THE BASHER

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: Criminal, bartender (formerly) Police Officer, employee at Al's Diner.

Group Membership: "Speedball Revenge Squad" (Bonehead, Bug-Eyed Voice, Fred Caskey, the Harlequin Hit-Man, Leaper Logan, the Sticker, the Two-Legged Rat)

Affiliations: Clyde (employer), Jolly Roger, Springdale Police (former employers)

Enemies: Police in general (including Vinnie Biaggi), Speedball (Robbie Baldwin), Speedball (Darrion Grobe)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Bar With No Name, Springdale, Connecticut

First Appearance: Speedball#5 (January, 1989)

Powers/Abilities: Basher didn't have any powers, but he had a decent throwing arm. He armed himself with hard balls that he would throw at his opponents.

History:(Speedball#5 (fb) - BTS) - The man who would become the Basher was once a rookie police officer who wasn't cut out for the job and ended up dropping out and getting a job at a diner frequented by police officers. He developed an intense hatred for cops.

(Speedball#5 - BTS) - The Basher began his campaign against the police in Springdale and put three cops in the hospital, including Vincent Biaggi.

(Speedball#5) - The Basher attempted to bash Officers LaGuardia and Phipps and ran away when he missed. When the officers followed and found Robbie Baldwin nearby, Robbie took it upon himself to investigate. The Basher was stalking the officers again when Speedball found him and tried to stop him. Though he escaped the super-hero he ran right into the policemen who caught and unmasked him. LaGuardia recognized him as a former police officer. The Basher ranted that he would kill them all as he was taken away.

(Marvel Year-in-Review '92 (text story)) - The Basher allegedly became a bartender at the Bar With No Name in Springdale, serving at a franchise location owned by the Jolly Roger.

(New Warriors I#66 - BTS) - The Basher was among many costumed criminals who were broken out of jail by Clyde.

(New Warriors I#66) - The Basher and many other criminals were employed by Clyde to find Dr. Benson's cat Niels, which had powers similar to Speedball that Clyde intended to steal. When Speedball showed up however, he made quick work of the group and they went back to jail.

Comments: Created by Steve Ditko, Roger Stern and Bruce Patterson.

I don't entirely buy Clyde's claim to have been behind all the villains of Springdale. There isn't much of anything about the Basher that Clyde could be responsible for.

My understanding is that the Speedball in the New Warriors issue wasn't really Speedball, but Darrion Grobe, who actually thought he was Speedball. That doesn't make much difference here though.

by Patrick D Ryall

CLARIFICATIONS:

The Basher should not be confused with:

• Charlie Bash, Baltimore narcotics officer, @ Punisher War Journal #54
• Bash Brothers of Earth-UV, @ Sludge #10
• Anyone else who bashes anything

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