Striker's daddy issues theory,
and internalised racism and homophobia
Striker's mum was a snake demon from Envy. His dad was an imp from Wrath, who was a trophy husband.
Striker was born in Wrath but grow up in Envy.
Where they live fairly comfortably, till the dad had an affair with a Goetia man.
This got the dad and Striker kicked out. Leading to Striker's move to Wrath.
Why I think this - cultural disconnect
Striker has always struck me as someone who didn't grow up in Wrath, but moved their after his childhood.
He acts a little like Moxxie, who was born there, but grew up in Greed.
They both feels like they're trying to claim a heritage they aren't fully connected to.
And Striker appears very far removed from the community of other imps in Wrath.
But unlike Moxxie, who at least grew up around Greed's Mob imps; I think Striker was fully isolated from all community ties.
Striker trys to show himself to be the most Wrathan imp there is.
The roughest, toughest bastard in all of Wrath in fact.
With a victory song; all about how very special he is compared to all other imps, ready to go. (Even though he drew with Blitz).
Dressing like a stereotypical cowboy, when other people there don't dress that way.
They choose comfortable, hard wearing farm clothes instead.
What Striker wears is what he thinks a strong Wrathan imp should wear.
But its kind of a costume. Dressing in a Hollywood macho lone cowboy aesthetic; without any connection to the real community, built by queer found families of colour.
When Stolas point out that being a villain who ties people to train tracks, and buying a statue of himself with giant c*ck is "a bit clichéd"; Striker instead assumed Stolas must be dissing the whole of Wrath. Not his cheesy style and very crap decorating.
He assumes his aesthetic choices are the pinnacle of Wrathan culture. And that he'd knows better than any Goetia what that would be.
But this is Stolas, a guy who loves the very charming harvest moon festival, and the pain games. Who's has been attending them since he was a kid. (It's got plants, games and astronomy. Of course Stolas loves it).
Stolas probably at least is tell the difference between a shallow cliché about a culture; Vs art produced by people of that culture.
Striker's nicked a load of tourist tat, and calling it a classic; like it high art. Like these are the only things about Wrath that are worth counting.
Haphazardly nicked a few casino signs, an ad for whiskey, and stuck a pub sign on a train carriage, all down a mine shaft; with train track to tie his victims to and called it a day.
Stolas is right. This very cliché, and again shows Striker doesn't really understand the culture his cosplaying. It's basically a Hollywood stage set.
Striker's rant even shows he thinks living in Wrath is a downgrade, to other nicer rings.
Wrath's not a fancy ass ring, a fancy ass city or a fancy ass mansion. This backs up the idea that Striker previously lived in privilege.
"have everything we care about taken away by fuckers like you" and "have hard lives to live"
Shows now feels that was taken away from him, by a man from powerful position... By a Goetia...
Which is part of his motivation for taking the job to kill Stolas.
It's also extremely Envious. Striker has a massive chip on his shoulder, wanting what others have.
Angry that they still have what he believes he is entitled to, what he thinks was stolen from him.
And Envious of what others have accomplished, that puts them ahead of him. Like Blitz or Fizz.
Striker's also obviously mixed race. But racialized as a imp by others in hell.
Either having Imp and Dealmaker parents, or Imp and Snake demon parents. Though snake seems more likely, as he has a rattle snake's tail.
Either way would give his parents relationship a high power imbalance, and very different levels of privilege.
Seeing Envy and the Dealmakers in Shark Boy Summer; kinda made Striker's attitude click for me.
Striker is very out for himself, and a hypocrite that thinks he's above other imps.
Taught a lot of imp hatred that Striker has never re-examined. And doesn't want to. Despite clearly being racialize by society as an imp only.
He uses "little" in the same derogatory way that we've mostly seen from the Goetia, Sins, and from demons from Envy.
Striker thinks he's "superior" to other imp, and the acception to the social 'rule' that imps are "weak". Stella at Stolas: I have no desire to stay in the place of a traitorous embarrassment.
And has a lot of toxic masculinity, against those he sees a visible queer men, like Moxxie or Stolas. Who he hates on sight. Striker like to police who counts as a 'real man'.
Initially counting Blitz among those he deems of as strong, impressive, and superior to other imps.
But discounts him when he refuses to let Stolas be killed. And adding in Stolas' cutesy nickname of 'Blitzy', to really drive home that Striker thinks Blitz is emasculated, by choosing to save his Goetia lover.
Striker believes that imps mixing with Goeitas makes them weaker over all.
Regularly using racist dehumanising* language towards other imp. Calling "weak", "pathetic", and "vermin". (*De-demonising?). These lines sound like they could have come straight from Stella's gob.
For Striker, to always default for to using this hateful language first about other imps, means he likely grew up around demons of privileged; who regularly used this about him and his parent.
