GREY PANTHER

Real Name: Dr. Gerard "Gerry" Atric

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: Former director of the Wake No More Nursing Home; former physician

Group Membership: The Geratrics

Affiliations: Residents of Wake No More Nursing Home (Mrs. Rosenzweig, Mr. Samson, Mrs. Sweeney, Rose, Tillie)

Enemies: Howard the Duck, Simon Sampson, Beverly Switzler;
    anyone under 30 years old

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Dr. Arric, Avenger of the Arthritic, Savior of the Senile

Base of Operations: Wake No More Nursing Home, Miami, Florida

First Appearance: Howard the Duck II#8 (November, 1980)

Powers/Abilities: He apparently had some sort of "Panther Prowess (copyright: patent pending)" that spared him from the debilitating effects of old age, though he could still suffer a heart attack. His Sanctum Sanctorum contained a number of devices with waldo-type arms that would force others to rock in a chair, to knit, to play shuffleboard or checkers, to eat bland food, etc. Some of his agents were equipped with rocket-powered wheelchairs, and those forced to play shuffleboard could also be forced to launch the pucks at others.

History:
(Howard the Duck II#8 (fb) - BTS) - Somehow gaining "Panther Prowess (copyright: patent pending)" that spared him from the debilitating effects of old age, Dr. Gerry Atric saw his fellow seniors being treated as second-class citizens, sent off to nursing homes, and forced to live boring lives. He decided to devote his remaining years to aid other seniors less fortunate than himself. He set up the Wake No More Nursing Home, designing a variety of weapons/torture devices and began capturing all hired attendants under the age of thirty. Those captured were imprisoned in the Grey Panther's Sanctum Sanctorum, where they were forced to perform the boring activities that senior citizens were expected to do. Atric took the seniors' anger at being shut away out of sight, convinced them of their usefulness, and channeled both of these into a desire for revenge. He proclaimed that the old would inherit the Earth...or at least Miami.

(Howard the Duck II#8 (fb) - BTS) - Social Security agent Simon Sampson was sent to investigate Wake No More, both for Social Security fraud and because of the disappearing attendants. Sampson suspected the location of a trap door to Dr. Atric's sanctum, but its hidden palm lock only reacted to people over the age of 70, and Sampson was a little too young.

(Howard the Duck II#8) - Howard the Duck and Beverly Switzler were hired to work at Wake No More, and Beverly was soon captured. Howard himself was wrapped up in knitting yarn and knocked into a pool by a shuffleboard puck. As he sunk, the Grey Panther told him that it was time to prepare for the dawning of a new era: The New Age of the Old Aged! Howard was saved by Simon Sampson; as it was Sampson's 70th birthday that day, he led Howard through Atric's secret trap door, and they glimpsed the under 30 year-old prisoners being forced to perform various "Senior" activities. Howard rushed to confront the Grey Panther, but was captured by a waldo and tossed about, ultimately ending up held in a wheelchair and forced to eat bananas. However, Sampson took advantage of the distraction, rushing forward and shooting Atric's command console, blowing it to bits. Atric attempted to gain vengeance on Howard, but then suffered a heart attack and keeled over. He was taken away in an ambulance to recover in prison.

Comments: Created by Bill Mantlo, Gene Colan, and Dave Simons.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Grey Panther should be distinguished from:

• The Gray Panthers, a real world organization concerned with senior citizens, http://www.graypanthers.org/
• The Black Panther, T'Challa, and all of his predecessors as the leader of Wakanda's Panther Cult
• "Happy Pants" Black Panther, an alternate future Black Panther @ Black Panther III#35
• The Black Panthers, a real world political movement promoting the rights of African Americans, http://www.blackpanther.org/