Polka-Dot Man

Polka-Dot Man
The Polka-Dot Man as depicted in Detective Comics #300 (February 1962). Art by Sheldon Moldoff.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Detective Comics #300 (February 1962)
Created by	Bill Finger Sheldon Moldoff
In-story information
Alter ego	Abner Krill
Species	Metahuman
Team affiliations	Suicide Squad
Notable aliases	Mister Polka-Dot
Abilities	Can turn the polka-dots covering his costume into a variety of devices

The Polka-Dot Man (Abner Krill) is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He is primarily a minor enemy of Batman, and belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up his rogues gallery.

The character made his live-action debut in the DC Extended Universe film The Suicide Squad (2021), portrayed by David Dastmalchian.

Publication history

The Polka-Dot Man first appeared in Detective Comics #300 (February 1962). ^[1]

Fictional character biography

Becoming the Polka-Dot Man

Shortly after Batman began appearing in Gotham City, his growing renown inspired an entire generation of costumed rogues who committed largely harmless crimes to attract his attention in the hopes of matching wits with the legendary vigilante. Among these was a local crook named Abner Krill, ^[2] who decided, for reasons unknown, to launch a crime wave based on spots and dots in Gotham City, where he inevitably came into conflict with Batman and Robin. As Mister Polka-Dot, he wore a costume covered in spots (which, being different sizes and colors were not actual polka dots); once removed from the costume, the spots could be used for a variety of purposes, such as creating deadly weapons and a bizarre escape vehicle. He succeeded in capturing Robin, but Batman defeated him. ^[3]

Return to villainy

Years later, Krill (now calling himself the Polka-Dot Man) was driven to crime once more when he found himself unemployed, penniless, and desperate to pay his bills. No longer able to afford his original electronically gimmicked costume, he instead resorted to using a baseball bat in a poorly thought-out attempt to rob a jewelry store, which resulted in him assaulting Officer Foley of the Gotham City Police Department, causing minor injuries. He was then beaten badly by Detective Harvey Bullock, who was sick of costumed villains in the city. The assault put the Polka-Dot Man in traction and he filed a brutality suit against the police department, which resulted in Bullock being forced to see a psychiatrist. ^[4]

Following his recovery, Krill became a committed alcoholic who spent more time drinking himself into a stupor in sleazy bars than troubling Batman. ^[5] The fact that Robin had tracked him down with a leopard became something of a running joke among other villains. ^[6] As Nightwing, Dick Grayson encountered the Polka-Dot Man a second time when he trashed My Alibi, a bar known for underworld regulars who vouched for each other's whereabouts when they were off committing crimes. Nightwing pitched Krill through a window display and into the street, where he was picked up by the police. ^[7]

Death

Later, Mister Polka-Dot (having resumed his original alias) reappeared with a new look, joining a group of villains working for General Immortus. Immortus, with the help of Professor Milo, upgraded the villains' powers and gadgets. As a follower of General Immortus, Mister Polka-Dot has presumably been operated upon by Milo to internalize his technology. ^[8] The group was undone when they were betrayed by the Human Flame. Most were killed in the brutal battle, including Mister Polka-Dot. His head was crushed after a manhole cover landed on it. ^[9]

Powers and abilities

When he created his costume, Abner Krill possessed advanced technology in the form of the costume's polka dots, which were controlled through the costume's belt (although in some versions of his character the dots are on his skin as a result of a medical experiment, as opposed to being attached to his costume). When attached to his costume, they were inert, but once removed, they would enlarge in size and become various different devices which could aid in his crime sprees, most notably a flying saucer which he used as a getaway vehicle. ^[3]

Gimmicked dots used by the Polka-Dot Man included:

