Who the Clix? is a series of articles featuring information on comic book characters that have been made into figures for the popular tabletop game Heroclix. These articles are meant to help Heroclix players learn more about the characters behind their favorite pieces.

Today we look at one of the most manic of Ditko’s creations: The Creeper

Appearances in Heroclix: World’s Finest. Justice League

First Comic Appearance: Showcase #73

Team Affiliations: Outsiders, Justice League

Created By: Steve Ditko

Jack Ryder is a former Gotham City talk show host that dated Vicki Vale. He is eventually fired for being too outspoken and finds a job as a security agent. After a scientist named Dr. Yatz is kidnapped by mobsters, Ryder goes to a masquerade party held by the criminals. He wears a costume with yellow tights, facial make up, a green wig and furry cloak. Ryder is about to rescue Yatz when the mobsters stab Jack. Yatz injects Ryder with an experimental serum and implants a device into the wound. The serum allows Jack to instantly heal any wounds, including his recent stab wound, as well as enhanced strength and agility. The implant allows Ryder to summon his strange costume at any point and exchange it with regular clothing. The mobsters return and kill Yatz. With his new powers, Jack is able to easily defeat the mobsters.

The Creeper goes on to have many adventures in Gotham City and eventually comes to view the Jack Ryder and Creeper personalities as separate. The Creeper eventually battles Eclipso and is temporarily placed under Eclipso’s control. The Creeper joins up with other heroes such as Major Victory, Steel, Amanda Waller and Wild Cat to form the Shadow Fighters. The Shadow Fighters again attack Eclipso only to have most of their ranks, including Creeper, seemingly killed.

Post Inifinite Crisis

Jack Ryder again tries to help Dr. Yatz only to be injected with an unstable nano-technological skin that creates a new personality, the Creeper. This new experiment is influenced by the Joker who sneaks his Joker venom into the agent. Batman helps the Creeper and offers to cure him but Jack and Creeper refuse, forming a truce in order to fight crime. Creeper is temporarily under Eclipso’s control once more before being freed and helping to battle the Sinestro Corps in New York.

The Creeper later joins the Outsiders and helps keep Hush from exploiting his resemblance to Bruce Wayne.

New 52

The Creeper is an Oni that justifies cruel temper tantrums in order to spread chaos. He is later trapped in Katana’s sword when it is used to kill him. Jack Ryder, not possessed by the Oni, is killed by a monster attack on Metropolis. Killer Croc breaks the sword and releases the spirit of the Creeper which immediately seeks out and bonds with Jack Ryder’s corpse.

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