Striker

Striker is a hitman and a major supporting antagonist in Helluva Boss who made his debut in "The Harvest Moon Festival".

Introduced as a farmhand at Rough n' Tumbleweed Ranch, Striker was actually secretly hired by Stella to assassinate Stolas. Later, during his second assassination attempt on Stolas, the hit was called off on Stella's orders as having Stolas alive would have more benefits than having him dead, much to Striker's own chagrin.

In "Oops", Striker had been hired by Crimson as his mafia needed someone for a big score, in which he captured and held Fizzarolli hostage for ransom until his escape alongside Blitz. In "Mastermind", Striker was summoned as the court witness for the trial against Blitz. He lives in an abandoned mine shaft on the territory of the circle of Wrath, and has a horse Bombproof that he uses as a means of transportation.

Striker is a tall, slim and pale red-skinned imp with a serpentine-like face, and a stature that rivals Blitzo. His eyes have bright yellow sclera, dark green rings around the slit pupils, and black eyelids. He also has a small black mustache, and a mouth full of sharp light yellow teeth inside, with one dull gold fang sticking out.

He has short-cut, ivory-colored hair in a slightly messy style. His horns are ivory-colored and point upwards, however unlike most imps, the stripe pattern is more jagged-styled. He also sports a long tail with four black stripes at the base, and a single black stripe on his tail-fork. He also has eight red and black spikes on the base of his tail.

Striker's attire resembles a southern cowboy, which features a large stereotypical-looking gray hat with his horns protruding, and a red bandana around his neck.

He wears a light gray jacket with slight darker-colored lapels, small yellow cuff links on each of the sleeves' dark gray cuffs, and dark gray trimming in which black tassels can be seen hanging from them. His jacket is usually worn over a black turtleneck which itself is worn under a dark gray vest that is held together by two small yellow buttons. He also wears black fingerless gloves, ivory-colored jeans that are ripped at the thighs, and knee-high, dark gray cowboy boots with red cuffs and toes.

In his debut and in "Mastermind", Striker was seen holding a straw of wheat in his mouth.

After his encounter against Blitzo in "Oops", Striker ended up getting burned on his left eye, leaving a noticeable scar.

Assassin Farmhand at Rough n' Tumbleweed Ranch (temporarily; cover job)

Violence Killing royalty Himself Singing Playing the guitar Western genre Cowboy-themed classics

The weak and helpless Demons of high rankings Overlords Sinners The Ars Goetia The Seven Deadly Sins Sexual innuendos Someone getting hard from his torturing procedures The imp mariachi-oriented vocal quartet singing his "ballad" Losing fights Someone calling classics "clichés"

Blitz (temporarily)

Employees of I.M.P Blitzo (temporary hostage) Moxxie (rival) Millie Stolas (attempted target) Asmodeus Fizzarolli (temporary hostage)

Bombproof (steed) Millie's parents (former bosses) Goetia Royal Family Stella (client) Octavia (Knows of) Andrealphus (ally) Crimson (client) Crimson's Mafia (acquainted)

Imp Demon (hybrid)

Animalistic noises - Striker has a tendency to produce hissing sounds similar to that of a snake or crocodile. His tail can make a rattling sound, moving a certain way similar to that of a rattlesnake. Ocular illumination - Like many Imps, Striker's eyes emit a light glow in dark areas. Charisma - Given his skills, strength, charm and good looks, Striker can win the good graces of those around him. Enhanced endurance - Striker has a great pain tolerance, as he was able to take multiple stabs from Millie from behind and still being able to overpower her while appearing to be unfazed by the wounds. Another example is when Blitzo elbowed his face for almost shooting Moxxie and was able to briefly knock him down later, even being able to quickly escape from the scene despite having received a brutal beating from him, who showed to be strong enough to break a wall with a single punch. In "Oops", he is shown to experience horrible pain by being burned, but still had enough strength to scurry away as he put the fire on himself out. Enhanced strength - Despite his slim physique, Striker has shown an impressive amount of physical strength. During "The Harvest Moon Festival", Striker was capable of immobilizing and pinning Moxxie, breaking Millie's arm and throwing both of them with ease. He was also able to make Blitzo fall with a single punch during his fight near the end of the episode. In "Western Energy", it also showed he was able to break Stolas' leg by just stomping on it and toss down a large stalactite with his lasso. Prehensile tail - Striker is shown to be able to use his tail to wield certain weaponry proficiently, such as when he uses Millie's zweihander to attack and defend in the fight against Moxxie and Millie in "Western Energy". Agility — Striker demonstrated impressive agility in the episode "Western Energy", where he easily dodged punches and shots during the battle with Millie and Moxxie.

