Spellbinder (DC)

Revision as of 04:57, 24 November 2024

Spellbinder is a comic supervillain who features in DC Comics.

Spellbinder (Delbert Billings)

Main Article: Delbert Billings

Delbert Billings

With Batman gone for weeks during his overseas adventure the rumors circulated that he was dead, emboldening the Gotham underworld. Commissioner Gordon had a full blown crime spree on his hands, and was frustrated that the GCPD couldn’t contain it. The Monarch of Menace had informants that told him Batman was seen in Asia, and wasn’t likely to be back in Gotham City anytime soon. The Monarch gathered a group of costumed crooks including Bouncer, Cluemaster and Spellbinder, claiming he’d captured Batman and would keep him imprisoned as long as they all gave him a cut from their take. Some of the crooks were skeptical, but the Monarch was persuasive, and they agreed to give him his due. Bouncer robbed a jewelry store and spellbinder knocked off a Wells Fargo armored truck, casting an illusion of a gigantic dragon to frighten the security guards. Alfred Pennyworth returned from his stay in Europe, and started to worry about the rumors of Batman’s death until the Caped Crusader surprised him in the Batcave. Cluemaster sent the GCPD map coordinates, daring them to catch him. Batman realized the coordinates were the location of the sunken Titanic, and figured out that Cluemaster and his gang were set to rob the Titanic Appliance Center. Batman made quick work of them and Cluemaster was angry that he’d fallen for the Monarch’s ruse. Batman busted a group of costumed criminals trying to break into a bank, and one of their number escape. He called out the Monarch on his scam, asking for hush money, and the Monarch shocked him unconscious with his electrified scepter. Gordon went on a ride along with the GCPD, hoping to give the public confidence in his police force. They responded to Spellbinder robbing a fur store, and he disoriented them with illusory giant rats. Batman made the scene, and when Spellbinder tried to cast an op art illusion Batman threw strips of aluminum foil at him, reflecting the visual spell at Spellbinder. Monarch called another meeting of Gotham’s underworld, saying he was leaving Gotham City, and promising to kill his 'prisoner' if the crooks all paid him a substantial fee. Batman was present, disguised as spellbinder, and revealed himself, proving the Monarch to be a fraud. Batman pursued the Monarch and beat him in hand-to-hand combat. Batman met with Gordon, who asked him to give him a heads up the next time he skipped town. (Batman v1 #336)

Spellbinder (Unnamed)

Main Article: Spellbinder

Lady Spellbinder (Fay Moffit)

Main Article: Fay Moffit

Spellbinder (Charles Dante)

Main Article: Charles Dante

Charles Dante attended Burnside College alongside Barbara Gordon and the two briefly dated, although Barbara insists they were never official. He graduated with a degree in psychiatry and did his residency at Arkham Asylum. While he was working at Arkham he became convinced that Gotham's citizens were brainwashed and his patients were the only true and free ones. He performed an appraisal of Cody Kline, an artist being held on a 72-hour psychiatric hold after suffering a psychotic break. He cleared Kline for release despite the fact that he was suffering from paranoid delusions. Dante recommended further counselling and used the sessions to brainwash Kline. Dante later resigned from Arkham and established a private practice as an art therapist. He also secretly became the supervillain Spellbinder, using his psychiatric skills to hypnotise residents of The Hill in the hopes of sparking a revolution. He made Cody be the public face of his operations, giving him the identity of Tutor; a street artist who campaigns against Gotham City Hall, the GCPD and the Bats.

Overview

Notes

• The original Spellbinder was created by John Broome and Sheldon Moldoff where he made his first appearance in Detective Comics v1 #358 (December, 1966).

Alternate Versions

In other media

Television

• In Batman Beyond, Spellbinder appeared in the setting of the animated television series set in the DC Animated Universe where he was voiced by actor Jon Cypher. This version was named Ira Billings who was the school psychologist of Hamilton High who wore a suit featuring an orange-and-black swirl design and uses a large floating 'eyeball' that allowed him to project mental illusions via hypnosis and virtual technology. Additionally, he constructed the addictive VR Rooms, which created the user's greatest fantasy and eventually rendered them catatonic the more they use it, for use in his crimes. Batman eventually stopped his crime spree. After escaping from prison, Spellbinder pulled his biggest stunt, by making Commissioner Gordon and the Gotham City Police Department believe Batman killed Mad Stan.
• In The Batman, Spellbinder appeared in the setting of the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Michael Massee. This version's real identity was unknown but he had a third eye, which he acquired while meditating in the Far East and gives him the ability to induce hallucinations.

Appearances

• Detective Comics v1: (1966)
• Batman v1:

External Links

• DC Database Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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