1.
Superhero fiction
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Superhero fiction is a genre mainly originating in and most common to American comic books, though it has expanded into other media through adaptations and original works. A superhero is most often the protagonist of superhero fiction, although some titles, such as Marvels by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross, a superhero is a type of stock character possessing extraordinary or superhuman powers and dedicated to protecting the public. The word itself dates to at least 1917, a female superhero is sometimes called a superheroine. SUPER HEROES is a trademark co-owned by DC Comics and Marvel Comics, such characters were generally referred to as mystery men in the so-called Golden Age of Comic Books to distinguish them from characters with super-powers. Normally, superheroes use their powers to counter day-to-day crime while also combating threats against humanity by their criminal counterparts, long-running superheroes such as Superman, Batman, Spider-Man and Iron Man have a rogues gallery of such enemies. One of these supervillains might be the superheros archenemy, Superheroes will sometimes combat other threats such as aliens, magical/fantasy entities, natural disasters, political ideologies such as Nazism or communism, and godlike or demonic creatures. A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies. They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other heroes, whereas superheroes often wield fantastic powers, the supervillain possesses commensurate powers and abilities so that he can present a daunting challenge to the hero. Even without actual physical, mystical, superhuman or superalien powers, another common trait is possession of considerable resources to help further his aims. Many supervillains share some characteristics of real world dictators, mobsters. Superheroes and supervillains often mirror each other in their powers, abilities, in some cases, the only difference between the two is that the hero uses his extraordinary powers to help others, while the villain uses his powers for selfish, destructive or ruthless purposes. Both superheroes and supervillains often use alter egos while in action, while sometimes the characters real name is publicly known, alter egos are most often used to hide the characters secret identity from their enemies and the public. Fans have termed the practice of bringing back dead comic book death. Another common trait of superhero fiction is the killing off of a significant other by a supervillain to advance the plot. Comic book writer Gail Simone has coined the term Women in Refrigerators to refer to this practice, often, many works superhero fiction occur in the a shared fictional universe, sometimes establishing a fictional continuity of thousands of works spread over many decades. Changes to continuity are also common, ranging from changes to established continuity, commonly called retcons, to full reboots. It is also common for works of superhero fiction to contain established characters. Crossovers often occur between characters of different works of superhero fiction, in comic books, highly publicized events are published featuring crossovers between many characters
2.
Batman
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Batman is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, originally named the Bat-Man, the character is also referred to by such epithets as the Caped Crusader, the Dark Knight, and the Worlds Greatest Detective. Batmans secret identity is Bruce Wayne, a wealthy American playboy, philanthropist, after witnessing the murder of his parents Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne as a child, he swore vengeance against criminals, an oath tempered by a sense of justice. Wayne trains himself physically and intellectually and crafts a bat-inspired persona to fight crime, Batman operates in the fictional Gotham City, with assistance from various supporting characters, including his butler Alfred, police commissioner Gordon, and vigilante allies such as Robin. A large assortment of villains make up Batmans rogues gallery, including his archenemy, Batman became popular soon after his introduction in 1939 and gained his own comic book title, Batman, the following year. As the decades went on, differing interpretations of the character emerged, the late 1960s Batman television series used a camp aesthetic, which continued to be associated with the character for years after the show ended. Various creators worked to return the character to his dark roots, the success of Warner Bros. live-action Batman feature films have helped maintain the publics interest in the character. The character has also intrigued psychiatrists, with trying to understand the characters psyche. In 2015, FanSided ranked Batman as number one on their list of 50 Greatest Super Heroes In Comic Book History. Kevin Conroy, Bruce Greenwood, Peter Weller, Anthony Ruivivar, Jason OMara, Batman has been portrayed in both film and television by Lewis Wilson, Robert Lowery, Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, and Ben Affleck. In early 1939, the success of Superman in Action Comics prompted editors at National Comics Publications to request more superheroes for its titles, in response, Bob Kane created the Bat-Man. Collaborator Bill Finger recalled that Kane had an idea for a character called Batman, I went over to Kanes, and he had drawn a character who looked very much like Superman with kind of. Reddish tights, I believe, with boots, with a small domino mask, swinging on a rope. He had two wings that were sticking out, looking like bat wings. And under it was a big sign, the bat-wing-like cape was suggested by Bob Kane, inspired by Leonardo Da Vincis sketch of an ornithopter flying device as a child. Finger suggested giving the character a cowl instead of a domino mask, a cape instead of wings. Finger said he devised the name Bruce Wayne for the secret identity, Bruce Waynes first name came from Robert Bruce. Wayne, being a playboy, was a man of gentry, I searched for a name that would suggest colonialism
3.
Bob Kane
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Bob Kane was an American comic book writer and artist who co-created, with Bill Finger, the DC Comics character Batman. He was inducted into the book industrys Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1994. Robert Kahn was born in New York City, New York and his parents, Augusta and Herman Kahn, an engraver, were of Eastern European Jewish descent. A high school friend of fellow cartoonist and future Spirit creator Will Eisner, Robert Kahn graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School and he studied art at Cooper Union before joining the Max Fleischer Studio as a trainee animator in 1934. He entered the field two years later, in 1936, freelancing original material to editor Jerry Igers comic book Wow. Including his first pencil and ink work on the serial Hiram Hick, for that last title he went on to do his first adventure strip, Rusty and his Pals. In early 1939, DCs success with the seminal superhero Superman in Action Comics prompted editors to scramble for more such heroes, in response, Bob Kane conceived the Bat-Man. Bill Finger joined Bob Kanes nascent studio in 1938, an aspiring writer and part-time shoe salesperson, he had met Kane at a party, and Kane later offered him a job ghost writing the strips Rusty and Clip Carson. He recalled that Kane. had an idea for a character called Batman, I went over to Kanes, and he had drawn a character who looked very much like Superman with kind of. Reddish tights, I believe, with boots, with a small domino mask, swinging on a rope. He had two wings that were sticking out, looking like bat wings. And under it was a big sign, Finger additionally said his suggestions were influenced by Lee Falks The Phantom, a syndicated newspaper comic strip character with which Kane was familiar as well. Finger, who said he devised the characters civilian name, Bruce Wayne, wrote the first Batman story. Kane, who had submitted the proposal for Batman at DC. Comics historian Ron Goulart, in Comic Book Encyclopedia, refers to Batman as the creation of artist Bob Kane, according to Kane, Bill Finger was a contributing force on Batman right from the beginning. He wrote most of the stories and was influential in setting the style. I made Batman a superhero-vigilante when I first created him, Bill turned him into a scientific detective. The character debuted in Detective Comics #27 and proved a breakout hit, within a year, Kane hired art assistants Jerry Robinson and George Roussos
4.
Diedrich Bader
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Karl Diedrich Bader was born in Alexandria, Virginia, on Christmas Eve,1966, the son of German-born Gretta Bader, a sculptor, and William B. Bader, an executive who worked in politics. His patrilineal great-grandfather was Edward Lawrence Bader, who was mayor of Atlantic City, when Bader was two years old, his family moved to Paris, France, but he returned to the U. S. to attend Groveton High School. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, and attended college at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He moved into acting for the 1993 film version of The Beverly Hillbillies. Bader also had a role on HBOs Veep. He appeared in the 1999 film Office Space as Peters neighbor Lawrence, and in the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite as Rex and he performs in the 2004 film Eurotrip as a thief. In 2010, Bader took the role of Charlie on the television series Outsourced, in 2012, he reprised his role as Rex in the animated TV series Napoleon Dynamite. He played the Russian Cosmonaut Yuri in Disneys Space Buddies, Bader also voices Guy Gardner in Green Lantern, The Animated Series. In 2016, Bader starred in the Its the Obvious Choice series of Time Warner Cable television commercials and currently stars as Greg Otto in American Housewife with Katy Mixon
5.
