Cluemaster
Cluemaster is a male comic supervillain who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
Arthur Brown
As the Cluemaster, he thought of a means of defeating the 'Batmania' that afflicted costumed criminals in Gotham as this put them in a defeatist psychological mindset. This when combined with his perfect track record in catching criminals meant it was unable to thwart the Dark Knight. The villain reasoned that the solution was to uncover Batman's secret identity and embarked on an ambitious plot that drew out the vigilante. This was in order to coat his Batmobile with a special chemical that he could track in order to find the location of the Batcave. From there, he could stage an attack against the civilian persona of Batman and thus eliminate him. (Detective Comics v1 #351)
Not long after this, Brown became part of the criminal team known as the Gangland Guardians. Under the Penguin's leadership, the criminals saved Batman's life from the incoming attacks from a rival criminal organization. Cluemaster saved Batman from a certain death in the Bat-Copter. Shortly after the rival gang was defeated, the Gangland Guardians dissolved. (Batman v1 #201) Cluemaster then joined the Monarch of Menace on a grand scale scheme to perform grand larceny while Batman was nowhere to be found. Cluemaster's compulsion to leave clues to his crimes was his downfall as Batman returned to Gotham and he was the first criminal to be taken down. (Batman v1 #336)
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Later on, he was recruited by Major Disaster to join a team of supervillains consisting of Multi-Man, Big Sir, Clock King and the Mighty Bruce who formed the Injustice League. The team came to uncover an abandoned Thanagarian warship left behind by the recent invasion of Earth. It was intended for them to use this ship to help in conquering the planet and destroy the Justice League. Bruce was tasked with attempting to learn to operate it but their activities accidentally caused a stray radio signal of their conversations to be sent out. This was picked up by Guy Gardner who was with his friends on a neighbouring island by a crashed Khund vessel. The Green Lantern tracked the radio signal to the Thanagarian ship that had accidentally gone into orbit and critically damaged it causing it to crash. This allowed the Injustice League to be captured and placed into custody with them being taken away by the authorities. Whilst on the transport, Major Disaster suggested a new scheme where they would get their revenge but Cluemaster and the rest of the team were tired of his plans where they ended up beating him up for getting them caught. (Justice League International v1 #23)
To be pardoned for his crimes and to gain his daughter's respect, he joined the Suicide Squad on a counter-terrorist operation to Iceland. (Suicide Squad v2 #1)
Barely surviving a mission, he came to have his face disfigured and went through a long period of recovery. Brown later returned to Gotham City where he learnt of his daughters death. Overwhelmed with grief, he attempted to bring Batman to what he perceived as justice for the death of his daughter at the hands of Black Mask during the events of War Games. Under the false identity of Aaron Black, Brown made his way into Arturo Rodriguez's TV show and summoned people to a massive memorial meeting in honor of the fallen during the gang war. He took the alias of "The Reformer" and accused Batman of being guilty of child endangerment, having had previous Robins die on his watch as well.[6] Batman discovered Brown's scheme and talked to him to clear Stephanie's death, but Brown had no more answers to give. Instead, he pointed Batman to his ex-wife, Crystal Brown. (Detective Comics v1 #810)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Arthur Brown
Months ago during the Night of the Owls, Arthur came upon the clues that uncovered a secret meeting ground of the Court of Owls that was at the Harbour House. He went there with the goal of enlisting their help as he hatched upon a plan to take down the Batman but lacked the resources to accomplish this on his own. Thus, he sought out the Court in order to get their support but upon arriving he found them to had been murdered. Though despairing at his efforts being wasted, he was approached by Lincoln March who had killed the Court members at the scene and had taken their fortune. He was interested in Arthur Brown's plan with the Cluemaster beginning to work with March who became his silent partner. (Batman Eternal v1 #52) Alongside Lincoln March, Cluemaster decided on an ambitious plan to take down the Batman. This first involved using Mad Hatter technology to influence James Gordon into shooting an unarmed criminal thus leading to his arrest. With Batman distracted at his allies arrest, Brown then sent invitations to various criminals to embark on a grand plan in Gotham. These consisted of big names with the intention of using their arrival to trick the Batman into believing that it was one of these people responsible for the recent unrest in the city. This kept Batman busy and diverted not only his attention but his strength that he missed the Cluemasters operations during this time. (Batman Eternal v1 #51)
After revealing his plans to Batman, he came to learn that the Dark Knight was none other than Bruce Wayne after unmasking him. He then looked to kill the hero with a gun but had his throat slit by his ally Lincoln March who intended to take over the plan. (Batman Eternal v1 #51)
In reality, he managed to survive his injuries and faked his death in order to go into hiding. Brown decided to separate himself from all the baggage of operating in Gotham and in the territory of the Bat Family. Thus, he relocated to Central City where he decided to copy some of Mr. Freeze's approach to criminal endeavours. This was to establish a criminal empire but one that treated his henchmen well and he offered them pay for their work. He used the app henchmate to organise his minions as he grew his organization in the city. Arthur's daughter Stephanie came to learn that her father survived and went to bring him to justice. At the same time, competitors sought to eliminate the Cluemaster and hired a mercenary named La Tombe to kill him. Spoiler came to find La Tombe targeting her fathers men and decided to save their lives to neutralise the assassin. However, Arthur then sent hired guns to kill his own daughter with the henchmen being defeated easily. She then worked with Drake who were assisted by Young Justice in taking down the Cluemaster who was arrested and went into custody to answer for his crimes. (Young Justice v3 18)
Overview
Personality and attributes
Cluemaster had a tendency to leave clues about his whereabouts or about his crimes with him daring his opponents to find them. (Detective Comics v1 #351)
Unlike other costumed criminals in Gotham, he believed that the way to defeat Batman was to uncover his secret identity and ambushing his civilian persona. (Detective Comics v1 #351) He later claimed to had uncovered a great truth about Batman namely that he was not a symbol but only a man. Brown believed that one of the reasons Batman beat the criminals of Gotham was because they kept believing he was more than human. Thus, they felt that he could not make mistakes and that any scheme they enacted would be thwarted by him. (Batman Eternal v1 #51)
Powers and abilities
He was shown as being quite capable of throwing equally well from both hands. (Detective Comics v1 #351)
It was said that he was a walking utility belt on account of how much equipment he carried on him. This included gas-balls that he could use to delay his opponents. Another was a flare bomb that was also designed to release a special chemical that could coat the tires of a car allowing Cluemaster to follow their trail. (Detective Comics v1 #351)
Notes
- Cluemaster was created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino where he made his first appearance in Detective Comics v1 #351 (May, 1966).
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In The Batman, Cluemaster appeared in the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Glenn Shadix whilst actor Kath Soucie voiced the character as a child.
- In Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Cluemaster made a cameo appearance in the animated television series in the episode "A Bat Divided."
Video games
Appearances
- Detective Comics v1: (1966)
- Justice League International v1:
- Batman Eternal v1:
- Young Justice v3: (2020)
External Links
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