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DC Comics Has a Fictionalised Version of Martin Shkreli in Today's Deathstroke Annual #1

Published Wed, 31 Jan 2018 05:00:22 -0600

Martin Shkreli is an American businessman, former hedge fund manager, and convicted, currently incarcerated felon. He is the co-founder of the hedge funds Elea Capital, MSMB Capital Management, and MSMB Healthcare; co-founder and former chief executive officer (CEO) of the biotechnology firm Retrophin; and founder and former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals. Shkreli is also the CEO of start-up software company Gödel Systems, which he founded in August 2016.

In September 2015, Shkreli received widespread criticism when Turing obtained the manufacturing license for the antiparasitic drug Daraprimand raised its price by a factor of 56 (from US$13.5 to US$750 per pill), leading him to be referred to as "the most hated man in America" and "Pharma Bro".

In December 2015, Shkreli was arrested by the FBI after being indicted on federal charges of securities fraud. He subsequently resigned as CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals and was replaced by the company's board chairman, Ron Tilles. Shkreli was convicted of two counts of securities fraud and one count of conspiring to commit securities fraud in August 2017.

And today, he has been fictionalised in the Deathstroke Annual #1 by Priest, Larry Hama. Denys Cowan, Bill Sienkiewicz and Jeremy Cox may draw attention for the portrayal of homophobia of one of the lead characters and the future for the Power Girl character in the DC Universe (and I am sure we will get onto that), it may also be notable for making Shkreli into a DC Comics villain. And not just a sound effect.

And so Martin Shkreli becomes Anton Krelisch. Not a coincidental similarity. He is now a business leader with his own personal military defence and an arms dealer selling weapons to North Korea.

Weapons funded by putting up the price of drugs. Note the very similar figure, $13 to $750. Also not a coincidence.

Deathstroke Annual #1 is published today. Maybe someone could send Martin a copy?

DEATHSTROKE ANNUAL #1
(W) Christopher Priest (A) Denys Cowan, Bill Sienkiewicz (CA) Ryan Sook
"An Innocent Man"! Team Defiance is pushed to the edge of oblivion when one of their own ends up dead-and Deathstroke is to blame! Is this the end of Slade Wilson's hero turn? It's all been building to this-don't miss the finale of "Defiance," the events of which will lead Deathstroke down a shocking new path!
RATED T+In Shops: Jan 31, 2018
SRP: $4.99

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