Back when I started collecting comic books, one of my favorite series was Who’s Who: The Definite Directory of the DC Universe. Published between 1984 and 1987, it was a sort of companion to Crisis on Infinite Earths, the twelve issue maxiseries designed to streamline the DC Universe and eliminate any problems in continuity. The character biographies contained inside were my introduction to the DC Universe at large, and they proved useful as I began my scholarship of the DCAU.
While character bios of the characters from Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and other related shows exist, I found many of them to be lacking in depth, content, and quality. Therefore, I’ve taken it upon myself to create character bios for the characters of the DCAU based upon existing information from Series Bibles, the episodes themselves, material from the comic books, and information from the creative teams. Many of these began as bios written for my character profiles on The Justice League Watchtower. Also, the bios I’m writing are limited to characters that I consider key, so no bios for Ubu, Ron Troupe, or the Mad Bomber.
This time, it’s N through P. Again, everyone noteworthy from that section of the dictionary will be included, along with voice actor information, the date and location of their first appearance, and accompanying images.
Nemesis
First Appearance: The Brave and the Bold #166 (September 1980)
As children, both Tom Tresser and his brother, Craig, idolized Ben Marshall, a friend of their father and a field agent for a military organization. Following their father’s death, they both asked Marshall if they could work for the bureau, which he agreed to, putting both of them through extensive training. In the end, Craig became a field agent like Marshall, while Tom was assigned to develop weaponry due to his technological talent.
Sent to infiltrate an international criminal organization known as the Council, Craig was discovered and brainwashed by the organization’s doctors into assassinating Ben Marshall, after which Craig himself was killed by another agent. Seeking to avenge his mentor and his brother, Tom took on the identity of Nemesis and now fights the Council and its influence.
Neutron
First Appearance: Action Comics #525 (November 1981)
Hired by Lex Luthor to wreck a nuclear reactor, Nathaniel Tryon—along with his teammates in a group called the TNT Trio—found himself nearly crushed when a section of lead shielding fell on top of him. Superman arrived on the scene soon after to prevent a meltdown and to arrest the criminals involved, but he missed Tryon, who was invisible to Superman’s enhanced vision. Eventually freeing himself, Tryon managed to get himself to one of Luthor’s hideouts, where it was discovered that he was suffering from advanced radiation poisoning. Seeing potential in his henchman, however, Luthor performed a series of experiments on Tryon that, over time, transformed him into a sentient field of nuclear energy. Now forced to wear a special containment suit to prevent his body from dissipating, Tryon took the identity of Neutron and used his atomic powers to gain revenge against the Man of Steel for leaving him to die.
Although he sided with Grodd during the mutiny, Neutron was not singled out for punishment by Luthor. However, it appears that he died in the Hall of Doom’s destruction in deep space.
The New Gods of New Genesis
There came a time when the Old Gods died, as—millennia ago—the all-powerful alien beings of the planet Urgrund—the so-called gods of the Third World—died during the fiery destruction known as Ragnarök. So great was the devastative power of the conflict that their world split in two and, over time, they coalesced into two planets: the idyllic New Genesis and the nightmarish Apokolips. It is from these twin worlds that the New Gods of the Fourth World came to be.
Led by the wise and compassionate Highfather, the New Gods of New Genesis reside in Supertown, a golden city floating over the planet’s unspoiled landscape. Following Darkseid’s first invasion of Earth, they extended their protection over the planet, though they have done little since to enforce it.
EPISODE APPEARANCES:
“Apokolips…Now!”: Orion, Mister Miracle, Big Barda, Black Racer, Forager, Lightray, Metron
“Twilight”: Highfather, Orion, Lightray, Forager, Mister Miracle, Big Bear, Beautiful Dreamer, Mark Moonrider, Serifan, Vykin
“Hereafter”: Orion, Lightray
“Initiation”: Orion
“The Return”: Orion
“The Ties That Bind”: Mister Miracle, Big Barda, Oberon
“Flash and Substance”: Orion
“Alive!”: Metron, Orion
“Destroyer”: Lightray, Metron
The New Gods of Apokolips
There came a time when the Old Gods died, as—millennia ago—the all-powerful alien beings of the planet Urgrund—the so-called gods of the Third World—died during the fiery destruction known as Ragnarök. So great was the devastative power of the conflict that their world split in two and, over time, they coalesced into two planets: the idyllic New Genesis and the nightmarish Apokolips. It is from these twin worlds that the New Gods of the Fourth World came to be.
