ERNIE SLUGANSKI

Real Name: Ernie Sluganski

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: Manager for mercenaries contracted by Silver Sable International

Group Membership: Silver Sable International (Silver Sable/Silver Sablinova, others)

Affiliations: Adelle, Andy Taylor, Professor McKimson, Rocket Racer (Bob Farrell), Silver Sable (Silver Sablinova), various unidentified clients of Silver Sable International

Enemies: C.I.T.Y., Packrats (Bert and Hubie Packer), Speed Demon (James Sanders), various unidentified targets of Silver Sable International

Known Relatives: Tilly (aunt)

Aliases: "Sluggo" (insulting nickname used by Rocket Racer)

Base of Operations: Symkarian Embassy, New York City, New York, USA

First Appearance: Spectacular Spider Man I Annual#10 (1990)

Powers/Abilities: Sluganski has no superhuman abilities but one expects he was decent at his jobs given the high standards of Silver Sable.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'8'')
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 170 lbs)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black

History: (Spectacular Spider-Man I Annual#10/4 (fb) - BTS) - Sluganski worked for Silver Sable International as a contact and manager for mercenaries in their employ. He did not approve of the company's tendency to pick former criminals for the job but respected Silver enough to accept it. Still, he tended to be brusque with the mercenaries when he didn't care for them. When working with Bob Farrell, the Rocket Racer, he did not assign him jobs unless they were deemed "unimportant" enough that a loser like the Racer could be relied on for them.

(Spectacular Spider-Man I Annual#10/4 (fb)) - After some time without employing the Racer, Sluganski gave him a bounty hunting job to capture Bert and Hubie Packer. When Farrell requested he not be given the job because he related to the young criminals, Sluganski reminded the Racer that the company already gave him a lot of leeway because of his schooling and familial concerns so if he didn't take the case, he would be fired.

(Spectacular Spider-Man I Annual#10/4 (fb) - BTS) - Sluganski called Sheriff Andy Taylor and told him to keep the Racer from messing up the mission. After Bob reported his success, Sluganski was surprised.

(Marvel Tales I#242) - After Bob failed a mission to capture stolen property from the super-criminal Speed Demon, Sluganski yelled at Bob until the Speed Demon called and offered to ransom back the goods if Rocket Racer delivered the money. Sluganski agreed and provided Bob with a trick suitcase that contained a concealed net trap. Bob did manage to catch Speed Demon, injuring him in the process. Sluganski received news that Speed Demon intended to sue the company for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

(Marvel Tales I#250 (fb)) - Sluganski sent the Rocket Racer on a mission for Professor McKimson to catch a janitorial robot called C.I.T.Y., which had gone rogue.

(Web of Spider-Man I Annual#7/2) - Speed Demon dragged Sluganski across town, where he got into a fight with the Rocket Racer. While Bob fought the criminal, he told a nearby police officer to get an ambulance for Sluganski. Later, after Bob had defeated Speed Demon, he visited Sluganski in the hospital. Sluganski informed Bob that he'd earned his respect over time and that he and Silver Sable agreed Bob was ready for more important jobs now.

Comments: Created by Tony Isabella and Alan Kupperberg

    The amount of hair Sluganski has varies between stories to an extent that suggests he may make use of a hairpiece. The always-present sides are black however.

    It's never brought up if Sluganski is Symkarian or if he's an American employed by Sable.

    Also, he cited his aunt Tilly as someone who could do a better job than Rocket Racer so she may be real or he may have made her up just for the insult.

    We have only ever seen Sluganski working with Rocket Racer (Bob Farrell) but we have to assume that he was involved with other operatives hired by Silver Sable as well. The Prowler (Hobie Brown) was working for them around the same time as Bob and could very well have been managed by Sluganski. The mercenary known as Paladin is often seen working for Silver, seeming to get most of his jobs directly from her, though Sluganski could still be involved in the paperwork, I suppose. Also, Wild Pack member Crippler (Karl Striklan) was shown to still take solo bounty hunting gigs even while employed with the team (such as in Silver Sable and the Wild Pack I#24) and may have worked with Sluganski to get those jobs, though in his case, I'd believe he was more likely doing it through his own contacts.

Profile by Patrick D Ryall.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Wildeman should be distinguished from:

• The Slug (Ulysses X. Lugman) - crime boss--Captain America I#324
• Slug (Simon Slugansky) - Munition Militia member--Daredevil V#21
  
• Sluggo (Bernard Hoyster) - Weapon X-mutated mercenary--X-Force I#22
• any other "Slug" characters or anyone named Ernie

Appearances:
Spectacular Spider-Man I Annual#10 (1990) - Tony Isabella (writer), Alan Kupperberg (artist), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Marvel Tales I#242/2 (October, 1990) - Tony Isabella (writer), Alan Kupperberg (penciler), Rudy Nebres (inks), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Marvel Tales I#250/2 (June, 1991) - Tony Isabella (writer), Alan Kupperberg (artist), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Web of Spider-Man Annual#7/2 (1991) - Tony Isabella (writer), Paris Cullins (penciler), Dave Cooper (inker), Danny Fingeroth (editor)

First posted: 11/26/2023
Last updated: 11/26/2023

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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