| Bushmaster | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Super Friends #45, (June 1981) |
| Created by | E. Nelson Bridwell (writer) Romeo Tanghal (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Bernal Rojas |
| Team affiliations | Global Guardians |
| Abilities | His suit mimics the abilities and properties of various South American reptiles |
Bushmaster is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Super Friends #45 (June 1981), and was created by E. Nelson Bridwell and Romeo Tanghal.[1]
Contents |
Bernal Rojas is a herpetologist who invented gadgets that mimic the abilities of reptiles, past and present. He helps Batman and Robin dismantle a bomb in Venezuela and hunt down a criminal. He also becomes a founding member of the Global Guardians.[2] Later, he is seen in Paris, France, assisting his Guardian teammates against a horde of Apellaxian aliens. Along with other Global Guardians, he is brainwashed by the Queen Bee of Bialya.
While under the will of the Queen Bee, he and his team travel to the French embassy of Justice League International. The Queen, in an attempt to raise positive public perception for her brainwashed team, sends a robot, created by a member of the Dominators to attack both teams. During the battle, Bushmaster demonstrates the ability to blend like a chameleon, use of a technological shield that can snap open in a moment and the ability to construct large weaponry in seconds.
The entire team ends up escaping the influence of the Queen Bee, thanks to the influence of rogue Justice League members.
Bushmaster moves back to Venezuela. He is called in to help with a hostage situation at a local bank. The criminals agree that he can enter, unarmed, to negotiate. He enters with a snake and disturbs the criminals with the idea the snake might be poisonous, which allows him to defeat the criminals easily. Outside the bank, he is attacked by the ancient entity Fain Y'onia. During the battle, he is temporarily blinded by Fain and knocked back inside the bank. He lands near one of the hostage-takers, who is being arrested by a plainclothes policeman. The criminal grabs the officer's gun and shoots Bushmaster three times in the chest, killing him.[1]
Enraged, Fain sends a blast of energy at the criminal. It kills him and three nearby police officers.
Fain would go on to confront the other Guardians, killing Thunderlord. After his defeat, statues are erected to all the Guardians who have died over the years. Bushmaster's has him holding out a snake. [3] Someone wearing Bushmaster's costume is seen fighting alongside the Ultramarine Corps against brainwashed gorillas. [4]