The Persuader

File Photo

Attributes

Eyes:	Blue
Features:	His eyes glow when he uses his power.
Hair:	Blonde
Height:	5'10"
Weight:	170 lbs

Powers

Abilities:	Nothing other than his persuasion powers.
Equipment:	The Persuader's costume was designed to focus and augment his persuasion powers.
Limitations:	Picked on the Punisher right off the bat. (Oh, and his powers didn't work on anyone who was truly prepared for them.)
Powers:	The mutant power of persuading people to do whatever he wanted them to do.
Strength Level:	Normal human

Summary

Citizenship:	United States of America
Created By:	Gerry Conway, Sal Buscema
Current Occupation:	Dead
Dual Identity:	Known to Authorities
Education:	Unknown but at least an undergraduate degree
Former Aliases:	None, though the Arranger once accidentally referred to him as "Roland Raymond".
Former Bases:	New York City, Dallas
Former Groups:	Worked for the Kingpin
Former Occupation:	Wall Street Trader
Known Allies:	After conversion: The Arranger, Andrew (one of the Kingpin's men)
Legal Status:	Deceased
Major Enemies:	The Punisher, Tombstone, Spider-Man
Marital Status:	Single
Place of Birth:	Never revealed
Real Name:	Roland Rayburn

Background

Roland Rayburn was a mutant with the power of persuading others to do whatever he suggested. Hardly aware of his abilities, Rayburn used them subconsciously to become a top-notch trader on Wall Street. Unfortunately, his abilities were noticed by the Kingpin who sent the hitman Tombstone to abduct him. He was taken to the Kingpin's assistant (known as the Arranger) and was there subjected to various drugs and intimidation until he was brainwashed into working for Fisk. He donned a costume and became the Persuader. Once he started using his power consciously, he learned that he very much enjoyed manipulating others to his will.

The Persuader's first job involved persuading the Punisher to join the Kingpin's war against the Lobo Brothers. Unfortunately for the Persuader, the Punisher became a particularly difficult subject to keep in his power. As soon as the Punisher broke free of the persuasion, he ruthlessly gunned down his captor, ending the short, ultimately unlucky career and life of the Persuader.

The Persuader is only a Spider-Man villain in that he solely appeared in Spectacular Spider-Man, but he never once used his power on the Web-Slinger. He may be more accurately termed a Punisher villain who didn't live long enough to appear anywhere else.

Image Gallery

Appearances

Thanks To

 The assistance of the Marvel Chronology Project is gratefully acknowledged.

 Some of the above information is extracted from the various versions of the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe and the more recent Marvel Encyclopaedias.