Hand-to-hand combat - Striker is shown to be surprisingly proficient in hand-to-hand combat, being able to defend himself from the I.M.P staff. He also uses his tail for unarmed combat as well. Weapon mastery - He's shown to be skilled with handling various types of weapons especially weapons to kill demons with high status, such as the Carmine-Crafted Blessing-Tipped Rifle. He is also seen being able to use his rope to grab and throw stalactites at Moxxie and Millie. He's also very good at ranged combat. Rope mastery - Striker is extremely skilled at using ropes with various methods such as capturing and using it as a melee weapon. Horse-riding - Striker is shown to be talented at horse riding, as shown when he is riding his horse Bombproof at the beginning of their debut episode. Musical talent - Striker is shown to have a talent for singing, as shown when he sang his victory tune after he was one of the winners of the Harvest Moon Pain Games. Guitar-playing - As well as singing, Striker has been shown as being a very good guitar player.

Striker is an arrogant, prideful, violent, ruthless, and sadistic individual. He views himself as superior to most of his own kind, having no hesitation to mock and belittle those he views as being beneath him, both physically and mentally, as shown by his constant humiliation and torture of Moxxie.

He holds a deep hatred of the nobility of Hell, deriding them as bluebloods who treat Imps as a lesser class. Because of this, Striker gleefully takes the opportunity to assassinate demons of a higher social standing to prove himself as superior, such as accepting the job to murder Stolas, and mocking him while conversing with Blitzo.

His violent nature belies his sadism. When confronted by Moxxie after his discovery of Striker's blessing-tipped rifle, he chose to corner and attempt to slowly strangle Moxxie to death rather than dispatching him in a faster or less cruel manner. He is also not above random acts of violence against innocents, such as assaulting a by standing Imp for simply getting too close to him.

However, Striker is a cunning, socially smart, manipulative, and fearless person who is willing to show respect towards those he views as acting decisively, even with the odds stacked against them. As demonstrated when he admired that Blitzo was able to start a assassination business in spite of his assertions that Imps rarely succeed in operating businesses in Hell. His manipulative manner is evidenced when he was able to make Blitzo lower his guard by psychologically manipulating him; stating that he was working for lower classes that couldn't care less about him and wasting his great potential by limiting himself to be Stolas' sexual plaything when he could do much better than that, to subsequently suggest that they should work together.

He is able to maintain an aura of fearlessness such as being able to keep a cool head when Blitzo stopped him trying to assassinate Stolas, even cornering the latter against a wall in spite of being held at gunpoint.

He has also been shown to be a highly ambitious individual as he has aspirations above being an assassin and seeks to use his job and connections to gather powerful weapons, with a stated desire to be able to murder powerful hellish entities such as Overlords and demonic nobility. Ironically, he ends up rubbing shoulders with "bluebloods" such as Stella in order to obtain these weapons, though during his interactions with such individuals, he remains polite and conversational. In "Western Energy", Striker shows hatred for demon royalty as he expresses not only eagerness to kill Stolas, but also a personal vendetta against royals, believing all they do is they only talk over lesser demons and take away everything they have.

Unlike the majority of demons, whom are mostly sex-positive, if not outright indecent, even in public, Striker is noticeably much more prudent. Sexual innuendo legitimately irritates him and displays of arousal (especially of the masochistic variety as demonstrated by Moxxie and Stolas) have been shown to shatter his cool-headed facade, if only for a moment. Despite his status as a prude, Striker owns a statue with a large erection in his lair. Also worth noting is that he seems to be able to put his distaste for sexuality aside for the sake of manipulation tactics, demonstrated in the aforementioned scene where he lowered Blitzo's guard.

"Well, howdy! Oh, lookie here! You must be the famous Mildred! Heard some good things about you from your folks, little lady." ―Striker, when meeting Millie "What're y'all doin' so far away from Imp City? Heh. The free workin' finally slowin' down?" ―Striker, to Millie "Boss, huh? Oh! So you're the bold imp to start his own killin' biz." ―Striker, when meeting Blitz "Not many Imps start businesses on their own. That's pretty impressive, sir." ―Striker, to Blitz "So, you even conned that ditzy blueblood into gettin' you to the surface?" ―Striker, to Blitz "Don't worry, little one. You never stood a chance." ―Striker talking down to Moxxie "I’d like to take this opportunity to sing a quick song I wrote just now, about me winning." ―Striker, before he sings his song about him winning the Pain Games "I'd kill y'all, but I feel like there's more leverage with your rodeo clown of a boss if I don't. Plus, you little things ain't worth the cleanup." ―Striker before locking Millie and Moxxie in the cellar "Bliiiitzo! I thought you were still at the ceremony!" ―Striker, to Blitz when he catches him about to kill Stolas "Blitzo, c'mon. You know the two of us are superior than most of our kind. And you were so above sucking on a disgusting rich pompous Goetia only to sneak top side for scraps and work for bitter Sinners who could care less who you are, when you could be slaying Overlords." ―Striker's attempt at manipulating Blitz to refrain from shooting "Why struggle to run a business that is rigged against you, when you could partner up with me and kill the unkillable? Starting with the one who that treats you like a plaything." ―Striker tempting Blitz to kill Stolas "It's a damn shame, Blitzo. We might've actually made a good team." ―Striker's comment before his failed attempt at shooting Blitz and Moxxie "I still think it’s embarrassing. You’re wasting a lot of potential relying on a weak little-" ―Striker, before Moxxie almost shot at him

