Gambler (comics)

Gambler is the name of three supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Steven Sharpe's version of Gambler was played by Eric Goins in the television series Stargirl in the first and third seasons for DC Universe and The CW network.

The Steven Sharpe III version of Gambler first appeared in 1944 in Green Lantern #12 in a story titled "The Gambler" by writer Henry Kuttner and artist Martin Nodell, as a foe of the original Green Lantern. In October 1947, the Gambler was one of the six original members of the Injustice Society, who began battling the Justice Society of America in All Star Comics #37 (Oct. 1947). The Steven Sharpe V version of Gambler first appeared in New Titans #68 and was created by Karl Kesel, Barbara Kesel and Steve Erwin.

Steven Sharpe III came from a long line of compulsive gamblers. When he proposed to his girlfriend Helen the day after his high school graduation, she refused unless he could prove he was not a compulsive gambler like his grandfather. She then ran off with a "Pool Hall" Charlie, another gambler, who had just won a fortune on the lottery. Sharpe vowed to become a new person after this day. As luck would have it, an armored truck crashed a few feet away from him. Seeing this as a sign, Sharpe helped himself to all of the money he could get and vowed to take whatever he could from life from that day on. He adopted the name the Gambler in remembrance of his grandfather. For the next few years, the Gambler joined a traveling carnival, where he gained his skills with disguises, pistols, and throwing knives. Sharpe was immediately successful as a criminal. He started off robbing trains and small town banks. Growing bored, he moved East to the big cities. He was spotted in Gotham City by Green Lantern while standing next to his own wanted poster. The Gambler eluded Green Lantern twice using his special Derringer pistol, which could fire ammonia or blackout gas in addition to real bullets. When he emerged again, he had adopted a new identity after his riverboat gambling grandfather: the Gambler. As the Gambler, he earned early fame by pulling off a small town bank robbery against heavy odds. At some point, Sharpe spent time with a carnival, learning a variety of knife throws and make up techniques to complete his disguises. So effective were his disguises that Sharpe himself claims to have forgotten his original appearance and his age to this day remains unknown. Initially, Sharpe remained in the Mississippi Delta, robbing trains, small town banks and the like. One of the first true costumed criminals, he rapidly became one of the most successful criminals and developed a cult of personality reminiscent of the gangsters of the previous decade. By 1944, the Gambler's ego was not satisfied with his Midwestern successes and took his operations to the larger cities of the East. He took the brazen tack of hanging out in post offices next to his own "Wanted" poster to provoke passers by, two of which were Alan Scott and Doiby Dickles. Realizing that the famous criminal was in Gotham City, Scott assumed his identity as Green Lantern and pursued the criminal. He caught up with the Gambler twice, only to be thwarted by the special Derringer pistol that the Gambler kept hidden in his sleeve, one which fired ammonia or blackout gas. Finally, at a horse race, the Gambler decided to shift the odds in his favor by provoking the horses to stampede into the crowds to cover his escape. Green Lantern rounded up the beasts, however, and after the capture of his henchmen, the Gambler himself was apprehended and sent to Gotham State Penitentiary as #131313 (Green Lantern #12). In the DC Universe following the end of the DC Rebirth brand, Gambler was seen as a member of the Injustice Society when Hawkman and Hawkgirl recount their time in the 1940s when the Justice Society fought the Injustice Society. Sandman was the one who faced off against Gambler and defeated him.

After the death of Steven III, Steven Sharpe V took over his grandfather's mantle as the Gambler. While keeping his identity as the Gambler hidden and masquerading as the Joker, he reorganized and reoutfitted the Royal Flush Gang. The Gambler teamed up with Amos Fortune, the Wizard (William Zard), and the second Sportsmaster, and created a super powered "fight club" using members of the Justice Society as combatants. The fight club was broken up by Stargirl, Gypsy, and Vixen.

Gambler is an expert gambler, strategist, and master of disguise. Despite lacking any real superpowers, his cunning nature and talent for spotting opportunities makes him extremely unpredictable and dangerous.

Gambler is highly skilled with his signature weapon, a derringer pistol he keeps concealed on his person and has been modified to shoot different kinds of gases depending on the situation. He also is highly trained in the use of throwing knives.

Steven Sharpe / Gambler appears in Stargirl, portrayed by Eric Goins. This version is a member of the Injustice Society of America (ISA), an expert computer hacker, wields a derringer, was the nemesis of Doctor Mid Nite rather than the Green Lantern, and is the absentee father of Rebecca "Becky" Sharpe. First appearing in the pilot episode, Gambler accompanies the ISA in their attack on the Justice Society of America (JSA), during which he fought the JSA's leader Starman. In his civilian identity, Gambler is the egocentric and cut off CFO of The American Dream, a private firm that works to economically revitalize Blue Valley. In the episode "S. T. R. I. P. E.", Gambler meets with his leader, Icicle, to discuss whether Starman's successor, Stargirl, is a potential threat to their plans. After assisting Icicle in making preparations, Sharpe helps the ISA enact Project: New America in the two part episode, "Stars and S. T. R. I. P. E." Though Stargirl's JSA foil their plans, he wipes the ISA's servers and escapes while his teammates are either killed or captured. In the season three episode "Frenemies – Chapter One: The Murder", Gambler returns to Blue Valley to make amends, but is rebuffed by Pat Dugan and Shade. While writing a letter to Becky, he finds that someone is filming certain locations in Blue Valley. While investigating a camera outside of his trailer, Gambler is killed by the Ultra Humanite. The Steven Sharpe III incarnation of the Gambler appears in All New Batman: The Brave and the Bold #7.