For those who create superheroes and villains for comic books, poker has always held a special appeal. Poker has inspired these artists to create characters who are sophisticated and crafty, but also unpredictable and explosive.
Some of these characters have deep roots in poker, while others, such as Gambit and The Joker, are completely inspired by cards. Some of these characters have ties to poker that date back to their childhood. This article looks at five comic book heroes and villains who are based on or are closely tied to the game of poker in some way. These heroes and villains can be found in a wide range of comic books that have been released over the years.
Gambit (Marvel)
It’s only logical that the first superhero who comes to mind when the word “poker” is Gambit. The daring superhero’s primary weapon is his deck of playing cards, which he uses to reduce his adversaries to manageable sizes. Gambit, an X-Men member, is well-versed in card-throwing techniques; so, it is not too far-fetched to imagine that when he is not battling villains, he would be a formidable opponent at the tables.
This is based on Gambit’s behavior, which is quite similar to that of a poker professional in that he is continuously watchful and careful not to reveal too much information. It should come as no surprise, then, that this superhero is also voted as the most likely to be the best poker player out of the entire bunch. In truth, there are an increasing number of poker players who are as clever and astute as Gambit.
Any sensible player, superhero or not, would do well to study which websites have the best potential for locating easy-to-beat opponents. They would then make a fortune by employing their cunning and guile (though possibly not x-ray vision), and invest their fortune in comic books!
The Actual Thing (Marvel)
The Thing’s love of poker is arguably an area of his background that is less generally known, especially among fans who are more familiar with the franchise’s films. In the comic books, The Thing is always willing to place a wager for a hand or two, and he is known as a master at concealing his emotions from his opponents. His opponents are unable to read his expressionless face and hence have no idea how he is feeling.
The Thing even prepares a poker tournament to honor his “Bar Mitzvah,” also known as the 13th anniversary of Ben Grimm’s metamorphosis into a mutant in one of the comic novels. This occurrence occurs in one of the comic books. Despite the fact thatEven though his powers could be improved, many of his fellow superheroes are terrified of his explosive temper and enable him to win despite his poor performance.
The Incredible Hulk (Marvel)
Tony Stark is a consummate gambler who is well-versed in casino etiquette. This presents him with an excellent opportunity to demonstrate both his money and his admiration for the finer things in life. In the movies, Iron Man is seen playing craps in a casino; yet, in the comic books, he is regarded as a skilled poker player who frequently wins large sums of money. Iron Man plays crapscrap in the movies.
Because of his high brain and strategic thinking abilities, Iron Man can outperform all other superheroes. The same mindset that serves him well in gambling also serves him well in action, with a substantial amount of his victories (and blunders!) stemming from his reading of the situations he finds himself in.
DC Comics and Warner Bros.’ The Joker
Another figure who has been indelibly tied with the game is The Joker. The antagonist’s mystery and unpredictability make him a true wildcard among the other villains, and he lives up to the moniker of his card counterpart. Even in his relationship with Batman, The Joker’s intellect is cold and calculated, ticking off all the possibilities before deciding on the move that will most stun Batman. This is visible to anyone.
It should come as no surprise, then, that the Joker, despite his mad behavior, is Batman’s most intelligent foe and his best equal when patrolling the streets of Gotham. When the circumstances are ideal for a convincing bluff, The Joker is able tocan pull it off and gain exactly what he wants from his unwary victims.
Cannonball (Marvel)
Another X-Men team member, this one is the least impacted by poker of all the superheroes. Although Cannonball is not as strongly associated with the game as The Thing, comic book fans will be aware that Cannonball frequently participates in poker tournaments arranged by the other superheroes. Every time, Cannonball appears to be unaware that the game is designed to weaken his comrades’ defenses.
In fact, theTheTheThe two or three times Cannonball is seen playing poker, he always manages to leave the tables with a significant amount of money, indicating the presence of highly developed poker skills that he doesn’t want to bring a lot of attention to since he doesn’t want to brag about. This is entirely compatible with the modest and well-mannered demeanor he developed throughout his upbringing in the rural south.
It is usually beneficial to have a couple ofaces up one’s sleeve
These characters, both heroes and villains, show how important the game of poker is to the people who invented them. These people believe that poker expertise imparts some form of benefit in terms of a person’s personality, and insomein some cases, even in the way their characters behave.
Learning how to play poker from a book or the internet is the quickest and simplest way to begin acting like your favorite fictional characters, whether heroes or villains. It’s certainly easier than putting on a costume or applying makeup, but who’s to say you couldn’t do both to host your own superhero-themed poker game, just like in the old comic books?