Led by the despotic tyrant Darkseid, the New Gods of Apokolips live in a dystopian hellscape of fire pits and fascist architecture, with the lower classes laboring ceaselessly for their superpowered overseers. Seeking universal conquest, Darkseid’s desire for the Anti-Life Equation has frequently brought Earth to his attention, as he believes that humans possess portions of the equation in their collective unconscious. In addition, it is possible that he views destroying Superman as part of the process.
Following Darkseid’s death, which occurred during the destruction of Brainiac’s central database, the planet Apokolips fell into civil war, as factions led by Granny Goodness and Virman Vundabar attempted to seize power in their lord’s absence. These hostilities ceased following his return, but after his attempted invasion of Earth, and his subsequent absorption into the Source Wall, the civil war has undoubtedly resumed.
EPISODE APPEARANCES:
“Tools of the Trade”: Darkseid, Kanto
“Father’s Day”: Darkseid, Kalibak, Desaad
“Apokolips…Now!”: Darkseid, Steppenwolf, Kalibak, Desaad, Granny Goodness
“Little Girl Lost”: Darkseid, Granny Goodness, Lashina, Stompa, Mad Harriet
“Legacy”: Darkseid, Kalibak, Granny Goodness, Lashina, Stompa, Mad Harriet
“Twilight”: Darkseid, Kalibak, Desaad, Steppenwolf
“The Ties That Bind”: Granny Goodness, Kalibak, Virman Vundabar
“Question Authority”: Mantis
“Alive!”: Darkseid, Granny Goodness, Virman Vundabar, Bernadeth, Lashina, Mad Harriet, Stompa, Mantis, Kanto
“Destroyer”: Darkseid
Nightwing
Voiced by Loren Lester
First Appearance: Detective Comics #38 (Robin, April 1940), Tales of the Teen Titans #44 (Nightwing, July 1984)
In regard to that age-old debate over nature versus nurture, it can be said that the destiny of Dick Grayson was equally shaped by both. Trained by his parents as an acrobat from an early age, the young boy soon found himself performing as part of the Flying Graysons in Haley’s Circus, a small, travelling performance company. However, during a show in Gotham City, the owner was accosted by Tony Zucco, the nephew of crime boss Arnold Stromwell and part of his mob, who sought to shake him down for protection money. Refusing to pay, Zucco returned and sabotaged the trapeze ropes used by the Graysons in their act, resulting in the deaths of John and Mary Grayson. A material witness to Zucco’s earlier exchange, it was feared that the now-orphaned Dick Grayson could be a victim of Zucco should he return, and it was decided that the 10-year-old boy would be temporarily housed with Bruce Wayne, who witnessed the tragedy as part of the audience.
Left in the company of Alfred Pennyworth at Wayne Manor, Dick Grayson did not understand why Bruce Wayne went out every night, not knowing that—as Batman—he was aggressively chasing leads to put Tony Zucco behind bars. Overhearing that Zucco might skip town, Grayson slipped out of Wayne Manor and, using his street smarts and acrobatic skills, managed to track Zucco to an abandoned building. Unfortunately, Zucco discovered the child spying on him, and he would have silenced him had Batman not intervened moments later. However, when Grayson was swept into a nearby waterway, Batman chose to let Zucco go so he could save his life. Returning to the Batcave, he revealed his secret identity to the boy, who accepted the Dark Knight’s offer to train him into becoming a crimefighter like him. Becoming his legal guardian, Batman mentored Dick Grayson using the skills he obtained over the years and, eventually, he joined his campaign against crime as Robin, the Boy Wonder.
