Always some mothersmurfer bringin' a badger to a dog fight.

Wait, that would be effective. And I would wear that tracksuit now if I could get one! From 1984, Badger #4, "Dogfight" Written by Mike Baron, art by Jeffrey Butler.

An oil sheik gets the red carpet treatment from Carl Avery, "the sportin'est man in southern Wisconsin," meaning his fingers were in a lot of gambling, including dog fights. While a small-time thug fronts the money for a fight, it's pre-empted by the sudden arrival of Badger, who claims his 'dog' can take both of theirs. Despite protests that it's definitely a badger, Badger is more than able to thump anybody that would say otherwise. Avery isn't buying, but the thug thinks his pit bull could take the "glout hound." Instead, Badger whistles, perhaps a warning to the pit bull, who rolls over and gives. Badger does have to adminster a beating to the thug, but has attracted the attention of the pretty Pamela Sue, who's looking for action. Maybe not the kind you would think, though.

Pamela Sue takes Badger to Avery's bar--the real one, beneath a plain front upstairs. A local picks a fight with Badger, but Avery had put him up to it on a bet, and has another in mind: 5 G's to take Herkimer Kropenski, who looks to have a solid foot and change over Badger. Badger eventually triumphs, which costs Avery $25,000 to the sheik: Badger isn't mad, but does spit in his hat for the dog fight. And Pamela Sue was still up for more action...meanwhile, the sheik bids Avery thanks and good night, then removes his disguise: Badger's boss, druid wizard Ham! Up $75,000 and a new dog; but later Badger realizes what he had in mind for the dog: a ritual sacrifice, to create a low pressure area. (Later in the series Ham's powers seem somewhat more esoteric, but early on he was a "weather wizard," and possibly much less benign than all that.) Increasingly unstable, Badger tries to stop Ham, who is reluctantly forced to banish him to limbo. Well, maybe it'll do him some good. Or not. Whatever. Unfortunately for Ham, his secretary (and Badger's somewhat beleaguered therapist) Daisy saw that, and says she'll quit if Ham doesn't let the dog go and bring Badger back. Ugh, such a hassle...

But, unfortunately, this was the last issue of Badger...from Capital Comics, anyway. Badger, Nexus, and Whisper would all go on at First Comics. And, this plotline would as well, as Badger's next appearances would be in Nexus #6-#8.