“
Being an elite commando of the Special Forces takes a special breed of hero. You need the cunning of a lion, the spirit of a Viking warrior, and the intelligence of a modern day field general. Only after these qualities are soaked into your soul can you stand a ghost of a chance saving humanity from the inhumane Red Falcon.
„
~ HOW TO PLAY CONTRA Booklet
“
You heard the man, this is our show now.
„
~ Bill Rizer
“
Well, if you say so, then I guess I must be Bill Rizer... and a "Contra".
„
~ Bill Rizer
Background
Bill Rizer is the main protagonist of the Contra series.
This dropdown contains the synopsis of Bill’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise!
Bill Rizer was born a Contra, possessing the special genome that has imprinted him with a uniquely evolved genetic sequence, thanks to exposure from an ancient alien artifact known as the Lemris. This has made him into a warrior with preternatural abilities.[1]
Major Bill Rizer, now the field leader of the Contra unit, hails from a family with a long military history, and possesses exceptional physical strength, agility, and mental fortitude. Graduate of the Earth Marine Academy, he is proficient in all manner of armaments and well-versed in military science.[2]
Contra (Arcade/NES) & Contra: Operation Galuga
On September 12th, 2631, a meteor crashed into the Galuga archipelago off the coast of New Zealand. Many months[3] to two years later[4] , the archipelago was occupied by hostile aliens known as the Red Falcon, whose sole mission is to exterminate humankind. To combat this, in 2633, the Earth Marine Headquarters dispatched Bill Rizer and Lance Bean with one mission: destroy the Red Falcon base. After much hardship, their mission was successful.
Sometime after his success over Red Falcon, peace was assumed to have returned to Earth, and so Bill was placed into a cryogenic sleep. But, during that very same year in 2633, the mysterious and hostile Neo-Salamander Force made themselves known. They travelled back in time to 1973, landing in Central America and occupying the Yucatan Peninsula's Shizuoka ruins, and planned on eliminating the "Contra" force while Earth's defenses were still primitive.
Though Lance Bean was dispatched to stop them, all communications with him abruptly ceased. With no other choice, the Galactic President sent a robot called BR-W9 to prematurely wake Bill Rizer up from his cryogenic sleep, and quickly remind him of his role as Pfc. Bill Rizer, the legendary Contra. Once he familiarized himself with the situation, Bill teamed-up with BR-W9, the samurai Yagyu, and the alien soldier Newt Plissken.
The group travelled back in time, successfully fighting and defeating the Neo-Salamander Force. With the mission completed, the team returned to their own time and were congratulated by the Galactic President for a job well done. As Bill wondered if he did something good for the world, he returned to his cryogenic sleep.[5]
Personality
Cunning, Courageous, Ruthless, and Intelligent: Bill was chosen to repel Red Falcon's alien forces due to being one of America's most cunning, courageous, and ruthless soldiers from the Special Forces elite commando squad. He has the cunning of a lion, the spirit of a Viking, and the intelligence of a modern-day field general [6] .
Gruff Exterior, Caring Interior: Though Bill is a war-hardened hero who appears battle-oriented enough to allow for a child to join him without much apprehension , he does strongly care about his allies, a side of him which comes out should they ever go missing or be defeated [7] .
Guardian of Earth: Contra are specifically chosen to be guardians and protectors , who stand against great darkness [8] . Bill will go out of his way to rescue captured civilians [9] .