For years, the Dynamic Duo of Batman and Robin protected Gotham City from those who would prey upon it, from common criminals to the emerging supervillain population. Eventually, he even succeeded in capturing Tony Zucco, putting him behind bars. In addition, he developed a romantic interest in Commissioner Gordon’s daughter, Barbara, as well as a friendly rivalry with Batgirl, not realizing that they were one and the same. However, over time, Dick Grayson began to have doubts about his life. He questioned Batman’s methods, such as when he questioned one of Joker’s accomplices in front of his family, and he had serious doubts as to whether he wanted to continue fighting crime in perpetuity or eventually step down and marry Barbara. The final straw came when he discovered that Barbara Gordon was Batgirl, as well as the fact that Batman knew and did not tell him. Accusing him of manipulating them into being his sidekicks—and for putting the untrained Batgirl in unnecessary danger—he quit being Robin and walked away from Gotham.
Traveling the world over a period of two to three years, Dick Grayson sought to train and improve himself, much like his mentor did decades ago. Among other things, he learned how to improve his ability to be undetectable from members of a South American tribe, as well as the secret of flight via glider wings, which he learned from group of Tibetan monks. It was also during this period that he came into possession of the insurance settlement from his parents’ deaths, allowing him to become financially self-sufficient. Eventually returning to Gotham City, he bought himself an abandoned warehouse and retrofitted it into a loft and headquarters. Donning the new identity of Nightwing, he quickly announced his return to both Batman and Batgirl, who had developed their own crimefighting partnership in his absence.
Trained by the Dark Knight himself, Nightwing is a formidable detective and crimefighter in his own right, utilizing his own formidable gymnastics skills learned from a childhood under the big top as an additional asset. And though he eventually felt Gotham City for nearby Blüdhaven, he is still more than ready to lend Batman a helping hand, such as when he aided him against the combined forces of Poison Ivy and Jason Woodrue, the Floronic Man, who sought to destroy all human life on Earth.
Obsidian
First Appearance: All-Star Squadron #25 (September 1983)
Raised in an abusive foster home, Todd James Rice resolved to not let it affect him, especially when he discovered that he possessed the mutant ability to merge with his own shadow, enabling him to transform into three dimensional shadow capable of passing through walls or people. However, his connection to the shadow realm from which he derives his powers from has the potential to draw out his darker impulses, which he must continually strive to balance as a member of the Justice League.
Ohiyesa Smith
Voiced by Jonathan Joss
First Appearance: Detective Comics #151 (Pow-Wow Smith, September 1949)
A native of Red Deer Valley, Ohiyesa Smith left his home to learn more about the changing territories around him. Eventually settling in Elkhorn, Oklahoma at the end of the Civil War, he soon became sheriff and was well-respected for his ability to keep the peace. However, one day Tobias Manning, a local outlaw with whom Smith had dealt with in the past, arrived in town with weaponry that had the appearance of magic. He ran Smith out of town, leading him to seek help from other mystery men of the time period.
Returning to Elkhorn with reinforcements, he joined up with a group of unknown lawmen “from back East” who claimed that Manning stole a weapon that allowed him such abilities and, together, they defeated him and took back that weapon, allowing Smith to retake his position as Sheriff.
An incredible detective, tracker, and marksman, Sheriff Smith was an undeniable asset to his town. Just don’t call him “Pow Wow” Smith.
The Ophidians
First Appearance: “Eclipsed” (November 8, 2003)
Eons ago, in humanity’s prehistory, ancient humans were locked in combat with the Ophidians, a race of snake people who worshipped the moon. Recognizing that they were fighting a losing battle against the humans, a contingent of Ophidians performed a ritual during a total eclipse that placed their spirits into a purple crystal called the Heart of Darkness. Fearing its power, the ancient humans built a temple around it and guarded it to prevent it from being used.
In recent times, the temple was discovered by American soldiers, one of which touched the crystal and was possessed by the spirits of the Ophidians, who used his body in an attempt to destroy humanity. The temple’s sole defender, the warrior Mophir, attempted to stop them but was overpowered. The crystal passed through several hands, until it came into the possession of the Justice League. Informed of the danger it posed by Mophir, the Flash attempted to diffuse the situation, but Hawkgirl shattered the crystal, and its shards became embedded in the skin of the other team members. Regardless, the Flash successfully stopped the possessed League members from blowing up the sun, and the shards of crystal were excised from his teammates.
