Blazing through the street, with spectators drawing ever closer, the Wasp let out a frightening barrage of "Wasp stings", small poisonous needles in a wide arc. The Kinetic kid, ever the quick wit released a wave of energy causing the needles to fly in every direction.
All the bystanders were helpless, most ducking and running for cover. Penny wasn't so lucky. A needle had pierced her eye, traveling straight through her skull. Killing her instantly.
Faced with the overbearing reality of her death, and an awful feeling of helplessness growing in the pit of his stomach, something inside of Benjamen Briscoe snapped that day. Releasing the full force of his latent telepathic abilities. Unknowingly to him. He proceeded to attack the Kinetic kid.
No one knew at the time why the "Kid" was thrashing about so violently, no one could figure out why he was screaming, muffling out cries for help. Every time someone tried to get near he'd release another blast of energy. Everyone in the ever growing crowd thought that the kinetic kid was having some sort of seizure.
Only the Channel 56 cameraman knew what was really happening. Briscoe was mercilessly beating the Kinetic kid to death. With his bare hands. After the young hero's body had stopped twitching, only when he heard the cries of a small boy arise from the crowd, did Briscoe snap out of his rage. Startled at the amount of blood all over his hands, Ben ran through the streets, only stopping when he passed out.
Over the next month Ben quickly came to realize the nature of his new found ability. Everyone he came into contact with, had no idea he was there. It was as if some great parlor magician had placed a spell on everyone with a simply message "You will never see Benjamen Briscoe again".
Withdrawing completely from humanity, Briscoe's persona had begun to warp, horribly. His mind had begun to create crude and idealistic new laws for how humanity should be treated by their super-powered "betters". His new creed was simple.
"Holding to a simple edict, no one of any sort of super-powered inclination may enter his neighborhood, no one of ill-will may enter his territory, no one careless and powerful may disturb his sanctity without answering to a strict code of warped vigilante justice."
6 months after creating his new moral code, the police found a horribly disfigured and crucified body in a back alley, A message was scrawled in blood beneath the remains of what was later identified as"The Ebony Wasp", "Nemo Me Impune Lacessit" latin for "No one wounds me with impunity".
Over the course of a year, Briscoe began to carve out his territory, it's rules simple. If you lived a normal life, away from the glamor of extra-ordinary ability, you were allowed to live in peace and quiet, without fear from attack.
If, however, you were one of those "blessed" with powers far beyond those of mortal men. You were not welcome. Whether you be dubbed Hero, or villain. If you entered the 12 city blocks known to it's inhabitants as "54th street" your life was in great peril.
Briscoe's death toll to this day includes 12 d-list Super villains, and 4 superheroes.
To the children he is the 54th street boogeyman, a dark apparition, protecting them from the collateral damage that so often inflicts altercations between heroes and villains. To the police he is considered an invisible safeguard. Making their lives easier. And to those who run the world, those who control it with an iron super powered fist, he is nothing more than an urban legend.