8-Ball
Real Name: Unrevealed
First Appearance: SleepWalker 2
What's His Problem? 8-Ball was, at one time, a defense contractor designing missile propulsion systems. However, the pressure got to him and he decided to relieve his stress through pool. And gambling. His employers, once they found out about his large gambling debts, fired him as a security threat. Naturally enough, he took his knowledge of propulsion and pool cues and forged a new identity as 8-Ball.
Abilities: 8-Ball is a brilliant engineer and is an extremely skilled pool player (check out some of his bankshots!)
Weapons: 8-Ball uses a specially designed cue stick which takes any force applied to it and can magnify it a thousand times, transmitting the kinetic energy into whatever it hits. As well, he designed a hovercraft in the form of a poolrack, ball bombs, floating cameras in the form of pool balls and a floating 8-Ball he could ride on. Hmmm--if you shake the floating 8-ball hard enough, would you get a message that said "answer unclear, check again later?" Editor enquiring-minds-want-to-know Jeanne.
Favorite Quote: "I don't believe you understand pool. When you take aim at the 8-ball and scratch -- You lose!" SleepWalker 2 (All this said while holding that cue stick to Sleepy's face)
Heroes He Keeps Running Into: 8-Ball not only went up against SleepWalker, he actually educated SleepWalker on earth society, explaining the importance of money and power, concepts foreign to SleeWalker.
People Who Think He's Not So Bad: He must be a reasonably nice guy since he was able to not only recruit several gang members but get them to wear pool ball systems. And he did gamble with the Hobgoblin.
Most Despicable Act: 8-Ball's actually a pretty nice guy as far as career criminals go. However, when he turned his cue stick on innocent bystanders, sending them flying across a pool hall to keep SleepWalker away, he no doubt did severe damage to those he shot.
Personal Note: OK, I know, I know this guy seems like one of the biggest losers in the world, but I'm quite serious when I say he really is a pretty good criminal. ...Or a pretty bad one... Y'know what I'm going for here.
by Kirk Furlotte