Gambler (comics)
| Gambler | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Green Lantern Vol. 1 #12 (Summer, 1944) |
| Created by |
Henry Kuttner Martin Nodell |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Steven Sharpe III |
| Team affiliations |
Black Lantern Corps Injustice Society |
| Abilities | expert gambler, master of disguise, skilled with Derringer pistol and throwing knives |
Gambler is the name of two fictional supervillains in the DC Universe.
The Steven Sharpe III version of Gambler first appeared in 1944 in Green Lantern #12 in a story titled "The Gambler" by writer Henry Kuttner and artist Martin Nodell, as a foe of the original Green Lantern. He was also one of the founding members of the original Injustice Society, which often fought the Justice Society of America.
The Steve Sharp V version of Gamber first appeared in New Titans #68 and was created by Karl Kesel, Barbara Kesel, and Steve Erwin.
Steven Sharpe III came from a long line of compulsive gamblers. When he proposed to his girlfriend, Helen, the day after his high school graduation, she refused unless he could prove he was not a compulsive gambler like his grandfather. She then ran off with a "Pool Hall" Charlie, another gambler, who had just won a fortune on the lottery. Sharpe vowed to become a new person after this day. As luck would have it, an armored truck crashed a few feet away from him. Seeing this as a sign, Sharpe helped himself to all of the money he could get and vowed to take whatever he could from life from that day on. He adopted the name the Gambler in remembrance of his grandfather. For the next few years, the Gambler joined a traveling carnival, where he gained his skills with disguises, pistols, and throwing knives.
Sharpe was immediately successful as a criminal. He started off robbing trains and small town banks. Growing bored, he moved East to the big cities. He was spotted in Gotham City by Green Lantern while standing next to his own wanted poster. The Gambler eluded Green Lantern twice using his special Derringer, which could fire ammonia or blackout gas in addition to real bullets. When he emerged again, he had adopted a new identity after his riverboat gambling grandfather: The Gambler. As the Gambler, he earned early fame by pulling off a small town bank robbery against heavy odds. At some point, Sharpe spent time with a carnival, learning a variety of knife throws and make-up techniques to complete his disguises. So effective were his disguises that Sharpe himself claims to have forgotten his original appearance and his age to this day remains unknown. Initially, Sharpe remained in the Mississippi Delta, robbing trains, small town banks and the like. One of the first true costumed criminals, he rapidly became one of the most successful criminals and developed a cult of personality reminiscent of the gangsters of the previous decade.
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Wikipedia