• Flying Buzzsaw Dot, a red polka dot designed as a projectile with a circular saw blade.
• Flying Saucer Dot, a yellow polka dot which expanded rapidly into a flat, man-sized glider and is controlled by a series of buttons on his belt.
• Sun Dot, a gold polka dot designed as a projectile that emits a blinding, disorienting light.
• Bubble Dot, a white polka dot which expanded into a translucent flying capsule. Like the Flying Saucer Dot, it was steered by a belt apparatus.
• Fist Dots were red, yellow, and orange polka dots designed as projectiles. They were thrown at once and gimmicked to resemble human fists. When bounced off opponents at close range and in concert, these dots could produce concussive effects.
• Hole Dot, a black polka dot that opens a teleportation transport system.
• Bangles, a group of bangles that release acidic polka-dots.

In other media

Television

Polka-Dot Man makes minor non-speaking appearances in Batman: The Brave and the Bold .

Film

David Dastmalchian portrayed Polka-Dot Man in The Suicide Squad (2021)

• Polka-Dot Man makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in The Lego Batman Movie .
• Polka-Dot Man appears in The Suicide Squad , portrayed by David Dastmalchian. ^{[10] [11]} This version is the son of a S.T.A.R. Labs scientist who exposed him and his siblings to a deadly interdimensional virus in an attempt to turn them into superheroes. As a result, he manifested a disease that causes him to grow multicolored pustules on his body over time, which he has to expel at least twice a day and can use as destructive projectiles. ^[12] After killing his mother, he was sent to Belle Reve Penitentiary, though due to his traumatic upbringing, he perceives everyone around him as his mother. In the present, Amanda Waller recruits Polka-Dot Man to join the Suicide Squad and infiltrate and destroy Jötunheim, a Corto Maltesean laboratory containing Starro, during which he is killed by the alien. ^[13]

Video games

• Polka-Dot Man appears as an unlockable playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham , voiced by Dee Bradley Baker. ^[14]
• Polka-Dot Man appears as an unlockable playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains , voiced by Greg Miller. ^{[15] [16]} This version is a member of the Legion of Doom.

Miscellaneous

• Polka-Dot Man makes a cameo appearance in Batman '66 #30. ^[17]
• Polka-Dot Man appears in the Injustice 2 as a member of the Suicide Squad until he is killed by Jason Todd. ^{[18] [19]}

See also

• List of Batman family enemies

References

1. Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 261. ISBN   9780345501066.
2. Batman: The Widening Gyre #4 (February 2010)
3. Detective Comics #300 (February 1962)
4. Batman: GCPD #1
5. Batgirl: Year One #5 (June 2003)
6. Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #3 (September 2009)
7. Nightwing (vol. 2) #104 (April 2005)
8. Final Crisis Aftermath: Run #2 (August 2009)
9. Final Crisis Aftermath: Run #4 (October 2009)
10. Vary, Adam B. (August 22, 2020). "'The Suicide Squad' First Look, Full Cast Revealed by Director James Gunn at DC FanDome". Variety. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
11. Kurp, Josh (July 16, 2021). "It's Time To Meet King Shark, Ratcatcher 2, And The Rest Of 'The Suicide Squad' Weirdos In A New Featurette". UPROXX. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
12. Brady, Erin (August 15, 2021). "'The Suicide Squad': The Bizarre Empowerment of Polka-Dot Man". Collider. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
13. Knight, Rosie (5 August 2021). "The Suicide Squad Ending Explained". Den of Geek .
14. Eisen, Andrew (2014-06-09). "Characters - LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
15. Nieves, Davey (July 21, 2018). "SDCC'18: LEGO DC SUPER VILLAINS Cast and Devs Dish on Funever Evil - The Beat". The Beat. Comicsbeat.com. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
16. Miller, Greg [@GameOverGreggy] (October 12, 2018). "Hey, I'm in @LEGODCGame, and it's out next week. Who am? Well..." (Tweet). Retrieved May 28, 2020– via Twitter.
17. Batman '66 #30
18. Injustice 2 #1
19. Injustice 2 #3