FLICKER	BIOGRAPHY
Created by Gerard Jones and Pat Broderick

PERSONAL DATA

Occupation: Headhunter
Marital Status: Unknown
Known Relatives: None
Base of Operation: Mobile
Gender: Male
Eyes: Yellow
Hair: Flames
First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol. 3 #20 (January 1992): "Regeneration Part One: The Deal"
Creators: Gerard Jones and Pat Broderick

HISTORY

As a "headhunter" for Pan-Galactic Placement Services, it was the job of the mercenary called Flicker to track and capture formidable warriors for a slavery ring. Flicker possessed a yellow whip which he would frequently use to immobilize a target or in extreme cases amputate an appendage of one of his targets. Flicker also had the ability to teleport, an effect which looked like he was fading away. As he frequently used this technique to surprise his prey, partially teleporting to a location then fading away, he would appear to be "flickering." This ability was made possible by a teleporter implanted in his chest. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #20- #21, Justice League America #113

After a mental breaker-switch was placed in the mind of the captured warrior, Flicker would arrange for an interview to learn their strengths, weaknesses and if there were other candidates for capture. Once evaluated, the warrior would be leased to a client to be used against the client's enemies.

Interstellar wars were particularly good for business and Pan Galactic had no problem leasing warriors to opposing sides of a conflict. With over a dozen clients looking for quality merchandise, Flicker's work became all the more valuable. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #21

After the capture of Star Sapphire by Flicker's assistants, the Zamaron queen was processed as all other warriors and leased to Chieftain Kreon of Tebis. The Teban military leader planned to use Star Sapphire's power and ferocity to spare hundreds of his Teban soldiers from entering battle with their enemies, the Quahooga. - Action Comics Weekly #605, Green Lantern Vol. 3 #23

Star Sapphire bided her time until she was given a power-sword. She slaughtered a dozen Tebans until they could render her unconscious. Kreon held her in stasis, sparing her life under Flicker's promise to find a way to control her. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #23

Later scouting for war-slaves in the orbit of Stoneworld, Flicker captured Brik of Dryad, a member of the Green Lantern Corps. From Brik's interview, Flicker learned she had been searching for candidates to join the Corps and Flicker soon captured Aa and Kworri of Stoneworld. Flicker found an even better war-slave when he captured Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Earth. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #20- #21

During Jordan's interview it was learned of his connection to Carol Ferris, the alter ego of Star Sapphire. Flicker hoped to use Jordan to tame Sapphire and possibly collect more Green Lanterns. To this end he engineered Jordan's freedom, making the veteran Green Lantern and his three recruits think they had escaped. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #21

Flicker went to Kreon to look for the Tebans' support in his designs to start his own business. Once he believed Kreon would be willing to back him he returned to his employer. Flicker's employer was furious the mercenary let Jordan escape. Once Flicker knew his employer was now a liability to him, Flicker killed him.

Following Flicker's plans, Kreon sacrificed one of his ships to be taken prisoner by Green Lantern Kworri. They were fed information regarding the whereabouts of Star Sapphire to prompt a response from Hal Jordan. As Flicker anticipated, Jordan charged in to save the comatose Carol Ferris but Flicker was ready to use her life as a bargaining chip. Aa resisted, causing Flicker to fire an energy weapon which cut through Star Sapphire's encasement but did not harm her. Jordan attacked but Flicker was able to escape. Kreon's command yacht was torn apart in the battle. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #22

Star Sapphire had escaped as well and Flicker was determined to reclaim her. He was preparing to capture her when Kreon's forces attacked him. Confused and angered, Flicker appeared aboard Kreon's ship to confront the Teban. Kreon considered their contract no longer valid as he blamed the mercenary for the loss of his command yacht. Flicker resented the Teban turning on him and struck at Kreon's helmsman, using the attack as a distraction to escape once more. Flicker then turned to Star Sapphire as an ally. He taught the Zamaron queen the weaknesses of Kreon's smaller, more vulnerable starcraft to lure Jordan out once more and deal with Kreon as well. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #23

