Killer Moth
Killer Moth is a male comic supervillain who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
Killer Moth was a male human from Gotham City who embarked on a life of crime as an adult. At some point, he came to be arrested and was sent to prison where he spent years in isolation. Whilst there, he spent his free time at the prison library where he read a magazine about the vigilante Batman. During this time, he gathered a collection of lore about the hero and became intrigued at the masked man's dual life. Eventually, he came to be released from the penitentiary and embarked on an ambitious new criminal venture. His first act was to adopt a new identity as Cameron van Cleer who operated as a rich figure in Gotham's high society. He arranged for the purchase of a new home and began to invite people to attend a party as he became acquainted with the rich and influential in the city. At the same time, he hired men to conduct a secret excavation underneath his estate to create a cave hide-out. With preparations complete, he adopted another masked identity as the super-criminal known as Killer Moth. He then made himself known to the criminal underworld where he offered his services in performing crimes in Gotham and gave them the tools to contact him. (Batman v1 #63)
In his first job, he rescued some criminals from the police and then used his Mothmobile to defeat and capture Batman and Robin. The duo escaped and led Killer Moth to a climactic battle on Gotham Bridge, which ended when the villain plunged into the river and disappeared. (Batman v1 #63) After his first defeat at the hands of Batman, Killer Moth had to regain his position in the underworld of Gotham and he tried to do so by stealing an important object from the Gotham Museum. His plan was foiled by Batman and Killer Moth decided to reveal Batman's secret identity, which he had deduced as being Bruce Wayne. This plan also failed and it was his own identity that was revealed by Batman. After this, Killer Moth came to be captured and was sent to prison as a result. (Batman v1 #64)
He would later escape from state prison and resumed his criminal activities in Gotham. Basing himself at the Moth Mansion, the site served as his hideout and base of operations where he recruited some henchmen that became his Moth-Men. Killer Moth started an extortion racket among Gotham City's wealthiest patrons and he had targeted Bruce Wayne as his next victim. However, during Killer Moth's attack on Wayne, he and his gang were stopped by the timely arrival of Batgirl, who managed to save Bruce Wayne, giving him time to change into Batman. Moth retreated and planned a second strike, but his plan was thwarted once again by Batgirl, only this time she worked together with Batman and Robin. (Detective Comics v1 #359)
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Drury Walker
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Overview
Personality and attributes
Whilst in prison, he was given the convict number of Prisoner 234026. He once established an identity for himself as a millionaire called Cameron van Cleer. Becoming a costumed criminal, he came to adopt the name of Killer Moth for himself. (Batman v1 #63)
He modelled his Killer Moth identity to represent the criminal underworld the way Batman had done so for law and order. (Batman v1 #63)
Powers and abilities
Originally, he was an ordinary human being though one who became a talented criminal. Taking inspiration from Batman, he turned himself into a costume criminal and made himself a moth-themed costume along with related equipment. (Batman v1 #63)
His helmet had a pair of antennae that could pick up police radio calls and transmit them to the inside earphones. (Batman v1 #63)
Though modelled on Batman, Killer Moth made use of guns that he said were his assistant. He made use of a dispensable gun barrel liners which were discarded after every shot making tracing the bullet by its markings impossible. (Batman v1 #63)
He created a number of ingenious devices that were intended to use to help combat the law. To call on his services, he created Moth Signals whereby criminals could shine them where seemingly it projected nothing. However, these were infrared light where through special lenses one could see the Moth Signal. This was to ensure that the authorities did not see the marking. Killer Moth's helmet contained special lenses allowing him to see the Moth Signal that was made by his allies. (Batman v1 #63)
Killer Moth sometimes had invisible wires placed in the field which he used to help support him and move quickly over the field. (Detective Comics v1 #359)
As he followed Batman's example, he came to pattern a vehicle on his masked identity and called it the Mothmobile. It had a pair of antennae that warned him of approaching danger that was shown on the dashboard radar screen. (Batman v1 #63)
As part of his criminal operations, he sometimes hired henchmen dressed in clothes similar to his costume. These Moth-Men came to help him in his activities and were also referred to as the mothmob. Among the members of the moth-men included one called Larva and Pupa. (Detective Comics v1 #359) At one point, he came to establish a team of low-tier costumed super-criminals that included Catman and Calender Man where they were known as the Misfits. (Batman: Shadow of the Bat v1 #7)
At first, he possessed an underground cave lair to serve as his base of operations that he called his Mothcave. There was a trophy room that had cases which were to be filled with souvenirs of the greatest crimes in history. He also had a crime lab that was intended to develop the most scientific methods for making a crime impossible to solve. (Batman v1 #63) He later operated from a building that he referred to as the Moth Mansion. (Detective Comics v1 #359)
Notes
- Killer Moth was created by Bill Finger, Dick Sprang and Lew Schwartz where he made his first appearance in Batman v1 #63 (February, 1951).
- The character took the name of Charaxes in Underworld Unleashed v1 #1 (November, 1995).
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In The Batman, Killer Moth appeared in the setting of the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Jeff Bennett.
- In Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Killer Moth appeared in the setting of the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Corey Burton.
Films
Video games
Appearances
- Batman v1: (1951)
- Detective Comics v1:
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat v1:
- Underworld Unleashed v1:
- Green Arrow:
- All-Star Batman v1:
External Links
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