HITMAKER
Real Name: Orlando Sinclair
Identity/Class: Human technology user/quadriplegic
Occupation: Actor
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Wonder Man, Beast, his camera crew
Enemies: Mariano Sinclair, Recession Raiders (August, Ronnie), unidentified gang(s), Lotus Naimark (see comments)
Known Relatives: Unnamed mother; Unnamed father; Mariano (brother)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Hollywood, CA
First Appearance: Wonder Man Annual#2/1 (1993)
Powers/Abilities: Hitmaker possessed no superhuman abilities on his own, and was paralyzed below the neck due to a gang hit. While wearing the Hitmaker exoskeleton, Orlando gained enhanced strength to an unknown level (though powerful enough to effortlessly lift a car over his head), enhanced reflexes, and the ability to jump great distances.
Height: 5'9" Weight: 160 pounds (w/o armor) Eyes: Brown Hair: Black
History: (Wonder Man Annual#2 (fb) ) - Despite growing up in the ghetto, Orlando Sinclair always tried his best to distance himself from the street life. While his brother was getting involved in a gang, he was playing for his high school football team and trying to break into Hollywood as an actor, singer, dancer... A hitmaker. Unfortunately most studios wouldn't even talk to him (possibly because of his multi-racial background)
While his brother used the gang life to springboard himself into a higher social status, Orlando endured rejection after rejection from the studios. One day, while waiting for the bus to arrive to take him to an audition, Orlando was attacked by the rival gang to his brother's, and shot in the back, paralyzing him.
But Mariano, apologetic for his brother's situation, offered Orlando a "better life". His gang had access to an exoskeleton that would not only allow Orlando to use his arms and legs again... But give him super-human power as well. The only catch was that Orlando would have to be a hit-man for the gang. Orlando agreed, but on his first assignment ditched the gang and his old home for Hollywood.
Literally dropping in on a Hollywood studio, Orlando finally made the impression he had hoped for with a studio executive, who hired him to be Hollywood's new hero...
(Wonder Man Annual#2) - Hitmaker saved a doctor who was being attacked by a gang... But he had to make his own cut, as this shot definitely wasn't real enough. The director of the film pulled Hitmaker aside and told him that the script was the idea of studio's publicity department, who needed to undo the damage Wonder Man had recently done. Hitmaker decided that if the studio wanted him to fix the Wonder Man situation, he'd do it his way.
Jumping around Hollywood, Wonder Man came face to foot with Hitmaker, who had been waiting to attack him. Just as the fight was getting serious, a bazooka shell exploded next to them. Wonder Man prepared to go after the gang that shot it at them, but Hitmaker was out cold, and Wonder Man was forced to take him to the hospital instead.
In the hospital, Hitmaker was confronted by Wonder Man, who pulled him out of his bed... Only to discover that Hitmaker was paralyzed. Startled, Wonder Man left Orlando alone, but as he left the hospital, Hitmaker, back in his exoskeleton, landed a punch to his face. Wonder Man again began to walk away, while Hitmaker proclaimed himself the new champion of Hollywood, before leaping out of a window onto his cameraman's helicopter. While Hitmaker discussed how the confrontation would be edited, Wonder Man ripped him out of the helicopter, flinging him to the ground.
Wonder Man got back at Hitmaker for the cheapshots, before they agreed to go after the gang together. While they jumped around the city, the Beast, who was helping Wonder Man out, attacked Hitmaker before Wonder Man broke it up. As Hitmaker led the heroes to his brother's gang's hideout, he told them of his past, and how the gang was looking to get the exoskeleton back. As they closed in on the hideout, Wonder Man and Beast were temporarily knocked out of the fight by another bazooka shot.
Inside the hideout, Hitmaker pounded away on the gangsters, until his own brother, Mariano, held a gun to his head. But before too much could happen, Wonder Man and Beast busted into the building... But the two Recession Raiders who had escaped Wonder Man (back in Wonder Man#6) followed them in and grabbed Mariano, helping him escape the heroes. Wonder Man leapt after them, but Hitmaker grabbed his leg, sending him crashing to the ground. Hitmaker said that even though he wanted them caught too, it was still his brother. The heroes then posed for the media that had amassed at the location.
(Civil War: Battle Damage Report) - Tony Stark considered Hitmaker as a potential Initiative recruit.
Comments: Created by Gerard Jones and Gordan Purcell
Due to the similarities in powers, it seems as though this story may have originally been planned to be about Wonder Man's enemy, Splice, but since all the Annuals in 1993 were supposed to be about new characters, that may have been changed into Hitmaker.
It is highly likely that Mariano's gang received the Hitmaker exoskeleton from Lotus Naimark, who was well known for upgrading local gangs' arsenals.
The yellow spraypaint mask was an... interesting costume choice.
Profile by: Zerostar
CLARIFICATIONS:
Hitmaker, Orlando Sinclair, has no known connection to...
Appearances:
Wonder Man Annual#2 (1993) - Gerard Jones (writer), Gordon Purcell (pencils), Ian Akin, Ron Royd & Jonathan Holdredge (inks), Fabian Nicieza (editor)
Civil War: Battle Damage Report (2007)
Last updated: 09/25/03
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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