FIREFALL
Real Name: Archie Stryker
Identity/Class: Human cyborg
Occupation:
Criminal (wanted felon), would-be seeker of vengeance
formerly gangster, thief;
formerly US soldier
Group Membership: None
Affiliations:
Fellow gang members (Basher, Maverick, and one name
unrevealed), Rom (briefly);
formerly Dire Wraiths
(pawn)
Enemies:
Police, Dire Wraiths (Senator David Carlisle, Dr. Daedalus, Agent Kevin Kraller, General Nolan Sutherland, Dr. Rachel
Sweet, others):
formerly Rom
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Central east coast, USA
First Appearance: Rom#2 (January, 1980)
Powers/Abilities: Stryker was a small-time crook who had been trained in the military and maintained excellent strength, stamina and reflexes, but was somewhat naive. When bonded with the Firefall armor, he was empowered to wield the living flame of Galador which he used to shoot flaming blasts. His armor was almost as strong as Rom's and included a back-mounted rocket pack for flight.
History:
(Rom#3 (fb) - BTS) - Archie Stryker fought in the Korean War and was awarded a medal for valor in 1953 (see comments). Back in the USA, he turned to a life of crime, primarily robbery and violence.
(Rom#2) - Stryker with three other gang members kidnapped the plant manager of Laserium Corp to force him to open the safe, but Rom arrived, on the trail of a Dire Wraith. Spooked by Rom's Energy Analyzer and encouraged by the manager, who was actually a disguised Dire Wraith, the criminals opened fire but were swiped aside by Rom. As Rom attempted to banish the Wraith, Stryker grabbed a nearby laser cannon and opened fire, but the Galadorian destroyed the weapon. Stryker watched as Rom used his Neutralizer to eliminate the Wraith, but all Stryker saw was the weapon turn a man into dust. Rom rocketed away as the police arrived, headed by another Dire Wraith in human form. Stryker let himself be arrested, swearing loudly that he would destroy the alien "monster" for killing a human. The next day, the police chief Wraith took Stryker to where Rom had been sighted. Staggered by Wraith weapons, Rom nevertheless grabbed the police car, casting Stryker out of the vehicle, before banishing the Wraith as Stryker again looked on helpless but enraged.
(Rom#3) - Stryker was brought to Project Safeguard in Maryland where several Dire Wraiths, also in human form posing as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, psychologist, senator and general, showed the criminal footage of Rom's violent encounter with the West Virginia National Guard. Wanting vengeance on Rom for "killing" apparent humans, the four Wraiths offered Stryker the opportunity take down Rom. Stryker accepted and was quickly trained, demonstrating quick thinking and strength. Stryker then willingly had himself bonded to the captured Galadorian armor of Firefall, taking the name as well, but ignorant of its origins. Aware of another of Rom's attacks against a (Wraith) base, the new Firefall attacked Rom with the living flame, with the Spaceknight stunned by the appearance of his former friend's armor.
(Rom#4) - The battle between Rom and the armored Stryker took to the skies with Rom still taken aback by an angry Earthman in Galadorian armor. The living flame from Firefall knocked Rom back to earth. Stryker refused to believe Rom's explanation of the conflict with the Dire Wraith and how Stryker himself had now been bonded with Galadorian living armor. Fighting to a standstill, Rom eventually knocked down Stryker, who had become disoriented as his body finally and fully merged with the Firefall armor, but which became damaged with Rom's blows.
(Rom#5) - Newly arrived police identified the now unconscious Stryker as a wanted felon, but he was instead taken away by Dire Wraiths posing as human government agents using anti-grav disks. The aliens took Stryker back to Project Safeguard, but Stryker finally realized that he had been duped by the Dire Wraiths.
(Rom#6) - Stryker was secured at Project Safeguard and railed against the disguised Dire Wariths. Concerned that he might become an enemy, the Wraith called Dr. Sweet injected him with a sedative while Dr. Daedalus watched on a viewscreen how Stryker's nervous system continued to bond with the Galadorian armor.
(Rom#11) - Still held in stasis at Project Safeguard, Stryker saw Rom be brought in captive with his Neutralizer encased in a mystic forcefield. The Dire Wraith Dr. Daedalus, instructed to kill the human inside the Firefall armor, was instead incinerated by Stryker when the Wraith came too close. Rom then smashed himself free and helped Stryker down, promising to guide him to Galador so that he could have the alien armor safely removed. Rom went for his Neutralizer but stopped, knowing that piercing the force-sphere would drain all the Galadorian armor's energy and kill him. Resolute in wanting to stop the invasion of Earth by Dire Wraiths, Stryker launched himself at the force-sphere, sacrificing his life to release Rom's weapon.
(Rom#12) - Rom stood near Stryker's corpse as he dispatched more Dire Wraiths using his Neutralizer.
Comments: Created by Bill Mantlo (writer) and Sal Buscema (pencils & inks).
The Korean War is topical in this context.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Firefall (Stryker) should not be confused with:
and has no known connections to:
images:
(without ads)
Rom#4, cover (main image)
Rom#3, p3, pan1 (headshot)
Appearances:
Rom#2-6 (January-May, 1980) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Sal Buscema
(pencils
& inks), Jo Duffy (editor)
Rom#11-12 (October-November, 1980) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils
& inks), Jo Duffy (editor)
First Posted: 03/09/2011
Last updated: 03/22/2014
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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