Despite the claims of Mophir, it appears that some Ophidians have survived to the present day and can be found in the hidden world of Skartaris under the command of the high priest Deimos.
Orion
Voiced by Steve Sandor (STAS), Ron Perlman (Justice League, JLU)
The son of Darkseid and Tigra, Orion was traded to Highfather in exchange for his own son as part of a peace agreement that ended the war between New Genesis and Apokolips. Inheriting his father’s savagery, Highfather’s guidance provided a necessary balance to his nature, which helped him to calm his darker inclinations. Still, his anger exists.
Possessing superhuman strength and the Astro Glider—a battle harness that provides weaponry and allows him to travel at great speeds—Orion has vowed to destroy his father and end his evil forever.
Orm
Voiced by Richard Green
The younger half-brother of Arthur, King of Atlantis, Orm grew up in the shadow of his elder sibling, which led him to develop a bitter resentment. Jealous of his brother’s success, he bided his time, waiting for the right moment to seize the throne. That moment came when Arthur left Atlantis to speak before the World Assembly in Metropolis. Planning ahead, Orm contracted the mercenary Deadshot and paid him to assassinate his brother. While this act of regicide proved to be unsuccessful, it did provide him time to approach several generals in the Atlantean military and, using the threat of the “surface dwellers” as a smokescreen, convinced them to back his plot. His coup was successful—when Arthur returned to Atlantis, he found his brother on the throne, and he was arrested as a traitor by his own military.
With Atlantis under his control and his brother out of the way, Orm began the second phase of his plan, using the plutonium from a sunken submarine to power the Doomsday Thermal Reactor, an Atlantean device designed to cause a polar meltdown, effectively eliminating the threat of the “surface dwellers” and cementing his favor with the military. As for his brother, he had him chained to a rock overlooking a volcanic fissure and, as a way of eliminating any potential rivals for the throne, cast both his brother and nephew into the lava below. What he did not expect, however, was that Arthur would save his son and escape, sacrificing a hand in the process, and would then ally himself with the Justice League. Following the defeat of the military, the League shut down the reactor while Orm fought his brother on a melting ice bridge overlooking a chasm inside one of the glaciers. While initially successful in the battle, Orm lost his footing as the ice gave way under his heel. Begging his brother for help, Arthur merely watched as Orm lost his grip and fell into the icy void below.
Owlman
Voiced by James Woods
First Appearance: Justice League of America #29 (August 1964)
Little is known about the criminal mastermind known as Owlman, save that he has spent a lifetime honing his body and mind to physical perfection, as well as developing an enhanced suit of armor and an arsenal of high-tech weapons to use in his activities. However, despite his status, wealth, and his relationship with fellow Crime Syndicate member Superwoman, he was empty inside.
Later, after acquiring Lex Luthor’s notes about his interdimensional teleporter, he learned of the existence of the multiverse and came to the conclusion that nothing matters—that life is meaningless—as no matter what decision one person makes, an alternate version of them would make the opposite choice. Seeking to make the only choice that he saw as having any meaning, he vowed to uncover Earth Prime—the basis of all alternate Earths—and destroy it with the quantum bomb, thus destroying all realities.
Transporting to Earth Prime, he was stopped from performing this act by Batman, who transported him and his weapon to another universe, this one with an ice encrusted, dead Earth. His last words before the quantum bomb exploded? “It doesn’t matter.”
The Pack Rat
Voiced by Grant Shaud
First Appearance: “Make ‘Em Laugh” (November 5, 1994)
Originally Harry Loomis, a standup comic, he had the unfortunate luck to run afoul of the Joker during the annual Gotham Laugh-Off Comedy Competition. Disguised as “Smilin’ Shecky Rimshot,” the Clown Prince of Crime attempted to win the prize with stale jokes and a missed registration date. Dragged offstage, he swore revenge on Loomis and his fellow judges, Buddy Standler and Lisa Lorraine.
