SPEAKEASY
Real Name: Walter Slocum
Identity/Class: Human (deceased/resurrected), magic user
Occupation: Currently unknown; former drug dealer
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Agent of Reverend Styge
(and possibly Centurious); empowered by the magics of Chthon;
once used by Caretaker
Enemies: Stacy Dolan, Ghost Rider (Dan Ketch/Noble Kale), Punisher (Frank Castle)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases:
none
Base of Operations: formerly the Church of the Resurrection, Brooklyn, New York
First Appearance: Darkhold#5 (February, 1993)
Powers: Speakeasy is a reanimated corpse
possessing the full memories of his original life. He is not
subject to human limitations (air, food, water, etc.) and he is
not stopped by seemingly mortal wounds. He is in a constant state
of decay, and is quite stinky.
His primary ability is to communicate with the spirits of the
dead. He is powered by magic derived from the Darkhold, and thus
Chthon.
History: (Darkhold#5) - Walter
"Speakeasy" Slocum was a smooth-talking, ruthless drug
dealer working under the necromantic Reverend Styge. The Punisher
tracked him down to the Church and killed him. Styge, using the
power granted to him by a page of the Darkhold, resurrected
Speakeasy "halfway", leaving him in a state in-between
life and death. This state granted him full mobility and thought,
and allowed him to communicate with both the living and the dead.
Seeking revenge on the Punisher for busting up one of his
operations, Styge sent Speakeasy to locate the Punisher.
Speakeasy told the Punisher the conversations he had had with
Castle's dead wife, Maria, and told him that Styge could
resurrect his family. Castle did believe him, but followed him
anyway, in order to take out Styge.
After Styge's defeat, a corpse-looking guy, who may have been
Speakeasy, picked up Styge and brought him back to their master,
presumably Centurious.
(Darkhold#15) - During the events of the Siege of Darkness, Speakeasy was driven into madness by the voices of the dead, whose whispers had become a roar.
(Marvel Comics Presents#145/3) - Caretaker, of the Blood, was captured by the Fallen. In order to get a warning to Ghost Rider/Ketch, Caretaker took a gamble by goading Patriarch into severely wounding him. While Caretaker hovered in a state between life and death he communicated the warning to Speakeasy. Speakeasy, in turn, located Ghost Rider, but was still overwhelmed by the "screams of the dead that were driving me berserk." Ghost Rider and Stacy Dolan beat Speakeasy into submission, and Ghost Rider used his "Penance Stare™" to bring him back to his senses. Speakeasy communicated the warning.
Comments: Created by Chris Cooper and Richard Case.
Clarifications:
Speakeasy has no known connection:
images: (without ads)
Marvel Comics Presents#145, p2, pan4 (main image)
Appearances:
Darkhold#5 (February, 1993) - Chris Cooper (writer), Richard Case &
Al Bigley (pencils), Mark McKenna & Ariane Lenshoek (inks), Hildy
Mesnik (editor)
Darkhold#15 (December, 1993) - Chris Cooper (writer), Rurik Tyler (pencils), Bud LaRosa (inks), Hildy Mesnik (editor)
Marvel Comics Presents#145 (early Januar, 1994) - Chris Cooper
(writer), Reggie Jones (pencils), Fred Harper (inks), Richard Ashford
(editor)
Last updated: 08/01/02
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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