RATTLER

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Real Name: Gustav Krueger
Aliases: None
Identity: Secret
Occupation: Professional Criminal
Citizenship: Polish Citizen with a Criminal Record
Place of Birth: Undisclosed area in Poland
Known Relatives: Unknown
Group Affiliation: Serpent Society, Thunderbolts, The Initiative, Serpent Solutions
First Appearance: Captain America #310 (1985)
History: How and when Gustav Krueger, who comes from an undisclosed area in Poland, got the Rattler costume, remains unknown.

Gustav Krueger was invited into Serpent Society by Sidewinder, who had created the organization as a crime unit that operated as a business. During one of their missions, Rattler, Cobra and Anaconda had been sent to recover an item but found themselves ambushed by Captain America. During the fight, Rattler’s bionic tail which can create shock waves and vibrations, was able to stop Captain America’s shield from being able to strike them.

A short time later, Porcupine claimed to have captured Captain America, and contacted Serpent Society to see if they wanted him. Sidewinder sent Rattler, Diamondback, Death Adder and Cottonmouth – only to find out that Porcupine had been working with Captain America and it was an ambush. Rattler was able to send shock waves with enough force to temporarily disorient Captain America, but when he recovered, he grabbed Rattler by the tail and threw him into a steel beam that rendered Rattler unconscious. During the fight, Porcupine would fall onto one of his own quills and die shortly there after. Captain America honored him by placing his costume in Avengers mansion as one of the honorable villains that the Avengers had fought.

Rattler was one of the Serpent Society members to betray Sidewinder, when Viper (Madame Hydra) sought to overthrow them. When Viper was defeated by Captain America, Sidewinder declined to return to Serpent Society, feeling betrayed, so Cobra took over leadership and took on the new moniker of King Cobra. King Cobra extended an invite to all, including those who had served Viper, and Rattler accepted.

Rattler was apparently well liked by the women in Serpent Society, as Black Mamba recommended him to Diamondback for a “good time” and Diamondback later, tried to set Fer-de-Lance (who had originally been interested in Sidewinder) to date Rattler instead.

During the events of the Superhero Registration, which lead to the Superhero Civil War, Rattler, King Cobra and Bushmaster were seen as members of the Thunderbolts.

A short while later, Rattler was operating on his own, scoping out a bank late at night to rob, when he’s suddenly attacked by a new assailant. The man attacking Rattler is none other than a new Scourge, who’d been going around killing villains, similar to the original Scourge had done. Though he fires several shots at Rattler, the first few shots miss, and a fight ensued on the rooftop. During the fight, the Scourge speaks, and Rattler immediately recognizes the man’s voice and says, “Aren’t you that guy? Captain -” but before he can finish, Scourge breaks his neck, seemingly killing him. Scourge removes his mask, furious, and it is revealed that the new Scourge is none other than Dennis Dunphy, better known as Demolition Man, and former partner and friend of Captain America.

However, sometime later, when the newest Viper (Jordan Dixon) formed Serpent Solutions, a very alive Rattler was seen seated at the table.

At a Criminal Technology Show Expo, when Rattler and several of his fellow teammates from Serpent Society had gone to the restroom, they were surprised to be ambushed by M.O.D.O.K. who beat them all nearly to death. M.O.D.O.K. had been working with Iron Man, and together they hid the bodies, but Cobra discovered the unconscious bodies and alerted the other villains to M.O.D.O.K. and Iron Man’s presence.

Later, Rattler would be among the other members of Serpent Solutions to fall under the sway of Mephisto and commit horrible atrocities. Later, in hopes of calling forth Mephisto who would bestow upon them great power, Serpent Solutions sought to collect several relics and complete a ritual to summon him; and despite having done it all, Mephisto never manifested and Serpent Solutions, who’d been fighting with the newly formed AVENGE.R.S., faced defeat and were arrested to stand trial for their crimes.

Height: 6’1?
Weight: 245 lbs
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown with Grey

Powers: Gustav Krueger possesses superhuman strength that allows him to lift 1,000 lbs.

Weapons: By cybernetically controlling his seven foot long bionic tail, Gustav Krueger can use it as a fifth limb to grip objects; this allows him to grab someone or even support himself (and 300 lbs extra) while hanging onto something. His tail is extremely durable, having been used to smash through steel plates before. By shaking his tail back and forth, he can activate devices within the tail to create an assortment of shock waves or sound frequencies, which can be used to disorient even superpowered individuals that is within 25 feet of him. He’s also used the sound frequency to deflect objects, such as Captain America’s shield. Anyone standing too close to Rattler when he vibrates his tail could lose consciousness, suffer internal bleeding, or even death.

Note: Rattler is 85% deaf in both ears, and employs electronic hearing aids in his cowl to afford him normal hearing.