One year later, he was abducted by the Joker and dosed with one of the Mad Hatter’s mind control chips. Dressed up as the Pack Rat, a costumed, gun-toting extremist obsessed with stealing worthless trash, the hapless Loomis embarked on a crime spree that was quickly stopped by Batman. Arrested for armed robbery, he was presumably released once the Joker’s plan was brought to light.
Paran Dul
Voiced by Elizabeth Peña
First Appearance: “Starcrossed” (May 29, 2004)
The soldier in charge of overseeing the construction of the Hyperspace Bypass Generator, Lieutenant Paran Dul later led the team to hunt and kill Shayera Hol for her treason.
The Parasite
Voiced by Brion James (STAS), Brian George (Justice League)
First Appearance: Action Comics #340 (August 1966)
The story of the Parasite began when Rudy Jones, a dull-witted janitor at S.T.A.R. Labs, made a deal with local fence Martin LeBeau to pay off his bookie in exchange for stealing some chemicals from his employer. The plan fell apart, however, when Rudy—who was unfamiliar with operating a forklift—drew the attention of security, leading to LeBeau using his handgun to ignite some cannisters containing flammable material. With the fire spreading, LeBeau took off in his pickup truck with Rudy, and some successfully stolen materials, in the cargo bed. Desperate to avoid jail, LeBeau sped down the uneven road, knocking over the cannisters—which contained a biological agent designed to initiate energy absorption in human cells—onto Rudy, causing him to become saturated by the hazardous material. Falling out of the speeding truck, Rudy laid on the ground inert … until a passing rat triggered his new abilities, draining the creature of its energy and waking him up.
Over time, Rudy Jones came to discover that this freak accident had transformed him into a sort of energy vampire, forcing him to drain the physical vigor of others in order to survive. One touch of his hands would leave a victim temporarily weakened, while prolonged exposure would incapacitate them for longer periods. In addition, draining others also provided Rudy access to their knowledge, memories, skills, and—in the case of metahumans—super powers. Dubbing himself the Parasite, he targeted Superman and, after draining him, held him hostage so that he could continue to drain him every twelve hours, enabling Rudy to go on a crime spree. Eventually, Superman escaped, but the Parasite’s obsession with the Man of Steel led to multiple encounters where he sought to steal his powers and memories once again.
Later, the Parasite was recruited for the Secret Society by Gorilla Grodd, who saw the massive potential he possessed. It was during this team up that he “broadened his palate” by draining the powers of heroes other than Superman, making him all the more dangerous than he was before. However, despite his phenomenal abilities, he was still the same shortsighted Rudy Jones he always was, enabling his defeat again and again.
Siding with Grodd during his rebellion over Lex Luthor’s leadership of the Legion of Doom, the Parasite died at the hands of Killer Frost. Still, it is worth noting that, in sixty-five years’ time, a second supervillain will adopt the name Parasite and join a supervillain team known as the Inequity Collective. His identity and powers are unknown at this time.
The Parasite II
Voiced by Marc Worden
First Appearance: “Epilogue” (July 23, 2005)
Little is known about the second Parasite, save that he has taken the name of the previous villain, who died at the hands of Killer Frost.
Paxton Powers
Voiced by Cary Elwes
First Appearance: “Ascension” (May 22, 1999)
The estranged son of Wayne-Powers CEO Derek Powers, Paxton Powers was relegated to managing a branch of his father’s company in the Latin American location of Verdeza, where he became notorious for polluting the environment. However, as Derek Powers’ mutation worsened, he was called back to Neo Gotham to serve as “acting chairman” of the company—to become the public face so the elder Powers could remain in the shadows and focus on recovery. However, his son plotted to reveal his identity as Blight to the world, forcing him out of Wayne-Powers and allowing him to become CEO. To that end, he was successful, with Paxton taking his father’s company as his father allegedly died in a sinking nuclear submarine.
