Saturday Showcase: Bushman

 

Another Saturday, Another Showcase. 

Today we will Showcase the Evil that is Bushman.

Raoul Bushman, aka the Bushman, worked as a mercenary in the Sudan with Spector as his former right-hand man. Bushman and his men came upon Dr. Peter Alruane and his daughter Marlene Alraune and attempted to kill both in order to steal the Egyptian gold they had discovered. When Spector, disgusted by Bushman's senseless murder, tries to save them, Bushman kills Peter Alruane, then beats Spector to the brink of death. 

It is while lying near death that Spector encounters the spirit of Khonshu and adopts the identity of Moon Knight. As Moon Knight, he rescues the Alruanes and their discovered Egyptian gold as well as defeating the Bushman.  Eventually Moon Knight confronts Bushman and carves off his face before killing him.

That wouldn't be the last time Marc would see his old pal Raoul.  Bushman is supernaturally resurrected by the criminal overlord, The Hood, by using Dormammu's powers. Bushman then with the Scarecrow, break into Ravencroft. They lobotomize the patients to create an army of "zombies".  Moon Knight is able to stop the army and tracks down Bushman. Khonshu demands that Moon Knight sacrifice Bushman for him, but Moon Knight refuses to kill him again. Bushman is last seen in a straight jacket in a mental asylum.

Well, not killing the Bushman turns out to be a mistake.  Raoul Bushman resurfaces, with an ally known as the Sun King. They come up with a plot to kill Moon Knight.[8] To accomplish the plans to kill Moon Knight, Bushman and Sun King went to Marlene Alruane's house.  He kidnaps Marlene, and forces Moon Knight to board a ship to an island showdown with Sun King. During the boat ride Raoul gets two fingers cut off and eventually abandons Sun King when he is defeated by Moon Knight.

I doubt this is the last time we see or hear from the Bushman.

Powers and Abilities

Bushman has no superhuman powers, but he is an expert in guerrilla warfare and highly proficient in the use of most conventional firearms. He has peak human physical strength and is highly athletic and agile. He sometimes uses metal teeth so that in hand-to-hand combat he can draw his enemy in close to him to tear the enemy apart with his teeth.

Publication Information

Publisher: Marvel Comics

First Appearance:  Moon Knight #1 (Nov. 1980)

Created by Doug Moench & Bill Sienkiewicz

Aliases: Raoul Bushman, Roald Bushman

Until next time, get your READ on!