Creation
Bushmasterâs first appearance was on the television show Super Friends as a member of the Global Guardians. His first appearance was in Super Friends #8 in 1977. It was only in 1982 that the Global Guardians became part of the mainstream DC Universe.
Origin
Bushmaster who is a world renowned herpetologist from Caracas, Venezuela. His real name is Bernal Rojas and he decided to use his knowledge of reptiles to replicate their abilities in a high tech-suit and equipment. As the Bushmaster he don’s his Body-Armor suit e decided to use this suit to become a superhero and join the Global Guardians.
Character Evolution
Has generally served as a background or supporting character through his history. At times used more of a gag hero. In his first non-canonical appearance he teams up with Batman and Robin . Most of his stories followed closely with the Global Guardians from then on, generally most of which resulted in them being supporting characters in other series.
Major Story Arcs
Batman and Robin travel to Venezuela on a mission which is the native homeland of the hero called Bushmaster. Uniting forces the three dismantle a bomb and track the criminal behind it to his base and defeat him. Batman is fascinated by how Rojas has adapted his knowledge of tech and native southern reptiles to create his Body-Armor Suit. The suit’s tech allows it to mimic the abilities and properties of various reptiles. He also becomes a founding member of the Global Guardians. Later, he is seen in Paris, France, assisting his Guardian teammates against a horde of Apellaxian aliens.
During the first incarnation of Justice League International, Bushmaster along with many other members of the Global Guardians became mentally controlled by the Queen Bee of Bialya. Bushmaster ends up escaping the influence of the Queen Bee, thanks to the influence of rogue Justice League members who also free the entire team. Later Bushmaster alongside the rest of the Global Guardians would battle her to free the country of Bialya from her tyranny.
Bushmaster moves back to Venezuela deciding to keep his crimefighting to a local level. He is called in to help with a hostage situation at a local bank. The criminals agree that he can enter, unarmed, to negotiate. He enters with a snake and disturbs the criminals with the idea the snake might be venomous, which allows him to defeat the criminals easily. Outside the bank, he is attacked by the ancient magical entity named Fain Y’onia. As Bushmaster fights off Fain he is temporarily blinded by a mystical blast and is knocked back into the bank itself. Landing close to one of the hostage-takers, who himself is being arrested by a plainclothes policeman in the bank. The criminal than quickly grabs for the police officer’s gun and shoots Bushmaster directly three times in the chest, instantly killing him. Fain sends a blast of energy at the criminal which kills him and the nearby police officers.
In honor of their fallen comrades in arms the remainder of the Global Guardians erect statues to all the Guardians who have died over the years in the gardens of the Dome. Bushmaster’s statue represents his affinity to the reptile world having it holding out a snake.
Bushmaster II
During Final Crisis a new Bushmaster is seen although his background is unknown. Someone wearing Bushmaster’s costume is seen fighting alongside the Ultramarine Corps against brainwashed gorillas.
Powers and Abilities
Bushmaster is a regular non-powered human. He is an expert on reptiles and a genius inventor who has created a Body-Armor suit and devices which replicate various reptile abilities. These include flight, the ability to run on water, a wide range of enhanced vision (including infrared), suction cups to walk on walls, chameleon abilities, a retractable shell for defense and the ability to detect heat and light.
He also carries a specializes weapon he call’s his Venom Gun that shoots tranquilizers. He carries it in a hip holster and is non-lethal to human’s only paralyzing a regular human man for a few hours.