Tom Kenny
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Thomas James Kenny is an American actor and comedian known for his long-running role as the title character in the SpongeBob SquarePants TV series and films. His live-action work includes comedies The Edge and Mr. Show, Kenny has won two Annie Awards for his voice work as SpongeBob Squarepants and the Ice King. Kenny was born and raised in Syracuse, New York, to Theresa Bridget, as a young child, he loved drawing and collecting record albums in the late 1960s and 1970s. He went to Bishop Grimes High School, a Catholic high school and he became lifelong friends with comedian Bobcat Goldthwait after a teacher, who was displeased with Goldthwait, dragged him into Kennys class. After college, Kenny appeared in films that Bobcat directed and starred in such as Shakes the Clown, Kennys professional entertainment vocation began as a teenager when he and his friend Bobcat Goldthwaite started to work as stand-up comedians. Describing Kennys stand-up routines, Goldthwaite says, Tom would get up there and talk about his therapist and he didnt even have a therapist, Kenny performed stand-up comedy around the country for about eight years before he moved on to other venues. Kenny has acted in films and TV shows, debuting in How I Got Into College and later appeared in films such as Shakes The Clown and Comic Book. He appeared in sketch comedies The Edge and Mr. Show, Kenny said that he voices a lot of sweet yellow characters for some reason. He described SpongeBobs voice as in between that of a child and an adult, stating Think a Stan Laurel, Jerry Lewis kind of child-man. Kind of like a Munchkin but not quite, kind of like a kid, joe Murray auditioned Kenny for voice acting roles for the series in a casting call in Los Angeles, California. On one occasion, the producers required Kenny to fill the role of Charlie Adler and he voices Cupid for the Nickelodeon show The Fairly OddParents. He voiced Dog in CatDog, as well as the voice of Cliff and he voices many characters in The Powerpuff Girls, including the Mayor, the Narrator, Mitch Mitchelson, Snake, and Little Arturo from the Gangrene Gang, Rainbow the Clown, etc. Kenny is The Penguin in 2004 TV series The Batman and he plays a number of roles in the Transformers Animated TV show. A few of the characters he voices in this series are Starscream and his clones, Isaac Sumdac, Kenny also voiced several characters on the animated show Xiaolin Showdown, as well as the Autobots Skids and Wheelie in the live-action Transformers film series. On Dilbert, Kenny voiced Ratbert, Asok, and other one-time characters and he played Mr. Hal Gibson in the animated kids show Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force GO. In 2009, Kenny became a regular cast voice in the Fox comedy series Sit Down and he voices Muhammad Sabeeh Happy Fa-ach Nuabar, the secretive custodian who is plotting a terrorist attack, as well as Happys interpreter. The series premiered on April 19,2009, kenan Thompson, Kristin Chenoweth, Jason Bateman, Nick Kroll, Cheri Oteri, Henry Winkler, Will Arnett, and Will Forte are the other main cast members. He plays The Ice King and Magic Man on Adventure Time, in 2011, Kenny took over the role of Rabbit from Ken Sansom in Winnie the Pooh
6.
James Arnold Taylor
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James Arnold Taylor is an American voice actor and author. Taylor was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California and he has been voice acting since 1995, appearing in the Japanese game Emit. He has been a member of the voice acting community since, appearing in numerous roles, including Ratchet in the Ratchet & Clank video game series. He also voiced Fred Flintstone in commercials from 2005 up to 2011, Taylor is a long-time comic book and Star Wars fan. He is married to Allison Taylor, together they have one daughter named Lydia. In 2013, he published the book JAT365,365 Inspirations for the Pursuit of Your Dreams
7.
Warner Bros. Animation
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Animation is the animation division of Warner Bros. The studio is closely associated with the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies characters, the studio is the successor to Warner Bros. Cartoons, the studio which produced Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoon shorts from 1933 to 1963, Warner reestablished its own animation division in 1980 to produce Looney Tunes–related works. Animation has primarily focused upon the production of television and feature animation of other properties, cartoons studio, as well as all of Warner Bros. short subject production divisions, closed in 1969 due to the rising costs and declining returns of short subject production. Outside animation companies were hired to produce new Looney Tunes-related animation for TV specials and commercials at irregular intervals, Cartoon alumnus Chuck Jones began producing a series of Looney Tunes specials at his Chuck Jones Productions animation studio, the first of which was Carnival of the Animals. These specials, and a 1975 Looney Tunes retrospective feature film titled Bugs Bunny, Superstar and this film blended classic Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies shorts with newly produced wraparounds of Bugs Bunny introducing each cartoon. Warner Bros. responded to the success of film by reestablishing its own cartoon studio. Animation opened its doors in 1980 to produce films and television specials starring the Looney Tunes characters. The new wraparounds for The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie, Bugs Bunnys 3rd Movie,1001 Rabbit Tales, Animation staff, composed mainly of veterans from the golden age of WB cartoons, including writers John Dunn and Dave Detiege. By 1986, Freleng had departed, and Hal Geer also stepped down the following year, many of these shorts, as well as the new footage in the compilation film Daffy Ducks Quackbusters, were directed by Greg Ford and Terry Lennon, as well as Darrell Van Citters. Beginning in 1986, Warner Bros. moved into television animation production. A studio for the unit was set up in the office tower of the Imperial Bank Building adjacent to the Sherman Oaks Galleria northwest of Los Angeles. Darrell Van Citters, who used to work at Disney, would work on the newer Bugs Bunny shorts, later Amblin/Warner Bros. television shows, including Animaniacs, its spin-off Pinky and the Brain, and Freakazoid. Followed in continuing the Looney Tunes tradition of cartoon humor, Animation also began developing shows based upon comic book characters owned by sister company DC Comics. These shows were part of the DC animated universe, a Batman spin-off feature, Mask of the Phantasm, was produced in 1993 and bumped up to theatrical release. The film was near universally-well received by critics but performed poorly at the box-office, in 1991, Warner Bros. distributed its first animated film, Rover Dangerfield. Its title character is a dog whose look and mannerisms are inspired by his voice actor Rodney Dangerfield, the film received mixed reviews and under-performed at the box office due to lack of promotion. Three years later, Warner distributed Don Bluths Thumbelina, which received mixed reviews from critics
8.
DC Comics
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DC Comics, Inc. is an American comic book publisher. It is the unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. a division of Time Warner, the company has also published non-DC Universe-related material, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta and many titles under their alternative imprint Vertigo. The initials DC came from the popular series Detective Comics. Random House distributes DC Comics books to the market, while Diamond Comic Distributors supplies the comics shop specialty market. DC Comics and its major, longtime competitor Marvel Comics together shared 70% of the American comic book market in 2016, entrepreneur Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson founded National Allied Publications in autumn 1934. The company debuted with the tabloid-sized New Fun, The Big Comic Magazine #1 with a date of February 1935. That title evolved into Adventure Comics, which continued through issue #503 in 1983, in 2009 DC revived Adventure Comics with its original numbering. In 1935, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the creators of Superman, created Doctor Occult. Wheeler-Nicholsons third and final title, Detective Comics, advertised with a cover illustration dated December 1936, the themed anthology series would become a sensation with the introduction of Batman in issue #27. By then, however, Wheeler-Nicholson had gone, Detective Comics, Inc. was formed, with Wheeler-Nicholson and Jack S. Liebowitz, Donenfelds accountant, listed as owners. Major Wheeler-Nicholson remained for a year, but cash-flow problems continued, shortly afterward, Detective Comics, Inc. purchased the remains of National Allied, also known as Nicholson Publishing, at a bankruptcy auction. Detective Comics, Inc. soon launched a fourth title, Action Comics, Action Comics #1, the first comic book to feature the new character archetype—soon known as superheroes—proved a sales hit. The company quickly introduced such popular characters as the Sandman and Batman. That year, Gaines let Liebowitz buy him out, and kept only Picture Stories from the Bible as the foundation of his own new company, at that point, Liebowitz promptly orchestrated the merger of All-American and Detective Comics into National Comics. Next he took charge of organizing National Comics, Independent News, National Periodical Publications became publicly traded on the stock market in 1961. The company began to move aggressively against what it saw as copyright-violating imitations from other companies, such as Fox Comics Wonder Man and this extended to DC suing Fawcett Comics over Captain Marvel, at the time comics top-selling character. Despite the fact that parallels between Captain Marvel and Superman seemed more tenuous, the courts ruled that substantial and deliberate copying of copyrighted material had occurred, faced with declining sales and the prospect of bankruptcy if it lost, Fawcett capitulated in 1955 and ceased comics publication
9.