During his tenure of Wayne-Powers, it is debatable if he was as effective as his father, but he was less visible, presumably working behind the scenes as the future Batman focused on more pressing matters. However, he was later arrested for attempted murder and possession of stolen property (his collection of pre-Columbian artifacts), in a criminal conspiracy involving members of the Royal Flush Gang. Finally, with both father and son out of the way, the elder Bruce Wayne was successfully able to resume control of his company, returning the name to Wayne Enterprises for the first time in decades.
The Penguin
Voiced by Paul Williams (BTAS, TNBA), David Odgen Stiers (Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman)
First Appearance: Detective Comics #58 (December 1941)
Little is known about Oswald Cobblepot, save that he has been a consistent foe of Batman since his early days. Originally possessing flippers for hands due to the medical condition syndactyly, he claimed to be a scion of Gotham’s elite class, but records of the Cobblepot family legacy are murky at best. What is known, however, is that to compensate for his lack of funds, the villain turned to crime and, recognizing his unique features, chose the costumed identity of the Penguin to make his mark on the Gotham City underworld.
Recognizing the changing zeitgeist in the city, the Penguin embraced the growing supervillain trend, choosing to commit ornithologically-themed crimes using trained birds and his own gimmick umbrellas. Finding camaraderie with the likes of the Joker, Two-Face, and Poison Ivy; he thrived in the new criminal paradigm while traditional gangsters like Rupert Thorne and Arnold Stromwell did not. That said, it should be noted that—as Cobblepot was not insane like his costumed counterparts—he often found himself serving time at Stonegate Penitentiary rather than Arkham Asylum. However, even with his frequent stints in prison, the Penguin enjoyed his life of crime, though he resented his regular defeats at the hands of Batman.
Later—possibly due to injury or simply vanity—Oswald Cobblepot undertook a series of surgeries that radically changed his appearance. Now slimmer and possessing regular fingers, the old bird decided to molt his villainous past and make a fresh start. Using funds presumably obtained from previous crimes, he opened the Iceberg Lounge—a posh, exclusive nightclub and restaurant—and immediately saw his social presence skyrocket. Finally a member of Gotham’s elite, the Penguin has the appearance of a legitimate businessman, allowing him to trade on his notoriety to fleece the public with overpriced drinks and memorabilia while he operates his criminal empire out of the backroom. A valuable underworld contact, there are times now where even the Dark Knight must come to him for information.
Phantasm
Voiced by Stacey Keach, Jr. (Masked) and Dana Delany (Unmasked)
First Appearance: Batman #237 (The Reaper, December 1971), Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (Phantasm, December 25, 1993)
The daughter of Carl Beaumont, a financial planner in business with the Valestra crime family, Andrea Beaumont was visiting her late mother at Gotham Cemetery when, by chance, she met a young Bruce Wayne, who was visiting his parents’ grave as well. Their friendship blossomed into romance—albeit one that was complicated because of a “plan” that Bruce held close to his chest—but, over time, he relented and asked Andrea for her hand in marriage. She happily accepted but, later that night, she discovered that her father had embezzled money from the mob. Fleeing Gotham City that night with her father, she returned the engagement ring to a heartbroken Bruce, who returned to his plan of becoming Batman.
Years later, Arthur Reeves—one of Carl Beaumont’s attorneys who helped him skip town—requested that his former employer provide some money with which to run for public office. When he was refused, he turned to Salvatore Valestra and sold out his old boss’ location in exchange for campaign funds. Valestra sent his best hit man to perform the job, despite the fact that he made good on the financial debt, and he successfully killed Carl Beaumont in his home on the Mediterranean Coast. Leaving just as Andrea returned home, she ran inside to find her dead father, and she vowed revenge on the men who killed her father and destroyed her life. Using her father’s money, she covered up his death, acquired weapons and a costume, and underwent the training necessary to accomplish her plan.