Flicker joined with others from the Pan-Galactic Placement Services. They would move in on the nine member Green Lantern Corps and Star Sapphire and capture ten war slaves to be sold to the highest bidder. Boodikka of Bellatrix was the newest recruit and was the first capture. The mercenary did not realize Kreon would defend the Corps. At Kreon's command, Flicker's ship was fired upon, making it visible to the Green Lanterns. The Corps tore through its hull as Jordan knocked the mercenary cold. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #24

Flicker escaped sometime afterwards through means not yet known. He was reduced to rebuilding his trade on worlds he considered beneath his notice, such as Earth. Hired by the Crosswind Corporation to remove anyone who might learn Crosswind's connection to Carol Ferris, Flicker abducted Tom Kalmaku and later, Green Arrow Oliver Queen. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #45, #47

They were brought to Crosswind Corners, Nevada, and held in a newly built castle designed to hamper Green Lantern's abilities. The castle was armed with yellow missiles which could ensnare a victim and to prevent the ring wielder from scanning their location inside the castle, as the walls were laced with a thin gold foil.

Green Lantern managed to avoid the missiles and arrived with Carol Ferris. A robotic duplicate of Carol's late father, Carl, distracted Green Lantern while Flicker caught Carol Ferris and brought her to her mother. Carol's mother had secretly been behind the Crosswind Corporation. She had suffered a nervous breakdown sometime before and believed she would be able to return Carol's life to what is was years before.

In the meantime, Green Lantern had come across Green Arrow and the two heroes charged Flicker. A shaft sunk into his left arm, Flicker was forced to fade out and then back in. The heroes guarded each other's backs, waiting for Flicker to return. To avoid being hit by another arrow, Flicker faded out once more, and Carol Ferris was struck. The Carl Ferris robots turned on the mercenary, forcing him to flee for good. Flicker promised to come back for Green Lantern. Carol was safe, Green Lantern and Green Arrow had made it appear Carol had been killed to draw out Carol's mother. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #47

The slave trader Flicker eventually recovered his wealth and founded Flicker City. A massive city in space, Flicker City was constructed in the midst of an asteroid field, some light years from Earth. - Justice League America #113

Flicker was inadvertently contacted by Obsidian, a member of the Justice League of America. Obsidian, Power Girl, Blue Devil, El Diablo, Nuklon, Fire and Ice were trapped on an alien space station known as Refuge. The station was hurtling through space with dwindling life support when Yazz, the erstwhile guardian of the aliens on Refuge, hit upon the idea of having Obsidian spread his shadow self through space while tracing certain "vibes" and projecting thoughts to let their contact know they were available.

Neither Obsidian nor the rest of the Justice League realized who was going to come to their "rescue." Flicker was able to pick off the aliens and Justice Leaguers on Refuge one by one. His whip ensnared each of them before they knew what was happening. - Justice League America #112-113

Though he still had to study the possible value of the multitude of aliens from Refuge, each the last of its race, Flicker knew the value of the heroes from Earth he now held. Flicker's hold of the Justice League was fleeting as Power Girl was able to overload the manacles holding her and in turn her friends were able to free themselves. Others in Flicker City saw the opportunity to revolt but their former master was not willing to hand over their freedom so easily.

Flicker threatened to blow the atmosphere into space and kill all aboard before he was hit by Nuklon and momentarily incapacitated. El Diablo used the opportunity to tear the teleportation unit from Flicker's chest. Some time later, the Justice Leaguers were able to return to the Refuge and make repairs to enable them to return home to Earth. Flicker has not been heard of since. - Justice League America #113

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of Flicker in chronological order click here

GLCWP NOTE

There may be another Flicker appearance in one of the Justice League titles written by Gerard Jones, but I've yet to find it.