Warner Bros. Television
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Television is the television production arm of Warner Bros. Entertainment, itself part of Time Warner, as of 2015, it is the worlds largest television production company measured by revenue and library. Its most notable TV shows include Friends, ER, The West Wing, Smallville, Supernatural, The Big Bang Theory, The Wire and Full House. The division was started on March 21,1955 with its first and most successful head being Jack L. Warners son-in-law William T. Orr. ABC had major success against its competition with Walt Disneys Disneyland TV series, WB formally entered television production with the premiere of its self-titled anthology series Warner Bros. The one-hour weekly show featured rotating episodes of series based on the WB films, Casablanca and Kings Row. One such segment for Rebel Without a Cause featured Gig Young notably talking about road safety with James Dean, with only Cheyenne being a success, Warner Bros. ended the ten-minute promotions of new films and replaced Warner Bros. Presents with a series titled Conflict. It was felt that Conflict was what the series lacked. Conflict showed the pilots for Maverick and 77 Sunset Strip, the company also produced Jack Webbs Red Nightmare for the U. S. Department of Defense that was later shown on American television on Jack Webbs General Electric True. During a Hollywood television writers strike, Warner Bros. reused many plots from its films and this was another example of imitating Warner Bros B Pictures who would remake an A film and switch the setting. Two of the most popular stars, James Garner and Clint Walker, Garner never returned to the Warners fold during this period. Successful Warners television stars found themselves in leading roles of many of the films with no increase in salary. Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. was simultaneously the lead of 77 Sunset Strip, in a role on Maverick. Edd Byrnes and Troy Donahue would go on to become teen heartthrobs, Warners also contracted established stars such as Ray Danton, Peter Breck, Jeanne Cooper and Grant Williams. These stars often appeared as guest stars, sometimes reprising their series role in another TV series, the stars appeared in Warner Bros. Some stars such as Connie Stevens, Edd Byrnes, Robert Conrad, depending on the particular show, William Lava or David Buttolph would compose the music, with lyrics by Stan Jones or Paul Francis Webster, among others. For the crime shows, it was up to the team of Jerry Livingston and Mack David, who also scored the themes for the sitcom Room for One More
10.
Cartoon Network
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Cartoon Network is an American basic cable and satellite television channel that is owned by Time Warner through the Turner Broadcasting System subsidiary. It was founded by Betty Cohen and launched on October 1,1992, the channel primarily broadcasts childrens shows, mostly animated programming, ranging from action to animated comedy. It operates daily from 6,00 AM to 11,00 PM, a Spanish language audio track for select programs is accessible via second audio programing, some cable and satellite companies offer the Spanish feed as a separate channel. It is also the channel of Turner-owned Boomerang. As of January 2016, Cartoon Network is available to approximately 94.0 million pay television households in the United States, however, Turner kept much of MGMs film and television library made prior to May 1986 and formed Turner Entertainment. On October 3,1988, its cable channel Turner Network Television was launched and had gained an audience with its film library. In 1991, Turner Entertainment purchased animation studio Hanna-Barbera Productions for US $320 million, on February 18,1992, Turner Broadcasting System announced its plans to launch the Cartoon Network as an outlet for Turners considerable library of animation. Initial programming on the channel consisted exclusively of reruns of classic Warner Bros. cartoons, the 1933–1957 Popeye cartoons, MGM cartoons, at first, cable providers in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D. C. and Detroit carried the channel. By the time the network launched, Cartoon Network had an 8, from its launch until 1995, the networks announcers said the networks name with the word The added before Cartoon Network, thus calling the network The Cartoon Network. By the time that the network debuted, Cartoon Network also operated a block that aired on TNT. Cartoon Network was not the first cable channel to have relied on cartoons to attract an audience, however, Turner Broadcasting System had defied conventional wisdom before by launching CNN, a channel providing 24-hour news coverage. Initially, the channel would broadcast cartoons 24 hours a day, late Night Black and White showed early black-and-white cartoons, and ToonHeads would show three shorts with a similar theme and provide trivia about the cartoons. There was also an afternoon block called High Noon Toons. The majority of the animation that was shown on Cartoon Network no longer air on a regular basis, with the exception of Tom and Jerry. A challenge for Cartoon Network was to overcome its low penetration of existing cable systems, when launched on October 1,1992, the channel was only carried by 233 cable systems. However, it benefited from package deals, New subscribers to sister channels TNT and TBS could also get access to Cartoon Network through such deals. The high ratings of Cartoon Network over the couple of years led to more cable systems including it. By the end of 1994, Cartoon Network had become the fifth most popular channel in the United States
11.
The Batman
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The Batman is an animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation and based on the DC Comics superhero Batman and it ran from September 11,2004 to March 8,2008, on the Saturday morning television block Kids WB. The first five seasons are available on DVD, a direct-to-DVD movie titled The Batman vs. Dracula, based on the series, was released in on October 18,2005 and made its television debut on Cartoon Networks Toonami block on October 22,2005. There is also a comic book series, The Batman Strikes. Published by DC Comics which is set in the same continuity, the series won six Daytime Emmy Awards. Along with a secret Batcave, high-tech Batmobile and supercomputer, called the Bat-Wave, he has his trusty butler Alfred Pennyworth, who guides him when needed. During this first season, Bruce Wayne finds himself torn between his responsibilities as the Batman and his own life, though the latter is further support by Gotham’s Mayor. In the season finale, Rojas finally uncovers Yins involvement with Batman and this season introduced more villains, including Rag Doll, Spellbinder and Solomon Grundy. Although a villain, Hugo Strange, is portrayed as a character in this season, while Yin. Another element in the season was Batmans original Batmobile being lost in this season during the episode, RPM and the creation of a brand new one. Several new interpretation of villains from the Batman mythos were introduced in season, including Poison Ivy. The fourth season saw the introduction of Dick Grayson into the show, more villains with new interpretations were introduced, including Tony Zucco, Killer Moth, Black Mask, Rumor, Everywhere Man, Harley Quinn, and Francis Grey. The season brought an end to Ethan Bennetts version of Clayface with a storyline that redeemed and cured him of his condition and this season was the last to be done by Jeff Matsuda and Michael Jelenic, both of whom departed from the show after the season finale. The fifth and final season focused primarily on Batman and Robin, with the pair teaming up with some of the DC Universes characters and tackling villains that they fought. These team-ups included Superman, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Flash, Green Lantern, and Hawkman, producer Alan Burnett described the season as the shows The Brave and the Bold season. Both Batgirl and Commissioner Gordon were relegated to either guest or cameo appearances during this series, with Barbara having graduated high school. All the DVD releases are in 4,3 aspect ratio, however, the entire series is available in 16,9 on Amazon Video and the Xbox Video Store. The first two seasons and The Batman vs. Dracula movie are available on iTunes in 16,9, part of the DCs younger reader line, the series survived for 50 issues in total, with the last issue shipping in October 2008
12.
Beware the Batman
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Beware the Batman is an American computer-animated television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. The series premiered in the United States on Cartoon Network on July 13,2013, as part of their DC Nation block, replacing Batman, The Brave, the series was produced by Warner Bros. The series ran on Cartoon Network until it was pulled from the four months after its premiere. After the series was put on hiatus, the episodes of the season began to air on Adult Swims Toonami block. The series is set during Bruce Waynes early years as the Batman, over the course of the season, he hones his skills with the assistance of his butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Bruce is introduced to Alfreds goddaughter Tatsu Yamashiro, Tatsu is a martial arts swordsmaster hired to act as Bruces bodyguard, but also recruited to act as a superhero partner to Batman. After Batman, The Brave and the Bold ended its run in November 2011, with Batman receiving a new sidekick, Outsiders member Katana, Register even commented that Katana is gonna be his new Robin, but not necessarily. The series was a 3D computer-animated format, similar to the earlier Green Lantern, in addition initial announcements for the series were accompanied with promotional art that was not intended for public release, depicting Alfred as a gun-toting butler. This upset fans of the Batman mythos, who argued against Alfreds participation in Batmans exploits, in response to fan criticism, producer Glen Murakami acknowledged that this poster image was an inaccurate representation of what the characters actual role would be. He elaborated that the poster was intended to be a shot that displayed the cast of characters. You cant have an action pose of a guy standing with a tray, mitch Watson also noted the problem presented if Alfred were fighting alongside Batman, as he would be recognized as Bruce Waynes butler, and thus reveal the identity of Batman. Regardless, both insisted that Alfred would remain true to his intended characterization as a mentor to Batman. On July 2, the title sequence was released to Entertainment Weekly. It depicts Batman, Alfred, Katana, and the Batmobile, in a red background with stark red lighting effects, contrasted by dark shadows. The shows opening theme is composed by the rock band the Dum Dum Girls. This would increase production times, but later allow the developers to bring cinematic qualities of lighting, Batmans utility belt was fully recreated from cardboard and worn by producer Glen Murakamis design team, to test how the belt would function while in motion. If you really built it, it would work, said Watson, batarangs were designed to flip-open and function when retrieved from the belt. The Batmobile was also subjected to scrutiny, as an amount of weight was added to it as it moved on city streets
13.
