Firebug | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | (Rigger) Batman #318 (December 1979) (Combs) Gotham Central #3 (March 2003) (Unnamed) Deadshot (vol. 2) #1 (February 2005) |
Created by | (Rigger) Len Wein (writer) Irv Novick (artist) (Combs) Ed Brubaker (writer) Michael Lark (artist) (Unknown) Christos Gage (writer) Steven Cummings (artist) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | -Joe Rigger -Harlan Combs -Unnamed |
Species | Human |
Abilities | (Rigger) Military training Costume contains napalm tanks to set things on fire |
Firebug is the name of three supervillains appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily as enemies of Batman. All three are insect-themed arsonists, similar to Firefly.
Firebug has made limited appearances in media outside comics, with Tom Kenny voicing the Joe Rigger incarnation of the character in Batman: Caped Crusader .
The Joe Rigger incarnation of Firebug debuted in Batman #318 and was created by Len Wein and Irv Novick. [1]
The Harlan Combs incarnation of Firebug debuted in Gotham Central #3 and was created by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark.
The unnamed Firebug debuted in Deadshot (vol. 2) #1 and was created by Christos Gage and Steven Cummings.
Joe Rigger is a soldier and demolitions expert who returns to Gotham City when several family members are killed in building-related accidents. Using his military training and a costume containing tanks of napalm, he becomes Firebug and attempts to destroy the buildings to prevent further accidents. He is defeated by Batman atop the Gotham State Building and believed dead after his tank explodes. [2] [3]
Firebug later resurfaces and becomes a rival of Firefly before being scarred in an explosion and retiring. [4] [5] He returns to villainy in The New 52 continuity reboot. [6] [7]
The second Firebug, Harlan Combs, is a civilian and thrill-seeker who succeeds Joe Rigger following his retirement. He is later implicated for the murder of his family babysitter Bonnie Lewis and arrested. [8]
An unnamed character using the name Firebug debuted in Deadshot - Urban Renewal #1 (February 2005). [9] He had won the name and costume from an Internet auction. After taking on the Firebug name, he enters the costume business. [10]
Firebug later appeared in a flashback revealing that he teamed up with Mr. Freeze, but was defeated by Batman and Harvey Dent prior to Batman leaving Gotham City for a year. [11] [12]
Deadshot is a character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by David Vern Reed and Lew Schwartz, based on a concept from Batman co-creator Bob Kane, the character made his first appearance in Batman #59. The introduction story features Deadshot using standard firearms while wearing a tuxedo, top hat, and simple domino mask. The character was not seen again until twenty-nine years later when writer Steve Englehart along with artists Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin retooled him in Detective Comics (vol.1) #474 (1979), now presenting him with customized wrist-mounted guns and a unique mask featuring a multi-use lens over his right eye. Since then, he has been a recurring character in Batman comics. Since 1986, Deadshot has also been frequently portrayed in comics books featuring the Suicide Squad.
The Cluemaster is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman as well as a recurring enemy of Tim Drake, the third Robin. Cluemaster first appeared in Detective Comics #351 and was created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino.
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Gentleman Ghost, introduced as Ghost, and also known as Gentleman Jim, is a supervillain appearing in works published by DC Entertainment. Created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Joe Kubert, the character first appeared in Flash Comics #88.
The Ratcatcher is a character appearing in American comic books and other media published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of Batman. He belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up the Dark Knight's rogues gallery. Once an actual rat-catcher in Gotham City, Flannegan sank into a life of crime. Calling himself the Ratcatcher because of his special ability to communicate with and train rats, Flannegan has used his minions to plague Gotham on more than one occasion by unleashing hordes of the vermin.
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