"Maybe you'll get me next time, Blitzy." ―Striker, to Blitz before escaping "Huh... I failed to kill the target at the festival. But don't worry, ma'am... It won't happen again." ―Striker, on the phone call with Stella "I'll get 'em next time." ―Striker plotting revenge on I.M.P "Would you shut up already? I can hear you by the way." ―Striker, interrupting Stolas's phone call with Blitz "Don't worry about your lanky birdy... He's in good hands." ―Striker, to Blitz on the phone "SHUT THE FUCK UP!!! I'M TRYING TO DO MY FUCKING JOB! YOU COMIN' IN HERE SINGING ABOUT ME FOR THE MILLONTHN FUCKING TIME!!! LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE YOU FREAKS!!!" ―Striker, to the mariachi imp band when they sing his ballad "I was paid to give you the real royal treatment, your wife must really hate you." ―Striker, to Stolas "It's a classic." ―Striker, to Stolas when he questions about the train tracks "Are you seriously judging me right now?" ―Striker, to Stolas after questioning about his statue "Look. Not every ring is some fancy ass city, with some fancy ass mansion, that only fancy ass royals get to live in. Some of us have hard lives to live. And some of us have everything we care about taken away by fuckers like you." ―Striker, to Stolas "You don't get to talk over me! I don't have to listen to your bullshit. All you royals ever do is try to talk over us!" ―Striker, to Stolas "Don't bother trying your little eye trick on me, those ropes ain't gonna let you do anything." ―Striker, when Stolas attempts to petrify him "Got something to say about that, your highness?!" ―Striker, to Stolas "You're a smartass, hm? 'Cuz once I spilt your neck open and let you choke on your own blueblood: you won't be worth any more than the tombstone you'll be buried under." ―Striker, attempting to threaten Stolas "Well, this has been fun. But every good thing has to come to an end." ―Striker, to Stolas "Shame you won't see your kid again." ―Striker, mentioning Octavia

"Ooh, finally hit a nerve, huh?" ―Striker, to Stolas, about mentioning Octavia "Big talk. But just that... any last words Goetia?" ―Striker, to Stolas "That rodeo clown told you he ain't coming! Nobody is coming." ―Striker, before Stella calls him "I'm kinda in the middle of killin' him." ―Striker, to Stella "Well... good news for you feathers, your royal **** says she don't want you dead no more. Buuut, she didn't say what condition you had to be in." ―Striker, to Stolas "I think these reds might be a pretty trophy. Can't have you seeing me again, can we?" ―Striker, planning to take Stolas' eyes "Oh, I remember how easy you are to choke the life out of, little one." ―Striker, strangling Moxxie Crimson: "So, you say you're good? Cuz' we really need a big score right now." "The best, had a royal in the ropes just last week..." ―Striker, to Crimson "It was... Called off. But I have a body count in the hundreds. I ain't afraid to go after anyone. Women, kids, and cute little faced puppy-lookin' things. Don't matter." ―Striker, to Crimson "Funny to run into ya again, "Blitzy"... And with a famous friend..." ―Striker, after capturing Blitz and Fizzarolli "Would you two shut the fuck up already? Bicker like a couple of teen skanks... As far as I'm concerned, you two are BOTH embarrassments to our kind for meddlin' with blue-bloods to begin with. But at least loud mouth here has the sense to only fuck his rich bitch instead of bein' a little purse dog." ―Striker, to Blitz and Fizzarolli "DON'T. You. Dare... Finish that sentence, clown..." ―Striker, threatening Fizzarolli "You been a pain in my ass long enough, Blitzo. NOW, I'm gon' break you like a FUCKIN' HORSE!" ―Striker, to Blitz "You think I'm just gon' let you get away after all this? I'm THROUGH losin' these fights! This worthless little pet REEKS of his over-bloated master... I'll at least enjoy gettin' rid of him." ―Striker, to Blitz while taking Fizzarolli hostage

"SHUT THE FUCK UP! WHY'S IT ALWAYS A SEX THING?!" ―Striker, when Fizzarolli mentioned himself getting hard