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MR. DESTRUCTO

Real Name: Matt Maple

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Earth-93060/Ultraverse) human

Occupation: Domestic terrorist

Group Membership: None;
   formerly U.S. military

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Det. Chuck Brown, Jonny Domino, Hardcase, Sportsmen, citizens of Los Angeles

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Los Angeles, USA

First Appearance: Hardcase Premiere Edition (July, 1993)

Powers/Abilities: Mr. Destructo had been trained in demolitions during overseas military operations years ago and had no qualms about killing people. Overweight and overconfident, he could handle guns and the like.

Height: 5'9" (by approximation)
Weight: 170 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

History:

(Hardcase Premiere Edition (fb) - BTS) - Matt Maple, a military veteran and demolitions expert, took on the moniker Mr. Destructo and decided to hold Los Angeles ransom, threatening to blow up landmarks unless he was paid off. Incorrectly suspecting the villain may be superpowered, LAPD Det. Chuck Brown asked ultrahuman hero Hardcase for help. Mr. Destructo planted two bombs, detonating the first bomb in West Hollywood at the Golden Apple, killing 10 and injuring 35. He stayed nearby to admire his work, hiding in the crowd of onlookers.

(Hardcase Premiere Edition) - Hardcase arrived at the bomb site and used his enhanced senses to detect the bomber's thrilled heart rate. Seeing the hero, Mr. Destructo guiltily ran away to his car and fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the pursuing hero, hitting him full in the chest. Hardcase's near invulnerability saved him and he stopped Mr. Destructo's escape. Taken to the police station for questioning, Mr. Destructo warned of one more planted bomb set to go off that night, but refused to reveal its whereabouts without payment. While there were various events in L.A. that night, Hardcase went on a hunch to the Hollywood Bowl where musician Jonny Domino (who would later become the ultra Night Man) was playing and prevented anyone getting injured.

(Firearm I#2 (fb) - BTS / Firearm I#3 (fb) - BTS) - Maple was incarcerated but later released. However, he was kidnapped a week after getting out of prison by the cannibalistic ultrahuman group, the Sportsmen, who hunted lone, overweight, military veterans for sport. The Sportsmen hunted him at their country retreat and ate him at a luxurious feast.

(Firearm I#2 (fb) - BTS) - Researching movie stuntman Danny Velez's disappearance, investigator Alec Swan was informed of a possible connection to Maple's disappearance, as both had been former U.S. military.

(Firearm I#2) - Hardcase told Swan he vaguely recalled Velez and only knew Maple as Mr. Destructo, but did note that both men were a bit overweight.

(Firearm I#4) - While taking down the Sportsmen, Swan found their trophy room, which included the mounted heads of their past kills.

Comments: Created by James Robinson (concept), James Hudnall (writer) and Art Nichols (design, art).

Special thanks to Snood for noting the Firearm appearance.

Hardcase Premiere Edition is the 8-page ashcan.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Mr. Destructo has no known connections to:


images: (without ads)
Hardcase Premiere Edition, p4, pan5 (main image)
   p5, pan2 (headshot)


Appearances:
Hardcase Premiere Edition (July, 1993) - James Hudnall (writer), Art Nichols (art), Hank Kanalz (editor)
Firearm#2 (October, 1993) - James Robinson (writer), Cully Hamner (pencils), John Lowe (inks), Hank Kanalz (editor)
Firearm#4 (December, 1993) - James Robinson (writer), Cully Hamner (layouts), Tim Eldred (pencils), John Lowe (inks), Hank Kanalz (editor)


First Posted: 08/21/2017
Last updated: 08/24/2017

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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