Ben 10: Omniverse
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Man of Action created the franchise. The series was announced at Cartoon Networks Upfront in 2011, concept art, described as an homage to the original Ben 10 series, designed by Derrick J. Wyatt was first unveiled at the 2012 UK Toy Fair. The series premiered on September 22,2012, with a sneak peek episode aired on August 1,2012. A sneak peek of the series aired after Ben 10 Week, the storylines alternate between that of eleven-year-old Ben and sixteen-year-old Ben. After Gwen leaves for college and Kevin leaves to be closer to her, sixteen-year-old Ben gets a new partner and it is revealed that the Ben 10 universe shares the same universe with The Secret Saturdays. A possible unintentional leak of official images of the line was released on the website of department store Kmart. Figures that were revealed at Toy Fairs such as Bloxx, Shocksquatch, 16-year-old Ben Tennyson, an 11-year old version of Ben, the vehicle play-set, Rooks Truck, has won an award for Best Action Figures/Accessories at the 2012 London Toy Fair. The Omnitrix Touch has a gray color instead of the white it features in the show. A video game of the name is developed by Vicious Cycle Studios for the Wii U, Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and by 1st Playable Productions for the Nintendo 3DS. The action beat em up features 15 playable characters on DS and 3DS and 16 playable characters on the other systems and it also features a two-player co-op play. The game follows Ben and Rook in a battle to defeat a villain, named Malware. Omniverse also spawned a video game, which was developed by High Voltage Studios for the Wii U, Wii, PlayStation 3. This game takes place during the events of Frogs of War, where Ben must fight the Incursions to get back to Earth and stop Emperor Milleous, Attea, Dr. Psychobos, Ben 10, Omniverse at the Internet Movie Database
14.
The Brave and the Bold
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The Brave and the Bold is the title shared by many comic book series published by DC Comics. The first of these was published as a series from 1955 to 1983. It was followed by a mini-series in 1991 and 1999, and was revived as a title in 2007. The focus of each version of the series has varied over time, the first volume of the series ran for 200 issues from August/September 1955 to July 1983. Originally, The Brave and the Bold was a series featuring adventure tales from past ages with characters such as the Silent Knight, the Viking Prince, the Golden Gladiator. With issue #25, the series was reinvented as a title for new characters and concepts, starting with the Suicide Squad created by writer Robert Kanigher. Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert created a new version of Hawkman in issue #34 with the character receiving his own title three years later, editor Julius Schwartz hired Gardner Fox and artist Mike Sekowsky to create the Justice League of America. The team debuted in The Brave and the Bold #28, issues #45 through #49 were devoted to Strange Sports Stories combining sport and science-fiction in tales such as Challenge of the Headless Baseball Team and The Man Who Drove Through Time. Strange Sports Stories was later resurrected briefly as a DC Comics title in its own right in 1973, the series was changed yet again with issue #50 as a team-up title between established characters. Starting with issue #59 The Brave and the Bold became, more specifically a Batman team-up book with the Caped Crusader as the main focus. This was due to the popularity of the Batman television series, after issue #74, The Brave and the Bold was exclusively a Batman team-up title until it ended with issue #200. The teaming of Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad in issue #54 by writer Bob Haney, the three heroes subsequently appeared under the name Teen Titans in issue #60 by Haney and artist Nick Cardy and were joined by Wonder Womans younger sister Wonder Girl in her first appearance. The Metamorpho character was created by Haney and artist Ramona Fradon in The Brave, the title was the first to feature Neal Adams version of Batman, generating fan interest that led to Adams style defining the modern Batman image to this day. In addition, Adams updated Green Arrows visual appearance by designing a new costume for the character in issue #85, the primary artist for the second half of the run was Jim Aparo, starting with #98. Haney frequently disregarded continuity by scripting stories which contradicted DCs canon or by writing major heroes in an out-of-character fashion, Issue #100 featured Batman and 4 Famous Co-Stars in a story by Haney and Aparo. Issues #112 to #117 of the series were in the 100 Page Super Spectacular format, the character Nemesis, also known as Thomas Tresser, debuted in an eight-page backup story in issue #166 written by Cary Burkett and drawn by Dan Spiegle. The Tresser character was created by Burkett in 1979, and named for an actor with whom Burkett was rooming in New Hampshire. Alan Brennert wrote four issues of The Brave and the Bold featuring Batman teaming with the Creeper, the Hawk and Dove, the Robin of Earth Two, and the Catwoman
15.
DC Universe
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The DC Universe is the fictional shared universe where the stories in most American comic book titles published by DC Comics take place. DC superheroes such as Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are from this universe, and it also well known supervillains such as the Joker, Lex Luthor. It should be noted that in context, DC Universe usually refers to the main DC continuity, the term DC Multiverse refers to the collection of all continuities within DC Comics publications. Within the Multiverse, the main DC Universe has gone by many names and its not to be confused with Earth Prime. The fact that DC Comics characters coexisted in the world was first established in All Star Comics #3 where several superheroes met each other in a group dubbed the Justice Society of America. Subsequently, the Justice Society was reintroduced as the Justice League of America, over the course of its publishing history, DC has introduced different versions of its characters, sometimes presenting them as if the earlier version had never existed. Similarly, they had such as Batman whose early adventures set in the 1940s could not easily be reconciled with stories featuring a still-youthful man in the 1970s. To explain this, they introduced the idea of the multiverse in Flash #123 where the Silver Age Flash met his Golden Age counterpart. In addition to allowing the conflicting stories to co-exist, it allowed the differing versions of characters to meet, the writers gave designations such as Earth-One, Earth-Two, and so forth, to certain universes, designations which at times were also used by the characters themselves. Earth-One was the world of this publication era. Over the years, as the number of titles published increased, in order to continue publishing stories of its most popular characters, maintaining the status quo became necessary. However, not all the books rebooted post-Crisis, for example, the Legion of Superheros book acted as if the Pre-Crisis Earth-1 history was still their past, a point driven home in the Cosmic Boy miniseries. The Zero Hour limited series gave them an opportunity to revise timelines, meanwhile, DC has published occasional stories called Elseworlds, which often presented alternate versions of its characters. For example, one told the story of Bruce Wayne as a Green Lantern, in another tale, Speeding Bullets, the rocket ship that brought the infant Superman to Earth was discovered by the Wayne family of Gotham City rather than the Kents. In 1999, The Kingdom reintroduced a variant of the old Multiverse concept called Hypertime which essentially allows for alternate versions of characters, the entire process was possibly inspired by Alan Moores meta-comic, Supreme, Story of the Year. The Convergence crossover officially retconned the events of Crisis after heroes in that went back in time to prevent the collapse of the Multiverse. However, Brainiac states Each world has evolved but they all still exist, the Infinite Crisis event remade the DC Universe yet again, with new changes. The limited series 52 established that a new multiverse now existed and this follows the conclusion of the Flashpoint crossover storyline, which provided a jumping-off point for the existing continuity
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Starro
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Starro is a fictional supervillain that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Brave and the Bold #28, and was created by Gardner Fox, Starro is the first villain to face the original Justice League of America. Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Books, the character has appeared in comic books and other DC Comics-related products such as animated television series, and trading cards. The character debuted in The Brave and the Bold #28 in a story called Starro the Conqueror, according to editor Julius Schwartz, the title “Starro the Conqueror was inspired by a Ray Cumming’s story, “Tyranno the Conqueror”. Starro reappeared in an 11-page Aquaman story in Adventure Comics #451, the character returned in an alternate universe story in Captain Carrot & His Amazing Zoo Crew #1 and appeared briefly in Crisis on Infinite Earths #9. In the post-Crisis DC universe, Starro appeared in a story in Justice League Europe #24–28 and was revamped and reintroduced in JLA Secret Files #1. Another version featured in the intercompany crossover JLA/Avengers #1–4, Teen Titans vol,3, #51–54 and Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps, Secret Files #1 and Booster Gold #13–14. In post-Infinite Crisis DC continuity, the character appeared in R. E. B. E. L. S #1–13, another version appears in Forever Evil #1. and a version called a Genetically Modified Starro appeared in New Super-Man #4 in 2016. Starro is an intelligent alien resembling a giant starfish with a central eye. The entity visited Earth and empowered three starfish, the creatures wreaking havoc until stopped by heroes Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Starro was defeated by coating it with quicklime, which nullified the entitys abilities. A segment of that Starro survived, and regenerated into a complete creature, Starro eventually reappeared, and forced humans to nurture it until able to assume its former proportions. Starro used these spores to control members of the Justice League until defeated by extreme cold. Meeting sentient animals called Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew, Superman aids the heroes to defeat Starro. Superman then takes the defeated Starro back to his universe, Starro later convinces Justice League Europe that it is dying and wishes to return to space. Aided by ex-Green Lantern Kilowog, Starro returns to his original ship, Starro, however, betrays the Justice League when it programs the vessel to explode, freeing Starro from its body and releasing thousands of smaller spore versions over Western Europe. Assuming control of thousands of humans, Starro seizes power, with members of Justice League Europe opposing the alien. Starro is finally defeated when Justice League member Ice freezes the original creature, referring to itself only as It, a different version of Starro takes control of the Flash and the population of Blue Valley using spores. The JLA request the Spectre temporarily remove their powers—thus eliminating the threat they may pose—allowing them to distract the entity while Batman disables it with extreme cold
