JACKPOT,
The One-Armed Bandit
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Human mutate
Occupation: Gambler, Assassin
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Farrell; formerly Archie Sloan
Enemies: Cleft Chin, Howard the Duck, Archie Sloan, Beverly Switzler, unnamed mafia chieftain
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: The One-Armed Bandit
Base of Operations: Cleveland, Ohio (of course)
First Appearance: Howard the Duck II#1/2 (October, 1979)
Powers: Jackpot is a walking slot
machine. While he is missing his left arm, his right arm triggers
the rolls in his eyes. If they come up in a match (which they
always did), he would spew volumes of coins from his mouth. He
apparently created the coins from his own matter or energy
stores, as he could be exhausted (and nauseated) by too frequent
and/or rapid use of his power. He could spew a surfeit, nay, a
plethora of coins--enough to bury and suffocate a person, or to
stop a moving car. Each of the coins serves as Jackpot's calling
cards, as they are all distinctly marked with his name.
In addition, he is a compulsive gambler. He is more than willing
to use his powers to take out competitors, or players in a game,
in order to improve his odds of victory.
History: The source of Jackpot's powers
are unknown.
"I once bet an arm and a leg against a mafia chieftain
that I could pull off a heist before the he could. I lost the
arm--but I made off with the leg and the loot! Since then he
learned that there's no such thing as too big a gamble
for--Jackpot, the One-Armed Bandit!"
(Howard the Duck II#1/2) - Jackpot bet on
Farrell, a marathon runner, to win the Cleveland Marathon.
Jackpot made a deal with the promoter of the Marathon, Archie
Sloan, to fix the race. However, the race "got too big
for a fix," and Sloan tried to weasel out of it.
Jackput punished his reneging by burying him under a pile of
coins, killing him.
Jackpot then decided to take matters into his own hands and
ensure his own victory. Cleft Chin, another runner, was running
in the lead. Jackpot drugged a drink that Cleft grabbed as he
raced by. Chin soon passed out, but correctly suspecting foul (or
is that fowl?) play, Howard the Duck pulled the runner into his
cab and decided to help him. Beverly reasoned, "Someone
cheated to keep Cleft out of the Marathon...We've got the cheat
to keep him in!"). Anyway, they drove Cleft along the
race course.
Undaunted, Jackpot
rushed in front of Howard's cab and stopped it with a deluge of
coins. Howard attempted to fend off Jackpot, using his Quak Fu
skills. Jackpot recognized the fighting style of a devotee of
Master Chaaj, but knocked Howard back with (you guessed it!)
a burst of coins. Beverly rushed to Howard's aid, but Jackpot
turned to unleash his crushing coinage on her. Howard jumped on
Jackpot's back and triggered Jackpot's right arm
repeatedly--exhausting his token stores, and giving him a bad
case of the mollygrubs in the process. Howard and Beverly left
Jackpot sprawled out on the ground, moaning "Gaak--Barf!
Oy, my stomach!"
Howard and Beverly rushed Cleft Chin to the finish line and
helped him cross it--the winner!
Comments: "Suggested" by Mark Gruenwald. Plotted by Bill Mantlo and Gene "The Dean" Colan.
"Jackpot! That's the name and the game! I'll wager you've never heard of me--but I've got a style that'll roll your bones!"
Somewhere, up above, I suspect Mark
Gruenwald is looking down at this and saying, "...mmm...you
don't really have to credit me for this one..."
That's ok, Jackpot only appeared in eight pages, and so the
obvious gag didn't have time to get too old. I liked it, anyway.
CLARIFICATIONS: You
kidding?
Well, no known connections to any other Jacks or Pots.
Cleft
Chin
The Marathon Runner sabotaged by Jackpot, and
assisted by Howard and Beverly.
--Howard the Duck II#1/2
Archie
Sloan
The head of Bets-R-Off Race Promotions,
he agreed to fix the bet for Jackpot, but was killed by him when
he tried to back out of the deal.
--Howard the Duck II#1/2
images:
Last updated: 08/02/02
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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