REAPER
Real Name: Louis Dawson
Identity/Class: Normal human, conventional technology/weapon user
Occupation: Police officer
Group Membership: 11th Precinct SWAT team, NYPD
Affiliations: Norm Riggs
Enemies: Chuck, Reverend Otis Jeaver, Iron Fist (Daniel Rand), Power Man (Luke Cage), Sly
Known Relatives: unnamed wife, Andy (son)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: New York, USA
First Appearance: Power Man and Iron Fist#109 (September, 1984)
Powers/Abilities: As a well-trained SWAT agent, Dawson knew hand-to-hand combat techniques, how to use weapons and how to use or build devices with offensive purposes. As the Reaper, he used a gun, irritating spray, anaesthetic liquid, a flamethrower, a machine gun and explosive grenades. He wore a hooded cape with a red mask.
History:
(Power Man and Iron Fist#109 (fb)) - Dawson was a police member of SWAT. During a mission, while waiting several hours to capture some terrorists, his son Andy died in an accidental fire at his home, and his wife was wounded. The tragedy deeply shocked Dawson. The breakdown made him fall into a near catatonic state during which the only thing he could speak of was revenge. After some months in a sanitarium, he was sent to work in a government farm to attend another psychiatric recovery program. Among other jobs, he learnt to reap grain. Dawson went back home apparently cured, but his hate and insanity still governed his actions. He secretly started building tools in his warehouse, tools for the "coming war".
(Power Man and Iron Fist#109) - The event that made his mind snap was the death of his best friend, Norm. Norman Riggs, a cop, died on service while trying to arrest a young robber (Sly) who was later appointed as being responsible for Norm's death. For Dawson, the field of evil grain was full, and the harvest was ready, so he donned the mask and suit of the Reaper. His wife saw him on time and fled from home, managing to reach Heroes for Hire and asked Iron Fist's help.
The Reaper, however, was prepared for opposition. When Iron Fist knocked at his door, he blinded the hero using an irritating spray. Iron Fist's training let him "feel" his adversaries, even if blinded, but the Reaper didn't walk. Hanging from a girder, he double-kicked Iron Fist, knocking him out. The Reaper bound the superhero then left for the place of his revenge.
The Reaper had learnt from TV where the boy responsible for Norm's death was entrapped: the church of Reverend Jeaver in Harlem. After having knocked out some of his colleagues, the Reaper entered the church and found Power Man. His flamethrower did not hurt Cage, but instead put the church on fire. An explosive grenade distracted Power Man so he could reach the young killer. But, when the Reaper saw the "evil" he had come to cleanse, Dawson only saw a boy, recalling him to be like his own son. His insanity disappeared, but the church was still on fire. Dawson helped Sly. A hole in the floor opened under their feet and Dawson rolled under Sly breaking the boy's fall. Iron Fist carried the Reaper and Sly out of the church just before it collapsed. Dawson was then arrested.
(Civil War: Battle Damage Report) - Tony Stark considered Dawson a potential recruit for the Initiative.
Comments: Created by Alan Rowlands (writer), Greg LaRoque (pencils) and Danny Bulanadi (inks).
Profile by Spidermay.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Louis Dawson, the Reaper, has no known connections to
Chuck was an NYPD agent. Chuck and another agent were posted on a roof behind the church where Sly was hidden. They were ordered by Scarfe not to move, but Chuck's colleague was rather impatient and didn't want to wait. Both Chuck and his colleague were silently knocked down by the Reaper.
--Power Man and Iron Fist#109
Mrs. Dawson was Louis Dawson's wife and Andy's mother. She was wounded by the fire accident which killed her son and it took months of cosmetic surgery to cover her scars. She was worried about her husband because even when he went back home after the period in the government farm, she noticed that Louis was too quiet and calm. However, he seemed to be content tinkering with his tools and she didn't annoy him. But when Norm Riggs was killed, she discovered Louis wearing an odd costume and felt that he had become dangerous. Having heard that Power Man was involved, she asked Iron Fist to stop his husband. Iron Fist accepted. Later, Mrs. Dawson went to the church in Harlem and could see her husband again, without a mask, saved by Iron Fist before the church collapsed.