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San Diego Comic-Con
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San Diego Comic-Con International is a multi-genre entertainment and comic convention held annually in San Diego, California. The name, as given on its website, is Comic-Con International, San Diego and it is a four-day event held during the summer at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego. On the Wednesday evening prior to the opening of the event, there is a preview for professionals, exhibitors. Comic-Con International also produces two other conventions, WonderCon, held in Los Angeles, and the Alternative Press Expo and it is also the home of the Will Eisner Awards. In 2010, it filled the San Diego Convention Center to capacity with more than 130,000 attendees, the convention was founded in 1970 by Shel Dorf, Richard Alf, Ken Krueger, Mike Towry, Barry Alfonso, Bob Sourk, and Greg Bear. Detroit, Michigan-born, comics fan Shel Dorf, had, in the mid-1960s, mounted the Detroit Triple-Fan Fairs, one of the first commercial comics-fan conventions. When he moved to San Diego, California, in 1970, he organized a convention on March 21,1970. Dorf went on to be associated with the convention as president or manager, variously, Alf co-chaired the first convention with Krueger and became chairman in 1971. Following the initial gathering, Dorfs first three-day San Diego comics convention, other locations in the conventions early years included the El Cortez Hotel, the University of California, San Diego, and Golden Hall, before being moved to the San Diego Convention Center in 1991. I was quietly walking the floor stunned and in awe of just how much bigger it really was, the convention is organized by a panel of 13 board members,16 to 20 full-time and part-time workers, and 80 volunteers who assist via committees. Comic Con International is an organization, and proceeds of the event go to funding it, as well as the Alternative Press Expo. The convention logo was designed by Richard Bruning and Josh Beatman in 1995, in September 2010, the convention announced that it would stay in San Diego through 2015. In 2015, working with Lionsgate, a channel was created to host Comic-Con related content. According to the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, the convention has a regional economic impact of $162.8 million. Along with panels, seminars, and workshops with comic book professionals, there are previews of upcoming feature films, like most comic-book conventions, Comic-Con features a large floorspace for exhibitors. These include media companies such as studios and TV networks, as well as comic-book dealers. And like most comics conventions, Comic-Con includes an area, as well as the Artists Alley where comics artists can sign autographs. Despite the name, artists alleys can include writers and even models, academics and comic industry professionals annually hold the Comics Arts Conference at Comic-Con, presenting scholarly studies on comics as a medium
18.
Kilowog
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Kilowog is a fictional superhero from DC Comics, and a member of the Green Lantern Corps. Kilowog first appears in Green Lantern Corps #1 and was created by Steve Englehart, a towering alien with a brutish cross of porcine and bull-doggish appearance, Kilowog is renowned throughout the Green Lantern Corps as the primary trainer of the Corps newest recruits. The Guardians of the Universe recruited Kilowog, a genetic scientist, from the planet Bolovax Vik. Kilowog was trained by Lantern Ermey, who would use the word poozer. In the middle of an arduous training session, Ermey had Kilowog and his fellow rookies help stop an attack on a group of Lanterns. Ermey, fatally wounded in battle, commended Kilowog on his abilities, in this capacity, Kilowog acted as the first trainer to a young Hal Jordan, the ring-recruited successor to the slain Abin Sur of Ungara, the Green Lantern of Space Sector 2814. Kilowog and his new recruit helped the Guardians confront Abin Surs murderer, during the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Bolovax Vik was destroyed. This was a blow to the giant Green Lantern, as his race lived a highly communal lifestyle. The Crisis saw the immortal Guardians ethically divided and their ranks depleted for the first time in millions of years, the Corps as well suffered hundreds of casualties. The Guardians then decided to end their direct leadership of the Corps, and left for another dimension with their former mates and they ultimately became the Green Lantern Corps of Earth. While his appearance at first frightened most humans, Kilowog briefly became a celebrity following his defeat of the villain Black Hand on live television in a battle over Anaheim Stadium. During his time in the USSR, Kilowog was instrumental in the creation of the Soviet Unions first super-powered force, Kilowog ultimately became disenchanted with the U. S. S. R. and the flawed communist nations of Earth. While adventuring with the Green Lantern Corps of Earth, Kilowog found a world in Space Sector 872 which would make a suitable Bolovax Vik II, moved to action, he tapped into his ring and reconstituted the entire population of his world, some 16 billion beings. No sooner had he done this, though, than the world was obliterated by the renegade Green Lantern Sinestro, the trauma of this drove Kilowog temporarily insane, but he was helped back to his senses by fellow Green Lantern Arisia, to whom he confessed his love. He was also supported by other Green Lanterns, who made an effort to be near him, around this time, Kilowog is allowed to be one of the honor guard at Supermans funeral. When the Corps began to again, Kilowog returned to Oa to train the new generation of Green Lanterns. During the Emerald Twilight arc, numerous Green Lanterns were sent to stop the supposedly insane Hal Jordan, the very last Green Lantern to oppose Jordan was Kilowog himself, on Oa. He attempted to prevent his old pupil from entering and absorbing the power of the Great Battery itself, Kilowog was disintegrated with a blast by Jordans ring, leaving nothing but a seared skull and ashes, and a shaken but undeterred Jordan stole the energies of the Great Battery
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Royal Flush Gang
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The Royal Flush Gang or RFG are fictional characters in DC Comics. They first appeared in Justice League of America #43 in March 1966 under the leadership of Professor Amos Fortune and they are a group of playing card-themed supervillains who are usually thwarted by the superheroes they encounter. Their code names based on a straight in poker, King, Queen, Jack, Ten. The original Royal Flush Gang was Professor Amos Fortunes childhood gang, with Fortune himself as Ace, they fought the Justice League on two occasions, using Fortunes luck-altering stellaration technology to realize the fortune-telling significance of playing cards. After Fortune abandoned the Gang, they attempted to steal paintings containing clues to a treasure but were thwarted by the Jokers manipulations. Most of them abandoned their criminal careers, although Jack briefly joined the Secret Society of Super Villains as Hi-Jack. Fortunes gang wore costumes based on the suit of clubs, in the pages of JLA Classified, it was revealed the original Royal Flush Gang reunited to fight the Detroit Era Justice League and their successors in the second gang. In this battle, the original King, Queen and Ten were all killed, the second Royal Flush Gang was set up by Green Lantern villain Hector Hammond in Justice League of America #203. Hammond led the group as Wildcard and this version wore costumes based on the suit of spades. The gang split up and went on to have separate criminal careers before re-establishing themselves and they were twice hired by Maxwell Lord as part of his manipulation of Justice League International. Later, they were reorganized and reoutfitted by a successor to the Golden Age Green Lantern villain the Gambler masquerading as the Joker, King The so-called King of the Hoboes, Carny also suffered from lung cancer. As Hammonds agent, he wore a costume that technologically enhanced his natural charisma to the point of mind control, following the metagene bomb in Invasion. Although King is the member of the gang, in poker the Ace ranks as the highest card in a royal flush. Queen Taylor was originally a Broadway star whose career was destroyed by her ongoing alcoholism, as Hammonds agent, she wielded a sceptre that cast realistic illusions. After the Gambler reoutiftted the team, she began employing a wrist shooter that fires razor sharp spades, Jack Originally a gigolo, he became a fugitive after inadvertently killing a client while attempting to steal her jewelry. As Hammonds agent, he wielded an energy-charged sword, the Gambler replaced his left eye with a cybernetically-activated laser weapon, making him a literal one-eyed Jack. The removal of his eye to implant the laser initially impacted his sanity, Ten Wayland was a test pilot fired for refusing her employers sexual advances. As Hammonds agent, she wore a costume with energy blasters in its gloves and she has enhanced reflexes, and carries explosive playing cards
20.
