Origin

Blackjack O’Hare is a native of Halfworld, which was selected to be an asylum for the criminally insane thanks to its remoteness. Blackjack was a member of the staff, specifically the half that were created to look like small, fuzzy animals. The other half was designed to look like clowns. Both appearances were meant to have a calming effect on the patients. Blackjack was a member of the security team, second in command to Rocket Raccoon. Their toughest situation was when psychic criminal, Star Thief, was sent there. He was able to jump his mind into other bodies, causing havoc. Rocket and Blackjack managed to lock him up, using the genetic sequence of the humanoid animals as a key. To make sure Star Thief never escaped, Rocket left the asylum to ensure the key could never be completed. Before he left, he wiped his memory, his time on Halfworld existing as half-remembered war adventures. This made Blackjack the new head of security.

Creation

Blackjack O'Hare debuts in Incredible Hulk (1968) #271 by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema

Major Story Arcs

Toy Wars

The following is how Rocket remembered his time on Halfworld

Blackjack O'Hare is a mercenary from Halfworld and leader of the Black Bunny Brigade. Working for the highest bidder, he worked for Judson Jakes and Lord Dyvyne, both rivals in toy production. After Judson attacked Dyvyne and started a war between them, Blackjack was sent to kidnap Lylla, heiress to Judson's company.

Once he captured his target, the crafty Blackjack kept her for himself in an attempt to marry her and gain control of the company for himself. When Dyvyne retaliated, Blackjack and Rocket Raccoon teamed up to help save each other from the toy companies attacks. After playing nice with the good guys and helping them escape, he again turned on those who trusted him with a new team - Blackjack O'Hare and his Awful Eight. His team was nearly defeated and Rocket and his friends escaped. Blackjack appeared again in the final battle of the war, saving Rocket Raccoon and having a change of heart. He left with them and the robots for a new life on another planet.

Halfworld Asylum for the Criminally Insane

When Rocket was lured back to Halfworld, Blackjack was afraid that Rocket was possessed by Star Thief somehow. He opened fire on Rocket’s ship and had him and Groot apprehended. Blackjack and Lylla, who were now married, decided to use the asylum’s dream tech to reinstate Rocket’s memories.

With his memories back, Rocket admitted he was lured home by killer clown robots that were sent to kill him. Together, he and Blackjack determined they were programmed and sent out by an employee that the Star Thief was able to control. With Rocket back, the key was complete, and Star Thief got his opportunity to escape.

Blackjack and Rocket planned together to trick Star Thief into being re-imprisoned. Blackjack invited him to return as his second in command, but Rocket was inspired to return to the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Rocket Raccoon Rivalry

When the galactic economy went bad, Blackjack took his security expertise private as a mercenary. He took a job assassinating a princess but showed up just in time to see Rocket saving her. Not only did Rocket ruin Blackjhack’s retirement job, but he also ruined his reputation, causing his opportunities to dry up.

He disguised himself as Rocket and framed him for murder, causing Rocket and Groot to be chased by bounty hunters while spending time away from the Guardians of the Galaxy. After Rocket finally tracked him down, they were also tracked down by the princess and a league of Rocket’s ex-girlfriend’s who wanted their own revenge.

Blackjack saw his opportunity to kill the princess again but was easily blasted out of the fight.

Black Bunny Solutions

Blackjack remarketed his mercenary job as Black Bunny Solutions and recruited a protegee, The Prince of Power. He would eventually recruit former members of the Guardians of the Galaxy after the team broke up. Gamora, Groot, Drax, and Moondragon would join his private security firm to protect an energy converter owned by Castor Gnawbarque III to power his casino. This caused them to come to blows with the other half of the Guardians who saw the converter as dangerous, since it was based on Galactus technology. Secretly, Blackjack was also hired to kill Rocket for Castor, but Groot wouldn’t let him get away with it.

Black Bunny Solutions struggled economically. His protege changed his name to Powerstone, and Blackjack hoped that advertising the location of the Power Stone would get them more business. It ultimately brought them only aggravation. The Champion came looking for it, but the two space mercs for aided by Thor against him. Once they were in the clear, Thor gave Blackjack a place to stay in Asgard.