Jacob Baker was a high-tech scientist whose machinery irradiated his entire body. It also gave him superpowers that enabled him to attract and repel anything besides metal (referred to as "Diamagnetism").[2] With his body covered by black and white stripes and highlighted by a glowing aura, he became Zebra-Man. He went on a crime spree where he encountered Batman and Robin. During the first fight, Batman is accidentally irradiated by the same energy. Without an inhibitor belt, Batman is unable to control his powers. Batman soon took advantage of the diamagnetism and used it to attract Zebra-Man to himself and then attract both of them to the Gotham City Police Department.[3]
When Kobra researches the origins of some of Batman's enemies and creates a strike-force called Strike Force Kobra to usurp Stagg Enterprises in his goal of world domination, one of the villains he creates is patterned after the original Zebra-Man. This version lacks the aura of the first Zebra-Man and has a mohawk that evokes the image of his equine namesake. Zebra-Man, alongside the other Strike Force Kobra members, fights the Outsiders to a draw, but Zebra-Man escapes with Elemental Woman, Planet Master, Lady Eve, and Kobra. His colleague Spectrumonster does not survive the battle while Clayface escapes.[4]
In 2011, The New 52 rebooted the DC Universe. A version of Zebra-Man first appears as an inmate of Arkham Asylum, currently going by the moniker "Vortex". He is one of the many prisoners attempting to escape in a massive breakout attempt, which is stopped by Batman.[6] He later appears attempting to help Catwoman escape her incarceration in the asylum, but is physically beaten by her.[7]
Vortex appears in the DC Rebirth reboot, renamed Zebra Man. This version sports short hair with black leather gloves, boots, and shorts. Zebra Man is one of the many villains taken down by Batman and Catwoman after he takes her along with him on an average night of his job.[8]
In "Doomsday Clock, Vortex is seen as an inmate at Arkham Asylum at the time when Batman incarcerated Rorschach there. He protects Rorschach from the other inmates.[9]
Vortex is later seen in Zambia partaking in a card game with Fiddler, Psych, and Shrike. When Psych learns that Fiddler has cheated, Fiddler is held at gunpoint only for Psych to kill the three villains with the projections of the people they killed.[10]
Menagerie's Zebra-Man
During the "Forever Evil" storyline, a different Zebra-Man appears as a member of Cheetah's Menagerie. He was among those frozen by Killer Frost.[11]
Zebra-Man later join an Anti-Task Force X group called The Revolutionaries before joining the Suicide Squad under their new supervisor Lok.[12]
Powers and abilities
The first two incarnations of Zebra-Man possess "diamagnetism" which enables them to attract or repel all matter besides metal. Both use an inhibitor belt to control their abilities.
In other media
The Jacob Baker incarnation of Zebra-Man makes non-speaking appearances in Batman: The Brave and the Bold.[13][14] This version's powers can affect metal.
1 2 3 "Zebra-Man Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 27, 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.
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