Cornell Stokes, aka Cottonmouth, is a powerful drug lord in New York City, who also happens to be a superstrong individual. He was created by Len Wein and George Tuska, who introduced him in Power Man #19 (June 1974).

Cottonmouth and Luke Cage, aka Power Man first came into contact because Willis Stryker stole heroine from Cottonmouth’s organization to frame Luke (then Carl Lucas). After Luke got out of prison, he started investigating the events that led to his arrest, and Cottonmouth found out. The drug kingpin recognized an opportunity, and sought to recruit Cage to his organization by sending his snakes and henchmen Mike and Ike to get him. Power Man defeated them, but still decided to join Cottonmouth to learn more about what he was doing.

He sent Cage to get heroin from a rival crime boss, and the undercover hero earned the drug dealer’s trust. Then Cottonmouth caught Cage trying to steal his records, so he and his henchman Slick attacked Cage. Power Man threw Slick out a window and knocked Cottonmouth unconscious, then called the police.

Cottonmouth was featured in the “Shadowland” storyline as a member of the Rivals gang with Nightshade. He established his own territory, selling drugs and pimping out prostitutes, until Daredevil sent Hand ninjas to stop him. After Power Man broke his teeth, Cottonmouth had them replaced with gold-capped, sharp teeth and then tried to bite a chunk out of Cage’s face.

In another story he was one of the competitors participating in an underground fight club that was broken up by Deadpool and Gambit. He spent some time in prison in Ryker’s Island, but was able to escape in a riot during Civil War II. Since his assets had been seized, Cottonmouth first turned to Piranha Jones for help and then joined Alex Wilder’s New Pride group.