Fictional character biography
Delbert Billings
Spellbinder (Delbert Billings) first appeared in Detective Comics #358 (December 1966), and was created by John Broome and Sheldon Moldoff. [1] He was a painter who used optical illusions and hypnotic weapons to commit crimes. [2]
Billings is a forger of pop art who decides to put his talents to use as a supervillain. He creates the Spellbinder identity, designs hypnotic weapons, and assembles a team of henchmen. He runs into Batman during his first robbery, but hypnotizes him into believing he is involved in an entirely different situation as his gang escapes. [3] This ploy works twice, but on Spellbinder's third robbery, Batman is able to overcome it and send him to jail. [4]
The Spellbinder joins a loosely knit conglomerate of crime organized by the Monarch of Menace. He is the first member of the group to be captured by Batman, who later disguises himself as Spellbinder to infiltrate the group and capture the Monarch. [5]
During the Underworld Unleashed event, Spellbinder is on the run from the law with his girlfriend, Fay Moffit, when they are confronted by the demon-lord Neron. Neron offers Spellbinder power in exchange for his soul, but he rejects the offer. Moffit kills Spellbinder by shooting him in the head and takes the deal for herself. Neron is unsurprised, having intended to give Fay power all along. [6]
Real name unknown
A second, unidentified Spellbinder appears in Justice League International (vol. 2) #65 as a member of the government-sanctioned "League-Busters". [7] [8]
Fay Moffit
During the Underworld Unleashed crossover event, Delbert Billings (the original Spellbinder) rejected Neron's deal of immense power in exchange for his soul and was shot in the head and killed by his girlfriend, Fay Moffit, who then took the deal for herself and became the third Spellbinder (also known as Lady Spellbinder) as a result. [6] Neron grants Moffit the ability to induce genuine hallucinations, which are nullified if her eyes are covered or closed. [9]
During the Infinite Crisis event, Spellbinder is killed by Vigilante and Wild Dog. [10]
The New 52
A fourth Spellbinder, Viktor Mironov, is introduced in The New 52 . [11] Mironov, as the Spellbinder, is a Russian magician known for his ability to use magic to attack a person's psyche. When John Constantine contacts him to recruit him in a plan to fight the Cult of the Cold Flame, Spellbinder initially reacts by attacking Constantine and rummaging through his mind. When Spellbinder discovers that Constantine is sincere, he agrees to the plan.
However, a spell gone wrong by Papa Midnite sends the entire plan into shambles. Constantine is sent to the wrong time period to fight the Cult. Without Constantine's guidance, Spellbinder and another mage are killed fighting the Cold Flame. [12]
Infinite Frontier
A fifth Spellbinder, Charles Dante, is introduced in Infinite Frontier . He is an artist, psychiatrist, and former classmate of Barbara Gordon who seeks to free Gotham City's citizens from what he sees as brainwashing. [13]
Powers and abilities
The original Spellbinder used a number of optical and aural devices of his own invention to hypnotize others. His fighting skills were minimal.
The second unnamed Spellbinder had genuine mystical abilities.
The third Spellbinder, also known as Lady Spellbinder, can create realistic illusions that cause real pain to the recipients. However, she is unable to use this ability if she is blinded or otherwise has restricted vision. [9]
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