Sgt. Eddie Baker

SGT. EDDIE BAKER

Real Name: Eddie Baker

Class: Human

Occupation: S.A.S. soldier

Group Affiliation: S.A.S.

Known Relatives: unnamed father

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Hereford, England

First Appearance: Hitman #23 (February, 1998)

Powers: Baker was a trained soldier, a masterful technician and hand-to-hand combatant and skilled with firearms.

History: (Hitman #23, 24) - Sgt. Eddie Baker, Page, Plug and Whitey were S.A.S. agents who spent years in Ireland to destabilize and undermine the IRA. Page went undercover for years to get them close enough to IRA leader Dessie McGeehan to assassinate him. They were called in by their C.O. who informed them that the S.A.S. learned that missing S.A.S. members Captain Richey, and troopers Riggs and Cooper had been killed during a friendly fire incident during the Golf War that was covered up. He instructed the men that the men responsible, Tommy Monaghan, aka Hitman and Natt the Hat were ex-marines living in Gotham City,. Baker was concerned with fooling around with the Marine Corps, but their C.O. assured him he had their blessing, and they had no love for the two men. Baker was uneasy about the whole situation, knowing friendly fire was an unfortunate but expected part of war and suspected they were only assigned their mission because the deceased Richey was the son of a Brigadier-General, but he knew how to follow orders. The S.A.S. arrived in Gotham, and after located their quarry in Noonan’s, a local bar, launched a grenade at them. They’d used a flash grenade so Hitman and Natt knew exactly why they were going to die, but Hitman had recently run afoul of Gotham crimeboss Men’s Room Louie, who sent a squad of killers to Noonan’s. The S.A.S. and Louie’s men engaged in a firefight, allowing Hitman and Natt to flee. Baker and his crew slaughtered the mobsters, and although irritated their quarry eluded them, they were not afraid of the Gotham mob. They ran into Hitman and Natt at a burger joint, and when one of the patrons, who was overweight, Hitman and Natt used his body as cover before escaping. The S.A.S. decided they should go after Hitman’s friends, choosing Sean Noonan, who Hitman viewed as a father figure. With Sean at their mercy they phoned up Hitman, who knew it was a trap, but had to save his friend.

(Hitman #25-27) - Hitman decided on a risky plan and he and Natt attacked Men’s Room Louie’s mansion, killing a number of his men. Hitman mocked Louie as someone who watched The Godfather too many times and shrugged off his furious tirade about being untouchable as Gotham’s top crime boss. Hitman promised to put each and every one of Louie’s operations out of business and kill all his men before returning and killing Louie last. Hitman was counting on Louie sending his mob after him, and hoped that when they met up with the S.A.S. it would kick off a firefight between his two enemies. Natt thought his plan sounded like something he saw in a movie and wouldn’t work, but was still loyal to his friend. Sgt. Baker found Sean’s photos of his time spent in the Korean War, and mentioned that his father had also served. He was once again conflicted, believing the S.A.S. were on a fool’s errand that didn’t do anything to protect the organization. They called Hitman, telling him Sean was safe, but ordering him to meet them at the Weyland Mill, promising him a quick death. When Hitman and Natt pulled up, so did Louie’s mob, and as predicted they went to war with the S.A.S. Hitman and Natt scoured the grounds looking for Sean, but ran into S.A.S. soldier Whitey. During a struggle Whitey fired a shot that ricocheted and killed him. Hitman and Natt knew the S.A.S. would be out for blood, and Hitman had read Whitey’s mind and knew Sean wasn’t at the mill. When the S.A.S. discovered Whitey’s body they were in agreement that it was time to go ballistic. The S.A.S. disposed of Whitey’s body, and Baker’s concerns about going against the mob added to how much he hated the mission they were on. Baker and Plug talked about their time in Desert Storm, remembering when they’d captured Iraq soldier Corporal Jeral, who’d tried to ambush them, but finding him likeable they struck up a friendship with him and let him go. Page acquired explosives, saying he was willing to burn Gotham to the ground to avenge Whitey, and reminded the recalcitrant baker of the S.A.S. motto “Who Dares Wins.” Baker set Sean free, telling him he had nothing to do with their plans of revenge, but warned him about how close to death he’d come. Sean called up Hitman to tell him he was free and advised he get out of town quick, but Hitman refused to back down from his enemies. The S.A.S. blew up a number of Men’s Room Louie’s businesses, partially blaming him for Whitey’s death, and called him up to know he was next. S.A.S. Plug was shot taking down Louie’s casino, and Baker told Page things had gone too far, coming to blows with him. Plug assured Baker he’d survive and they had to carry out their mission. Hitman and Natt stumbled into a war on Gotham’s streets when the S.A.S. blew up Louie’s mansion. Plug was fatally shot by Louie’s men and Baker went into a blind rage, gunning down row after row of Louie’s men. Page confronted Louie, who promised that no one knew vendettas like the mob, but Page wasn’t intimidated and shot him in the head. Baker spotted Hitman and Natt, telling them to walk away. Page felt Baker was betraying the S.A.S. and shot him. Hitman and Natt pleaded that they made a mistake, but Page still felt obligated to doing his duty. Baker snuck up behind Page and broke his neck. Baker cursed Hitman and Natt, angry and in grief that his closest mates were gone. Baker dragged Page’s corpse to a gas station set on fire after they’d bombed Louie’s mansion, allowing himself to be caught in the ensuing explosion so there would never be a trace of the S.A.S. having been in Gotham City.

Comments: Created by Garth Ennis & John McCrea.

Sgt. Eddie Baker had a cameo in Hitman #28, 29.