ERNIE SLUGANSKI
Real Name: Ernie Sluganski
Identity/Class: Human
Occupation: Manager for mercenaries contracted by Silver Sable International
Group Membership: Silver Sable International (Silver Sable/Silver Sablinova, others)
Affiliations: Adelle, Andy Taylor, Professor McKimson, Rocket Racer (Bob Farrell), Silver Sable (Silver Sablinova), various unidentified clients of Silver Sable International
Enemies: C.I.T.Y., Packrats (Bert and Hubie Packer), Speed Demon (James Sanders), various unidentified targets of Silver Sable International
Known Relatives: Tilly (aunt)
Aliases: "Sluggo" (insulting nickname used by Rocket Racer)
Base of Operations: Symkarian Embassy, New York City, New York, USA
First Appearance: Spectacular Spider Man I Annual#10 (1990)
Powers/Abilities: Sluganski has no superhuman abilities but one expects he was decent at his jobs given the high standards of Silver Sable.
Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'8'')
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 170 lbs)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
History: (Spectacular Spider-Man I Annual#10/4 (fb) - BTS) - Sluganski worked for Silver Sable International as a contact and manager for mercenaries in their employ. He did not approve of the company's tendency to pick former criminals for the job but respected Silver enough to accept it. Still, he tended to be brusque with the mercenaries when he didn't care for them. When working with Bob Farrell, the Rocket Racer, he did not assign him jobs unless they were deemed "unimportant" enough that a loser like the Racer could be relied on for them.
(Spectacular Spider-Man I Annual#10/4 (fb)) - After some time without employing the Racer, Sluganski gave him a bounty hunting job to capture Bert and Hubie Packer. When Farrell requested he not be given the job because he related to the young criminals, Sluganski reminded the Racer that the company already gave him a lot of leeway because of his schooling and familial concerns so if he didn't take the case, he would be fired.
(Spectacular Spider-Man I Annual#10/4 (fb) - BTS) - Sluganski called
Sheriff Andy Taylor and told him to keep the Racer from messing up the
mission. After Bob reported his success, Sluganski was surprised.
(Marvel Tales I#242) - After Bob failed a mission to
capture stolen property from the super-criminal Speed Demon, Sluganski
yelled at Bob until the Speed Demon called and offered to ransom back
the goods if Rocket Racer delivered the money. Sluganski agreed and
provided Bob with a trick suitcase that contained a concealed net trap.
Bob did manage to catch Speed Demon, injuring him in the process.
Sluganski received news that Speed Demon intended to sue the company
for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
(Marvel
Tales I#250 (fb)) - Sluganski sent the Rocket Racer on a mission for
Professor McKimson to catch a janitorial robot called C.I.T.Y., which
had gone rogue.
(Web of Spider-Man I Annual#7/2) - Speed Demon dragged Sluganski across town, where he got into a fight with the Rocket Racer. While Bob fought the criminal, he told a nearby police officer to get an ambulance for Sluganski. Later, after Bob had defeated Speed Demon, he visited Sluganski in the hospital. Sluganski informed Bob that he'd earned his respect over time and that he and Silver Sable agreed Bob was ready for more important jobs now.
Comments: Created by Tony Isabella and Alan Kupperberg
The amount of hair Sluganski has varies between stories to an extent
that suggests he may make use of a hairpiece. The always-present
sides are black however.
It's never brought up if Sluganski is Symkarian or if he's an
American employed by Sable.
Also, he cited his aunt Tilly as someone who could do a better job than Rocket Racer so she may be real or he may have made her up just for the insult.
We have only ever seen Sluganski working with Rocket Racer (Bob
Farrell) but we have to assume that he was involved with other
operatives hired by Silver Sable as well. The Prowler (Hobie Brown) was
working for them around the same time as Bob and could very well have
been managed by Sluganski. The mercenary known as Paladin
is often seen working for Silver, seeming to get most of his jobs
directly from her, though Sluganski could still be involved in the
paperwork, I suppose. Also, Wild Pack member Crippler
(Karl Striklan) was shown to still take solo bounty hunting gigs even
while employed with the team (such as in Silver Sable and the Wild
Pack I#24) and may have worked with Sluganski to get those jobs, though
in his case, I'd believe he was more likely doing it through his own
contacts.
Profile by Patrick D Ryall.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Wildeman should be distinguished from:
Adelle
was Ernie Sluganski's secretary at Silver Sable International. On one
occasion when Sluganski had been attacked by Speed Demon, she tried to
contact the Rocket Racer by pager to warn him, but was unable to do so. When
Bob tried to answer the page, Speed Demon showed up and filled us in on
what happened. Adelle was never seen on panel nor had a legible line of dialogue. --Web of Spider-Man Annual#7/2 - BTS |
Appearances:
Spectacular Spider-Man I Annual#10 (1990) - Tony Isabella (writer), Alan Kupperberg (artist), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Marvel Tales I#242/2 (October, 1990) - Tony Isabella (writer), Alan
Kupperberg (penciler), Rudy Nebres (inks), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Marvel Tales I#250/2 (June, 1991) - Tony Isabella (writer), Alan Kupperberg (artist), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Web of Spider-Man Annual#7/2 (1991) - Tony Isabella (writer), Paris
Cullins (penciler), Dave Cooper (inker), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
First posted: 11/26/2023
Last updated: 11/26/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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