This makes growing up in Envy feel like a good bet. As it would leave him isolated from other imps, and their culture.
It seem very privileged and comfortable. But also hinted at as being extremely racist.
With HOAs (that IRL were born out of redlining), and Karen's mum who teach their kids slurs to say behind every imps' backs.
Shark Boy Summer, set in Envy, has less imps and hellhounds in the crowd scenes than normal. (They are normally the majority in crowd shots). But the number or mixed race imps/hybrids were about the same as other rings.
Striker being mixed race, and from a power imbalance relationship; adds a interesting angle to his insistent that he is above other imps.
He's "the best of our kind", and "much more talented than you". Considering himself to be the special superior one, who deserves to win just because of who he is; could be because of his genetics....
Blitz does call him a "supremacist". And lots of them are weird hypocrite, with nonsense rules, about who really counts as a person, and in their group.
It's also likely that Striker has contradictory ideas about imps mixing with Goetia; making imps weaker. And how that fits in with his own mix race status.
I don't think Striker actually want to see Imps raised any high socially. As he's very happy working for Goetias, so likes the status quo.
What seems more likely is that he wants to be top most Imp, stamping down on others.
Toxic masculinity and Homophobia
Striker has a lot of homophobia, and toxic masculinity; mixed in with his racism. Because he especially hates anyone who doesn't match his bullsh*t idea of what a real man is.
Like Moxxie for being a "weak, little thespian" type... Read obviously queer.
To me Striker's homophobia reads as coming from a similar sort of self hatred, that his dislike of other imps does. Something he was taught, based on where and how he grew up.
And an extreme dislike of something that he might he see in himself, and be repressing.
("Why's it always a sex thing?", reads differently when he sets off everyone's gaydar in a 40 foot radius. If even Crimson think your getting fucky, you might be getting a little fucky)...
Punishing mixed race couples
When Striker gets to pick his own assignment under Crimson; he picks attacking Blitz and Fizz for dating Stolas and Ozzie.
Striker is punishing queer imp men in relationships with Goetias... (Yer, this is I think it was his dad that dated a Goetia).
Calling them both "embarrassments to their kind", and emasculating Fizz as a "little purse dog". Again definitely could all have been scream by Stella.
It's very clear Striker considers himself the sole arbitrator what makes a strong masculine imp. And he thinks sleeping with Goetias makes you a weak "worthless little pet".
Useing Ozzie and Stolas to invalidate Fizz and Blitz's successes. (Though he thinks falling for a Goetia is much worse than just sleeping with one).
Striker assumes it's all is down to sleeping their way to the top. And Blitz accidentally reinforces this: "So you even conned that ditzy blueblood into gettin' you to the surface?" ..."It's a transactional fucking, you see".
Striker shows what he thinks of that kind of relationship
"And you were so above suckin' on a disgusting, rich, pompous Goetia, only to sneak topside for scraps".
This is fully discrediting Blitz's accomplishments because of sleeping with Stolas. It no longer "impressive" that he works for himself and employes several people. Now it's "scraps".
This all sits well with Striker's world view, as he's the special one. Anyone who's done better, like owns their own business, or is Mammon's brand baby; must have cheated to get ahead of him. A very Envious world view.
Striker's normal homophobia is much worse; around it's men he knows are involved in Imp/Goetia relationships.
Especially if they beat him.
Fizz and Blitz escaping send Striker into a insane rage. Saying he's "THROUGH lossin' these fights",
Not caring about the payday; just wanting Fizz dead because of his ties to Mammon, "his over bloated master".
(It appears Striker thinks Fizz won the clown pageant for putting out).
And t*rturing Stolas, and trying to cut out his eyes; after Stella calls off the hit saying she'll pay him more to not kill him.
Stolas could easily have bled to death while this git tried doing amateur surgery.
Sinsmas introduced the idea of birth sins. That behaviours that demons are socialized into, based on the values of where they were born, are a cultural celebration every year.
And I think the emotion Envy fits Striker's overall outlook.
I think this explains a lot of his only out for himself attitude. How bad Striker is at working with others. That he is the "strong", "superior", "more talented" one; that's to be envied.
And if others do better than him then that is something is taken anyway.
Striker's values, a demon-strational Moxxie and Blitz
Moxxie's connection to Wrath is through his mother, and being born there. And part of his claiming her heritage, over his father's, is as a fuck you to his dad.
Striker reminds me of Moxxie; but a mirror flip.
It feels like Striker's claiming to Wrath is in spite having a parent by from there.
That he's laying all the weakness that he tribute to imp men sleeping with goetias, and homosexuality in general; on his dad not being Wrathan enough.
Leading to him to idealise a culture, that he didn't grow up in; as all about macho strength and being out for yourself. The rugged individual.
