Joseph Herman Mendoza

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Alias: Bulldozer
Place of birth: Canton, Ohio, USA


Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Height: 6' 8''
Weight: Originally 332 lbs., more after obtaining the symbiote
Race: Human


Occupation: WetWorks operative; heavy artillery
Legal status: U.S. citizen with no criminal record
Group affiliation: Navy SEALS
Story: Joseph Mendoza got the nickname Bulldozer during his days playing college football. He joined the army where he became a SEAL and later joined Team 3 with the rank of sergeant. With his tactical skills and proficiency with weapons, he was transferred to Team 7 [9].

On a mission to the Transylvania with the Team 7 at the time, what was supposed to be a biological weapon held by a loosing faction in the Balkan was actually a nanotech alloy which was essentially a non-carbon based life form. In reality, Team 7 was supposed to retrieve or destroy the alloy before it fell into the hands of the Vampire Nation. The mission didn't go as planned, and Team 7 was exposed to the alloy which bound itself to their skin and acted like a living armor. Realizing something was wrong, Miles Craven ordered the supporting troops to kill Dane and his team, but Mother-One who had herself been exposed to the alloy before the team helped taking out the troops and save Team 7 [1].

After the Balkan mission, Dane and his team was approached by Armand Waering, who took them back to the States and tried to help them use their new golden armor [2]. As the symbiote had been developed by Waering industries [9], and Waering himself was connected to the Night Tribe and had his own agenda, the team was shortly after sent out on a mission to prevent the release of a viral agent by the Night Tribe. The mission succeeded in the sense that the virus was stopped, but Flattop and Crossbones were killed, and Grail and Dozer were changed [3, 4].

Dozer couldn't switch off his armor, and he started to increase in mass to the point that he couldn't move. It was believed, that it was his wish to be big and strong that the symbiote was making into reality, and Dozer could not reverse the change. Grail gave him some of his chi energy [4], which is believed to be part of the reason Dozer started developing orbs (Orbital Reconnaissance/Battle-spheres) [5], and later a bubble of suspension gel around his body on which armor and artillery could be attached [6].

For a long time Dozer was trapped in the suspension gel, but he did eventually learn how to remove the gel by concentrating [7], and return to normal.

Dozer stayed with WetWorks until he was killed fighting Drakken and his vampires [8].

With the changes in the nature of the universe from Captain Atom's visit [1], Dozer somehow came back to life and WetWorks [10].


Skills & abilities: The symbiote covering the body acts as a living armor and gives a low level telepathic ability towards the other carriers of a similar symbiote. Dozer's symbiote can encase him in an elliptical sphere of suspension gel to protect his body further. The gel can change hardness to enhance the protection when needed, and Waering's technicians have fitted the sphere with interfaces for attaching weapons, armor, and legs for mobility. Removing the protective gel requires some effort, and when loosing concentration, the sphere quickly forms around Dozer. Besides the gel, the symbiote has also created a number of orbs (Orbital Reconnaissance/Battle-spheres) that can fly around, controlled by Dozer. The orbs provide visual information and can be used for reconnaissance and communication.


Continuity: WildStorm
Publisher(s): Image
First app.: WetWorks (vol. 1) #1 (1994)
Creator(s): Whilce Portacio
Country of origin: USA


Related links/characters:


References:

1. Captain Atom: Armageddon (2005 series) #8
   DC Comics/WildStorm, August 2006
2. WetWorks (1994 series) #1
   Image Comics, June 1994
3. WetWorks (1994 series) #2
   Image Comics, August 1994
4. WetWorks (1994 series) #3
   Image Comics, September 1994
5. WetWorks (1994 series) #4
   Image Comics, November 1994
6. WetWorks (1994 series) #7
   Image Comics, April 1995
7. WetWorks (1994 series) #9
   Image Comics, August 1995
8. WetWorks (1994 series) #18
   Image Comics, July 1996
9. WetWorks (1994 series) #35
   Image Comics, November 1997
10. WetWorks (2006 series) #7
    DC Comics, May 2007
11. WetWorks Source Book (1994 series) #1
    Image Comics, October 1994