Owlman (comics)
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Owlman is a supervillain that appears in comic books published by DC Comics and is the intended evil counterpart of Batman. Owlman first appeared in Justice League of America #29, and was created by Gardner Fox, in some of the pre-Crisis Crime Syndicate appearances, the Earth-Three Owlman also had the ability to briefly control other peoples minds, though it is unclear how he acquired this ability. When he was knocked out, his sub-conscious mind was able to remain active enough for him to say a word enabling him to travel to Earth-Three and he was also able to see in the dark. In the first travel between Earths, they met the JLA and JSA, but were defeated and imprisoned between Earth-1 and Earth-2 by Green Lantern. Later the time travelling villain Per Degaton released them as part of his plan to take over Earth-2 by stealing nuclear missiles from the Cuban Missile Crisis of Earth-Prime. When the Syndicate betrayed him, they are sent to 1982 as he had made sure this would happen when they touched him, when he was defeated, these events were erased from existence. During the Convergence storyline, Owlman was with the Crime Syndicate when they tried to free Superwoman from death row, after their mission failed and the domes fell around the cities, Owlman shied himself away from the battles. The Owlman character was revived in the late 1990s for modern DC continuity in the graphic novel JLA and this Owlman was developed to be reflective of the modern readers with a far darker attitude and background than either of the two Earth-Three depictions. On antimatter Earth, Owlman was now Thomas Wayne, Jr. the older brother of that realitys Bruce Wayne. In most mainstream DC universes, Batmans genesis occurred when young Bruce Wayne was witness to the murder of his parents, in the antimatter universe, however, young Bruce was killed along with his mother by a policeman when Thomas, Sr. refused to accompany him for questioning. Thomas, Jr. escaped the scene with the hoodlum Joe Chill, whom he considered his hero. Later, he learned that his father, Thomas Wayne, Sr. Thomas, while antimatter Clark Kent is the leader of the Syndicate, Thomas, Jr. is the real brains behind the group. Further complicating things is the fact that Thomas, Jr. has carried on an affair with Ultramans wife Superwoman. Ultraman is aware of the affair, but due to Thomas, Jr. having undisclosed photographic blackmail material against the villain, Thomas, Jr. and his antimatter Crime Syndicate allies appeared in the weekly Trinity series, starting with issue #9. The Weaponers of Qward had attacked their Earth, killing millions, the Syndicate had kidnapped hundreds of innocent people from all 52 realities, including what appeared to be Jimmy Olsen, but was later revealed to be his anti-matter duplicate. It is unclear if Thomas, Jr. allows the JLA to win in order to get the heroes off his source Earth and counterattack after they depart, or if he was actually defeated. In the continuity following DCs 2011 reboot, Owlman is one of the members of the Crime Syndicate to arrive from Earth-3 at the conclusion of the Trinity War event and he is a crime lord on Earth-3 and became Owlman after his butler, Alfred Pennyworth murdered his family. He is shown to have disdain for his parents due to his mothers abusive nature, Alfred also caused the death of his brother Bruce
21.
Solomon Grundy (comics)
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Solomon Grundy is a fictional character, usually depicted as supervillain in the DC Comics universe and an antihero in the DC animated universe. He was originally depicted as a murder victim brought back to life as a revenant or zombie. He also has ties to Swamp Thing, created by Alfred Bester, he first appeared in All-American Comics #61. Grundy is the focus of one of the four Faces of Evil one-shots that explore the aftermath of Final Crisis, written by Scott Kolins and Geoff Johns and it is the introduction to a seven part mini-series featuring the character. In the late 19th century, a merchant named Cyrus Gold is murdered and his body is disposed of in Slaughter Swamp. Fifty years later, the corpse is reanimated as a huge shambling figure with almost no memory of its past life, Gold murders two escaped criminals who are hiding out in the marsh and steals their clothes. He shows up in a camp and, when asked about his name. One of the men at the camp mentions the nursery rhyme character Solomon Grundy, Grundy proves to be a difficult opponent, unkillable and with an inherent resistance to Scotts powers. He apparently kills Green Lantern, who gives off a green flash, liking this flash, Grundy commits murders hoping to see the flash again. However the first fight ends when Grundy is hurled under a train by Green Lantern, Grundy is revived when a criminal scientist, known as the Professor, injects Grundy with concentrated chlorophyll. After this second encounter Grundy is trapped in a green plasma bubble for a time, making his way across country, Grundy heads for the headquarters of the Justice Society of America. Green Lantern arrives early for the meeting and when the members arrive, they find their headquarters smashed to pieces. The radio continues its report, listing cities where Grundy was seen, so each member picks a city, the scene now shifts back to the moment at JSA HQ where Green Lantern had opened the door. To his surprise, Doiby Dickles walks in, and informs him that Grundy has freed himself and is on the loose, Green Lantern leaves immediately, hoping to find Grundy before any of the JSA members are hurt going after him. Minutes later, Grundy arrives at JSA HQ, and, not finding the Lantern there, he smashes the place up, when Green Lantern and Grundy meet, Grundy rips a tree out by its roots and smashes it into the Lantern. Green Lantern fights back with his ring and fists until both men fall into a nearby stream and over a small waterfall. The Lantern is severely dazed and tries to ward off Grundy with his ring, Grundy grabs Green Lantern by the throat and begins to squeeze the life out of him, holding his head underwater. However, Hawkman strikes Grundy with his mace, and Mid-Nite is able to revive the Lantern, a combined attack brings down Grundy, and Green Lantern deposits Grundy on the moon
22.
Damian Wayne
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Damian Wayne or Damian al Ghul is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with Batman. He is the son of Batman and Talia al Ghul, the character originally appeared as an unnamed infant in the 1987 story Batman, Son of the Demon, which was at that time not considered canon. Following this, various alternate universe stories dealt with the characters life, in 2006, the character was reinterpreted as Damian Wayne by Grant Morrison, and introduced into the main continuity in Batman #655, the first issue of the Batman and Son story arc. Damian Wayne is the character to assume the role of Robin. Having grown up in a laboratory, Damian Wayne as a pre-adolescent is left by his mother in the care of his father, who had been not aware of his sons existence. He is violent and self-important and was trained by the League of Assassins, learning to kill at an age, which troubles the relationship with his father. However, the Dark Knight does care for his lost progeny. After the events of Batman R. I. P. and Batman, Battle for the Cowl, he takes the role of Robin at ten years of age, becoming the fifth person to use the Robin persona. He first worked with Dick Grayson before going to work alongside his father and he continued to serve as Robin until 2013s Batman, Inc. #8, in which he is killed by the Heretic, an agent of his mother, in 2014s Batman and Robin vol. 2, #37, Batman resurrects Damian Wayne, in 2013, Damian Wayne placed 25th on IGNs Top 25 Heroes of DC Comics. Damian Wayne is ranked No 1 in IGNs Top Ten Best Robins, the child from Son of the Demon was used as a backup character in various stories before appearing as Damian Wayne. In the Elseworlds story, The Brotherhood of the Bat, a version named Tallant Wayne appears, Talia and Bruces son join the Brotherhood in his fathers costume, to destroy it from within. He falls in love with Nightstar, the daughter of Dick Grayson and he works as a double agent for Batman in Luthors organization. In the Elliot S. Maggin novelization of Kingdom Come, al Xuffasch tells Bruce that his mother Talia is still alive and working as a Mother Superior in India, Al Xuffasch reappears in Waids 1999 sequel The Kingdom. He was eventually recruited by Rip Hunter to try to stop a madman named Gog from altering his history and he works with several other heroes of his generation – Kid Flash, the daughter of the Flash, Nightstar and Offspring, the son of Plastic Man. In League of Batmen, the sequel to Brotherhood of the Bat, during the battle, Tallant discovers that his grandfather is the one who murdered his father and then cloned him. Ras even sent the clone to murder his own daughter, because the deaths of his parents at Rass hands, Tallant has completed following his fathers tragic path as Batman
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Batmen of All Nations
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Batmen of All Nations were a group of superheroes who were inspired by Batman to fight crime in their countries. The group first appeared in Detective Comics #215, later the Batmen of All Nations were renamed the International Club of Heroes, often known as just the Club of Heroes. Post-Crisis on Infinite Earths, they were named the Dome and were not inspired by Batman, Grant Morrison featured them in his 2007 run on Batman. Morrison revealed the modern period fates of the Club of Heroes, in the 1950s the legend of the Batman had reached the whole world. Many people in other countries were inspired by this to become superheroes themselves, years later, Batman decided to hold the first meeting with his counterparts in Gotham City. First, in Batman #56, Batman trained Bat-Hombre at the request of a South American President, Batman took the identity himself and the original Bat-Hombre was killed fighting him. In Batman #62, he met the Knight and the Squire in England, in Batman #65, he trained Wingman. In Batman #86, he met the Sioux Man-of-Bats and his son Little Raven, Detective Comics #215 Batman invites the Knight and Squire, the Musketeer, the Gaucho, the Ranger and the Legionary. The Knight and Squire then joined the Ultramarine Corps in JLA #26 and had an adventure with them in JLA Classified #1-3. A three-issue story arc in Batman #667-669, written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by J. H. Williams III, upon becoming the new Knight, Cyril has appointed Beryl as his Squire. The new Knight is made to suffer a fate to his father by John Mayhew. The Musketeer was sent to an asylum after he killed a man in battle. After he was released he wrote a book about the experience, sold off its movie rights, bilal Asselah, a Sunni Muslim and expert parkour exponent who assumes the identity of Nightrunner, was eventually chosen as Batman Inc. s representative in Paris, France. Native American Man-Of-Bats and his son Little Raven, who has grown up, Raven Red almost dies at the hands of John Mayhew, but is saved by his father, Robin, and the Squire. In that series, theyre given names and Man-of-Bats is said to have fought in Iraq, Wingman has changed his look and resembles Batman even more than he originally did. He refuses to admit he worked with Batman and claims he came up with his identity a year before Batman debuted. With his accomplice, billionaire John Mayhew, he kills the Ranger and he is later killed by John Mayhew. In Batman Incorporated a new Wingman is shown with his identity a mystery, El Gaucho has become a serious superhero in Argentina and has changed his look
24.
