Cockroach Hamilton

The character first appears in Luke Cage, Power Man #28 (December 1975), produced by Don McGregor, George Tuska, and Vinnie Colletta.

Growing up in Harlem, Dontrell was petrified by nocturnal noises. However, over time, he gradually become accustomed to them as well as the cockroaches that infested his home. These early experiences lead to an affinity for cockroaches and "Cheese Snipz".[1]

Later in life, Hamilton turned to a life of crime, becoming a mob enforcer (alias "Cockroach") for Ray "Piranha" Jones.[2] During an investigation of Dontrell, Power Man was attacked by Dontrell and Ray's men at the Harlem River docks. Power Man was eventually knocked out and carried back to Ray's penthouse, but breaks free and attacks Ray. Power Man and Ray fell into a pool of piranhas allowing Dontrell to seal them in and escape.[3]

Dontrell and Ray escaped conviction and moved to Stamford, Connecticut. They demanded protection money from the locals, who refused, but were eventually accepted into the community. However, three women Vita Buchetta, Ann Repucci, and Annette Cortese shamed the members of the community for accepting Dontrell and Ray, while secretly using them to use them to start their criminal careers. When Terror Inc. is hired by an unknown party to kill Ray, Dontrell could not defend him because his custom shotgun, "Josh", kept jamming. Upon examining the information from the shotgun cartridges, Terror Inc. realized that Ray had hired them. Terror Inc. saved Ray from the mobsters and the arriving Punisher as Dontrell chased after Terror Inc. in their cars with Terror Inc. ultimately killing Ray.[4]

During the Shadowland storyline, Dontrell appeared as a member of Nightshade's Flashmob and attacked Victor Alvarez. Dontrell fired on Victor until his gun was compressed by Luke Cage upon his arrival with Iron Fist. The Flashmob was later taken, arrested and taken to Ryker's Island, but Nightshade's solicitor Big Ben Donovan secured Dontrell's release.[5]

Hamilton later appears as a criminal, discussing the reward that Tombstone had offered to anyone who could recover the Supersoul Stone from Luke Cage and Iron Fist.[6] When a group of "preemptive" vigilantes assault inactive villains, Hamilton joins the relatives of several of the victims in requesting help from the Heroes for Hire.[7] Cage has Hamilton assist with investigating the "Preemptive Strike" by having him consult with criminals like Piranha Jones.[8] After discovering that the Preemptive Strike work for Alex Wilder, Hamilton betrays the Heroes for Hire and joins Alex Wilder's New Pride alongside Black Mariah, Cottonmouth, and Gamecock.[9][10]

Dontrell Hamilton has no superpowers but is a skilled marksman who uses advanced pieces of artillery. His first weapon was a six-barreled shotgun built by himself named "Josh".

• Cockroach Hamilton appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode "To Steal an Ant-Man" as a member of William Cross' gang.
• Cockroach Hamilton appears in the second season of Luke Cage, portrayed by Dorian Missick. This version is a petty criminal who runs an off-the-books casino and was recently released from prison with help from corrupt NYPD Detective Rafael Scarfe.[13] Additionally, Hamilton is physically abusive towards his girlfriend Andrea "Drea" Powell and her son CJ. After running afoul of Luke Cage, Hamilton injures him with help from a neighbor named Josh. Cage, struggling with anger issues, seeks vengeance and severely beats Hamilton after he abuses his family again.[14] Hamilton subsequently sues Cage for his injuries and hires Benjamin Donovan to represent him in court. However, Hamilton is later killed by Bushmaster.[15]

• Dontrell Hamilton at Marvel Wiki
• Dontrell Hamilton at Comic Vine
• Dontrell Hamilton at Marvel Appendix