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.
Can you dig it? It’s: Hypno-Hustler
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Appearances in Heroclix: Spider-Verse
First Appearance: Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #24 (November 1978)
Team Affiliations: The Mercy Killers, Vil-Anon
Powers/Abilities: Hypnosis via specialized guitar; Boots grant: Knockout gas projection, Retractable knives in the soles
Created by: Frank Springer – Bill Mantlo
Antoine Desloin is better known as the Hypno-Hustler, lead singer of the baddest band around, the Mercy Killers. The band double dip on their gigs, getting paid by the venues as well as robbing the venues blind. When the Mercy Killers perform at a nightclub named “Beyond Forever,” the manager catches Hustler breaking into the safe. Hustler hypnotizes the manager and plans to do the same to the crowd later, robbing them as well.
The plan almost works, except for the intervention of Spider-Man who is somehow unaffected by Hypno-Hustler’s music. Spidey realizes that Hustler wears special head phones that protect him from his own hypnotic jams. Spidey is able to remove the headphones, leading Hustler docile and defenseless. The whole band is webbed up and left for authorities.
Hypno-Hustler is later seen at a Vil-Anon meeting, apparently trying to go straight. This fails when Hustler is later in prison and hired by Tombstone to protect the villain. Hypno-Hustler later leaves prison and tries to turn himself in when Spider-Man goes on a rampage against villains. Hustler later returns to prison and tries to escape, only to be defeated by Deadpool and Spider-Man.
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