Copperhead (DC Comics)
Copperhead | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | The Brave and the Bold #78 (July 1968) |
Created by | Bob Haney (writer) Bob Brown (artist) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | (I) John Doe (II) Nathan Prince (III) Sameer Park (IV) Jane Doe |
Species | Metahuman |
Team affiliations | (I & III) Secret Society of Super Villains Suicide Squad Black Lantern Corps (II) Terror Titans |
Abilities |
|
Copperhead is the name of several supervillains appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, mostly as enemies of the superhero Batman.
Female variations appeared in Batman: Arkham Origins, and in live action on the first season of Gotham (named Larissa Diaz), portrayed by Lesley-Ann Brandt.
Publication history
The first Copperhead first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #78 (July 1968) and was created by Bob Haney and Bob Brown.[1]
Fictional character biography
John Doe
The criminal known as Copperhead first appeared in
At various times, he fought
Although a master contortionist, Copperhead was largely powerless without his snake-skin costume.
During the
He was later killed by Manhunter, Kate Spencer.[1][8]
During the Blackest Night storyline, Copperhead has been identified as one of the deceased entombed below the Hall of Justice. He is listed as "John Doe", as his real name had never been discovered.[9] He was reanimated as a member of the Black Lantern Corps.[10] Copperhead is destroyed by the combined efforts of seven Lanterns during the Black Lantern Corps' attack on Coast City.[11]
Nathan Prince
Teen Titans (vol. 3) #56 featured a team of villains called the "Terror Titans", legacy villains whose mantles are inherited from older villains. One of the members shown is identified as Copperhead and appears visually as the character prior to the deal with Neron. The story did not reveal any information about the character or provide context with regard to previous stories.[12]
In the subsequent Terror Titans miniseries, it is revealed that the second Copperhead's true identity is Nathan Prince, and he is the only member of the Terror Titans who does not have a family connection to his predecessor. As a child, Nathan drowned his baby sibling out of jealousy, and even attempted to kill his parents. Unable to go through with it, he instead ran away to live on the streets, where he would solicit himself, having sex with older men, after which he would kill and rob them. It is still unknown how Prince came to work for
Sameer Park
Copperhead appears in the New 52 (a 2011 reboot of the DC Comics universe). This is a Pakistani criminal named Sameer Park, a mutated anthropomorphic snake man and a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains.[16] He is killed by Deathstroke in Forever Evil #5.
Jane Doe
A female Copperhead using the alias Jane Doe makes her debut sometime after the death of her predecessor. This version of the character resembles the incarnation seen in Batman: Arkham Origins; DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns said that this new incarnation would appear as a villain in the New 52 after the game's release.[17] It was adapted for comics in November 2016, three years after the game's release. This Copperhead is described as a deadly hitwoman and one of the two most toxic individuals on the planet (the other being Cheshire).[18]
This Copperhead is a South American crime boss in
Unknown
An unidentified Copperhead takes part in a scheme organized by
Powers and abilities
Copperhead's contortionist skills allow him to fit himself into incredibly small spaces (such as chimneys). He originally wore a snake-themed costume made of
In "Terror Titans", Clock King mentions that the second Copperhead does not have any superpowers, meaning he utilizes a snake-themed suit, like the original once did.[21]
The Copperhead from "The New 52" has snake-like abilities.
The female Copperhead does not appear to have any superpowers and instead uses different poison equipment such as darts in addition to being a skilled martial artist.
Other characters named Copperhead
A version of Copperhead appears in Sensation Comics #15. This version is an enemy of Little Boy Blue.[22]
Another character named Copperhead appeared in Leading Comics. Francisco Pizarro is a criminal who briefly turns the Seven Soldiers of Victory against each other during an Andes treasure hunt.[23]
Other versions
Tiny Titans
A kid version of the John Doe incarnation of Copperhead named Johnny appears in Tiny Titans comics.
In other media
Television
- The John Doe incarnation of Copperhead appears in TV series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), initially voiced by Efrain Figueroa and later by Jose Yenque.[24] This version possesses snake-like physical attributes and is generally portrayed as incompetent, consistently outsmarting himself in almost every appearance:
- Copperhead first appears in Injustice Gangs.
