Pusher
(Ka-Zar enemy)
Your main boy, thick and thin.
Context
The Pusher is a minor Marvel Comics villain. He only appeared in a 1972/73 Astonishing Tales story arc.
Unless you’re a Ka-Zar fan, he’s mostly notable for playing a tiny role in Bobbi Morse’s evolution into the Huntress, then Mockingbird.
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Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Works for Boss Morgan, and leads his own crew.
- Base of Operations: New York City.
- Height: 6’2″ (1.88m). Weight: 220 lbs. (97 Kg.).
- Eyes: Blue, of course. Hair: Bald.
Powers & Abilities
The Pusher is a hardened criminal leader, specialised in narcotics distribution.
He knows the New York City underworld well.
Everybody was kung fu fightin’
He’s also in terrific shape, and an accomplished martial artist. A third-dan black belt is mentioned – presumably in a form of karate.
- The Pusher can take out several ordinary street thugs within seconds.
- Of course — this is the 1970s — he can smash bricks with his bare hands.
The Pusher was outmuscled and outfought by Ka-Zar – lord of the jungle ! But one should keep in mind that Ka-Zar is peak human. The Pusher therefore ain’t no creampuff, and could take several punches from Ka-Zar.
He likely performs as well as most martial arts movie characters.
Gear
During his rematch with Ka-Zar, the Pusher wore a strength-amplifying harness. It seemed to bring him to peak human levels, making him a match for Ka-Zar in that respect.
This may have been AIM equipment.
History
Back in the early 1970s, the Pusher was a lieutenant of the main Harlem crimelord, “Boss” Morgan. He seemed in charge of expanding drugs-pushing into new turf.
The lieutenant was a fitness, martial arts and bodybuilding enthusiast. He insisted that his gang seriously work out and learn close combat techniques. In fact, his headquarters was a gym.
His authoritarian insistence that his men exercise to exhaustion was another reason why he was nicknamed “the Pusher”.
Concrete jungle
At the close of 1972, the Pusher’s men caught an independent drugs seller on their turf. As they beat the freelancer up, they were dispersed by Ka-Zar — lord of the jungle ! — and his faithful Zabu.
However, one of the thugs managed to run away. He then doubled back and knifed the freelancer dead.
Not long after that, Pusher agents attempted to kidnap Dr. Wilma Calvin, the mentor of Dr. Bobbi Morse. AIM agent Gemini (Josh Link) was offering a vast sum for her, to get his hands on her Super-Soldier serum research.
Ka-Zar stopped these too, then located the Pusher’s base.
The brawl was so intense that the shoddy building collapsed, separating the fighters. But they were both determined to meet anew.
Adνеrtisеmеnt
Rematch
The Pusher took down an undercover narcotics NYPD officer.
He also grew irate at one of his men, “Vinnie” — actually Percy Calvin, Dr. Calvin’s son. But Vinnie didn’t back down. Respecting his courage, the Pusher decided to let him live. Mr. Calvin would also be perfect to bait Ka-Zar.
The trap worked. Wearing a strength-amplifying vest, the Pusher hit Ka-Zar from behind while the Lord of the Savage Land was interrogating Vinnie.
Defeat
But before the Pusher could inject Ka-Zar into overdosing, Vinnie attempted to stop him.
The powerful criminal had little trouble beating Mr. Calvin to a pulp. However, Vinnie’s courage allowed Ka-Zar to recover. The lord of the jungle — Ka-Zar ! — overpowered the Pusher.
He left him alive for the NYPD to arrest, and rushed Vinnie to the hospital in time to save his life.
The Pusher was glimpsed in jail. He was perplexed by hearing police officer Damien Link briefly speak with the same voice as the AIM agent who had hired him.
Description
Bald, ripped, tall, large golden hoop earrings. He has a vague Jamaican pirate look.
The Pusher often goes bare-chested, only wearing gi trousers. Since his main hook is being a black belt, he logically wears an orange sash.
In some panels, there’s a scar across his right eye.
Personality
The Pusher is all about strength and courage. He has a “king of the concrete jungle”, Darwinian outlook.
He’s also a violent murderer with a big ego, ruling through force and fear.
His threats and snarls are unusually articulate. Perhaps he read a lot of tough guys pulpsCheap, often lurid novels in the US during the 1920s and 1930s. adventure novels as a kid ?
Maybe he’s a big fan of the Copperhead and/or the Shadow. After all, the Pusher does know about the evil that lurks in the heart of men.
The Pusher respects courage. If somebody confronts him without fear, he’ll likely let them live. Once.
Light exoskeleton.
Quotes
“Move it, you freakin’ pussy-willows !”
“The concrete jungle creates its own kings… those trained not only with strength — but with skills ! Those such as I master [the] highest combat skills !”
DC Universe Adaptation
(This section proposes ways of using this character in DC Universe stories).
He could have repeatedly clashed with Black Canary and Speedy (Roy Harper) during unchronicled 1970s team-ups of theirs.
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DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
The Pusher
| Dex: 06 | Str: 04 | Bod: 05 |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 04 | Min: 04 |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 04 |
| Init: 016 | HP: 015 |
Skills:
Charisma (Intimidation): 04, Martial Artist: 06
Advantages:
Area Knowledge (New York City), Familiarity (New York City mobs, New York City narcotics trade, Martial arts lore).
Connections:
Street (Low), Underworld (Low), Boss Morgan (Low).
Drawbacks:
MIA toward Pride.
Motivation:
Power.
Occupation:
Professional criminal.
Wealth:
005
Equipment:
STRENGTH AMPLIFIER [BODY 03, Enhance (STR): 01 (cap is 05), R#03]. This was only used once.
Source of Character: Astonishing Tales Vol. 1 #15-17.
Helper(s): Ethan Roe.
Writeup completed on the 24th of July, 2018.