MALLERMALLER
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Human, low-tech weapon-user
Occupation: Extortionist, racketeer
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Jokester, Puffin, Quizling
Enemies: Gordonski, Howard the Duck (as Duck-Man), Spruce Payne, Beverly Switzler
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Currently
unknown;
formerly Mammoth Mall, Miami, Florida
First Appearance: Howard the Duck II#8/3 (November, 1980)
Powers/Abilities: The Maller wore razor-sharp blades on his gloves and helmet, and he could slice foes to pieces in short time.
History:
(Howard the Duck II#8/3) - The Maller--aided by his agents
Jokester, Puffin, and Quizing--coerced the owners of the
businesses of Mammoth Mall into paying him 50% of their profits.
(Howard the Duck II#8/3) - Spruce Payne--developer
of Super-Scent, an extract from the sweat of super-heroes--hired
Jokester, Puffin, and Quizling to act as the villains in an
advertising promotion for Super-Scent at Mammoth Mall. Payne's
other employees, Howard the Duck and Beverly Switzler, posed as
Duck-Man and Duck Girl, super-heroes who stopped the villains
from stealing the Super-Scent. The promotion successfully brought
in many new buyers, but Payne quickly discovered that his villain
actors had charged him five times the agreed on price. The three
villains then confronted Payne telling him he needed a license to
operate in Mammoth Mall, which served as a protection fund. Payne
refused to acquiesce to their demands of 50% partnership, telling
them that he wouldn't give up his sales and marketing strategy as
long as he lived. The villains agreed to Payne's terms--taking
over his enterprise after his untimely demise, at which point the
Maller appeared and slew Payne. After slashing him to death with
his blades, the Maller tossed him inside a giant bottle of Super-Scent.
They then raided Payne's safe and fled.
Shortly thereafter, Howard and Beverly
arrived to prepare for the next show, and they discovered by Mall
Security--led by Howard's old nemesis, Gordonski--who mistook
them for the killers. Fleeing in their Duckmobile, Howard and
Beverly literally ran into the escaping criminals. After taking
out the Maller's henchmen, Howard sucked the Maller up in an over-sized
vacuum hose, but the Maller simply tore himself free. Howard then
backed into the Maller, slamming him into a wall, and then took
off down the Mall, with the Maller in tow. At the last second,
Howard and Beverly ejected from the Duckmobile, which crashed
into a pizzeria, launching the Maller into a giant pizza pie.
Entangled in melted cheese, the Maller was left for Gordonski and
the rest of the mall security.
Comments: Created by Bill Mantlo and Marshall Rogers.
The over-sized appliances seem reminiscent of Batman, as well.
Marshall Rogers work on the Earth-1 Batman with Steven
Englehart in the 1970's was highly regarded, and he reunited with Englehart for
a recent mini-series.
--Per Degaton
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
No known connection to:
The Jokester has no known connection to:
The Quizling has no known connection to:
One of the Maller's henchmen, he enjoyed the benefits of their protection racket, as well as making money by acting on the side. After serving as a villain actor opposite Duck-Man and Duck Girl in Spruce Payne's Super-Scent promotion, the three actors confronted Payne and demanded he agree to give them 50% of his profits. Payne refused, at which point the Maller slew him. Fleeing with Payne's money, the Maller and his henchmen were discovered by Howard and Beverly in their costumes and Duckmobile. Howard smashed the Jokester into an over-sized function iron with the Duckmobile, leaving him flat as a...well-ironed shirt.
The Jokester didn't demonstrate any powers or abilities. He had a sick sense of humor, and he offered to work at parties--straight on otherwise...
The Jokester was an obvious parody of DC's Joker.
--Howard the Duck II#8
One of the Maller's henchmen, he enjoyed the benefits of their protection racket, as well as making money by acting on the side. After serving as a villain actor opposite Duck-Man and Duck Girl in Spruce Payne's Super-Scent promotion, the three actors confronted Payne and demanded he agree to give them 50% of his profits. Payne refused, at which point the Maller slew him. Fleeing with Payne's money, the Maller and his henchmen were discovered by Howard and Beverly in their costumes and Duckmobile. Howard knocked the Puffin into an over-sized toaster oven, and he came out looking like some freshly risen dough, complete with his pipe and hat.
The Puffin carried a rolling pin, with which he whacked people on the head.
The Puffin was an obvious parody of DC's Penguin.
--Howard the Duck II#8
One of the Maller's henchmen, he enjoyed the benefits of their protection racket, as well as making money by acting on the side. After serving as a villain actor opposite Duck-Man and Duck Girl in Spruce Payne's Super-Scent promotion, the three actors confronted Payne and demanded he agree to give them 50% of his profits. Payne refused, at which point the Maller slew him. Fleeing with Payne's money, the Maller and his henchmen were discovered by Howard and Beverly in their costumes and Duckmobile. Howard knocked the Quizling into a giant blender, which ground him up.
The Quizling did not demonstrate any particular abilities.
The Quizling was an obvious parody of DC's Riddler.
--Howard the Duck II#8
images:
Howard the Duck II#8/3, p7, panel 3 (full body Puffin + Jokester)
panel 4
(Puffin face)
panel 6 (Quizling
face)
p10, panel 1 (full body Quizling)
p15, panel 1 (Maller)
panel 4
(Jokester face)
Appearances:
Howard the Duck II#8 (November, 1980) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Marshall Rogers (artist), Lynn Graeme (editor)
Last updated: 09/26/05
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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