KGBeast

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KGBeast is a male comic supervillain who features in Marvel Comics.

Contents

Biography

Origin

Anatoli Knyazev

The identity of the Beast was a closely guarded Hammer secret for over a decade. This had allowed him to operate in many of the hottest spots in the globe with impunity. He had successfully undertaken missions from Miami to Angola. It was rumoured that he masterminded the killing of Andwar Sadat. (Batman v1 #417) The KGBeast was known to had helped the training of the young Avruiskin who was born from exposure to radiation from meteorites whilst on-board a Russian space station in orbit of Earth. (Action Comics v1 #803)

When the Russian government shut down his KGB cell (The Hammer), because it had become too powerful and was a threat to the Soviet regime, the KGBeast was given one last mission by the Hammer's leader, Zhores Kunaev, before Kunaev committed suicide. The KGBeast was to eliminate ten people necessary to America's "Strategic Defense Initiative" (the "Star Wars" program), who would be in Gotham at some point over the course of a two-week period. Despite Batman's best efforts, combined with the GCPD, the FBI and the CIA, KGBeast was able to kill all but three of his targets: Senator Dayle, General Brian Ridgewell, and President Ronald Reagan. Across a 10-day period, his total body count in Gotham was over 100 people with 80 being attendees at a gala banquet hosting Reagan's SDI adviser, all of whom were killed in a mass poisoning. Despite this, as a member of the Soviet embassy, he could not be legally punished for his crimes in America, but if caught would have to be turned back over to the Russians. During his crimes in Gotham, he came in conflict with Batman and in order to avoid capture, KGBeast cut off his own hand and escaped from the vigilante once again. (Batman v1 #419)

A group of Quraci nationals were willing to pay big money for Cheshire for the nuclear attack she inflicted on their country. KGBeast had his men take Cheshire's daughter Lian Harper hostage, and forced Cheshire to do his bidding, setting up a dropoff with the nationals at Gotham's Eagle Airfield. Arsenal learned that KGBeast had Cheshire, and enlisted Batman's help to save her. Gotham arms dealer Gustave Erhard recently received a shipment of cybernetic parts that KGBeast would need to maintain his body, so they went to see him. KGBeast was there, ready to kill Erhard to keep his presence secret, but he eagerly shot at Batman, looking forward to taking his life. A crane on Gustave's compound knocked out Arsenal, and Batman had to save him from a fall, allowing KGBeast to escape. At the airfield Checkmate, also after the Beast and Cheshire, made their move, but only resulted in slightly delaying KGBeast before he boarded the Quraci's plane. The plane exploded, but Batman suspected he had blown it up himself, knowing his cyborg body could survive it. Arsenal had spotted 'Cheshire', but she was wearing a wedding ring, and already dead, so he knew she wasn't the real deal. Batman suggested that Cheshire and KGBeast were working together, and Batman located KGBeast's bunker in the sewers. It was laced with explosives, but the heroes survived. Cheshire deposited the money KGBeast received in her Zurich account, and Batman and Arsenal found her there. Arsenal took out KGBeast with a taser when he stepped in a puddle, and Cheshire revealed that KGBeast was forcing her to cooperate. Nightwing saved Lian, and Arsenal thanked Cheshire for keeping Lian alive, but he still had to arrest her. (Batman Plus Arsenal v1 #1)

The Beast becomes a traditional supervillain, engaging in a counterfeiting scheme and having additional cybernetic implants inserted into his body. He fights Robin and the Huntress, but is ultimately defeated by King Snake. He later acquires a small nuclear bomb that he uses to threaten Gotham City. He is defeated by Robin and ultimately locked up in Blackgate Penitentiary. (Robin v2 #14)

Batman would set up a holding facility for criminals in Gotham's No Man's Land with Lock-Up and KGBeast in charge but warned them that if they killed anyone their lives would be worth nothing. (Batman v1 #565)

One year after the events of Infinite Crisis, the Beast is thrown from a roof by a man thought to be Two-Face, after the Beast botches an assassination. His lifeless body is later found by the police, his death caused by two gunshots to the head. Two-Face appears to be innocent of the murder; the killer seems to be the Tally Man, hired by the Great White Shark. (Detective Comics v1 #817) The Beast's body is later stolen by a mysterious group who are reanimating corpses and turning them into zombie-like soldiers. (Nightwing v2 #142)

During the Blackest Night, KGBeast was one of the many villains raised from the dead in Gotham City to join the new Black Lantern Corps. He was one of the many to receive a black Power Ring alongside Abbatoir, Deacon Blackfire, Blockbuster, King Snake, Magpie, the Trigger Twins, and the Ventriloquist. (Blackest Night: Batman v1 #1)

Post-Flashpoint

Targeting Grayson in Nightwing v4 #75.

Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Anatoli Knyazev

KGBeast was hired by the super-villain Bane to kill Nightwing, the original Robin and one of Batman's closest allies. Bane wanted to break Batman mentally and physically in every possible way, and Nightwing's death was part of his master plan. He travelled to Gotham City under the false name Mr. Zimmerman and was allowed through the airport after he presented a false passport. He then proceeded to go to a hotel in the city where he checked in for three nights. After spending some time in the hotel he headed to a gun store, where he bought a sniper rifle, bribing the store owner so background checks wouldn't be needed. After buying the gun he headed to a diner and wrote a message on a napkin, the message said "Who's afraid of the Joker?" with an oversized question mark. Beast knew this would grab the attention of the G.C.P.D. as that day was the anniversary of a war waged between the Joker and the Riddler, and any message like this would be taken as a possible message from the Joker and/or Riddler. KGBeast then headed to a block of apartments overlooking the GCPD Headquarters, and headed to on of the top rooms. He entered the room and executed the tenant, setting up a sniping position overlooking the building. Eventually Commissioner Gordon lit the Bat-Signal so he could tell Batman about the message on the napkin. Batman soon arrived with Nightwing, who was then shot in the head by KGBeast. Believing his contract was fulfilled, KGBeast left the scene, leaving Gotham City behind him. (Batman v3 #55)

Knowing Batman would soon be on his trail, Beast erased all traces of his job. He then went to his father's home in Russia, knowing he had to clear all lose ends to his past life. After trekking through the snow he eventually got to his father's cabin. He blasted the door down and greeted the abusive alcoholic. His father poured the pair of them drinks and they began having a conversation about Anatoli's life. Beast's father asked him why Anatoli had nether kill him, seeing as he had killed his mother and siblings. KGBeast responded by saying that the reason he had nether killed his father was because he was strong, and that made Beast love him. Beast told his father that he loved him, and then shot him in the head, ending all ties to his past life. At that moment he noticed someone coming up the pathway to the cabin, it was Batman. Knowing he had to end the fight quickly, Beast shot through the door of the house in an attempt to kill the Bat. Believing his work to be done, Beast began packing his items to leave Russia. However Batman came round for another assault and forced outside of the cabin. The two expert fighters began brawling in the snow, both holding nothing back in their quest for vengeance. Eventually Beast was able to get the upper hand on Batman, however the Bat fired his grappling gun point blank at KGBeast's head. The force of the grappling line hitting his head broke Anatoli's neck. Out of desperation, Beast told Batman if he helped him get medical attention he would tell the Dark Knight who had hired him to kill Nightwing. However Batman simply told Beast he would figure it out on his own, and left Anatoli paralyzed in the snow to die. Nightwing survived the gun shot to the head, however he suffered from brain damage and could not remember his own identity. (Batman v3 #56)

The incident had affected his reputation where one night he was in a bar in Moscow where he killed several men that were mocking him. Anatoli then made his way to Gotham where he intended to restore his honour by killing Nightwing. Upon arriving, he journeyed to Bludhaven after learning that the vigilante had recovered and regained his memories following their last encounter. He came to see his quarry meeting with his love interest Bea Bennett and took her hostage as he intended to use her to kill his target. (Nightwing v4 #75) Nightwing came to save Bea Bennett and defeat Knyazev leading to KGBeast's arrest by the authorities. (Nightwing v4 #76)

Overview

Personality and attributes

Such was his reputation that he came to be known as the Beast whilst the CIA referred to him as the KGBeast. (Batman v1 #417)

Powers and abilities

Firing his gun in Teen Titans v6 #43.

It was said that he was not an average secret agent with him being considered the best assassin produced by the Soviet Union. The CIA had long been aware of the KGBeasts cold blooded efficiency. He was said to not be a normal human where he came to be the master of several martial arts. It was said that he was cybernetically enhanced that made him as strong as four healthy men. The Beast was said to be able to literally tear a person in two with his bare hands. (Batman v1 #417)

He had also mastered the use of every deadly weapon imaginable. (Batman v1 #417)

It was also able to fire a max calibre dispersal grenade. (Nightwing v4 #76)

He was a product of Hammer that were a top-secret cell within the ranks of the KGB. (Batman v1 #417)

Notes

  • KGBeast was created by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo where he made his first appearance in Batman v1 #417 (March, 1988).

Alternate Versions

In other media

Television

  • In Justice League Unlimited, KGBeast appeared in the setting of the animated television series set in the DC Animated Universe where he had a non-speaking role.

Films

  • In Batman: Assault on Arkham, KGBeast appeared in the setting of the animated film where he was voiced by actor Nolan North.

Video games

Appearances

  • Batman v1: (1988)
  • Detective Comics v1:
  • Blackest Night: Batman v1:
  • Batman v3:
  • Nightwing v4:
  • Teen Titans v6:

External Links

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