Gangbuster (DC Comics)

Gangbuster is a comic book fictional character, a DC Comics superhero. He first appeared as Jose Delgado in The Adventures of Superman #428 (May 1987), and as Gangbuster in The Adventures of Superman #434 (November 1987). He was created by Marv Wolfman and Jerry Ordway.^[1] Rebekah is the niece of the original Gangbuster.

Gangbuster
Gangbuster by Arthur Adams.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	As Jose Delgado: The Adventures of Superman #428 (May 1987) As Gangbuster: The Adventures of Superman #434 (November 1987)
Created by	Marv Wolfman (writer) Jerry Ordway (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Jose Delgado
Team affiliations	S.T.A.R. Labs Justice League
Supporting character of	Superman
Abilities	Skilled martial artist and gymnast Cybernetic enhancement implants in his legs

Publication history

In 2007, Jerry Ordway spoke on the genesis of the character, stating that Gangbuster was created in place of Guardian, who was not available for use.^[2]

Fictional character biography

Gangbuster I

Jose Delgado grew up in the Metropolis area known as Suicide Slum. As he grew older he became a skilled boxer. He went into teaching and ended up as a high school teacher in Metropolis. He became a mentor to Jerry White (the son of Perry White). When Lex Luthor enlisted youth gangs into organized crime under his control, Jose adopted the identity of Gangbuster to deal with the threat posed to the teenagers in his community.^[1]

The Combattor fighting Gangbuster as drawn by Jerry Ordway in The Adventures of Superman #437.

Jose Delgado suffered a spinal injury while saving Lois Lane's life during a fight with a creature called Combattor.^[3] Delgado was hospitalized and talked into retiring by Cat Grant. He recovered the ability to walk with the assistance of a LexCorp cybernetic implant.

Delgado later discovered someone else was masquerading as Gangbuster, and using much more violent methods. This turned out to be an amnesiac Superman, who was suffering from a nervous breakdown after a fight with Brainiac.

After recovering, Delgado discovered that the implant which enabled him to walk was a LexCorp invention, and that Lex Luthor could use it to take control of his body.^[4] Luthor forced Gangbuster to attack Professor Emil Hamilton, an ally of Superman. Hamilton was later able to successfully alter the implant, allowing Delgado to take control of his life again. Delgado's life later fell apart and he had trouble keeping jobs.

Delgado had limited personal relationships with Cat Grant. They became very close while he served as her bodyguard, but he did not get along with her young son Adam. Delgado resumed his career as Gangbuster following Superman's apparent death at the hands of Doomsday. He got into trouble when he broke up a drug deal only to discover that it was part of an undercover police operation. Pursued by the police, he went on the run.

An ultraviolent Gangbuster later showed up in Black Lightning's hometown of Brick City. Black Lightning discovered that this wasn't the real Gangbuster, but a shapeshifter named Ishmael, an operative of Tobias Whale. Jose Delgado soon showed up and later helped him defeat Ishmael and his brother Queequeg.^[5]

Gangbuster returns in the miniseries Trinity, where he is forced out of retirement after witnessing the kidnapping of mystic Tarot (to whom he appointed himself guardian).^[6] He and Hawkman infiltrate the castle headquarters of Despero, Morgaine le Fey, and Enigma and spend days fighting through its denizens before rescuing Tarot from stone monsters.^[7] At the end of the series, with reality returned to normal, Gangbuster and Tarot begin a relationship.

In the Supergirl series, Gangbuster and Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)—both employees of S.T.A.R. Labs—help Supergirl rescue her friend Lana Lang after she is possessed by the Insect Queen. Gangbuster and Light investigate an object that crashes into a Metropolis park and leaves a massive crystallized crater in its center. While searching the crater, the two heroes discover a Bizarro Supergirl. The Bizarro Supergirl takes Gangbuster and Light hostage, but is defeated by the real Supergirl.^[8]

Gangbuster II

During DC Rebirth, Jose's niece is introduced named Rebekah and assumes the role of Gangbuster II.^[9]

Powers and abilities

Jose Delgado has no superpowers but is a skilled martial artist and gymnast. When Jose was crippled on duty as the Gangbuster, he was forced to accept Lex Luthor's agreement and treatment to return the function of his legs to him using cybernetic enhancement. However, Luthor's cybernetic components also allowed him to control Jose's movement if necessary.

Other versions

In the alternate "Trinity" universe, Gangbuster is one of the few entities to recognize and understand reality is not as it should be. He allies himself with that universe's version of Alfred Pennyworth.^[7]