Tom Ryan aka Big Figure was a dwarven crime boss who was known in the criminal underworld. When he was incarcerated through the actions of Rorschach and the Nite Owl II,
Biography[]
During his time as an active crime boss, Big Figure became one of the most feared gangsters in all of New York. His criminal activity brought the attention of Rorschach and Nite Owl II on several occasions. He was eventually defeated by them and later incarcerated in Sing Sing. Although incarcerated he had formed a small army of henchmen, and influence from inside the prison. He looked forward to avenging himself against Rorschach and Nite Owl.
In 1985 when Walter Kovacs, the true identity of Rorschach, was arrested for the murder of Edgar Jacobi, he was immediately threatened upon his arrival in Sing Sing by Big Figure, also revealing that he notified at least 50 other prisoners Kovacs had imprisoned earlier of his arrest. Mostly because he was already looking forward to exacting revenge against Kovacs for his earlier arrest and imprisonment, he took Kovacs' barbed comments about his diminutive height with stride especially compared to his bodyguards.
After Otis' death at the hands of Kovacs, Big Figure arranges for a prison riot with the simple intent of distracting the prison's guards long enough to gain entry to Kovacs' cell, seeking revenge. Unfortunately for Figure, Kovacs proves to be much craftier than his attackers; he binds the hands of the bigger man, Lawrence, to the cell's door when the man lunges for him. Because the position Lawrence was in made opening the door impossible and thus deterred him from exacting revenge on Kovacs, Figure orders his second goon, Lloyd, to kill Lawrence, with both apologizing to him before his death; Lawrence's body had been blocking the door's lock housing, so he uses the power saw to slice both of Lawrence's arms off, killing him.
Movie version of Big Figure
When Lloyd, finally opens the door with the power saw, Kovacs shatters his toilet bowl causing a small flood of water to make contact with the saw's frayed power cord, electrocuting Lloyd. Big Figure retreats in helpless terror, with Kovacs right behind. Kovacs finds his adversary hiding in a men's room and drowns him in a toilet shortly before Nite Owl and Silk Spectre II show up.[1]
Trivia[]
- When Walter Kovacs finds Big Figure in the men's room and kills him, blood flows out from under the door in addition to water.[1]
Behind the Scenes[]
- In the 2009 film, Big Figure is portrayed by Danny Woodburn. Aside from sharing the same height as the character, the actor is physically very different from the comic book version.[1]
- Not much of Big Figure's moments of himself and Walter Kovacs is altered for the film.[1]