Gravedigger (comics)

Superherobox|


caption =Ulysses Hazard from "Men of War" #23,
artist Joe Kubert
character_name =Gravedigger
publisher =DC Comics
debut =(1) "Men of War" #1
(August 1977)
(2) "Checkmate" vol. 2 #24
(May 2008)
creators = (1) David Michelinie (writer)
Ed Davis (artist)
(2) Greg Rucka (writer)
Eric Trautmann (writer)
Joe Bennett (artist)
real_name = (1) Captain Ulysses Hazard
(2) Tyson Sykes
species =
homeworld =
alliances = United States Army
partners =
aliases = Rook Alpha
supports =
powers = Trained military commando and marksman|

Gravedigger is a codename used by two fictional soldiers published by DC Comics. Captain Ulysses Hazard the first Gravedigger debuted in "Men of War" #1 (August 1977), and was created by David Michelinie and Ed Davis. Tyson Sykes the second Gravedigger debuted in "Checkmate" vol. 2 #25 (June 2008), and was created by Greg Rucka, Eric Trautmann and Joe Bennett.

Publication history

Captain Ulysses Hazard appeared in every single one of the original twenty-six issue run of DC Comics' "Men of War". He is also the only fictional character other than Sgt. Rock to ever lead DC Comics' version of Easy Company. [ [http://www.thrillingdetective.com/eyes/nate_hollis.html Nate Hollis ] ]

Fictional character biography

Ulysses Hazard

Gravedigger is Ulysses Hazard. A character who had polio as a child, and was tormented by bullies. After a driven regimen of exercise he was able to condition his body to an optimum. When the United States entered World War II, Ulysses joined the army but found himself relegated to digging graves. All Black soldiers were put to work in menial units: burying bodies, supply delivery, or kitchen work. Frustrated that he has overcome polio, but is not allowed to fight, he invades The Pentagon to show that he has the skills necessary to fight. He is made into a special one man corp by the Pentagon, codenamed "Gravedigger". Later, during combat with the Nazis, he receives a scar across his face that resembles a cross. [ [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=gravedigger The Unofficial Gravedigger Biography ] ]

Percival Hazard

Percival Hazard is Ulysse's grandson, he is the leader of "Squad K" a special response team tasked with apprehending Superman if he should ever turn rogue. He does not use the codename "Gravedigger". [last seen in Action Comics Annual #13 (2008)]

Tyson Sykes

Tyson Sykes, is the second African-American fictional character known to use the codename Gravedigger. He is a Checkmate operative whose field designation is Rook Alpha. Tyson gains special telepathic abilities by injection himself with a solution called "Apocritic" made from Starro DNA. [As seen in Checkmate vol. 2 #24 (May 2008)]

References

External links

* [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=gravedigger DCU Guide: Gravedigger]
* [http://www.proudrobot.com/hembeck/gravedigger.html The Hembeck Files: Gravedigger]
* [http://www.fanzing.com/mag/fanzing17/hoj.shtml Fanzing #17: War Heroes]