--Power Man and Iron Fist#109
Andy Dawson was Louis' only son. Andy died in an accident while his father was waiting to attack a hideout of some terrorists. Andy's death triggered his father's total breakdown.
--Power Man and Iron Fist#109
Reverend Otis Jeaver was a friend of Luke Cage. Rev. Jeaver found Sly in his church in Harlem, understanding that the boy needed help. He listened to the boy and posed as a hostage to keep the police forces at bay and out of the church. When Luke Cage appeared, Rev. Jeaver happily welcomed him, knowing that good help would come from him, and convinced Sly to explain to him what had happened. Shortly after, the church was set on fire by the Reaper. Jeaver was weakened by the smoke and Sly did not want to leave him. The Reaper took Sly with him and Jeaver managed to step down the stairs but fainted just before the church collapsed. Power Man protected him with his body, saving him.
--Power Man and Iron Fist#109
Norman Riggs was a policeman, a friend of Louis Dawson and a colleage of Lt. Scarfe. One day while on duty, Riggs chased a boy (Sly) who had stolen a little TV. Riggs stopped him in the subway and pulled his gun, but was surprised by the boy's reaction. Riggs was pushed, lost his balance and fell onto the tracks. A train was passing and went over him.
--Power Man and Iron Fist#109
Sly was a boy living in Harlem. His folks had died the year before, so when a TV reporter interviewed him about the poor situation in New York, he was happy to tell his story because he was one of them. Two days later, Sly wanted to see his interview so thought to rob a TV to watch it. Afterwards, he'd have returned it. But when he stole a small television set, he was tracked down by Norman Riggs in the subway. Riggs drew a gun and Sly, scared, jumped at him, pushing him onto the tracks. Unfortunately a train arrived just at that moment and Riggs was killed. Sly was surrounded by the crowd accusing him of killing the cop, so he grabbed Rigg's gun and fled, pursued by other cops, till he reached Rev. Jeaver's church. There, the reverend tried to help him by not letting the police enter in the church, and spoke with the boy and with Luke Cage. At 5 p.m., Sly switched the TV on to see the interview but the program was interrupted by a special report on the situation at the church where they were. Meanwhile, the Reaper had slipped into the church. Cage couldn't stop him so he reached Sly and Jeaver. Dawson understood that Sly wasn't the "evil grain he had to reap" and helped him to get out of the fire. The floor opened under their feet and Sly was saved by Dawson's body. Iron Fist arrived and carried them out while Power Man saved Reverend Jeaver.
--Power Man and Iron Fist#109
images:
(without ads)
Power Man and Iron Fist#109, p15, pan3 (Reaper, main image)
Power Man and Iron Fist#109, p18, pan4 (head shot, front)
Power Man and Iron Fist#109,
p5, pan3 (Dawson as a SWAT member)
Power Man and Iron Fist#109, p11, pan1 (Chuck)
Power Man and Iron Fist#109,
p5, pan2 (Mrs. Dawson)
Power Man and Iron Fist#109, p5, pan4 (Andy Dawson)
Power Man and Iron Fist#109, p11, pan4 (Rev. Jeaver)
Power Man and Iron Fist#109, p7, pan4 (Norm Riggs)
Power Man and Iron Fist#109, p12, pan2 (Sly)
Appearances:
Power Man and Iron Fist#109 (September, 1984) - Alan Rowlands (writer),
Greg LaRoque (pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Denny O'Neil (editor)
Civil War: Battle Damage Report (2007) - Anthony Flamini & Ronald Byrd (writers), Jeff Youngquist (editor)
Last updated: 07/15/08
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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