Gambler (comics)
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Gambler is a fictional supervillain in the DC Universe. He first appeared in 1944 as a foe of the original Green Lantern. He was also one of the members of the original Injustice Society, which often combated the Justice Society of America.
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[edit] Steven Sharp III
Steven Sharpe III came from a long line of compulsive gamblers. When he proposed to his girlfriend, Helen, the day after his high school graduation, she refused unless he could prove he was not a compulsive gambler like his grandfather. She then ran off with a "Pool Hall" Charlie, another gambler, who had just won a fortune on the lottery. Sharpe vowed to become a new person after this day. As luck would have it, an armored truck crashed a few feet away from him. Seeing this as a sign, Sharpe helped himself to all of the money he could get and vowed to take whatever he could from life from that day on. He adopted the name the Gambler in remembrance of his grandfather. For the next few years, the Gambler joined a traveling carnival, where he gained his skills with disguises, pistols, and throwing knives.
[edit] Criminal Career
Sharpe was immeadiately successful as a criminal. He started off robbing trains and small town banks. Growing bored, he moved East to the big cities. He was spotted in Gotham City by Green Lantern while standing next to his own wanted poster. The Gambler eluded Green Lantern twice using his special Derringer, which could fire ammonia or blackout gas in addition to real bullets. Green Lantern was finally able to catch the Gambler at a horse race where Gambler had turned the horses towards the crowd to cover his escape. Gambler was imprisoned in the Gotham Penitentiary.
Gambler, like most criminals in comics, was extremely adept at escaping from prison. Perhaps his boldest escape was in 1946 when he wrote a note to Green Lantern telling the hero that he would escape prison and daring the hero to stop him. When the hero arrived to search the prison, he was surprised to see his friend Doiby Dickles in a cell. The Gambler had used his mastery of disguise to confuse Green Lantern. In the confusion, Gambler managed to escape, as well as freeing all of the inmates of the prison. He used the real Dickles as a hostage to escape Green Lantern. In another escape, Gambler bribed the executioner at his own electrocution to rig the floor to be electrocuted instead of the chair. This incapacitated the crowd and allowed him to escape.
Gambler clashed with Green Lantern many more times over the years. At one time, he won a gambling vessle and armed it to the teeth. Another time he helped an art collector commit insurance fraud, coming into conflict with Starman and Sandman.
Gambler was one of the original members of the Injustice Society, which planned to kill the Justice Society and control the United States. This group failed miserably, and Gambler returned to prison. He escaped from prison again and came into conflict with The Flash and Green Lantern. He even teamed up with Icicle and Fiddler in an attempt to kill Starman.
[edit] Later Life
At one point, Gambler married and had a son. He had two grandchildren to whom he gave much of his criminal knowledge. The last time that Sharpe was paroled, he traveled to Las Vegas. He fell in love with the gambling in the Taj Mahal Casino. What the Gambler did not know was that the games in this casino were rigged. He soon lost all off his money. This final defeat coupled with all of the defeats he had suffered at the hands of costumed heroes was too much for Sharpe. Using his famous Derringer pistol, he shot himself in the head. His death was later avenged by his granddaughter, Rebecca. She became the villain known as Hazard. His grandson, Steven V, also became a villain: the second Gambler.
[edit] Family
The Gambler must have had at least two sons. His two known grandchildren, Rebecca (Hazard) and Steven V (the new Gambler) were both named Sharpe, but were referred to as cousins.
[edit] Steven Sharp V
Steven Sharp V is the grandson of Steven Sharp III, the original Gambler. He took over his grandfather's mantle as the Gambler. While keeping his identity as the Gambler hidden and masquerading as the Joker, he reorganized and reoutfitted the Royal Flush Gang. Under his leadership, the Gang battled the New Titans, but were defeated. (New Titans #68-69)