General Information
Name: Bill [10] Rizer [11]
Nicknames: Mad Dog [12] (Code Name), Major Bill Rizer [13] , Legendary Leader [14] , Hot Shot commando [15] , Contra [16] , Pfc. Bill Rizer [17]
Origin: Contra
First Appearance: Contra (1987)
Latest Appearance: Contra: Operation Galuga (2024)
Company: Konami
Creator: Koji Hiroshita
Actor: Steve Blum (Contra: Operation Galuga), Jason Nisperos (Contra ReBirth)
Sex: Male
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Pronouns: He/Him
Age: 35 years old [18] (Contra and Contra: Operation Galuga)
Birthdate: c. 2598 (Bill was 35 years old during Contra and Contra: Operation Galuga [19] , which takes place in the year 2633 [20] , only half a year [21] to two years after Red Falcon arrived on Earth [22] )
Homeworld: Earth [23]
Residence: Earth Marine Headquarters [24]
Story Role: Main Protagonist
Classification: Soldier, Elite Commando, Major, Contra
Species: Human, Contra
State of Being : Regular
Physiology : Humanoid Physiology , Contra Physiology (Contras are a race of ancient warriors referenced alongside alien civilization, who possess an evolved and altered human genome with a unique genetic sequence, making them into warriors with preternatural abilities [25] )
Occupation: Soldier from the Special Forces elite commando squad [26] , field leader of the Contra unit [27] , Graduate of the Earth Marine Academy [28]
Affiliations: Lance Bean (Lance is Bill's comrade, and the two have a brotherly relationship )
Enemies: Red Falcon
Status : Alive
Alignment : Neutral Good (Bill is described as being one of the most cunning, courageous, and ruthless members of the Special Forces elite commando squad [29] . Thriving in combat, he isn't very adverse to allowing a child to join him in battle [30] , so long as he can complete his mission. He is considered a true warrior who would stand against great darkness [31] . Contra are specifically chosen to be guardians and protectors [32] . He will go out of his way to rescue captured civilians [33] .)
Protection Level : Global Protector (Bill and Lance fought to save humanity from Red Falcon's inhumane alien forces [34] ), possibly Cosmic Protector (Though Bill was directly protecting Earth, defeating Red Falcon can be seen as saving the entire universe [35] )
Threat Level : Street Threat ()
Statistics
Grade : A
Tier : 9-B , Low 8-C with firearms
Cardinality : Finite
Dimensionality : 3-D
Attack Potency : Wall level (Bill possesses exceptional physical strength [36] . He could knock the head off of a giant robot [37] ), Small Building level with firearms (Bill's standard weaponry causes the bodies of human-sized aliens to combust , can destroy segments of metal bridges , and can destroy turrets . With several shots, they can destroy small deployment carrier vehicles , destroy armored military vehicles , vaporize large armored soldiers , and can obliterate the wall of a metal base [38] )
Durability : Wall level (Can take hits from Gromaides , which can obliterate a stone wall [39] )
Striking Strength : Above Average Human Class
Lifting Strength : Average Human
Travel Speed : Average Human
Combat Speed : Athletic Human ()
Reaction Speed : Athletic Human (Bill possesses exceptional agility [40]
Stamina : Athletic Human
Range : Standard Melee , Hundreds of meters with firearms
Intelligence : Gifted Intelligence (Bill and Lance could successfully tear through an army that was considered unstoppable [41] )
Knowledge : Journeyman level regularly, Master level in military (Being an elite commando of the Special Forces requires one to have the military intelligence of a modern day field general [42] . Bill graduated from the Earth Marine Academy, and is well-versed in military science [43] . Contra are elite warriors with superior guerrilla tactics [44] )
Superhuman Physical Characteristics (Those who possess the Contra Gene are warriors with preternatural abilities [45] ), Sheer Will (Bill possesses exceptional metal fortitude [46] . Contra are elite warriors with an indomitable spirit [47] ), Acrobatics (Bill possesses exceptional agility [48] . He can weave through mazes, and hop, skip, and jump up a waterfall during combat [49] . He can perform several consecutive mid-air flips . All Contras can dash horizontally midair , and scale rock walls [50] ), Multiple Jumps (All Contras can jump a second time in midair [51] ), Weapon Mastery (Bill is proficient in all manner of armaments [52] , and wields all types of firearms into battle [53] ), Vehicular Usage (Contras can fight while riding high-speed hover bikes [54] ), Limited Invulnerability (Bill's Spirit gives him invulnerability during dashes [55] )
Resistance to:
Extreme Temperatures (Can fight through the Amazon jungle, and ice fields cold enough to freeze people to death [56] . Can survive fighting on top of burning debris while plummeting into Earth's atmosphere , and fighting inside a volcano [57] ), Resistance to Electricity Manipulation (Can survive being electrocuted [58] ), Resistance to Gravity Manipulation , Biological Manipulation , Cosmic Radiations (Contras can survive and fight on the moon, in the vacuum of space [59] ) Unlimited Ammo , Curtain Fire (The Spread Gun fires numerous bullets in several directions at once ), Fire Manipulation (The Flame Thrower shoots out a consistent spray of fire ), Gravity Manipulation (The Crush Bomb creates gravity wells that pull in and implode enemies ), Lock-On (Homing Gun missiles home-in on enemies ), Forcefield Manipulation (Overloading the Machine Gun creates a barrier that prevents the user from receiving damage )
Notable Techniques
Other
Standard Tactics:
Weaknesses:
Note
Battle Records
0-0-0-0
Unnamed fighter - Fight [63]
Conditions: Tournament rules.