Like cowboys, horses, play fighting and deadly competitions, like the pain games; are all Wrathan cultural things. Things Striker values.
(They would have been a pics from Millie's family, harvest moon festival, Hells Belles, and ghostfuckers. But I hit the pic cap before getting here sorry 😅)
But so dose being there for family, working together as a unit, glorification of war, not really thinking imps can work for themselves, and limiting jobs prospects to farm worker or being the muscle.
It's easiest to see Striker's values by comparing him to others.
So back to the demonstrational Moxxie's again. Stand up Mox.
Striker's similar in some ways, but also the opposite Moxxie in others. They both appear to be trying to claim Wrathen culture that neither completely fit in with.
Moxxie claims Wrathen heritage for a few reasons.
To honour his mother's memory and what she taught him, (which is very sweet).
As that fuck you to Crimson, (who's from Greed, where Moxxie grow up).
And also to stand with the more marginalised imp group. Instead of Greed that has slight more privilege, and would probably get him less flax.
But Moxxie also grows up in a predominantly imp lead business, in a fairly middle class home, which we know are both unusual.
So Moxxie doesn't fully fit in in Wrath, because of the values he absorbed growing up.
When Moxxie fucks up in IMP, it's often because of the lessons he learnt from his dad in Greed's culture. Like insist they run the family business extremely he professionally, and only for profit.
Not getting why Blitz's kid would automatically have a place in it, if she doesn't tow the line; like he had to under Crim and the mob.
What Moxxie was taught in Greed is something he's activity having to unlearn with Blitz and IMP.
We can see the values Striker was brought up with the idea that imps shouldn't be there own boss.
Which could align with Wrath, apart from he is his own boss. So it feels more like Envy's 'only I'm special' logic.
Striker also definitely isn't trying to stand with the more marginalised group, or work together with other imps. Like they seem do in Wrath; because he's a racist dick bag.
He tried to conn Blitz into being the fall guy for his first attempt on Stolas, and then trys to get Blitz killed to cover up his second attempt.
More uses of Blitz, so get your butt over here Mr.
Blitz and Striker can also be seen as foils to eachother.
Blitz was brought up in a system where fellow imps thrived, and work together communally.
Where being the boss wasn't an unrealistic idea, like it was for Millie in Wrath. Blitz had a community where they tried to work together to improve things as whole.
(Doesn't stop Cash being an arsehole. But I think Blitz learnt a lot of this from his mum, and other circus imps).
Blitz is the imp that Striker likes to pretend to be. It's what he wants the world to see him as. But Striker's a massive hypocrite.
Striker wants to pretend he's his fully his own boss, taking out height powered targets for himself, and to make things easier for other imps.
But he's not. His whole pitch to Blitz is fuck building a better life for your friends and family, that's way too hard. You should only think of yourself.
It's a very envious mindset.
Striker wants the life Blitz has worked for, because he's superior to the rest of impkind.
But he doesn't want to putting in the work to get it, because that requires working with others other imps.
And Striker hates other imps, especially if they succeed.
If Striker can't have it, if it's not handed to him; he wants to tear down those who made it. Like Blitz and like Fizz.
If he's the superior one of his kind, but Blitz or Fizz are winning; then he must discount their win as cheating, by slept their way to the top.
Striker's more that happy to take royals money, and shoving other imps under the bus; he just doesn't like being called for that bullshit.
Striker especially likes working for Goetias; when the job lets him punish love that crosses race lines.
For a mix race kid, from power imbalanced relationship; to do that... boy is that ever fucked up!
To me that screams 'daddy/mummy didn't love me enough, so I'm taking it out on you'.
But yer Striker's extremely self hatred of himself and others in his community, and his belief that one every is jealous of his talents; just fits best with the emotion Envy.
And that seems to track with the social standards we've seen encourage there.
So I think he grew up in Envy. Then moved to Wrath.
From what he said about the ring being a downgrade, and that a Goetia was responsible for his hard life; it seems likely that was what lead to his move to Wrath.
He seems the same age as Blitz, so we probably are talking parents.
Because he appears to not be part Goetia, but instead Imp and Snake Demon; and his severe homophobic reaction to Imp Goetia relationships, (like Stolitz and fizzmodeus), his dad sleeping with a male Goetia seems likely.
(Also making it more likely Striker's dad side are imps).
Especially with his toxic masculinity ideas of what makes a really man, and being queer doesn't seem to count in his book.
Striker's styling himself as a lone, rugged, macho cowboy, who ties Goetia princes up to rail way tracks; seems like an attempt at retailing a heritage that he doesn't really understand.
🤷but as always you don't have to agree. This is just for fun.
Thanks to @arjb612 for helping me work shop this idea. Sorry it tuck so long. 😅 Stuff kept coming up.
