Obscure Character Handbook: Karnage

Real Name: Charlie Karnage
Occupation: Enforcer
Legal Status: Presumably a citizen of the United States with a criminal record.
Known Confidants: Johnny Three-card
Known Allies: Stenville Enterprises
Major Enemies: The Huntress, Blackwing
Base of Operations: Gotham City
Eyes: Brown
Hair: None
Other Distinguishing Features: Karnage is a towering, muscular figure.
Intelligence: Thuggish
Strength Level: Low-level superhuman
Skills: Minor fighting ability.
Superhuman Powers: Minor super-strength
Source of Powers: Unknown
Special Weaponry: Wrist-launching mini-missiles. Electrified bullwhip.
Personality: "...a street punk covered in half-million dollar hardware!" -The Huntress
First Appearance: Wonder Woman #286 (December 1981)
Publisher: DC Comics
Status: Copyrighted
Mission Statement: To become a big name mob enforcer/hero killer
Created by: Paul Levitz & Joe Staton

History:
Charlie Karnage was a street punk who decided his ticket to the big time rackets was to make his name as "the enforcer who offed the Huntress!" To that end, he was outfitted with weapons and a costume by a mysterious new employer named "Mister Stenville." Likely following police reports related to the Huntress centering on Gotham Memorial Hospital, Karnage assaulted the heroine in a back alley the morning after an exhausting nighttime mission. Karnage initially subdued her in a choke hold, but the Huntress broke free with a back flip and kick to the jaw. Karnage then continued his attack with advanced weaponry, but lacked the skill and aim to use them effectively, allowing the heroine to escape unharmed. Karnage returned to his employer, who suggested the enforcer kill Arthur Cranston, "--a lawyer she and Robin risked their lives to protect! Kill him. Then wait for her to come to you."

Karnage burst through the window of Cranston, Grayson and Wayne, a public interest law firm, where he encountered Helena Wayne and litigator Charles Bullock. "I want Arthur Cranston, fools-- and I want him now! That turkey's my ticket to the Huntress' funeral!" While Wayne debated compromising her secret identity, Bullock leapt to her defense. However, Karnage easily caught the shyster by the throat and tossed him aside, snapping Bullock's tie in two with his whip as he fell. Realizing Cranston wasn't on the property, Karnage left. Wayne exposed Bullock to sleeping gas to insure she wouldn't be followed, then gave chase as the Huntress.

The heroine determined that Karnage's benefactor was the same mobster whose Stenville Enterprises had tried to bury Arthur Cranston and his firm before being threatened by Huntress and Robin. Huntress badgered the mobster until he fainted from fright, then interrogated one of his goons at knifepoint to learn Karnage's whereabouts. The Huntress managed to catch Karnage unawares, and quickly separated him from his arsenal. With a kick to the Adam's apple, Karnage was taken out of commission.