The Muscle
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Real Identity: Oscar Delgado
Affiliations: Valestra Mob and Task Force X
Appearances (BTAC Comics): The Muscle, Muscle Out, Crack-Up! Part One, Crack-Up! Part Two, and Crack-Up! Part Three
Skills: Above Average Physical Attributes, Marksmanship, and Unarmed Combat
Oscar Delgado was a main man of Gotham mob boss Esther Valestra and he conducted a string of hits for her. He later operated as The Muscle, a fixer for hire, purported to be on the level of Batman, to the underworld elite. If his price was met, he made his client's problems disappear. He lived an enigmatic existence and was considered by some as nothing more than a rumor. After the Mayor's Office went into flux in the wake of Hamilton Hill's death, Emerson Mayfield concluded the time was ripe for him to return to public office. To tie up loose ends, Mayfield reached out and was advised to hire The Muscle. For $100,000, the Muscle beat Ambrose Chapell, an old business associate, to death, stole some incriminating documents, and blew up Chapell's boat. The Muscle arrived at Mayfield's estate and turned over the documents. He didn't care to hear about Mayfield's plans and only wanted to be paid. Mayfield obliged him and transferred the funds then told him it was a pleasure doing business and they might work again. He looked up and the Muscle was already gone. Tired of being pursued by Detective Renee Montoya, Rupert Thorne hired the Muscle to kill her so he could continue with expanding his drug operations.
Two days after the Mayfield hire, the Muscle perched on a roof near the old Gotham Steel Yard and waited for a chance with his sniper rifle. Montoya led a police raid on one of Thorne's drug labs at the yard. While Montoya read Batman the riot act for interfering, Muscle placed her in his sights. Luckily, Detective Bullock sighted him. He shot off a bullet and yelled there was a shooter. Batman threw an exploding Batarang and the explosion threw Muscle off his feet. Batman arrived first. The Muscle regretted not taking him out first. Batman quipped that wasn't going to be his only regret. Muscle caught him offguard and quickly clocked him. He ripped a fan unit off the roof and threw it at Batman. Montoya arrived and ordered him to put his hands up. He punched a water tower and leaped off the roof. He easily evaded the police blockades she set up around the Steel Yard. Thorne was enraged to learn Montoya survived and was to receive a commendation for the raid and yelled at the Muscle remotely.
The Muscle assured him he always closed his contracts and his "failure" was just a delay. Thorne threatened not to cross him or he would be finished. While Montoya and her girlfriend, Gloria Navarro, took a ride home in Bruce Wayne's limousine, the Muscle sideswiped them. He ripped the passenger door off and fired. Wayne took the bullet in the shoulder then blacked out. Montoya returned fire and the police arrived, forcing the Muscle to retreat again. Montoya sent her two best officers home with Navarro but the Muscle was already waiting. He took them out with tranquilizer darts then kidnapped Navarro. Montoya got a call. She thought it was Navarro but it was the Muscle. She checked a text. It was a photo of Navarro tied up. He told her to follow his instructions if she wanted to see her alive again. She was forced to drive in circles so no one would follow her. Muscle finally told her to park at the corner Haney and Aparo Streets then she would immediately know where he was. She spotted the Muscle Zone Fitness building and found it rather obvious but guessed that was the idea. She then deduced he wanted her to think he was a dumb grunt so she could get overconfident and slip up. Batman texted her to wait for him but she went in alone.
The Muscle came on the speaker and guided her to the weight room. He flooded the room with steam and tried to trick her into shooting Navarro but she already deduced his plan and tricked him into shooting a practice dummy as he hung from the ceiling. They exchanged fire and she was shot. Luckily, he hit her police badge. Muscle moved to kill Navarro next but Batman intervened and kicked him from behind. He jabbed Batman and realized he was wounded. Batman used an exploding Batarang on a nearby weight bench and buried him in barbells. Muscle wasn't done yet. He raised a broken barbell over his head and was ready to kill everyone. He appreciated the extra workout and imagined getting a bonus for Batman's corpse but Montoya came up behind him and shot his arms. The barbell fell on his head and he was knocked out. Thorne was named in the assassination attempt and was arrested.
The Muscle was revealed to be Oscar Delgado and underworld assassins were sent to Stonegate Penitentiary to silence him. Muscle met almost daily with Reverend Justus Meadows, the prison chaplain. Meadows found him a challenging soul but believed there was a great redemption awaiting him. While he was shaving in the restroom, Muscle was sucker punched by Killer Croc. Luckily, Batman was tailing Croc based on a tip and intervened. On March 27, he was taken to an interrogation room to speak with District Attorney Janet Van Dorn. She recountered the encounter. Muscle claimed he could have taken Croc, he never got sucker punched twice, and wished Batman stayed out of it. He looked at the two-way mirror and thanked Batman for nothing. Van Dorn pointed out it was the third attempt on his life since his identity was compromised then presented him a plea deal, if he helped take down Esther Valestra, he would get a reduced sentence or at least a transfer to a safer facility. Batman believed he would reject the deal out of pride but Meadows thought he was being unfair. Muscle looked at the mugshot of Valestra then told Van Dorn to shove it.
