FLEA

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: waiter, informant

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Black Mariah, Luke Cage (Power Man), Commanche, Phil Fox, Señor Suerte (Ramon Garcia), Shades

Enemies: Luke Cage (Power Man), Cottonmouth, Mrs. Jenks, Bossman Morgan, Albert "Billy Bob" Rackham, Stiletto

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Manhattan, New York

First Appearance: Luke Cage, Hero for Hire#5 (January, 1973)

Powers/Abilities: Flea had no particular fighting abilities, but he did have the ear of the street, which allowed him to gain information on pretty much everything that was going down.

History:
(Luke Cage, Hero for Hire#5) - Luke Cage approached Flea for information about a fake ambulance that had stolen the body of Frank Jenks. Flea gave him a location, and insisted on $50 for it, but Cage told him he'd get the money only if the information checked out. The address turned out to be a building next to the operations of Black Mariah, whose agents spotted Cage snooping around next door and ambushed them. Cage defeated them all, and when he next encountered Flea he refused to pay him, believing he had been set up. However, Flea tricked Jenks' widow into thinking Cage had told him she would pay him, which she did, accusing Cage of being a snake for having manipulated her.

(Luke Cage, Hero for Hire#11) - Cage sought information on Señor Suerte from Flea, who promised to get it for him, but then, still bitter over his perceived mistreatment by Cage, he contacted Suerte and let him know Cage was coming for him. In gratitude, Suerte gave him $500 credit at his casinos with unlimited bar service, as long as he also followed his instructions to send Cage into a trap, which Flea gladly did.

 

(Luke Cage, Hero for Hire#16 (fb)) - At a bar, Flea met Broadway columnist Phil Fox, who got drunk and showed him about Dr. Noah Burstein's experiments at Seagate prison, which contained evidence that could send Luke Cage back to jail.

(Luke Cage, Hero for Hire#16 (fb) - BTS) - Based on what he had learned in the journal, Flea began keeping tabs on Albert "Billy Bob" Rackham.

(Luke Cage, Hero for Hire#16 (fb) - BTS) - Flea observed Shades and Comanche, recognizing them from Burstein's journal.

(Luke Cage, Hero for Hire#16 (fb)) - Flea convinced Shades and Comanche that they could join together with Cage on "something of interest."

(Luke Cage, Hero for Hire#15) - Cage came to Flea for information on who had stolen Noah Burstein's journals. Flea led him to a liquor store where Shades and Comanche were waiting for him.

(Luke Cage, Hero for Hire#16) - Flea told Cage how he had come to work with Shades and Comanche, and how they would help him to rescue Claire Temple from Rackham. In exchange, Flea apparently wished to join in a protection racket with Shades and Comanche, with Cage serving as their personal superhero to "protect" their customers, in order to allow them to compete with Bossman Morgan, the head of the Harlem rackets.
    Flea led the other three to the house where Rackham held Temple, but they were all then attacked by Stiletto, son of Seagate's warden Tyler Stuart, who wished vengeance for his father's losing his job. The roof collapsed, and Flea got Claire to safety, while Cage carried out Shades and Comanche and then defeated Stiletto.
    When Shades and Comanche were taken away by the police, Flea decided that he didn't want to risk his life by trying to blackmail Cage on his own.

(Luke Cage, Power Man#18) - Cage came to Flea for information on from whom Diamondback (Willis Stryker) had stolen the heroin to frame Cage, sending him to prison. Flea learned that the drugs had come from Cornell Cottonmouth, but he was discovered by them. He called Cage to meet him quickly, but by the time Cage arrived, Cottonmouth had poisoned him, and he only had time to tell Cage who had poisoned him before dying.

Comments: Created by Steve Englehart, George Tuska, and Billy Graham.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
No known connection to:

images:
Luke Cage, Hero for Hire#5, p12, panel 4 (face)
    16, p32, panel 3 (walking)

Appearances:
Luke Cage, Hero for Hire#5 (January, 1973) - Steve Englehart (writer), George Tuska (pencils), Billy Graham (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Luke Cage, Hero for Hire#11 (July, 1973) - Steve Englehart (writer), George Tuska (pencils), Billy Graham (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Luke Cage, Hero for Hire#15 (November, 1973) - Steve Englehart, Billy Graham & Tony Isabella (writers), Billy Graham (artist), Roy Thomas (editor)
Luke Cage, Hero for Hire#16 (December, 1973) - Steve Englehart, Billy Graham & Tony Isabella (writers), Billy Graham (pencils), Frank McLaughlin (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Power Man#18 (April, 1974) - Len Wein (writer), George Tuska (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)

Last updated: 11/29/04

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