Years later, she returned to Gotham City as the Phantasm and targeted the former heads of the Valestra mob—Chuckie Sol, Buzz Bronski, and Salvatore Valestra—as well as the assassin who pulled the trigger, who—in the years since—had evolved into the Joker. While successful in murdering Sol and Bronski—deaths that were falsely blamed on the Batman—she was unsuccessful in killing Valestra, as the Joker killed the old man himself and used him as bait in a trap to slay the mystery killer. In the end—following a three-way confrontation between Batman, the Joker, and the Phantasm—the Dark Knight was cleared of the murders, the Joker survived, and Phantasm left town, as her plot was uncovered by her former fiancé.
Decades later, Amanda Waller—presumably through Task Force X—recruited the Phantasm to as part of Project: Batman Beyond. Seeking to create a replacement Batman, she used Bruce Wayne’s DNA to create a genetic son with which to inherit the mantle. However, recognizing that tragedy was as important a factor as genetics in Batman’s origins, she tasked Phantasm to kill eight-year-old Terry McGinnis’ parents in front of him in an attempt to duplicate the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents and the effect it had on his psyche. However, at the last minute, the Phantasm backed out, arguing that another murder would dishonor everything Batman stood for by subjecting another child to the same horrors. Recognizing her hubris, Amanda Waller scrapped the project and Andrea Beaumont, whose own life was consumed by vengeance, did what she could to prevent the son of her former lover from more of the same.
The Pied Piper
Obsessed with sound, Hartley Rathaway eventually invented a way to hypnotize others with music. Taking on the guise of the Pied Piper, he used his abilities to embark on a life of crime in Central City, either by himself or with an army of charmed rats.
Plastic Man
First Appearance: Police Comics #1 (Quality Comics, August 1941), Plastic Man #1 (DC Comics, November 1966)
A small-time criminal with a troubled past, “Eel” O’Brian’s life changed for the better following an accident during a robbery at the Crawford Chemical Works. Knocked into a vat of unknown chemicals after being shot by a guard, these chemicals seeped into his wound, transforming his body into an inorganic plastic polymer. Fleeing the scene, O’Brian was taken in by monks from a monastic retreat called Rest Haven, whose kindness and generosity motivated the criminal to give up his wicked ways. Utilizing his new powers to capture the thieves who abandoned him at the chemical plant, O’Brian decided to become the crimefighting hero now known as Plastic Man.
Not truly a stretching hero as Elongated Man is, Plastic Man is more of a shape shifter in the tradition of Clayface or J’onn J’onzz, as his body has been transformed into something that is more than human. Now an entity made of malleable plastic, O’Brian has absolute control over his physical form, allowing him to do simple tricks, such as stretch his limbs, or complex ones, such as compress to paper thinness or alter his shape to mimic any object. However, as a side effect of his power, Plastic Man now sees the world through altered eyes as well, providing him a distorted, “cartoony” outlook that only serves to exacerbate his playful demeanor. Although best known for his practical jokes and his cartoon character-like personality, the Justice League still recognizes that Plastic Man is a consummate professional … even when he disguises himself as a whoopie cushion on Batman’s seat or morphs into a chair in order to spy on Wonder Woman while she’s changing.
Poison Ivy
Voiced by Diane Pershing, Tara Strong (Justice League vs. The Fatal Five)
Born to emotionally distant parents, Pamela Lillian Isley soon discovered that she possessed a genetic abnormality that provided her immunity from all poisons and toxins. This genetic boon proved to be an asset as she studied both botany and biochemistry at Gotham University, eventually receiving a doctorate in botany. It was presumably through her studies that she discovered that she also possessed chlorokinesis—the ability to mentally summon, control, and manipulate plants and vegetation—that, when used in concert with her botanical talents, afforded her considerable power. Following her degree, she worked for Chez Gerard, a cosmetics firm, as a research chemist developing new fragrances, and she offered a monthly lecture series at her alma mater on rare and extinct plant species. It was through her later activity that she most likely discovered that a rare species of plant, the Wild Thorny Rose, which only grew on a specific plot of land in Gotham City, was slated for excavation in order to build Stonegate Penitentiary, and the man responsible for this was the new district attorney, Harvey Dent.
