Cluemaster
Cluemaster | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | Detective Comics #351 (May 1966) |
Created by | Gardner Fox (writer) Carmine Infantino (artist) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Arthur Brown |
Species | Human |
Team affiliations |
|
Notable aliases | The Reformer, Aaron Black |
Abilities | Has a number of plasti-glass pellets attached to the front of his costume that he can hurl as weapons (these pellets variously contain a blinding incendiary flare, smoke bombs, paralyzing gas and high explosives) |
The Cluemaster (Arthur Brown) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman as well as a recurring enemy of Tim Drake, the third Robin.[1] Cluemaster first appeared in Detective Comics #351 (May 1966) and was created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino.
A failed game show host, the character became a criminal who leaves clues to his crimes, but unlike the Riddler's clues, they are not in the form of riddles. He is also the father of Stephanie Brown who became the vigilante Spoiler and later the fourth Robin and third Batgirl.[2]
Cluemaster appeared in the
Publication history
Cluemaster first appeared in Detective Comics #351 (May 1966) and was created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino.[3]
Fictional character biography
The Cluemaster starts his criminal campaign by a daring but unsuccessful attempt to learn Batman's identity and gain a fighting edge.[2][4] He returns to Gotham for a rematch with Batman,[5] then appears in several supervillain crowd scenes over the years.[6]
With several other villains, Cluemaster becomes a member of the
Cluemaster reappears in
During this time, it is revealed Arthur Brown has a daughter named Stephanie through a woman named
Each time the Cluemaster escapes or start some new plan, Stephanie dons her costume again to foil him. Eventually, she realizes she enjoys being a hero, and begins regular patrols as Spoiler. For a brief period of time she even replaces her boyfriend, Tim Drake, as Robin.
Apparent death
Cluemaster and his teammates in the Injustice League volunteer to join the second
When he gets out and discovers that his daughter has been killed, he takes on the secret identity Aaron Black and creates the "Campaign for Culpability", blaming Batman for his involvement in Stephanie's death, saying that she was not the first child working with Batman to die, and that Batman should be brought to justice.
It is later revealed that Stephanie survived the incident that everyone believed had killed her, and spent some time recuperating overseas.[13]
Robin (vol. 2) #177 was planned by Chuck Dixon intended to feature Cluemaster, but Dixon's abrupt exodus from DC meant the issue was scrapped.
Cluemaster finally reappears after Stephanie Brown has become the new Batgirl. He is revealed to be the man who has been funding the Reapers, a group of young supervillains who have been battling Batgirl.[14]
The New 52
In September 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, as part of the Forever Evil storyline, Cluemaster is among the villains that the Crime Syndicate of America recruited to join the Secret Society of Super Villains.[15]
Cluemaster appears as a villain in the
DC Rebirth
In 2016, DC Comics implemented another relaunch of its books called "DC Rebirth" which restored its continuity to a form much as it was prior to "The New 52". During "The War of Jokes and Riddles", Cluemaster is seen as a member of Joker's team.[19] After Batman joins the war on the side of the Riddler and begins taking out Joker’s allies one by one, Cluemaster suggests to Kite Man that they let themselves be beaten rather than flee and face the wrath of both kingpins. However, he is then gassed by the Scarecrow, one of Riddler’s allies, and taken out of the conflict.
In a three-issue story arc beginning in Batgirls #13 (February 2023) Cluemaster kidnaps Stephanie but is thwarted by Cassandra Cain.
Powers and abilities
Unlike most of Batman's villains, Cluemaster is completely sane, which gives him a unique relationship with Batman. Cluemaster has no metahuman powers or abilities. He has a number of plasti-glass pellets attached to the front of his uniform. The pellets contain various offensive weaponry including: blinding incendiary flares, smoke, incapacitating gas, and explosives.
Other versions
World Without Young Justice
In the alternate timeline of World Without Young Justice, Arthur under the title "Crypto-King" is featured. When his wife Crystal decided to turn him into the
Flashpoint
In the alternate timeline of the
In other media
- Arthur Brown / Cluemaster appears in The Batman, voiced by Glenn Shadix as an adult and by Kath Soucie as a child. This version was a spoiled, self-entitled, yet brilliant prodigy with an inferiority complex and Peter Pan syndrome. After losing on the game show Think Thank Thunk following a twelve-week champion run and failed attempt by his mother to sue everyone involved on the grounds that the show was rigged, Brown dropped out of school and secluded himself in her home for the next twenty years to plot revenge. All the while, he subsisted on the lifetime supply of Kremelo chocolate bars he won on Think Thank Thunk, becoming obese and durable.
- Cluemaster makes a cameo appearance in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "A Bat Divided!".
- Arthur Brown appears in the Sophie Mooreof the Crows security firm.
- Arthur Brown appears in the Gotham Knights episode "Daddy Issues", portrayed by Ethan Embry.[22] Similarly to the aforementioned Batwoman incarnation, this version was the host of the game show Quiz Bowl.
See also
References
- ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
- ^ OCLC 213309017
- ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ^ Detective Comics #351
- ^ Batman #201. DC Comics.
- ^ Batman #293–294, Batman #336, Crisis on Infinite Earths #9, Batman #400. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League International #23. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League America Annual #4. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League America #53. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League Europe #49–50. DC Comics.
- ISBN 9780345501066.
- ^ Suicide Squad (vol. 2) #1 (November 2001): "Almost a Good Idea". DC Comics.
- ^ Robin (vol. 2) #174 (July 2008). DC Comics.
- ^ Batgirl (vol. 3) #23 (July 2011). DC Comics.
- ^ Forever Evil #1. DC Comics.
- ^ Lee, Roger (April 27, 2014). "Villains in the Batman: Eternal Series". Superhero Reviews. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- ^ Batman Eternal #51. DC Comics.
- ^ Batman Eternal #52. DC Comics.
- ^ Batman (vol. 3) #26 (September 2017). DC Comics.
- ^ Robin (vol. 2) #101. DC Comics.
- ^ Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #1 (June 2011). DC Comics.
- ^ Campione, Katie (January 25, 2023). "Ethan Embry & Sunny Mabrey To Recur On The CW's Gotham Knights". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.