BERMUDA SCHWARTZ
Real Name: Bermuda Schwartz (probably)
Identity/Class: Normal human (fringe character)
Occupation: Traveling thief, tourist
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: None
Enemies: Madballs (Aargh, Bruise
Brother, Fist Face, Goal Eater, Screamin' Meemie)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mobile, notably Belly-Hai in the Caribbean
First Appearance: Madballs#7/2 (December,
1987)
Powers/Abilities: Bermuda Schwartz is an
unscrupulous man who smokes heavily and covets wealth. He utilizes
several types of gadgetry of unrevealed origin to achieve his nefarious
schemes. The most potent is the Cosmic Camera with a temporarily
blinding flash and a freeze frame attachment that paralyzes the target
until they are jolted suddenly. Using his garish clothing, he can
produce a sudden close-range sonic boom at will that repels attackers.
He has a fondness for cigars, but a weakness at reading maps.
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 185 lbs.
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Black
History:
(Madballs#7/2 (fb) - BTS) - Bermuda Schwartz had a
notorious reputation for robbery. He eventually made his way to the
Caribbean holiday atoll island of Belly-Hai. Coincidentally, the
self-levitating Madballs (Aargh, Bruise Brother, Fist Face, Goal Eater,
Screamin' Meemie) had chosen to vacation there. At the Seaside Hotel,
Schwartz froze hotel workers using his Cosmic Camera and stole money
from the hotel while the staff were incapacitated.
(Madballs#7/2) - The Madballs arrived at the hotel
just as Schwartz was leaving. Minor fashion insults escalated to
confrontation and Schwartz forced the Madballs back with a sonic boom
from his garishly colored shirt. With the Madballs stunned, Schwartz
wandered off, counting his loot, then checked his map to find the
Belly-Hai Bank's location. The Madballs soon recovered and gave chase.
Outside the bank, Schwartz froze them in midair with his Cosmic Camera
and blew them out into the sea using smoke puffs from his cigar. The
Madballs dropped and sank into the sea, but were jolted back to their
senses by Murray the electric eel. The Madballs
resurfaced and Fist Face used a hand mirror to reflect the Cosmic
Camera's freeze effect when Schwartz tried using it on the Madballs a
second time. Completely paralyzed, Schwartz was carried by the Madballs
to the jail where police locked him up.
(Madballs#9 (fb) - BTS) - Schwartz's capture by the
Madballs was reported in the newspaper.
Comments: Created by Michael Gallagher, Howard Post, Roberta Edelman.
He introduced himself as "Bermuda Schwartz--the
terrible tourist!" Remembering this was the 1980s, Schwartz reflected
that era's stereotype of the loud annoying American tourist, which has
since faded... The cliche was with white socks, but Schwartz (German
for black) has black socks.
"Bermuda Schwartz" is a play on words for the
iconic fashion wear "Bermuda shorts", while "Murray Eel" is a play on
"moray eel" (maybe even a nod to the legendary Bill Murray).
"Belly-Hai" would be a pun on "belly hair" and the show tune "Bali Hai"
from the stage musical South Pacific (the song's name refers to a
mystical island) -- thanks to Snood for recognizing the show tune reference!
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Bermuda Schwartz has no known connections to:
Murray Eel was an electric eel that lived not far from the shores of the tourist holiday island of Belly-Hai. Murray considered himself a comedian and sought validation from those around him. When the five Madballs fell into the sea after being paralyzed by Bermuda Schwartz's Cosmic Camera, they lay motionless on the seabed and didn't respond to Murray's awful jokes. Frustrated, Murray triggered an electric shock that reinvigorated the heroic Madballs and they surged away to confront Schwartz on land.
--Madballs#7/2
images:
(without ads)
Madballs#7/2, p3, pan2 (main image)
p5, pan2 (headshot with Cosmic Camera)
p6, pan3 (Murray Eel)
Appearances:
Madballs#7/2 (December, 1987) - Michael Gallagher (writer), Howard
Post (pencils), Roberta Edelman (inks), Sid Jacobson (editor)
Madballs#9 (April, 1988) - Michael Gallagher (writer), Laura Hitchcock
(inspiration), Howard
Post (pencils), Roberta Edelman (inks), Sid Jacobson (editor)
First posted: 06/03/2025
Last updated:
06/03/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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