GRIFTER
Cole Cash, better known as Grifter, is a world-class spy, master marksman, and con artist created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi. Originally debuting in 1992 as a flagship hero fighting alien Daemonites in the WildStorm Universe, he possesses latent psionic powers unlocked by the Gen-Factor. Following his integration into DC Comics canon, Grifter has served as a black-ops operative, a bodyguard in Gotham City, and leader of HALO's Crisis Aversion Tactical Squad.
Cronologia
Biografia
Cole Cash, operating under the alias Grifter, is a world-class spy, master marksman, and former black-ops operative. Created by artist Jim Lee and writer Brandon Choi, he stands as one of the most prominent heroes of the WildStorm legacy.
Possessing a unique mix of peak human physical condition, advanced military protocols, and Coda martial techniques, Cole is capable of holding his own against elite combatants worldwide. Throughout his history, Grifter has played a central role in secret wars against alien threats, most notably the shapeshifting Daemonites.
He has served in key tactical units including Team 7, International Operations (I.O.), the HALO Corporation, and the WildC.A.T.s. Following the integration of WildStorm into DC Comics' main universe, Cole continued his crusade as an independent operative and personal bodyguard in Gotham City alongside figures like Lucius Fox and Batman. Beyond his deadly firearms expertise and tactical mind, Cole is a natural con artist whose gift of gab allows him to connect with any underworld within minutes. Enhanced by experimental procedures and Gen-Factor exposure, he combines street-smart deception with powerful psionic abilities to defend Earth from hidden extraterrestrial threats.
Storia
Cole Cash's history began in military black ops, where he served alongside his brother Max Cash in Team 6 before taking on the codename 'Deadeye' in Team 7 under Project Majestic.
During a bloody ambush by the Kobra Cult and Mister Freeze forces in Midway City, Cole sustained seventeen gunshot wounds and was saved through experimental medical procedures co-developed by Wayne Enterprises and the HALO Corporation.
As part of Team 7, Cole and his unit were secretly exposed to the experimental chemical 'Gen-Factor' by handler Miles Craven to create metahumans capable of countering Superman. The exposure unlocked Cole's latent psionic abilities, including telekinesis, telepathy, and an accelerated healing factor. In his civilian life, Cole worked as a con artist in New Orleans until he was abducted by Daemonites. The alien shapeshifters attempted to use him as a host, but the process failed, leaving Cole telepathically connected to their network and capable of seeing through their disguises. Targeted for termination by Daemonites and hunted by government agents—including his own brother—Cole staged tactical evasions and engaged in global covert warfare to dismantle Lord Helspont's invasive forces.
I PEZZI DI GRIFTER
Evoluzione
Grifter's trajectory represents one of the most dynamic evolutions from 1990s creator-owned comics to full integration into a major superhero pantheon. Debuting in 1992's *WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams* #1 under Image Comics and WildStorm Productions, creators Jim Lee and Brandon Choi originally established Cole Cash as a lone-wolf mercenary fighting an ancient alien war between Kherubim and Daemonites. His popularity led to dedicated solo series, high-profile crossovers with characters like Spawn and Shi, and military prequel miniseries like *Team 7*. Following DC Comics' acquisition of WildStorm in 1999, Grifter evolved through more grounded espionage narrative arcs.
In Joe Casey's *Wildcats 3.0*, Cole suffered shattered legs and trained an accountant proxy while remotely operating a Ladytron body. Ed Brubaker further refined him as a key fixture in acclaimed noir espionage thrillers *Point Blank* and *Sleeper*. With the 2011 *Flashpoint* event and *The New 52* relaunch, Grifter was officially integrated into DC's main Earth-0 continuity. Reimagined as a fugitive capable of perceiving alien infiltrators, he headlined his third solo volume and joined DC Universe titles. In the modern era, following Warren Ellis's *The Wild Storm* alternate-universe reset, Cole Cash entered Gotham City canon in 2021 as Lucius Fox's bodyguard, ultimately taking charge of HALO's Crisis Aversion Tactical Squad in Matthew Rosenberg's *WildC.A.T.s* (2022–2024).
Da Collezione
For physical comic collectors, key modern publications include trade paperbacks such as DC Comics' *WildC.A.T.s: The Complete Series*, which collects the full 12-issue run by Matthew Rosenberg along with backup stories.
Specific action figure lines or statue releases are not detailed in the available archival records.
Midnighter first learned of Grifter's street moniker from news broadcasts prior to meeting him in person.