Five years later, Dr. Pamela Isley met and dated Harvey Dent, who was so enamored with the charming redhead that he intended to propose to her after only knowing her for one week. However, during a dinner date where she met his friend Bruce Wayne, Isley poisoned Dent with a toxin delivered via a specially designed lipstick of her own creation. Later, following an investigation into her past, Batman confronted Isley in her greenhouse, where he got to examine some of her weaponized plant hybrids up close. Restrained by a giant, carnivorous Venus flytrap, Isley presented herself to the Dark Knight as Poison Ivy, an ecoterrorist utilizing plant life to strike back at mankind’s decimation of the environment. Following a tense battle, Batman destroyed her lab and acquired the antidote to save Dent’s life, earning her lifelong enmity. Found guilty of attempted murder, she was imprisoned in Stonegate—the very prison she initially protested—but was later transferred to Arkham Asylum.
In the years that followed, Poison Ivy’s ongoing conflict with Batman would cement her as one of his primary adversaries. Frequently committing robberies in order to continue her research, her crimes were also notable for the considerable scientific advancement they showcased. For example, utilizing an enzyme from a rare tree from the Brazilian rainforest, Ivy was able to manufacture a chemical that could, over time, transform humans into trees. Later, during a period where she pretended to reform, she successfully spliced together plant and human DNA, creating hybrid creatures that only initially lasted a few days but were strengthened to several weeks in later experiments.
Later, following an extended absence from Gotham City, Poison Ivy returned, but changed. Now paler with darker hair, she resumed her life of crime, along with her friendship with frequent partner Harley Quinn, but there was some question as to what happened. There are some that suggest she experimented on herself, while others speculate that the “new Ivy” is another plant / human hybrid, created by the original Isley to take her place while she retired from crime to focus on her research unafraid of further disruption by Batman. Either way, Poison Ivy remains a formidable threat to both Gotham City and the Dark Knight.
While not a regular foe of the Justice League, the Flash did encounter a variant of Pamela Isley in the Justice Lords’ universe, and “our” Ivy participated in the jailbreak at Arkham Asylum’s new facility during the League’s battle with the Fatal Five.
Power Ring
Voiced by Nolan North
First Appearance: Justice League of America #29 (August 1964)
Possessing a power ring similar to the Green Lantern rings from “our” reality, Power Ring controlled one of the remaining five families of the Crime Syndicate with an emerald fist.
Psycho Pirate
First Appearance: All-Star Comics #23 (Golden Age, December 1944), Showcase #56 (Roger Hayden, June 1965)
During a stay in prison, Roger Hayden shared a cell with a man named Charley Halstead—the original Psycho Pirate—who told him stories of the Medusa Masks, a collection of artifacts he had hidden; artifacts that could project a specific emotion into whomever the wearer wished. Halstead died soon after and, after Hayden’s release, he uncovered the enchanted masks and melted them down into a single mask—one with all the powers of the sperate pieces. Now capable of bringing out any number of emotions in his opponents, Hayden became the new Psycho Pirate and embarked on a life of crime.
As he was unseen during the Hall of Doom’s launch into space, it is possible that Psycho Pirate survived the headquarters’ destruction.
The Puppeteer
First Appearance: Green Lantern #1 (Puppet Master, August 1960), The New Teen Titans #8 (Puppeteer, June 1981)
The inventor of a hypno-ray that could compel victims to obey his commands (just so long as the commands are not contrary to their respective natures), Jordan Weir adopted the identity of the Puppeteer and began hypnotizing other criminals to do his bidding. A frequent opponent of Green Lantern, Weir has made several attempts to bend him to his will, but each time has met with failure.
As he was unseen during the Hall of Doom’s launch into space, it is possible that the Puppeteer survived the headquarters’ destruction.
The Puzzler
First Appearance: Action Comics #49 (Golden Age, June 1942), Superman #187 (Valerie van Haaften, December 2002)
Comprised of “living puzzle pieces” that he can control, this expert in games and brainteasers serves the Legion of Doom as the Puzzler. As he was unseen during the Hall of Doom’s launch into space, it is possible that the Puzzler survived the headquarters’ destruction.
Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, DC Comics, and the estate of Jerry Lewis.
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