President Kijaro

PRESIDENT KIJARO

Real Name: Joseph Kijaro

Class: Human

Occupation: President of Tynanda

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Tynanda, Africa

First Appearance: Hitman #29 (August, 1998)

Powers: President Kijaro was a brutal dictator and commanded the Tynandan army, who were heavily armed, but with obsolete weapons from WWII and the Cold War era. President Kijaro was wheelchair bound.

History: (Hitman #29, 32, 33) - President Kijaro was a fierce dictator and the ruler of the African nation of Tynanda. He hoarded wealth to fund his opulent lifestyle while depriving the people of food, housing and medical care.Rebels threatened his rule and Tynanda was in a constant state of civil war. He employed superhuman mercenaries Skull and Scarlet Rose as his bodyguards and contacted Mr. Martindale, who worked for Third World Concern, a private security agency. Third World Concern assembled a group of NCOs to whip Kijaro’s Tyandan army into shape. Gotham hitmen Hitman Tommy Monaghan, Natt the Hat, Ringo Chen and Hacken signed up. Martindale pitched Kijaro and his army force as the good guys and the rebels as opium and heroin dealers destroying the country, but Hitman and Natt weren’t sure they were fighting for the right side after meeting Kijaro. After senior Third World Concern officer Captain Gerheim sent Hitman and a group of troops to put down a rebel uprising Gerheim had Skull and Scarlet Rose kill the villagers, accusing them of being rebel sympathizers. Hitman realized Kijaro was the bad guy, and refused to work with Third World concern any longer. Hitman and his crew killed Gerheim and debated their next move. Martindale informed Kijaro that he’d arranged a new airforce for him comprised of Hawker Hunters. Kijaro said Martindale was playing him for a fool, selling him obsolete equipment to enrich himself, and he no longer had need of his services. Kijaro told Martindale he was emblematic of Americans, weakening the world with debt and threat and then coming in to pick the bones clean. Kijaro had Rose and Skulkl murder Martindale, and he proclaimed that his country and his rule would last forever. Hitman and company met with Christian Ributu, leader of the rebel forces, and he convinced them to fight by his side to rid the country of Kijaro’s rule. After an intense firefight with the Tynandan army Hitman and crew cleared a way to Kijaro’s palace using a Tiger I tank. Kijaro ordered Rose and Skull to defend him. Ros momentarily stopped the Tiger with plant vines, but the Tiger pulled free and rolled over her, killing the mercenary. Skull proclaimed himself a god and attacked the tank, only to be ripped in half by tank fire. Kijaro tried to roll away in his wheelchair, but was rushed. The Tynandan army surrendered to the rebels, and Ributu promised Hitman the country was saved and thta he’d be a benevolent ruler. Hitman said he’d take him art his work, but reminded him he could always come back if he heard Ributu was slipping.

Comments: Created by Garth Ennis & John McCrea.