KGBeast
| KGBeast | |
|---|---|
 KGBeast as depicted in Who's Who in the DC Universe #4 (November 1990). Art by Jim Aparo. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Batman #417 (March 1988) |
| Created by | Jim Starlin (writer) Jim Aparo (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Anatoli Knyazev |
| Species | Human Cyborg |
| Team affiliations | KGB Black Lantern Corps Suicide Squad USSR |
| Notable aliases | The Beast |
| Abilities |
|
KGBeast (Anatoli Knyazev) is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo, the character first appeared as an adversary of Batman.[1]
KGBeast has appeared in numerous series and films. Anatoli appeared in his first live adaptation as a recurring cast member on The CW Arrowverse television series Arrow played by David Nykl. Anatoli also appeared as a secondary antagonist and a henchman for Lex Luthor in the DC Extended Universe film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice played by Callan Mulvey.
Publication history
KGBeast first appeared in Batman #417 (March 1988) and was created by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo.[2]
Fictional character biography
Backstory
Anatoli Knyazev (Russian: Анато́лий Кня́зев, Anatoliy Knyazev), code-named "The Beast", and known to the C.I.A. as the "KGBeast" is trained as an assassin by "The Hammer", a top secret cell of the KGB. In addition to being the master of several martial arts, his strength is cybernetically enhanced, and he also masters the use of every known deadly weapon. At the time of his first appearance, he is rumored to have killed at least 200 people.
First appearance
The Beast made his first appearance in the storyline, "Ten Nights of The Beast" Batman #417 (March 1988), which was later reprinted as a trade paperback of the same name. It was written by Jim Starlin and drawn by Jim Aparo and Mike DeCarlo.[3]
The Hammer's general, angry that the Soviet government is working to better relations with the United States, sends Knyazev on a mission to kill 10 high-ranking U.S. officials in an attempt to cripple the Strategic Defense Initiative program. These include scientists, civilian administrators, military figures, and politicians, the last of whom being then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan, scheduled to visit Gotham City.
Despite Batman's best efforts, the Beast eliminates nearly all of his targets. In particular, he showcases his ruthlessness by poisoning an entire banquet, killing over 100 people, just to ensure that his target dies.
When Batman finally faces the Beast in hand-to-hand combat, the Beast quickly gains the upper hand, at the time, proves himself better than Batman in both tactical planning and engagement. However, failing to realize that he had advantages over Batman in abilities, the Beast flees because he thinks Batman has contingencies based on the hero's reputation, loses his opportunity to kill Batman as the Dark Knight later improved his skills since then.
During the rematch between the two, Batman snares the Beast's left wrist with the Batrope. Rather than be captured, the Beast grabs a nearby axe and chops off the restrained hand. The Beast quickly has the limb replaced with a cybernetic gun, made by one of Gotham's top weapons dealers.
Before the final confrontation between Batman and the Beast, C.I.A. Agent Ralph Bundy reminds Batman that, if the Beast is captured alive, he will have to be handed over to the Soviets, and likely escape justice. Knowing this, Batman, after thwarting the Beast's assassination attempt on Reagan, destroys the Beast's gun-arm, lures him into the sewers, and then corners him in an underground room. The Beast invites Batman to fight him to the death, but instead Batman locks the room, effectively burying the assassin alive.
In the later story, Batman: Year Three, Batman notes that he then contacted the police to pick up the subdued villain.
Later appearances
However, the Beast escapes and goes into hiding, from where he sees the Soviet Union dissolve. His protégé, the NKVDemon, surfaces in
In the
One Year Later
Blackest Night
As part of the Blackest Night story arc, KGBeast's corpse is reanimated by a black power ring and recruited to the Black Lantern Corps during the Blackest Night: Batman miniseries. He uses his ring to form a black energy construct of his gun arm.[9]
Post-Flashpoint
As part of the
DC Rebirth
In
He is hired by
Other versions
Flashpoint
In the alternate timeline of the Flashpoint event, KGBeast is imprisoned in military Doom prison. During the prison break, KGBeast is shot with a blast by corrections officer Amazo.[13]
In other media
Television
- KGBeast makes minor non-speaking appearances in Justice League Unlimited. This version is a member of Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society. Prior to and during the episode "Alive!", Lex Luthor takes control of the Secret Society, but Grodd mounts a mutiny. KGBeast initially sides with the latter before defecting to the former, only to be killed by Darkseid along with most of the Society.
- Monitor while tangling with a separate faction of the Bratva before attending Queen's funeral after the latter sacrificed himself to avert the Crisis.
- KGBeast appears in Harley Quinn, voiced by Matt Oberg. This version is a member of the Legion of Doom.
Film
- KGBeast makes a minor appearance in Batman: Assault on Arkham, voiced by Nolan North. He is recruited into Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad, but believes she is bluffing when she says she implanted bombs in the recruits' necks to keep them in line. When he attempts to leave, Waller detonates KGBeast's bomb, killing him as a warning to the remaining squad members.
- Anatoly Knyazev appears in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, portrayed by Callan Mulvey. This version is a mercenary, terrorist, and weapons trafficker who secretly works for Lex Luthor. While conducting business with African terrorists, Knyazev betrays them and kills his men before Superman arrives, though Knyazev escapes. While delivering Kryptonite to Luthor, Batman pursues Knyazev, but Superman stops the former allowing Knyazev to complete his job. On Luthor's orders, Knyazev kidnaps Martha Kent and Lois Lane, but Batman and Superman rescue them.
Video games
KGBeast appears as an NPC in the NES version of Batman: The Video Game.[14] This version is a ninja who wields a sword and shuriken.
See also
References
- ISBN 9780345501066.
- ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.)
Using the Cold War as their backdrop, writer Jim Starlin and artist Jim Aparo crafted the four-part storyline 'Ten Nights of the Beast'.
{{cite book}}:|first2=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ^ Robin (vol. 2) #14 (February 1995) ("Troika" Part Four)
- ^ Detective Comics #817 (May 2006)
- ^ Nightwing (vol. 2) #142 (May 2008)
- ^ Nightwing (vol. 2) #143 (June 2008)
- ^ Blackest Night: Batman #1 (October 2009)
- ^ Batman (vol. 3) #56 (2018)
- ^ All-Star Batman #4
- ^ Batman (vol. 3) #55
- ^ Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #2 (July 2011)
- ^ "Batman: The Video game". NES Player. Archived from the original on 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
External links
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