Willis Stryker
Willis Stryker is a male comic supervillain who features in Marvel Comics.
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Biography
Willis Stryker
As a young man, Stryker and Lucas both worked for the Rigoletto family whose Don referred to Willis as Diamonback. The pair were present when they saw the Don killed by his former enforcer Wilson Fisk who told Stryker and Lucas to dispose of the former Rigoletti's leaders body. This was said to be the first time that he had ever held a dead body in his arms. (Defenders v5 #8)
Whilst in prison, Carl took part in an experiment which granted him super strength and unbreakable skin. Carl broke out of prison and returned to New York, establishing himself as a hero for hire under the alias of Luke Cage as a means of making money whilst he looked to get revenge on Stryker. (Hero for Hire v1 #1) Stryker ordered his men to kidnap Cage in retaliation for Cage having interfered in the crime syndicate's business. When this failed, Stryker decided to deal with Luke Cage personally and ordered his weapon designer Gadget to create some trick knives that could harm the hero for hire. To draw him out, Stryker kidnapped Claire Temple a doctor who recently befriended Cage. After rescuing Claire, Cage revealed to Stryker that he was in fact Carl Lucas, and that he did not die during his escape from prison. Stryker battled Cage on a rooftop but during the fight Stryker fell through a skylight and was blown up by one of his own trick knives. (Hero for Hire v1 #2)
As Mister Sky, he went to Alias Investigations where Jessica Jones believed him to be a prospective client only for him to reveal that he was the mysterious new crime lord looking to be the Kingpin of Crime and he shot her in the stomach as a message to Luke Cage and his allies namely to say that Diamondback was back. (Free Comic Book Day Vol 2017 All-New Guardians of the Galaxy v1 #1)
He began running an operation that distributed his new designer drug Diamond. (Defenders v5 #4)
Stryker would become one of the many crime lords competing with Mister Negative over claiming the Tablet of Life and Destiny in order to gain a favour from Mayor Wilson Fisk. (Amazing Spider-Man v5 #59)
Overview
Personality and attributes
He would once operate under the alias of Mister Sky. (Free Comic Book Day Vol 2017 All-New Guardians of the Galaxy v1 #1)
He admired how Wilson Fisk had risen to become the Kingpin with him stating that it was inspiring. (Defenders v5 #8)
Powers and abilities
After his resurrection, he seemingly gained some degree of superhuman strength as he was able to flip over a car with one hand, and catch a punch from the Iron Fist. (Defenders v5 #2)
He began distributing a new brand of drug named Diamond that was Inhuman Growth Hormone (I.G.H.) which when consumed gave the person a look at their ultimate potential followed by a rush that they felt for hours. However, it did not mix well with other drugs and could lead to the persons death if they took it with other concoctions. (Defenders v5 #4)
Notes
- The Willis Stryker Diamondback was created by Archie Goodwin and George Tuska where he made his first appearance in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire v1 #1 (June, 1972)
Alternate Versions
- In House of M: Avengers v1 #1 (2007), an alternate version of Diamondback appeared as a native of the House of M in the reality designated Earth-58163 in the Multiverse. This version was a Mutant with reptilian features where he came to befriend Luke Cage.
In other media
Television
- In Luke Cage, Willis "Diamondback" Stryker appeared as an antagonist in the live-action Netflix television series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where he was portrayed by actor Erik LaRay Harvey.
- In Jessica Jones, Willis Stryker was referenced in the setting of the live-action Netflix television series in the episode, "AKA Everything". Cage stated he had Stryker incarcerated in the Raft.
Appearances
- Luke Cage, Hero for Hire v1:
- Defenders v5:
- Amazing Spider-Man v5:
External Links
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