Origin
Moses Rayker was born and raised in the United States of America. During early adulthood he witnessed the racially-motivated murder of his brother. When he sought justice the local police sheriff beat him and concealed the crime to protect the reputation of the killer. Later Moses enlisted in the armed forces.
Creation
Sergeant Rayker was created for the British comic Warlord.
He was one of several black heroes to debut in British comics during the late 1970s, along with the Harlem Heroes, Black Hawk and Ebony Jones.
Character Development
Rayker’s earliest stories were set in 1944 and focused on him leading a detachment of soldiers trapped behind enemy lines during the Italian campaign of World War II. In addition to battling the Germans, he frequently faced racist opposition from his own side.
During the Battle of the Bulge he encountered the man who killed his brother and the sheriff who covered it up, both of whom had become officers. Rayker had the satisfaction of seeing both men get their comeuppance.
During the Battle of Hürtgen Forest he was assigned to the military police. By 1945 he was no longer a military policeman and had gone back to serving as a regular soldier.
A prequel series titled ‘Young Rayker’ ran in Warlord #549-568 (March-August 1985) and portrayed the title character’s early military career in North Africa during 1942. This storyline revealed how Rayker attained the rank of sergeant after saving the life of an officer.
Skills and Abilities
Rayker possesses peak physical strength and stamina and is skilled at both armed and unarmed combat. His preferred weapon is an M3 submachine gun.
Despite his limited formal education, he is highly intelligent, speaks several languages and demonstrates an aptitude for complex problem solving and police work. He also displays strong leadership qualities.