Gambleris the name of three supervillains appearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byDC Comics.
Eric Goins portrays the Steven Sharpe incarnation of Gambler in the television seriesStargirl.
Publication history
editThe Steven Sharpe III version of Gambler first appeared in 1944 inGreen Lantern#12 in a story titled "The Gambler" by writerHenry Kuttnerand artistMartin Nodell,as a foe of the originalGreen Lantern.[1]In October 1947, the Gambler was one of the six original members of theInjustice Society,who began battling theJustice Society of AmericainAll Star Comics#37 (Oct. 1947).[2]
The Steven Sharpe V version of Gambler first appeared inNew Titans#68 and was created byKarl Kesel,Barbara KeselandSteve Erwin.
Fictional character biographies
editSteven Sharpe III
edit| Gambler | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Green Lantern#12 (summer 1944) |
| Created by | Henry Kuttner Martin Nodell |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Steven Sharpe III |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Black Lantern Corps Injustice Society |
| Abilities |
|
Steven Sharpe IIIoriginates from a long line of compulsive gamblers. When he proposes to his girlfriend Helen the day after his high school graduation, she refuses due to his habits and leaves him. Following this, Sharpe becomes the criminal Gambler and joins a traveling carnival, where he gained his skills with disguises, pistols, and throwing knives.
In subsequent appearances, Gambler battles theGreen Lanternand joins theInjustice Societybefore losing all of his money to a rigged casino and committing suicide.[1]His granddaughter Rebecca becomes the supervillainHazard,while his grandson Steven V becomes the second Gambler.
InBlackest Night,Gambler is temporarily resurrected as aBlack Lantern.[3]In theDC Rebirthrelaunch, Gambler appears in flashbacks to the 1940s.[4]
Steven Sharpe V
editAfter the death of Steven III, Steven Sharpe V succeeds him as the Gambler. While keeping his identity as the Gambler hidden and masquerading as theJoker,he reorganizes theRoyal Flush Gang.[1]Under his leadership, the Gang battle theNew Titans,but are defeated.[5]
The Gambler allies withAmos Fortune,theWizard(William Zard), and the secondSportsmaster,and creates a super-powered "fight club" using members of the Justice Society as combatants. The fight club was broken up byStargirl,Gypsy,andVixen.[1]
Third Gambler
editInDC Rebirth,an unnamed Gambler was seen trying to rob a bank, only to be thwarted bySimon BazandJessica Cruz.[6]
Powers and abilities
editGambler is an expert gambler, strategist, and master of disguise. Despite lacking any real superpowers, his cunning nature and talent for spotting opportunities makes him extremely unpredictable and dangerous.
Equipment
editGambler is highly skilled with his signature weapon, aderringerpistol he keeps concealed on his person and has been modified to shoot different kinds of gases depending on the situation. He is also highly trained in the use of throwing knives.
In other media
edit- Steven Sharpe / Gambler appears inStargirl,portrayed by Eric Goins.[7]This version is a member of theInjustice Society of America(ISA), an expert computer hacker, and the absentee father of Rebecca "Becky" Sharpe. Furthermore, in his civilian identity, he is the egocentric and cut-offCFOof The American Dream, a private firm that works to economically revitalize Blue Valley. Throughout his appearances, he battles Stargirl and attempts to reconcile with Becky before being killed by theUltra-Humanite.
- The Steven Sharpe III incarnation of the Gambler appears inAll-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold#7.
References
edit- ^abcdWallace, Dan (2008), "Gambler", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.),The DC Comics Encyclopedia,New York:Dorling Kindersley,p. 134,ISBN978-0-7566-4119-1,OCLC213309017
- ^Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019).DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle.DK Publishing. p. 52.ISBN978-1-4654-8578-6.
- ^Blackest Night#4. DC Comics.
- ^Hawkman(vol. 5) #27. DC Comics.
- ^New Titans#68-69
- ^Green Lanterns#15. DC Comics.
- ^Mitovich, Matt Webb (July 11, 2022)."Stargirl Wants to Help Bad Guys 'Break Good' in Season 3 Trailer — But Does Starman Have a Problem With That?".TVLine.RetrievedOctober 26,2024.