Crucible:Cheapshot

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Cheapshot

Real Name	Lanny Woods
Identity	Unknown
Affiliation	Enforcer for Petro
Base of Operations	New York City (underworld)
Status	Active
Known Relatives	None known
First Appearance	SHADOW #102
Creator	Ed Messina

“Everybody’s got a weak spot. Mine’s finding yours.”
— Cheapshot

Cheapshot is the underworld alias of Lanny Woods, a highly skilled enforcer whose reputation rests on his uncanny ability to identify and exploit weaknesses in both people and objects. Quiet, efficient, and deeply unsettling, he has become one of the most reliable—and feared—operators in organized crime.

Background

Very little about Lanny Woods can be confirmed with certainty.

Over the years, he has offered multiple, conflicting accounts of his past. At various times, he has claimed to have served in a secret military unit, to have trained himself through relentless practice, to have been part of a government super-soldier program, and to have studied under the Eight-Headed Shadow. Any or all of these stories may be true, or they may simply be inventions designed to obscure the reality.

What is known is that Woods has been active in the criminal underworld for a long time, working as an enforcer and low-level operative before rising in prominence.

His current position speaks for itself.

Enforcer For Petro

Following the return of Petro to power after his release from prison, Woods replaced Killinger as the mob boss’s chief enforcer. The role requires absolute reliability, precision, and the ability to resolve problems quickly and decisively.

Cheapshot meets those requirements.

His presence alone is often enough to ensure compliance. When it isn’t, his methods are swift and final.

Abilities

Cheapshot possesses an unusual and highly dangerous combat capability.

• Weakness Perception – Can identify structural or physical weaknesses at a glance
• Precision Striking – Capable of exploiting those weaknesses with minimal force
• Enhanced Reflexes – Reacts with exceptional speed and accuracy

This ability allows him to disable opponents, break objects, or dismantle defenses with seemingly effortless actions.

Skills

Woods is a formidable combatant even without his specialized ability.

• Expert martial artist
• Skilled in close-quarters combat
• Experienced in intimidation and enforcement tactics
• Highly disciplined and efficient in execution

His fighting style emphasizes economy of motion and maximum effect.

Technology

Cheapshot does not rely on advanced technology.

• Occasional use of standard weapons
• Minimal equipment to maintain mobility and focus

His effectiveness comes from skill and perception rather than tools.

Personality

Cheapshot is reserved, focused, and professional. He speaks little and rarely explains himself, preferring to let results define his reputation.

He shows no apparent interest in power beyond his role, nor does he indulge in unnecessary cruelty. His actions are direct and purposeful, carried out with the detachment of someone who views violence as a task to be completed.

The name “Cheapshot” suggests dishonor.

In practice, it reflects efficiency.

Legacy

Cheapshot occupies a particular niche in the criminal world: not a mastermind, not a public menace, but a specialist whose presence signals that a situation is about to be resolved.

Permanently.

Whether his abilities are the result of training, experimentation, or something else entirely remains unclear. What is certain is that those who face him rarely get a second chance to understand what went wrong.

Because by the time you realize where the weakness is—he already has.

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