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8-Ball (comics)
Encyclopedia
8-Ball is the name used by different characters from Marvel Comics
. The first 8-Ball fully appeared in Sleepwalker
#2 although he was seen on the television in #1.
. A former defense contractor
who designed missile propulsion systems, Jeff Hagees took to playing pool to relieve the stress of his job. He soon amasses large gambling debts, which arouses the suspicion of his employers, who thought he was selling company secrets to raise money to pay off his debts. Although they had no proof, Hagees' employers fired him. Combining his love of pool with his engineering talents, he fashions a criminal identity for himself as 8-Ball, inventing his cue stick weapons, and engaging in a highly successful crime spree in New York with his gang. In one of his costumed robberies, he faces the alien Sleepwalker
, who demands to know what he was doing. Sleepwalker had the battle won and nearly captured 8-Ball for the police, until Rick Sheridan (the human to whom Sleepwalker is bonded) woke up. The alien is forced back into Rick's mind. 8-Ball escaped.
8-Ball witnesses a fight between female supervillains while at a "Bar With No Name": Black Mamba
, Asp
, and Impala
vs. Battleaxe
, Steel Wind
, and Golddigger.
When 8-Ball and Sleepwalker next meet, 8-Ball proves victorious; he distracts the hero by shooting innocent bystanders. He attempts to kill Sleepwalker, although the alien hero manages to escape. Later, when Rick and Sleepwalker had switched bodies, 8-Ball and the Hobgoblin
each attack Rick, trying to kill what they thought was Sleepwalker to win a $100,000 bet. The inexperienced Rick is no match for them, which made 8-Ball realize that Rick was not the actual Sleepwalker. 8-Ball defeats Hobgoblin to make him stop, although by that time Rick was already dying. 8-Ball later abandons Rick to his fate, marking his last appearance in the Sleepwalker series.
At some point, 8-Ball is finally captured and imprisoned. He teams up with a number of other villains against the She-Hulk
, although they are defeated.
8-Ball (with his real named revealed to be Jeff Hagees at the time) joins up with Freezer Burn, Humbug
, and Whirlwind
. They steal from the crime lord Ricadonna
by breaking into her home later at night while she is at a party. They leave with what is unwittingly a dangerous computer virus; they are caught by a hidden camera.
Freezer Burn is slain by Razor Fist
as part of Ricadonna's revenge plan. 8-Ball is tracked down at his grandmother's house by the bounty hunters Misty Knight
and Colleen Wing
. Before he can give them any information, 8-Ball is killed by the Wrecker
who uses a grenade on the car he was in. Ricadonna is later imprisoned.
and Daredevil
roust the bar with unofficial support from the police.
in the shape of pool rack and led a gang of costumed villains, named also after pool balls. He designed a cue stick
equipped with mechanisms enabling it to amplify the force applied to objects it strikes a thousand times over, turning them into potentially lethal missiles. 8-Ball was known to use everything from tires to dumpsters to cars as weapons in this manner. The cover to Sleepwalker #2 portrays him blasting an entire telephone booth at the hero. 8-Ball also used explosive grenades
and fireworks
, a round floating hovercraft, and flying miniature cameras, all painted to resemble billiard balls.
8-Ball is a skilled gymnast, expert pool player, experienced designer of missile propulsion systems, and a gifted inventor.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. The first 8-Ball fully appeared in Sleepwalker
Sleepwalker (comics)
Sleepwalker is a Marvel Comics character created by Bob Budiansky. He is named after his race, and is the star of a self-titled comic book which ran for 33 issues from June 1991 to February 1994, with one Holiday Special. All but two of the issues were written by Budiansky, with Tom Brevoort and...
#2 although he was seen on the television in #1.
Jeff Hagees
The man who would later become 8-Ball was born in Duluth, MinnesotaDuluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
. A former defense contractor
Defense contractor
A defense contractor is a business organization or individual that provides products or services to a military department of a government. Products typically include military aircraft, ships, vehicles, weaponry, and electronic systems...
who designed missile propulsion systems, Jeff Hagees took to playing pool to relieve the stress of his job. He soon amasses large gambling debts, which arouses the suspicion of his employers, who thought he was selling company secrets to raise money to pay off his debts. Although they had no proof, Hagees' employers fired him. Combining his love of pool with his engineering talents, he fashions a criminal identity for himself as 8-Ball, inventing his cue stick weapons, and engaging in a highly successful crime spree in New York with his gang. In one of his costumed robberies, he faces the alien Sleepwalker
Sleepwalker (comics)
Sleepwalker is a Marvel Comics character created by Bob Budiansky. He is named after his race, and is the star of a self-titled comic book which ran for 33 issues from June 1991 to February 1994, with one Holiday Special. All but two of the issues were written by Budiansky, with Tom Brevoort and...
, who demands to know what he was doing. Sleepwalker had the battle won and nearly captured 8-Ball for the police, until Rick Sheridan (the human to whom Sleepwalker is bonded) woke up. The alien is forced back into Rick's mind. 8-Ball escaped.
8-Ball witnesses a fight between female supervillains while at a "Bar With No Name": Black Mamba
Black Mamba (comics)
Black Mamba is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe, most notably a member of the Serpent Society and BAD Girls, Inc.-Publication history:...
, Asp
Asp (comics)
The Asp is a former supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe, most notably a member of the Serpent Society and BAD Girls, Inc.. She was created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary, and first appeared in Captain America vol. 1 #310....
