The Sportsmen (comic)
Encyclopedia
The Sportsmen were foes of Alec Swan, also known as Firearm
. They first appeared in Firearm #1, from Malibu Comics
.
The group come to believe they are evolved, far better than the 'common breed' of humanity. They begin kidnapping military men, for the enjoyment of the hunt. They choose overweight men, for the Sportsment are cannibals, who 'like a little fat with our meat'.
As the leader of the Sportsmen, Davenport, says, according to Shaw, "Every impulse we strive to strangle broods in the mind and poisons us...the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it." Later, Davenport learns from Alec Swan that it was really Oscar Wilde
who said this.
Swan is sent out into the woods, with signs literally pointing the way to a firearm, but not -his- firearm, which is currently being kept in the Sportsmen's trophy room. Andre, a close friend of Marley, is the first to pursue. Alec swiftly kills him. Several other Sportsmen soon die.
Swan then attempts to escape by stealing a car, which the Sportsmen had rigged to explode. Swan escaped at the last moment.
, a member who had wings growing out of his back which allowed him to fly, escaped Swan, distracted and attracted by a mysterious light in the sky. Davenport met his end at Swan's hands.
Firearm (comics)
Firearm was a comic book series created by writer James Dale Robinson and artists Howard Chaykin and Cully Hamner for Malibu Comics' Ultraverse imprint, which lasted 18 issues, with an additional 0 issue. The 0 issue included a 35-minute Firearm movie, on VHS...
. They first appeared in Firearm #1, from Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics was an American comic book publisher active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, best known for its Ultraverse line of superhero titles. The company's headquarters was in Calabasas, California. Malibu imprints included Aircel Comics and Eternity Comics...
.
Origin and Motivations
The Sportsmen are a group of wealthy superpowered Ultras. At birth or puberty, they all developed superpowers and the instinct to keep them a secret. These powers assist them in rising to the top at school and in the business world. Eventually, they all become leaders in various industries, all based on the West Coast. Through their work, they came into contact and began informal meetings. They pooled money to purchase a 'small' forest retreat.The group come to believe they are evolved, far better than the 'common breed' of humanity. They begin kidnapping military men, for the enjoyment of the hunt. They choose overweight men, for the Sportsment are cannibals, who 'like a little fat with our meat'.
As the leader of the Sportsmen, Davenport, says, according to Shaw, "Every impulse we strive to strangle broods in the mind and poisons us...the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it." Later, Davenport learns from Alec Swan that it was really Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
who said this.
Hunting Alec Swan
While investigating the disappearance of Arnie Tate, Swan battles Marley, one of the Sportsmen. Eventually he kills him. Swan is captured anyway and taken to the Sportsmen's estate. All but two of the surviving Sportsmen are there, the missing are away on business. He learns that Arnie 'was delicious' and that he will become the next victim of the hunt. Swan protests, saying that he is not overweight, but this is taken care of via Tate's overweight fiancé, Claire Brody. She will also be the guarantee of Alec providing sport. They promise that she will be let free if Alec puts up a fight.Swan is sent out into the woods, with signs literally pointing the way to a firearm, but not -his- firearm, which is currently being kept in the Sportsmen's trophy room. Andre, a close friend of Marley, is the first to pursue. Alec swiftly kills him. Several other Sportsmen soon die.
Swan then attempts to escape by stealing a car, which the Sportsmen had rigged to explode. Swan escaped at the last moment.
Defeat
The Sportmen, thinking Swan dead, prepared to feast on Claire Brody. Swan, meanwhile, infilatrates their citadel and saves Claire. He ambushes the Sportsmen at their dinner table. Taken by surprise, Swan was able to battle them on equal footing. Swan is attacked by the Sportsmen's staff members and kills them all. In the end, only Edwin MosleyEdwin Mosley (comics)
Edwin Mosley is a comic book villain created by writer James Dale Robinson and artist Cully Hamner that appeared in the Malibu Comic's Ultraverse book Firearm.-Sportsmen:...
, a member who had wings growing out of his back which allowed him to fly, escaped Swan, distracted and attracted by a mysterious light in the sky. Davenport met his end at Swan's hands.
Members
- Davenport - Armored suit with the power of flight; shot by Swan
- Edwin MosleyEdwin Mosley (comics)Edwin Mosley is a comic book villain created by writer James Dale Robinson and artist Cully Hamner that appeared in the Malibu Comic's Ultraverse book Firearm.-Sportsmen:...
- Wings growing out of his back allowed flight; Escaped - Marley - Reptile-like ultra; killed by Swan with an explosive round
- Andre - Able to convert hands into blades; shot by Swan
- Mace - Ultra powers unrevealed; killed by Swan using Andre's blade hands
- Lonny - Ultra powers unrevealed; garrotted by Swan with barbed-wire
- Radley - Able to fly and possibly project energy; shot by Swan
- Unnamed member - Able to project energy through his hands; shot by Swan
- Unnamed member - Ultra powers unrevealed; shot by Swan
- Two unnamed members; ultra powers unrevealed; Mosley dispatched