History
After the crime syndicate Maggia succeeded in using genetic engineering to give Man Mountain Marko superhuman physical powers, and considering that Marko had become a useful asset, Maggia's so-called strength enhancement and genetic engineering division continued working on it to generate a "new model" with apparently greater powers, without affecting their minds or loyalty: The Persuaders. The name was chosen because Maggia sent these people to business owners, to convince them that they should cooperate with Maggia, lest one single Persuader would destroy the business' physical assets.[1]
The Persuaders were first seen when Maggia tried to take over the casinos in Las Vegas.[1] Their initial attempt led by Tony Gold had failed, but helped them identify Michael Berengetti, owner of the Coliseum Casino, as an influential enemy. The Maggia bought the Royal Grand Hotel and Casino, then tried to assassinate or scare away Berengetti,[2] and coerced companies associated with the Coliseum (suppliers[2] like Delatore Restaurant Supply,[1] financiers, travel agents) to stop doing business with Berengetti under penalty of being attacked by Maggia;[2] to do this, Maggia used the Persuaders. With the rumor of Berengetti's death spreading, the Maggia arranged a forced-invitation meeting for any relevant business owner at the Royal Grand; and any owner suggesting he or she would not attend, like the owner of the Craps Casino, was intimidated by a visiting Persuader; the Craps owner discovered his chauffeur had been attacked, then was attacked himself.[2]
Tipped by police lieutenant Barnes, Berengetti knew of the meeting; Barnes wanted Berengetti's superhuman enforcer Mr. Fixit to scare Maggia away, but Berengetti had argued with Fixit at that point. Berengetti still attended the meeting, trying to use his influence over his peers, but Maggia had intimidated them. Fixit then broke the party by surprise, but the Maggia leader summoned the Persuaders (about a dozen of them). When Fixit noticed his enemies were superpowered, he ordered anyone without powers to leave, even Berengetti, while he fought the Persuaders. Jokingly, the Maggia leader said that Fixit had a one-in-one-hundred chance to survive, then Berengetti accepted the bet, using the Coliseum and his assets to cover bets against Fixit. So as not to appear as a coward in front of the men he was trying to intimidate, the leading Maggioso accepted, then the other casino owners joined the bets. Fixit beat the Persuaders one by one, throwing them through windows, including exterior windows - which revealed to the general public that Fixit was fighting against Maggia, and had them, including the LVPD, bet on the fight. Maggia reduced the odds and tried to even close the bets, which the other business owners openly refused to do. In the end, the door opened with one Persuader standing, which caused the men to demand Berengetti their money - but the Persuader then fell, defeated, and Fixit was revealed as the winner. The Maggioso lost a lot of money, fearing that Maggia would kill him for his failure.[1]