Crucible:Lazerator
Lazerator
[edit] | |
| Real Name | Jefferson “Gonzo” Kozinski |
|---|---|
| Identity | Public |
| Affiliation | S.W.A.T., formerly HAVOC |
| Base of Operations | Mobile |
| Status | Active |
| Known Relatives | None known |
| First Appearance | THE GUARDIANS OF LA #23 |
| Creator | Jeff Messina |
“Rule number one: never trust an organization with matching uniforms.”
— Lazerator
Lazerator is the mercenary identity of Jefferson “Gonzo” Kozinski, a wisecracking energy-weapons specialist and former operative of HAVOC who abandoned the organization after deciding he was tired of being nearly killed on behalf of people he considered idiots. Armed with stolen laser technology and an advanced flight pack, Kozinski reinvented himself as a freelance criminal, aerial raider, and sometime member of S.W.A.T.
Though dangerous, Lazerator is as notorious for his mouth as for his weaponry.
HAVOC Operative
[edit]Jefferson Kozinski began his criminal career working for HAVOC, serving as a field operative and weapons specialist in numerous low-level terror operations and covert attacks. Smart enough to survive but not important enough to be valued, Kozinski quickly realized a disturbing pattern within the organization: every mission seemed to end with him getting shot at by superheroes.
Repeated encounters with heroes such as Manhunter convinced Kozinski that HAVOC treated expendable agents like ammunition. While more fanatical operatives embraced martyrdom, Gonzo preferred survival.
Eventually he decided there had to be a better career path than “future hospital patient.”
Birth Of Lazerator
[edit]Kozinski finally abandoned HAVOC after stealing an advanced high-energy laser system and a compact flight pack from one of the organization’s research divisions. When HAVOC agents attempted to stop him from escaping, Gonzo used the stolen weaponry to blast his way out, later joking that he had “lazerated the loserators.”
The name stuck.
Operating under the identity Lazerator, Kozinski turned freelance almost immediately, using his equipment for mercenary contracts, robberies, aerial raids, smuggling operations, and assorted criminal adventures. Unlike many supervillains, however, Gonzo rarely pursued grand ideological goals.
He mostly wanted to get paid and avoid dying.
Legacy Of The Name
[edit]Kozinski is actually the fifth criminal to use the name Lazerator, though previous incarnations tended to end careers abruptly through imprisonment, accidental self-destruction, or encounters with superheroes.
Ironically, Gonzo became the longest-lasting Lazerator largely because he lacked the ego and ambition of his predecessors. He knows when to retreat, when to surrender, and when to stop monologuing and run.
This practicality has allowed him to survive situations that destroyed far more powerful villains.
S.W.A.T.
[edit]At various times, Lazerator operated as a member of S.W.A.T., a mercenary-oriented supervillain team whose members specialized in heavy weaponry and military-style operations. Within the group, Kozinski typically served as aerial support and ranged firepower.
Even among villains, however, his constant sarcasm could become exhausting.
Skills
[edit]Despite his clownish attitude, Lazerator is genuinely dangerous.
- Expert marksman
- Experienced aerial combatant
- Skilled flyer and maneuver pilot
- Laser weapons specialist
- Familiarity with high-energy systems and battlefield tactics
Kozinski is especially effective in mobile hit-and-run combat situations.
Technology
[edit]Lazerator makes use of stolen and modified high-energy weaponry.
His equipment includes:
- Portable high-energy laser cannons
- Precision cutting and blasting beams
- Compact maneuverable jet pack
- Advanced targeting systems
- Energy packs and custom weapon modifications
Kozinski constantly tinkers with his gear, though not always safely.
Personality
[edit]Lazerator is cynical, opportunistic, loudmouthed, and surprisingly self-aware for a supervillain. Unlike fanatics or megalomaniacs, Gonzo understands exactly what kind of world he lives in and has adapted accordingly.
He knows superheroes usually win eventually.
His strategy is therefore simple:
- make money,
- stay mobile,
- avoid prison,
- and never be the guy standing closest to the giant death robot.
Despite his criminal lifestyle, Kozinski occasionally displays flashes of reluctant loyalty toward teammates and allies. He also possesses a certain crooked charm that makes him oddly likable in spite of himself.
Underneath the jokes and greed lies someone smart enough to realize supervillainy is mostly surviving other supervillains.
Legacy
[edit]Lazerator became a recurring mid-level menace of the modern era and a frequent thorn in the side of heroes such as Manhunter and the Guardians of LA. His adventures brought a mix of high-energy action, mercenary chaos, and black comedy to the Crucible Universe.
Because while world conquerors and immortal masterminds plotted destiny, Gonzo Kozinski was usually just trying not to get vaporized before payday.
And somehow, that made him one of the survivors.