Joker (character)
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The Joker is a fictional supervillain created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson who first appeared in the debut issue of the comic book Batman published by DC Comics. Credit for the Jokers creation is disputed, Kane and Robinson claimed responsibility for the Jokers design, although the Joker was planned to be killed off during his initial appearance, he was spared by editorial intervention, allowing the character to endure as the archenemy of the superhero Batman. In his comic appearances, the Joker is portrayed as a criminal mastermind. The Joker has had various possible origin stories during his decades of appearances, the most common story involves him falling into a tank of chemical waste which bleaches his skin white, turns his hair green, and his lips bright red, the resulting disfigurement drives him insane. The antithesis of Batman in personality and appearance, the Joker is considered by critics to be his perfect adversary, the 1990s introduced a romantic interest for the Joker in his former psychiatrist, Harley Quinn, who becomes his villainous sidekick. Although his primary obsession is Batman, the Joker has also fought other heroes including Superman, one of the most iconic characters in popular culture, the Joker has been listed among the greatest comic book villains and fictional characters ever created. The characters popularity has seen him appear on a variety of merchandise, such as clothing and collectable items, inspire real-world structures, Mark Hamill, Troy Baker, and others have provided the characters voice. Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson are credited with creating the Joker, Robinson claimed that it was his 1940 card sketch that served as the characters concept, and which Finger associated with Veidts portrayal. Kane hired the 17-year-old Robinson as an assistant in 1939, after he saw Robinson in a white jacket decorated with his own illustrations, beginning as a letterer and background inker, Robinson quickly became primary artist for the newly created Batman comic book series. In a 1975 interview in The Amazing World of DC Comics, Robinson said he wanted a supreme arch-villain who could test Batman and he wanted an exotic, enduring character as an ongoing source of conflict for Batman, designing a diabolically sinister-but-clownish villain. Robinson was intrigued by villains, his studies at Columbia University taught him that some characters are made up of contradictions, leading to the Jokers sense of humor. He said that the name came first, followed by an image of a card from a deck he often had at hand. I wanted somebody that would make an impression, would be bizarre. He told Finger about his concept by telephone, later providing sketches of the character, Finger thought the concept was incomplete, providing the image of Veidt with a ghastly, permanent rictus grin. In a 1994 interview with journalist Frank Lovece, Kane stated his position, Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson came to me with a playing card of the Joker. Thats the way I sum it up, looks like Conrad Veidt – you know, the actor in The Man Who Laughs, by Victor Hugo. Bill Finger had a book with a photograph of Conrad Veidt and showed it to me and said, Jerry Robinson had absolutely nothing to do with it, but hell always say he created it till he dies. He brought in a card, which we used for a couple of issues for him to use as his playing card
25.
OMAC (Buddy Blank)
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OMAC is a superhero comic book character created in 1974 by Jack Kirby and published by DC Comics. As envisioned by Kirby, OMAC is essentially Captain America set in the future, OMAC works for the Global Peace Agency, a group of faceless people who police the entire world using pacifistic weapons. The world balance is too dangerous for large armies, so OMAC is used as the main field enforcement agent for the Global Peace Agency, the character initially uses his abilities to save a female coworker at the Pseudo-People factory. The original OMAC series ended with its issue, canceled before the last storyline could be completed. In Kamandi #50, by other creators, OMAC is tied into the back-story, an OMAC back-up feature by Jim Starlin began in issue #59, but Kamandi was cancelled after its first appearance. The story was printed in The Warlord, and led to a new OMAC back-up series in that title. OMAC appeared with Superman in DC Comics Presents #61, in 1991 OMAC was featured in a four-issue prestige format limited series by writer/artist John Byrne that tied up loose ends left from previous series. Byrne later reused OMAC in Superman & Batman, Generations 3, in Countdown to Final Crisis, Buddy Blank is featured as a retired, balding professor with a blond-haired grandson. In #34, he is mentioned but not seen, and is referred to as having direct contact with Brother Eye and he is contacted by Karate Kid and Una in Countdown #31, and appears in #28 and 27. A version of Buddy from Earth-51 appears in #5 and 6, the virus results in worldwide destruction. Buddy leaves his Project Cadmus laboratory job, assisted by Una, he attempts to rescue his daughter and they search for Buddys family in Metropolis, where they are attacked by humanoid rats. Una and Buddys daughter are both devoured, but one of them manages to pass a Legion flight ring to Buddy and he uses it to take his grandson to safety in the scientific facility Command D in Blüdhaven. In the final issue, Countdown to Final Crisis #1, Brother Eye rescues Buddy and his grandson from the bunker and this entity resembles the original Jack Kirby OMAC. An increase in density causes superhuman strength and enhanced durability, Brother Eye could provide other abilities as well, such as self-repair functions and energy generation. The character, along with the Brother Eye satellite, was reimagined for the Infinite Crisis storyline, OMACs are portrayed as cyborgs, humans whose bodies have been corrupted by a nano-virus. The characters retain OMACs mohawk and Brother Eye symbol on their chests, the characters are featured in The OMAC Project limited series which precedes Infinite Crisis, and a subsequent OMAC limited series. The acronym has multiple meanings through the series, Observational Meta-human Activity Construct, One-Man Army Corps, in the Superman storyline For Tomorrow, two super-soldiers were featured, each representing a generation of cybernetically enhanced warriors named One-Man Army Corps. They bore no resemblance to any other version of the OMAC
26.
Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
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Captain Marvel, also known as Shazam, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker created the character in 1939, Captain Marvel first appeared in Whiz Comics #2, published by Fawcett Comics. Based on book sales, the character was the most popular superhero of the 1940s, Fawcett expanded the franchise to include other Marvels, primarily Marvel Family associates Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr. who can harness Billys powers as well. Captain Marvel was also the first comic book superhero to be adapted into film, Fawcett ceased publishing Captain Marvel-related comics in 1953, partly because of a copyright infringement suit from DC Comics, alleging that Captain Marvel was a copy of Superman. In 1972, DC licensed the Marvel Family characters from Fawcett, by 1991, DC had acquired all rights to the characters. DC has since integrated Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family into their DC Universe and has attempted to revive the property several times, DC later officially renamed the character Shazam when relaunching its comic book properties in 2011. In addition, since 1972, the character has featured in two television series adaptations, one live action and one animated, by Filmation, and an upcoming Warner Bros. Feature film scheduled for release in 2019 as part of the DC Extended Universe, Captain Marvel was ranked as the 55th greatest comic book character of all time by Wizard magazine. IGN also ranked Captain Marvel as the 50th greatest comic book hero of all time, UGO Networks ranked him as one of the top heroes of entertainment, saying, At his best, Shazam has always been Superman with a sense of crazy, goofy fun. Fawcett Comics executive director Ralph Daigh decided it would be best to combine the team of six into one hero who would embody all six powers, Parker responded by creating a character he called Captain Thunder. Staff artist Charles Clarence C. C. Beck was recruited to design and illustrate Parkers story, rendering it in a direct, somewhat cartoony style that became his trademark. When Bill Parker and I went to work on Fawcett’s first comic book in late 1939, we both saw how poorly written and illustrated the superhero comic books were, Beck told an interviewer. The first issue of the book, printed as both Flash Comics #1 and Thrill Comics #1, had a low-print run in the fall of 1939 as an ashcan copy created for advertising. Shortly after its printing, however, Fawcett found it could not trademark Captain Thunder, Flash Comics, or Thrill Comics, because all three names were already in use. Consequently, the book was renamed Whiz Comics, and Fawcett artist Pete Costanza suggested changing Captain Thunders name to Captain Marvelous, the word balloons in the story were re-lettered to label the hero of the main story as Captain Marvel. Whiz Comics #2 was published in late 1939, inspiration for Captain Marvel came from a number of sources. His visual appearance was modeled after that of Fred MacMurray, a popular American actor of the period, Fawcett Publications founder, Wilford H. Fawcett, was nicknamed Captain Billy, which inspired the name Billy Batson as well as Marvels title. Fawcetts earliest magazine was titled Captain Billys Whiz Bang, which inspired the title Whiz Comics, in addition, Fawcett took several of the elements that had made Superman the first popular comic book superhero and incorporated them into Captain Marvel
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Abra Kadabra (comics)
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Abra Kadabra is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, the made his first appearance in The Flash #128. Citizen Abra is from the 64th century, at a time when science has made stage magic obsolete and he has a hypnotic device that makes people clap regardless of their thoughts, which he uses to force applause from audiences even when they dont applaud his magic tricks. He finds his magic is being overlooked, so decides to himself in important events. When the Flash tries to stop a crime he is committing, he makes the Flash clap, enabling him to escape. But he hypnotizes the Governor using a ray from a made out of pots and pans, to let him out. When the Flash passes a poster advertising Kadabra, he is turned into a puppet, but the Scarlet Speedster is able to restore himself slightly using the organic matter in his brain, which was not transformed, and then reverse Kadabras ray so he is restored completely. In one of his confrontations with the Flash, Abra Kadabras technology is damaged and his body becomes insubstantial. Abra Kadabra is mentioned in Neil Gaimans Books of Magic mini-series, in the fourth issue Timothy Hunter, escorted by Mister E, visits the 64th century, described by E as a time when the differences between magic and technology have become blurred. The inhabitants tell them they have selected their date-line to send the Madchild Abhararakadhararbarakh, Timothy Hunter responds Abracadabra. and Mister E tells him not to talk to the inhabitants of this time, and so they then continue their path into the future. In Infinite Crisis, Abra Kadabra became a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains, in One Year Later, he and several other Rogues are approached by Inertia with a plan to kill the Flash. Though Inertia is defeated, Kadabra and the other Rogues successfully beat Bart to death, Abra Kadabra is one of the exiled villains featured in Salvation Run along with his fellow Rogues, Captain Cold, Heat Wave, Weather Wizard, and Mirror Master. He was a member of the Rogues who joined Libras Secret Society of Super Villains and he was last seen in The Flash, Rebirth with off-panel, being attacked by Professor Zoom. In the final issue of the mini-series, Abra is seen to have survived Zooms attack, Abra Kadabra makes his post-DC Rebirth debut in Titans series. He first appears as a bumbling and terrible party magician known as Mister Hocus Pocus, Abra Kadabra reveals he is the one who made Wally disappear and he will now destroy him. Abra Kadabra creates younger puppet duplicates of the Titans and has them fight the Titans. When the puppet Lilith finds Linda Park and tells Abra Kadabra of her importance to Wally, Abra Kadabra realizes that history is broken, knowing that Wally and Linda will not meet years from now. Abra Kadabra realizes that his plans must be speed up, and before he can even further
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Penguin (character)
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The Penguin is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman. Artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger introduced the character in Detective Comics #58, the Penguin is one of Batmans most enduring enemies and belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up Batmans rogues gallery. The Penguin is depicted as a short, portly, long-nosed mobster in Gotham City, the character fancies himself a gentleman of crime and uses specialized, high-tech umbrellas as weapons. The Penguin runs a nightclub in called Iceberg Lounge, which provides a cover for criminal activity, unlike most of Batmans rogues gallery, the Penguin is sane and in control of his actions, which gives him a unique relationship with Batman. According to Kane, the character was inspired from the advertising mascot of Kool cigarettes – a penguin with a top hat. Finger thought the image of high-society gentlemen in tuxedos was reminiscent of emperor penguins, Burgess Meredith portrayed the Penguin in the 1960s Batman television series and its movie. Danny DeVito played a darker, more grotesque version in the 1992 film Batman Returns, subsequent Batman animated series featured him in depictions that alternated between deformed outcast and high-profile aristocrat, or a blend of the two. Robin Lord Taylor currently portrays a young Penguin in the television series Gotham, the Penguin has repeatedly been named one of the best Batman villains, and one of the greatest villains in comics and, paradoxically, has also been described by others as among the least convincing. Penguin was ranked #51 in IGNs list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time, born Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, the Penguin was bullied as a child for his short stature, weight, and beak-like nose. Several stories relate that he was forced, as a child and his mother owned pet birds that Cobblepot lavished with attention, and served as his only friends growing up. His love for birds would eventually lead him to obtain a major in college. In some versions, Cobblepot turns to crime after his mother dies, in others, he is an outcast in his high-society family and their rejection drives him to become a criminal. In keeping with his origins, the Penguin pursues his career with class, He prefers formal wear such as a top hat, monocle. He is criminally brilliant and psychologically sane, although he has resorted to serial murders and he has a brain power that could possibly outwit some of the smarter men in existence. Teamed with his understanding of betrayal and loyalty, Penguin is a tough, the Penguin later used the canvas as proof of his intellect to a local mob, which he was then allowed to join. With the Penguins help, the mob pulled off a string of ingenious heists, but the mobs leader, the Penguin became leader of the mob and attempted to neutralize Batman by framing him for theft. The Penguins plans were prevented, but the bandit himself escaped. The Penguin made his last appearance during the last appearance of the Earth-One Batman, after he and a multitude of Batmans enemies are broken out of Arkham Asylum and Gotham State Penitentiary by Ras al Ghul, the Penguin carries out Ras plans to kidnap Batmans friends and allies
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Ultra-Humanite
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The Ultra-Humanite is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, usually as a recurring adversary of Superman. Ultra-Humanite first appeared in Action Comics #13 and was created by Jerry Siegel, the Ultra-Humanite is the first supervillain faced by Superman, and among the first supervillains of the Golden Age of Comics. The Ultra-Humanite served as Supermans nemesis until Lex Luthor was introduced in the comics, the origins of the super-criminal known as the Ultra-Humanite are shrouded in mystery. Even he claims not to remember his name or appearance and attributes his vast intellect. A fiendish mad scientist, he is paralyzed from the waist down and his great goal is the domination of the Earth. His real name is never given, but he has known as the Ultra-Humanite ever since a scientific experiment resulted in possessing the most agile. --Unfortunately for mankind, proclaims the villain, I prefer to use this great intellect for crime, Reynolds union, financed by the Ultra-Humanite, intimidates other cab drivers through violence and threats against passengers. Apprehended by Superman, Reynolds is convicted and sentenced to Sing Sing penitentiary, Reynolds escapes by using a cigarette that emits a mysterious gas that renders his guards unconscious. Superman tracks Reynolds to his secluded cabin hideout and is about to him into custody when his attention is called to a second figure in the cabin. Burn with a hatred and sinister intelligence, the Ultra-Humanite. Ultra deals Superman electricity sufficient to kill five hundred men, with Superman now helpless, Reynolds and the Ultra-Humanite attempt to kill him with a buzz saw, but Supermans invulnerable skin obliterated the saw into tiny pieces. Reynolds is killed by one of the flying pieces, Ultras henchmen set fire to the cabin and leave Superman behind to perish. The Ultra-Humanite is carried outside to a waiting aircraft, Superman regains consciousness and deliberately crashes into the plane. The Man of Steel is unable to find the Ultra-Humanites body, after scores of subway riders are injured in the collapse of a subway tunnel, Superman discovers that Star, Inc. the firm that built the tunnel, defrauded the city by using substandard materials. Superman pursues some of the criminals who lead him to the Ultra-Humanite, as Superman barges headlong into the shed, the villain freezes him inside a block of crystal. Superman is able to out and stop the villains plans. The Ultra-Humanite tries to extort millions of dollars from a cruiseline, a mysterious epidemic sweeps through the city, killing hundreds. A young scientist, Professor Henry Travers, concocts an antidote, Ultra kidnaps Travers, but he is rescued by Superman