Location: All Valley Under 18 Karate Tournament, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California
Note: Daniel was given a warning for running out of the ring twice.
Johnny Lawrence - Fight [64]
Conditions: Daniel was restrained by Johnny's friends.
Location: Unmarked field, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California
Note: Mr. Miyagi arrived to help Daniel after he passed out.
Johnny Lawrence - Fight [65]
Conditions: Tournament rules.
Location: Mr. Miyagi's house, Reseda, California
Note: Daniel and Johnny both landed the final point on one another at the same time.
Bobby Brown - Fight [66]
Conditions: Tournament rules.
Location: All Valley Under 18 Karate Tournament, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California
Note: Bobby was disqualified for deliberately injuring Daniel's leg, allowing for Daniel to move onto the finals without having to finish their match.
References
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga page, Konami website
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ The History of Contra (2019)
↑ Contra ReBirth
↑ HOW TO PLAY CONTRA Booklet (1987), page 4 - 5
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ Contra Rebirth
↑ HOW TO PLAY CONTRA Booklet (1987), page 5
↑ Contra 4 instruction manual
↑ HOW TO PLAY CONTRA Booklet (1987), page 5
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga page, Konami website
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga page, Konami website
↑ HOW TO PLAY CONTRA Booklet (1987), page 8
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ Contra ReBirth
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga | Character Trailer
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga | Character Trailer
↑ The History of Contra (2019) - Japanese
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga]
↑ The History of Contra (2019)
↑ HOW TO PLAY CONTRA Booklet (1987), page 4
↑ The History of Contra (2019)]
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ HOW TO PLAY CONTRA Booklet (1987), page 4
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga page, Konami website
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga page, Konami website
↑ HOW TO PLAY CONTRA Booklet (1987), page 4
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ Contra Rebirth
↑ HOW TO PLAY CONTRA Booklet (1987), page 5
↑ Contra (NES)
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga | Character Trailer
↑ Contra ReBirth
↑ Contra (1987)
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga | Character Trailer
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ HOW TO PLAY CONTRA Booklet (1987), page 5
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga page, Konami website
↑ Contra ReBirth
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga | Character Trailer
↑ Contra ReBirth
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga | Character Trailer
↑ HOW TO PLAY CONTRA Booklet (1987), page 8
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga page, Konami website
↑ Contra (1987)
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ HOW TO PLAY CONTRA Booklet (1987), page 8
↑ Contra ReBirth
↑ Contra: Operation Galuga
↑ Contra ReBirth
↑ Nintendojo Interview: Contra: Operation Galuga Post-Mortem
↑ The History of Contra (2019) - English
↑ The History of Contra (2019) - Japanese
↑ The Karate Kid (1984)
↑ The Karate Kid (1984)
↑ Cobra Kai season 4
↑ The Karate Kid (1984)