Who Is Bantam? Origin, Powers and Key Facts

Bantam is a Marvel comic book character, the alter ego of Roberto Velázquez, with over 13 comic issue appearances. Roberto Velasquez was a boxer that was treated by Dr. Karl Malus and was given enhanced strength. He became the fighting machine known as Bantam.

Who is Bantam?

History: Roberto Velasquez was a talented young boxer training in Puerto Rico whose future as a professional was uncertain due to his meager size and weight, prompting Velasquez to accept an offer from Miami crime boss Armando Avilés to undergo an experimental physical augmentation treatment. Unknown to Velásquez, Avilés was in league with the Power Broker , a Los Angeles-based criminal organizer who used the strength augmentation process developed by criminal research scientist Dr. Karl Malus to create an army of super-powered henchmen. In his first match after receiving the treatment, Velásquez inadvertently killed his opponent and went into hiding, refusing to join Avilés' gang. After his friend was killed by Hammerhead , an augmented boxer working for Avilés, Velásquez, as "the Battling Bantam", joined forces with Captain America to raid Power Broker, Inc.'s Miami Base and defeat Hammerhead. Bantam later split his time between super heroics and training other boxers at Trini's Gymnasium in San Juan (knowing that he was too powerful to ever step into the ring himself). Civil War: After enactment of the SHRA, Bantam was among the heroes who immediately registered with the governm.

Key facts

Bantam is of human origin and first appeared in "Blood of a Fighter". The character is published by Marvel. With 13 recorded issue appearances, Bantam ranks among the most featured characters in comics.