It takes a lot to be second-in-command, most people will dismiss you but it’s an important job. Lemar Hoskins knows that all too well, especially when he realizes he’s tied his success to a volatile friend. Who is Lemar Hoskins and who’s this friend? Let’s find out!
Lemar Hoskins grew up in Chicago, Illinois and would decide to join the military when he was of age. There, he would meet the men who would help define his life: John Walker, Jerome Johnson, and Hector Lennox. The three served together through thick and thin and when it was time to return from service, they would go and find the Power Broker together. This Power Broker gave them all super powers, strength, speed, and durability, so they could figure out their own path as heroes.
The quartet would end up working for the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation. Working as a team, the four made a name for themselves and realized they could use their powers and ability to act well off each other to get them more fame. Walker would go by Super-Patriot while Lemar, Lennox, and Johnson would be the Bold Urban Commandos, or BUCkies, wearing Captain America masks and causing trouble that made the current Captain America look bad. They would often commit crimes that made it look as if the current Cap’s fanbase were a group of violent bigots, who only Walker’s Super-Patriot could take down.
During this time, there was already friction between Captain America and the Federal Commission on Superhuman Activities which was trying to control him. The Bold Urban Commando attacks caused Steve Rogers to step down as Captain America in disgust, leaving the Commission to ask Walker to take over as the new Captain America. They saw potential in having Lemar be his sidekick and while he originally went by Bucky to honor the past sidekick, he would change his name to Battlestar to better represent himself and not have a name that can be seen as an old racial slur for African Americans.
Along with Walker, Lemar would be trained by the Taskmaster to be master combatants and be the new masked faces of America’s crimefighting duo. Lemar would even get his own adamantium shield to compliment John’s so they could each fight as the original Captain had. Lemar and Walker would have adventures but Walker would grow increasingly violent and even kill or maim opponents, such as Lennox and Johnson who betrayed the duo. During a battle with Flag Smasher, Lemar would have to call in Steve Rogers to help rescue Walker from Flag Smasher which would help return Rogers to his title of Captain America. Lemar would witness the fake assassination of Walker but was not made aware of the faking of it and would have to learn about this at a later date by demanding answers.
Confronting Walker in his new US Agent identity, the two would fight out their frustrations. Soon after this, Lemar would be kidnapped by the Power Tools, henchmen of the Power Broker and Lemar would have his powers temporarily taken away before he could fight to get them back. This experience allows him to reconcile with John Walker. Once Steve Rogers was officially reinstated as Captain America, Lemar felt like the original Captain didn’t need a Battlestar and resigned from the Commission.
Finding employment with the mercenary group, the Wild Pack, Lemar leaves upon seeing just how brutal they are willing to be. During the hero civil war, Lemar would be against the registration act and get severely injured for a good portion of it. He would find himself often doing security or charity work until he was called in to help handle a situation that US Agent had found himself accidentally called into.
There you have it! Battlestar has recently made his live-action debut in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier where he is once again working side-by-side with John Walker as the new Captain America. Where will Battlestar end up next? See you next time!
Suggested Reading
Captain America #323
Captain America #333
Captain America #334
Captain America #341
US Agent Vol. 2
Dr. Bustos
drbustos@comicattack@gmail.com
