Baron Bedlam

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Baron Bedlam
Badsamaritandcu0.jpg
Baron Bedlam and the Bad Samaritan in Batman and the Outsiders.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Batman and the Outsiders #1 (August 1983)
Created by Mike W. Barr (writer)
Jim Aparo (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoBaron Frederick DeLamb
AbilitiesSkilled fighter and tactician
Formerly:
  • Superhuman strength, endurance, and durability
  • Flight
  • Lava blasts
  • Earth manipulation

Baron Bedlam (Baron Frederick DeLamb) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Batman and the Outsiders #1 (August 1983).

Contents

Fictional character biography

Baron Bedlam was originally Frederick DeLamb ("Bedlam" being an anagram of his last name). DeLamb's father, a minor government official in the kingdom of Markovia, was installed as a puppet ruler by the Nazis during World War II. At the end of the war, American forces helped the Markov family reclaim the throne. Even though Frederick managed to flee the country, his father was hanged by the mob.

Years later, Frederick DeLamb, taking the name Baron Bedlam, gains the support of the Soviet army and the mysterious political manipulator Bad Samaritan. Bedlam murders Markovian king Viktor and seizes the throne, inciting a conflict between Markovia and the Soviet Union. [1]

Markovia's crown prince, Brion Markov, with the aid of scientist Helga Jace, gives himself superpowers to stop the invasion. [2] [3] With the aid of other superheroes, a grouping under Batman's leadership that would soon call themselves the Outsiders, they infiltrate the country. Having heard of Jace's work in metahuman research, Bedlam undergoes a similar process to Brion and gains similar earth-manipulating abilities. In the final confrontation between Bedlam's forces and Markovia's army, the Outsiders intervene, turning the tide of the battle. [4]

Soon after, the Outsiders confront another aspect of Bedlam's forces, the Masters of Disaster. The two groups engage in a prolonged battle. In the meantime, the Bad Samaritan also discovers Bedlam's plan to clone Adolf Hitler. [5] However, Hitler's clone is greatly distressed by the actions of at what his 'father' has done and has no wish to continue the madness. [6] The Hitler clone later commits suicide, his body being found by the Outsiders. Shortly afterward, Geo-Force kills Bedlam by decapitating him with a Nazi shield. [7]

Following his death, Bedlam is impersonated by Psycho-Pirate. He manipulates Wilhelm Vittings, who is running to become prime minister of Markovia, in an attempt to gain power and overthrow the royal family of Markovia. The real Bedlam later appears alive as one of several villains recruited by Sonar to battle Justice League Europe. [8]

Powers and abilities

Baron Bedlam is a skilled fighter and tactician, and possesses vast financial resources. He temporarily possessed earth-manipulating abilities similar to Geo-Force, but lost them due to not being Markovian royalty. [4]

In other media

Baron Bedlam appears in Young Justice , voiced by Nolan North. [9] This version is the maternal uncle of Princes Gregor and Brion Markov who runs a secret metahuman trafficking syndicate and is a metahuman with a durable stone-like body. He hires Jaculi to murder Markovia's royal family, but is defeated and killed by Brion. [10] [11]

References

  1. ↑ Batman and the Outsiders #1 (August 1983)
  2. ↑ Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 145. ISBN   9780345501066.
  3. ↑ Manning, Matthew K.; Wiacek, Stephen; Scott, Melanie; Jones, Nick; Walker, Landry Q. (2021). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: New Edition. DK. p. 122. ISBN   9780744020564.
  4. 1 2 Batman and the Outsiders #2 (September 1983)
  5. ↑ Green, Paul (2017). Encyclopedia of Weird War Stories: Supernatural and Science Fiction Elements in Novels, Pulps, Comics, Film, Television, Games and Other Media. McFarland & Company. p. 11. ISBN   978-1476666723.
  6. ↑ Adventures of the Outsiders #34 (June 1986)
  7. ↑ Adventures of the Outsiders #35 (July 1986)
  8. ↑ Justice League Europe #49 (April 1993)
  9. ↑ "Baron Bedlam / Frederick DeLamb Voice - Young Justice (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 26, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  10. ↑ Schmidt, Joseph (August 28, 2019). "Young Justice Finale Features Shocking Betrayal by SPOILER". ComicBook.com . Retrieved October 26, 2024. But Brion feels betrayed by his sister, and the anger infects his actions when he decides to kill his uncle. Because it happens on live television, the people of Markovia [praise] the young royal's actions — but the people of the world are frightened.
  11. ↑ Matadeen, Renaldo (August 30, 2019). "Young Justice: Outsiders Has Its Own Game of Thrones Moment". CBR . Retrieved October 26, 2024. [Artemis] wants Tara to choose to walk the path of righteousness, and luckily she does. However, Brion doesn't, and decides Baron Bedlam must pay for the murder of their parents. He uses his powers to kill his treacherous uncle by forcing lava down his throat.
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