Derf's Domain: suicide squad

Showing posts with label suicide squad. Show all posts

Sunday, August 22, 2021

Saturday Showcase: Bloodsport (Sunday Edition)

I apologize for my absence these past two Saturdays. Of course the Saturday I missed two weeks ago was due to Free Comic Book Day (August 14)and I missed yesterday due to last minute errands I needed to run. But I didn't want to rob you of another Saturday Showcase, so I decided to do a Sunday Edition. I also decided to remain on the topic of The Suicide Squad. Today's showcase shines the spotlight on Bloodsport (Robert DuBois) and his crazy antics against the Man of Steel. Enjoy!

Robert DuBois is a Vietnam draft evader, who had a mental breakdown and became obsessed with the Vietnam War after learning that his brother had gone in his stead. DuBois was drafted to serve in the United States Armed Forces. But upon receiving his induction notice, DuBois fled to Canada, not because he was morally opposed to the war, but because he was afraid of death. DuBois' younger brother, Michael, reported for induction in his place, passing himself off as Robert. Michael DuBois was sent into combat in Vietnam, where he lost both his arms and legs.

On learning that his brother had lost his limbs, DuBois went insane from guilt. Robert was finally contacted by individuals in the employment of billionaire Lex Luthor, who sought a pawn to assassinate Luthor's archenemy Superman. Operatives of Luthor, under the direction of a man named Kimberley, played upon DuBois' fixations on Vietnam in order to condition him psychologically to want to kill Superman.

Not only did they reprogram his mind, they also equipped DuBois with an arsenal of powerful, advanced weapons, including a gun that fired needles of Kryptonite. DuBois then went into action in Metropolis, calling himself Bloodsport. He now claimed that both his brother and he had served in combat in Vietnam and had been injured there. Professing rage at the citizens of Metropolis for wasting the freedom he claimed both his brother and himself fought to defend, Bloodsport indiscriminately slaughtered dozens of innocent people.

In his first clash with Superman, Bloodsport severely weakened him with a Kryptonite bullet. After receiving medical aid, Superman confronted Bloodsport once more. Even Luthor, outraged by Bloodsport's murders of so many people due to the attention this would attract to his assault, attempted to stop the mad killer.

Superman succeeded in causing the teleportation device Bloodsport used to bring weapons to himself to malfunction. Bloodsport then threatened to detonate his teleporter's power pack, blowing up ten square miles of the city. However, Superman's friend Jimmy Olsen had learned of Bloodsport's true identity and located his brother. Confronted by Michael, Bloodsport collapsed in grief and was taken into custody.

Since then, DuBois has fought battles with Deadshot, Steel, Batman, the Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), as well as countless other members of the Justice League and the Avengers (JLA/Avengers crossover). It was his battle with Hal Jordan that led to his last capture. While serving time at Stryker's Island he bumped into another criminal who also called himself Bloodsport (Alexander Trent). Tension between the two Bloodsports came to a head and the Warden set up a boxing fight as Superman as the Ref, During the fight, a riot broke out and DuBois saw this as his chance to escape. He almost succeeded but before he could away, he was shot dead by a guard from the tower.

BLOODSPORT Publication Information

Publisher: DC Comics

First Appearance: Superman #4 (April 1987)

Created by John Byrne

Alter Ego: Robert DuBois

Team Affiliation: Suicide Squad

Abilities:

Considerable Strength, Stamina and Durability.

Access to high tech weaponry in a warehouse by using a teleportation device.

Skilled in firearms, knives, explosives and hand-to-hand combat.

Fun Fact: Bloodsport was never an official member of the Suicide Squad except for the movie. Once the movie was in the works, he does have a brief "appearance" in Suicide Squad (Vol. 7) #5 (2021).

Until next time, get your READ on!

Saturday, August 7, 2021

Saturday Showcase: the Polka-Dot Man

Straight from the pages of DC Comics and the big screen success, The Suicide Squad, comes today's Saturday Showcase. My showcase today is on the unlikely superhero, Mr. Polka-Dot aka the Polka-Dot Man.

Shortly after Batman began appearing in Gotham City, his growing renown inspired an entire generation of costumed rogues who committed largely harmless crimes to attract his attention in the hopes of matching wits with the legendary vigilante. Among these was a local crook named Abner Krill, who decided, for reasons unknown, to launch a crime wave based on spots and dots in Gotham City, where he inevitably came into conflict with Batman and Robin.

As Mister Polka-Dot, he wore a costume covered in spots, and once removed from the costume, the spots could be used for a variety of purposes, such as creating deadly weapons and a bizarre escape vehicle. He succeeded in capturing Robin, but Batman defeated him.

Years later, Krill (now calling himself the Polka-Dot Man) was driven to crime once more when he found himself unemployed, penniless, and desperate to pay his bills. No longer able to afford his original electronically gimmicked costume, he instead resorted to using a baseball bat in a poorly thought-out attempt to rob a jewelry store, which resulted in him assaulting Officer Foley of the Gotham City Police Department, causing minor injuries. He was then beaten badly by Detective Harvey Bullock, who was sick of costumed villains in the city. The assault put the Polka-Dot Man in traction and he filed a brutality suit against the police department, which resulted in Bullock being forced to see a psychiatrist. So you can say that Harvey Bullock was taken down by the Polka-Dot Man, lol.

Following his recovery, Nightwing encountered the Polka-Dot Man a second time when he trashed My Alibi, a bar known for underworld regulars who vouched for each other's whereabouts when they were off committing crimes. Nightwing pitched Krill through a window display and into the street, where he was picked up by the police.

Powers & Abilities

When he created his costume, Abner Krill possessed advanced technology in the form of the costume's polka dots, which were controlled through the costume's belt. When attached to his costume, they were inert, but once removed, they would enlarge in size and become various different devices which could aid in his crime sprees, most notably a flying saucer which he used as a getaway vehicle.

Weaponized Dots used by the Polka-Dot Man included:

Flying Buzzsaw Dot, a red polka dot designed as a projectile. The dot had a rotating interior mechanism upon which a circular saw blade was mounted.
Flying Saucer Dot, a yellow polka dot which expanded rapidly into a flat, man-sized glider. It was steered by a series of buttons or switches on the Polka-Dot Man's belt.
Sun Dot, a gold polka dot designed as a projectile. It was gimmicked to resemble a model of the sun and emitted a blinding, disorienting light similar to a flare.
Bubble Dot, a white polka dot which expanded into a translucent capsule capable of flight. Like the Flying Saucer Dot, it was steered by a belt apparatus.
Fist Dots were red, yellow, and orange polka dots designed as projectiles. They were thrown at once and gimmicked to resemble human fists. When bounced off opponents at close range and in concert, these dots could produce concussive effects.
Hole Dot, a black polka dot simply referred to as a "hole" by the Polka-Dot Man. It opened up what appeared to be a teleportation transport system and was presumably developed with assistance from General Immortus.