Trickster II

Real Name: Axel Walker

Class: Human technology-user

Occupation: Rogue

Group Affiliation: Flash's Rogues Gallery, formerly Rogues

Known Relatives: unnamed parents

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Keystone City, Kansas

First Appearance: Flash II #183 (April, 2002)

Powers: Trickster was armed with an arsenal of joke related weapons including a spring-loaded anvil, razor-sharp slinkie and jacks, itching power, exploding yo-yo, hard candy and bubblegum that expands and envelops opponents, a joy-buzzer that delivers an electrical shock and z-ray specs that really work. He wore air-walker shoes that let him defy gravity.

History: (Flash III #183 (fb, BTS)) - Axel Walker’s parents divorced and he started getting in trouble indulging in drugs and petty crime. Axel broke into one of Trickster’s old storage lockers and took on the identity of the new Trickster.

(Flash III #183) - Trickster earned a spot on the Rogues after stealing Keith Kenyon’s files on Blacksmith’s Network and erasing Hunter Zoloman’s rogues database. Flash tried to capture Trickster after his attack on Hunter, but Trickster evaded him.

(Flash II #184-188) - Trickster and the Rogues eliminated the last of Flash’s allies and demanded Flash have a showdown with them in Central City. Flash fought valiantly, but the Rogues soon had him on the run. He ran to Keystone, which had been taken over by the Thinker. Thinker and the Rogues both claimed Flash for themselves. Flash fled, and the Rogues pursued him. Mirror Master activated the reflection, a mirror that would keep the world unaware of their activities in Keystone. By the time the Rogues found Flash his mind had been taken over by the Thinker. Although the Rogues separated Flash from the Thinker, Keith Kenyon rescued Flash and brought him to safety before the Rogues could kill him. Flash defeated the Thinker and Kenyon tipped off the FBI about the Network. The Rogues attacked Kenyon and Flash, defeating them. Blacksmith knew she had to leave the city with her Network, but intended to cause as much destruction as she could before leaving, and summoned the Network to wreck havoc. Kenyon gathered his unions to battle the Network, buying Flash time to defeat the Rogues. Trickster, Mirror Master and Weather Wizard escaped. They met Captain Cold, who told them he woul be their new Rogue leader.

(Flash II #195) - Trickster and the Rogues watched a news broadcast of Flash promising to take down every at-large Rogue, and they got a good laugh out of that.

(Flash II #201, 202) - Trickster took advantage of Flash’s disappearance to get involved in illegal street racing. During a race he took time to terrorize Chyre and Morillo of the KCPD, and he later caused a massive pile-up involving Wally West.

(Flash II #207, 208) - Keystone City; Trickster, Abra Kadabra, Plunder and Tar Pit disrupted a parade honoring Flash. They were defeated by Flash I, Flash III and Kid Flash II.

(Flash II #212, 213) - Cold played a game of cards with Trickster and Weather Wizard. Trickster saw Cold give Mirror Master a beating for doing cocaine, demanding that his Rogues stay sharp and focused at all times.

(Flash II #214) - Trickster and the Rogues discussed brutal murder of Elongated Man’s wife while robbing a bank vaul. Cold left the bank, not having the stomach for a crime at the moment, and told the Rogues to send flowers to the Elongated Man.

(Flash II #216) - Trickster and the Rogues learned of Captain Boomerang’s death and that he left behind a son, Owen Mercer. Cold told the Rogues they took care of their own, and planned to meet Owen. Trickster mocked Boomerang’s lame costume, and Cold knocked him out with a punch.

(Flash II #217) - Trickster and the Rogues held a funeral for Captain Boomerang in Avernus. Afterwards Trickster and the Rogues went on a crime spree using Boomerang’s weapons as a tribute to their fallen comrade.

(Flash II #1/2) - Trickster used vandalizing the New Flash Museum as a cover to hack into the F.B.I. database. He learned that James Jesse and the F.B.I. had possession of Captain Boomerang’s body. Trickster was captured by Flash an sent to Iron Heights, but was soon rescued by Mirror Master, an he share his intel with the Rogues.

(Flash II #220-222) - Trickster and the Rogues broke into F.B.I. hq and slaughtered a number of guards, but didn’t find Captain Boomerang’s body there. When they returned to their own hq they were confronted by Trickster I and his group of reformed Rogues. The two groups battled across Central City, with Trickster I focused on the new Trickster, who he fealt had no right to the name, and Flash showed up to battle the villains. Trickster I thrashed his usurper and warned him to give up the Trickster identity.

Comments: Created by Geoff Johns & Scott Kollins

Flash II #190 showed a photo of Trickster in Rogue profiler Hunter Zoloman’s office. Flash II #204 showed a picture of Trickster II and other Rogues in the KCD squadroom. 

Trickster II had a cameo in Flash II #225.

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