, and Impala
Impala (Marvel Comics)
Impala is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe.-Fictional character biography:Impala is female, and was apparently born in Zambia, Africa. She is a mercenary and professional criminal, but follows a strict honor code. A non-powered athlete and fighter, she carries various throwing...
vs. Battleaxe
Battleaxe (comics)
Battleaxe is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe-Publication history:Battleaxe first appeared in The Thing #33 , and was created by Michael Carlin and Ron Wilson....
, Steel Wind
Steel Wind (comics)
Steel Wind is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe, she is a cyborg and mercenary who is normally employed by the Freakmaster and Centurious. She has a sister who has also become a cyborg and goes by the alias Steel Vengeance...
, and Golddigger.
When 8-Ball and Sleepwalker next meet, 8-Ball proves victorious; he distracts the hero by shooting innocent bystanders. He attempts to kill Sleepwalker, although the alien hero manages to escape. Later, when Rick and Sleepwalker had switched bodies, 8-Ball and the Hobgoblin
Jason Macendale
Jason Philip Macendale, Jr. is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Machine Man #19 , and was created by writer Tom DeFalco and artist Steve Ditko....
each attack Rick, trying to kill what they thought was Sleepwalker to win a $100,000 bet. The inexperienced Rick is no match for them, which made 8-Ball realize that Rick was not the actual Sleepwalker. 8-Ball defeats Hobgoblin to make him stop, although by that time Rick was already dying. 8-Ball later abandons Rick to his fate, marking his last appearance in the Sleepwalker series.
At some point, 8-Ball is finally captured and imprisoned. He teams up with a number of other villains against the She-Hulk
She-Hulk
She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
, although they are defeated.
8-Ball (with his real named revealed to be Jeff Hagees at the time) joins up with Freezer Burn, Humbug
Humbug (comics)
Buck Mitty, known as Humbug, is a fictional character that appeared in the Marvel Comics universe. Humbug was originally a super-villain but later became a super-hero and a member of the Heroes for Hire.-Fictional character biography:...
, and Whirlwind
Whirlwind (comics)
Whirlwind is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales To Astonish #50 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Fictional character biography:...
. They steal from the crime lord Ricadonna
Ricadonna
Ricadonna is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe of comics.-Fictional character biography:Ricadonna is one of the main characters in the Daughters of the Dragon comic series. In the series, Ricadonna is a multi-billionaire. She is a mob-queen and enemy of Misty Knight...
by breaking into her home later at night while she is at a party. They leave with what is unwittingly a dangerous computer virus; they are caught by a hidden camera.
Freezer Burn is slain by Razor Fist
Razor Fist
Razor Fist is a Marvel Comics supervillain. There have actually been 3 characters, all virtually identical in appearance and ability, to go by this title. The original Razor Fist was killed off in the comic books many years ago. The next two characters to take the title were brothers...
as part of Ricadonna's revenge plan. 8-Ball is tracked down at his grandmother's house by the bounty hunters Misty Knight
Misty Knight
Misty Knight is a fictional character in Marvel Comics' Marvel Universe. She was first mentioned in Marvel Premiere #20 and appeared in the next issue. She normally appears with Colleen Wing.-Publication history:...
and Colleen Wing
Colleen Wing
Colleen Wing is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Colleen Wing first appeared in Marvel Premiere #19 , and was created by Doug Moench and Larry Hama.-Fictional character biography:...
. Before he can give them any information, 8-Ball is killed by the Wrecker
Wrecker (comics)
The Wrecker is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Wrecker was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appears in The Mighty Thor #148 The Wrecker (Dirk Garthwaite) is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics....
who uses a grenade on the car he was in. Ricadonna is later imprisoned.
Legacy
A successor to the original 8-Ball (wearing a simple cowl mask instead of the full-face mask of his predecessor) was present as one of the villains in the Bar With No Name. Spider-ManSpider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
and Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
roust the bar with unofficial support from the police.
Powers and abilities
8-Ball was a brilliant engineer with an advanced degree in engineering, who created a four-man hovercraftHovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
in the shape of pool rack and led a gang of costumed villains, named also after pool balls. He designed a cue stick
Cue stick
A cue stick , is an item of sporting equipment essential to the games of pool, snooker and carom billiards. It is used to strike a ball, usually the...
equipped with mechanisms enabling it to amplify the force applied to objects it strikes a thousand times over, turning them into potentially lethal missiles. 8-Ball was known to use everything from tires to dumpsters to cars as weapons in this manner. The cover to Sleepwalker #2 portrays him blasting an entire telephone booth at the hero. 8-Ball also used explosive grenades
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
and fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
, a round floating hovercraft, and flying miniature cameras, all painted to resemble billiard balls.
8-Ball is a skilled gymnast, expert pool player, experienced designer of missile propulsion systems, and a gifted inventor.
8-Ball's gang
The members of 8-Ball's gang were 6-Ball, 9-Ball and 11-Ball. Their weapons included exploding billiard balls.Other 8-Balls
There are other minor characters who have the temporarily held the mantle of Eightball. These include:- Fatboys member, Eight-Ball, who was the boyfriend of the first Jubilee (Darla). He first appeared alongside the Fatboys in Daredevil #248.
- Mr. Pow, an agent of Oddjob, took on the mantle as Eightball and only appeared in Deadline #2.
- A member of the Yancy Street GangYancy Street GangThe Yancy Street Gang are a fictional street gang occasionally featured in the Fantastic Four comic book published by Marvel Comics. The Yancy Street Gang was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Fantastic Four #15 , though mostly off-panel; as in most of their appearances,...
, is called Eightball as well and has only appeared in ThingThing (comics)The Thing is a fictional character, a founding member of the superhero team known as the Fantastic Four in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee in The Fantastic Four #1...
vol. 2 #6.
External links
- 8-Ball (disambiguation) at Marvel.com