Characters : The Persuader

 
 

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Attributes

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 170 lbs

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Blonde

Features: His eyes glow when he uses his power.

Summary

Created By: Gerry Conway, Sal Buscema

Real Name: Roland Rayburn

Current Aliases: None

Former Aliases: None, though the Arranger once accidentally referred to him as "Roland Raymond".

Dual Identity: Known to Authorities

Current Occupation: Dead

Former Occupation: Wall Street Trader

Citizenship: United States of America

Legal Status: Deceased

Place of Birth: Never revealed

Marital Status: Single

Known Relatives: None

Known Confidants: None

Known Allies: After conversion: The Arranger, Andrew (one of the Kingpin's men)

Major Enemies: The Punisher, Tombstone, Spider-Man

Usual Bases: None

Former Bases: New York City, Dallas

Current Groups: None

Former Groups: Worked for the Kingpin

Education: Unknown but at least an undergraduate degree

 

Powers & Paraphenalia

Strength Level: Normal human

Powers: The mutant power of persuading people to do whatever he wanted them to do.

Abilities: Nothing other than his persuasion powers.

Equipment: The Persuader's costume was designed to focus and augment his persuasion powers.

Weapons: None

Limitations: Picked on the Punisher right off the bat. (Oh, and his powers didn't work on anyone who was truly prepared for them.)

 
 

Background

Roland Rayburn was a mutant with the power of persuading others to do whatever he suggested. Hardly aware of his abilities, Rayburn used them subconsciously to become a top-notch trader on Wall Street. Unfortunately, his abilities were noticed by the Kingpin who sent the hitman Tombstone to abduct him. He was taken to the Kingpin's assistant (known as the Arranger) and was there subjected to various drugs and intimidation until he was brainwashed into working for Fisk. He donned a costume and became the Persuader. Once he started using his power consciously, he learned that he very much enjoyed manipulating others to his will.

The Persuader's first job involved persuading the Punisher to join the Kingpin's war against the Lobo Brothers. Unfortunately for the Persuader, the Punisher became a particularly difficult subject to keep in his power. As soon as the Punisher broke free of the persuasion, he ruthlessly gunned down his captor, ending the short, ultimately unlucky career and life of the Persuader.

The Persuader is only a Spider-Man villain in that he solely appeared in Spectacular Spider-Man, but he never once used his power on the Web-Slinger. He may be more accurately termed a Punisher villain who didn't live long enough to appear anywhere else.

Thanks To:

Some of the above information is extracted from the various versions of the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe and the more recent Marvel Encyclopaedias.

The assistance of the Marvel Chronology Project is gratefully acknowledged.

 

 
 

Character Appearances

Feb 1988 App: Web of Spider-Man #35
  Appears, uses powers, no costume
Feb 1988 App: Web of Spider-Man #35
  Uses powers on cabbie
Mar 1988 App: Web of Spider-Man #36
  Uses powers on girl-friend
May 1988 App: Spectacular Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #138
  First full Roland Rayburn appearance
Jun 1988 App: Spectacular Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #139
  Origin issue
Aug 1988 App: Spectacular Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #141
  First appearance in costume
Sep 1988 App: Spectacular Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #142
  Apparently breaks the will of the Punisher
Oct 1988 App: Spectacular Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #143
  Killed by the Punisher
 

By Al Sjoerdsma (E-Mail)


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