- Copperhead also appears in Justice League Unlimited as a member of Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society. Prior to and during the episode "Alive!", Luthor takes command of the Society, but Grodd mounts a mutiny. Copperhead sides with the latter, but is frozen by Killer Frost and killed off-screen by Darkseid along with Grodd's other loyalists.
- Copperhead first appears in
- The John Doe incarnation of Copperhead makes a minor appearance in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Legends of the Dark Mite!".
- A female incarnation of Copperhead appears in the Gotham episode "Lovecraft", portrayed by Lesley-Ann Brandt.[25][26][27] This version is Larissa Diaz, a professional assassin, contortionist, and hand-to-hand combatant.
Film
- The John Doe incarnation of Copperhead makes a cameo appearance in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.
- The Sameer Park incarnation of Copperhead appears in Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, voiced by Gideon Emery.[24] This version is a cyborg metahuman contortionist with a prehensile tail and a metallic jaw capable of spitting acidic venom. He is recruited into Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad and tasked with retrieving a "Get Out of Hell Free" card for her. During the mission, Killer Frost betrays the team and nearly escapes with the card, but Copperhead fights her until Waller detonates a bomb implanted in his neck to keep the squad in line, killing him and Killer Frost.
Video games
- The John Doe incarnation of Copperhead appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.
- An unnamed female incarnation of Copperhead appears as a boss in New 52 after the game's release.[28] This version is a skilled contortionist and escape artist who wears metal, clawed gloves coated with a toxin that makes those she scratches experience intense hallucinations before dying. She is also implied to be part of a group of South American assassins who all use the "Copperhead" moniker. While disguised as Black Mask, Jokerhires Copperhead and seven other assassins to kill Batman, though she ultimately fails and is captured.
- The John Doe incarnation of Copperhead appears in Lego DC Super Villains, voiced by Gideon Emery.
Miscellaneous
- A female incarnation of Copperhead appears in the Injustice: Gods Among Us prequel comic. She initially appears as a member of the Suicide Squad before siding with Wonder Woman and the Regime.
- The John Doe incarnation of Copperhead appears in Batman: Arkham Unhinged #10 as a member of Amanda Waller's Task Force X.
- The John Doe incarnation of Copperhead appears in Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77 #5.
Merchandise
- The John Doe incarnation of Copperhead received two action figures in the Justice League Unlimited toyline, with one appearing in a three-pack alongside Lex Luthor and Mirror Master.
- Copperhead received an action figure in Wave 12 of the DC Universe Classics line.
- Copperhead received an action figure in the DC Imaginext figure line as part of a two-pack alongside Batman.
See also
References
- ^ OCLC 213309017
- ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ISBN 978-0345501073.
- ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
- ^ Underworld Unleashed #1 (November 1995). DC Comics.
- Damage#18 (November 1995). DC Comics.
- ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
- ^ Manhunter #1 (October 2004). DC Comics.
- ^ Blackest Night #1. DC Comics.
- ^ Blackest Night #3. DC Comics.
- ^ Green Lantern (vol. 4) #50. DC Comics.
- ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #56
- ^ Terror Titans #4. DC Comics.
- ^ Terror Titans #5. DC Comics.
- ^ Terror Titans #6. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League of America (vol. 3) #4
- ^ "Newsarama | GamesRadar+". 22 May 2023.
- ^ All-Star Batman #2. DC Comics.
- ^ Batman (vol. 3) #14. DC Comics.
- ^ Batman (vol. 3) #19. DC Comics.
- ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #59
- ^ Sensation Comics #15 (March 1943). DC Comics.
- ^ Leading Comics #6 (March 1943). DC Comics.
- ^ a b "Voice of Copperhead". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved December 15, 2019. Check marks indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.
- ^ "The #DCTV Secrets of GOTHAM: Episode 10 – "Lovecraft"". DC Comics. 24 November 2014.
- ^ Lovett, Jamie. "Gotham: First Look At Copperhead". Comicbook.com.
- ^ "'Gotham's' Copperhead Debuts on Fox's Fall Finale (Exclusive Photos) – TheWrap". TheWrap. 24 November 2014.
- ^ Siegel, Lucas (July 18, 2013). "SDCC '13: BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS Panel Reveals COPPERHEAD, More". Newsarama. Retrieved July 18, 2013.