Muscle was escorted back to his cell. He admitted he was surprised by Montoya's presence given their history. She told him she wanted Valestra as much as Van Dorn did and advised him to reconsider the offer. She even offered to speak in his favor in front of a judge then presented the alternative, a prison cell until he died. Muscle later met with Meadows in the chapel and asked if he thought Montoya was on the level. He noted he tried to kill Montoya and her girlfriend yet she was still willing to speak up for him. Meadows told him that was what forgiveness was and it was a powerful tool that allowed people to get on with their lives. He asked Muscle if he was ready to move on with his. Muscle pondered it but emphasized he would need his help if he did. Meadows promised he would do anything he asked. Muscle agreed to take the deal and asked him to call the warden but stipulated to keep it a secret as much as possible so Batman wouldn't interfere again. Meadows hired several gunmen to stage Muscle's death. On the night of March 28, Muscle snapped the cross off his necklace and retrieved the lock pick hidden inside it just as the escort reached the city. He escaped during the gun fight then as planned the masked men blew up the van with a bazooka.
Muscle slipped away and met up with Reverend Meadows in a warehouse on the water front. Muscle felt better suited up but was surprised he was able to get his costume. Meadows revealed few doors were locked to the prison chaplain then asked for his payment. Muscle wired him $200,000. Meadows revealed he was paid the same amount by Esther Valestra to facilitate her wishes. Muscle was trapped in a cage by Lock-Up, Valestra's latest hired hit man. Meadows revealed he kept Muscle's guns unloaded as a precaution then asked Lock-Up to kill him after he left since he was still a man of peace. Muscle was enraged he was betrayed by Meadows. Meadows quoted Isaiah and told him those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. Batman suddenly punched him. Lock-Up retorted he would feel a better after he finished off the two freaks before him. Batman threw out several gas balls and invited him to find them.
Muscle punched Batman's shoulder to make sure he wasn't weak like the last time they fought. Batman decked him and asked if he was satisfied. Muscle yelled at him to hurry and free him. Lock-Up's drones emerged from the smoke screen and attacked. Batman used exploding batarangs while Muscle looked for an exit. He found a cargo elevator but was tasered by one of the drones. Batman destroyed it but Muscle implored him to save his own butt. A drone snagged Batman in a constricting net. Lock-Up caught up and promptly attacked Batman. Muscle considered leaving but figured Batman would make for a good bargaining chip and hit Lock-Up's head with the butt of his gun. On the elevator, Muscle mused they were a couple of Super Friends now. Batman told him to shut up and get the laser out of the left compartment of his belt. Muscle asked what it was for, teasing Catwoman but Lock-Up caught up to them again. Batman implored him to cut the net. Muscle dropped it to fight Lock-Up. Batman reached for the laser and got free.
Muscle took several punches and yelled at Batman to hurry up. Batman severed the elevator and Lock-Up plummeted with it while Batman fired a grapling gun with Muscle in tow. The police burst in. Muscle surrendered. Montoya noted that leniency would be off the table. Muscle did not care about that and took solace in being able to help take down Valestra, Meadows, and Rupert Thorne. Batman suggested there may still be a way to get time off. The Muscle told him he was out of options and would take the chance. Batman stated he would make a call. Muscle was taken to the Belle Reve Federal Penitentiary where he was injected with a nanotech solution. Director Amanda Waller was surprised he didn't wince. Muscle claimed that wasn't his style and asked if they could get down to business so he could be free sometime this century. Waller mused Batman was right about him and he would fit right in with Task Force X.
Dispatched to Gotham City, Muscle and Katana attacked Straightman in an alley outside Simon Trent Theater after he was darted by Deadshot. Muscle slugged Straightman and declared Batman was his punching bag then Katana kicked him into a pile of trash. Straightman was still conscious to Muscle's surprise. Katana stressed patience. Joker threw out smoke bombs and fled the scene with Straightman. Task Force X returned to their local headquarters. Batman arrived and fought the team. Deadshot raised his gauntlet to the back of Batman and teased it would be a shame to blow his head off after he saved his sorry butt. Katana found Batman as charming as ever. Boomerang teased he was still the bat you loved to hate. Muscle clarified he only hated Batman. Batman mused his recommendation for Muscle paid off. Muscle promised he would quickly serve his time then look him up. Waller broke it up and spoke with Batman. Muscle and Deadshot held Poison Ivy hostage as insurance in case Harley Quinn refused to help Waller.
After a long night, Task Force X arrived at the Pizza Clown Family Restaurant. Muscle remarked he lived in Gotham for his whole life but he never saw Pizza Clown ever. Harley promised she would show him all the high-class dumps if he stuck with her. She warned the team she and Joker booby-trapped all the games and clowns to explode just in case Batman came to investigate. Boomerang was ready to inform Waller they found another dead end. King Shark saw a whoopee cushion and sat on it. The explosion took out the team. Joker used the Psi-Ber Helmet on everyone except Harley and King Shark and brainwashed them into being his own personal army. They commandeered a S.W.A.T. van and stormed Camp Finger. Batgirl, Robin, and Colonel Haslett took cover behind a giant satellite dish. Robin saw Deadshot with a bazooka. Batman swung and and kicked Deadshot. The bazooka went off and the explosion took out Muscle and Boomerang. Muscle was the last of the team to be restored to normal with the Psi-Ber Helmet thanks in part to the short time they were under Joker's control.