Killer Moth

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Mothman.
Killer Moth
Lew Schwartz (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoDrury Walker
Unknown
SpeciesHuman (formerly)
Metahuman (currently)
Team affiliations(Walker):
Secret Society of Super Villains
Longbow Hunters
Notable aliases(Walker):
Charaxes
Cameron van Cleer
234026
The Moth
Abilities(Both):
  • Peak-level athleticism
  • Equipment usage
  • Basic combat skills

(As Charaxes):

  • Superhuman strength, stamina, durability, speed, agility, and reflexes
  • Flight via wings
  • Razor-sharp antennae and claws
  • Toxikinesis

Killer Moth (Drury Walker) is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, usually as an adversary and dedicated original foil personality of Batman (prior to the creations of Wrath, Prometheus, and Hush). Like Batman, he has no superpowers and relies on his technical equipment, including a Mothmobile and numerous gimmicks. Killer Moth originally wore a garish costume of purple and green striped fabric, with an orange cape and moth-like mask.[1] In Underworld Unleashed, Killer Moth is transformed into the monster Charaxes with superhuman abilities.

Publication history

Killer Moth's debut.

Killer Moth first appeared in Batman #63 (February 1951) and was created by

Lew Schwartz.[2]

Fictional character biographies

Pre-Crisis/ "Cameron van Cleer"

The original Killer Moth was a prisoner identified only by his prison number, 234026.

Cavalier twice: the first time in Batman Family #10 (March–April 1977), where they battle Batgirl and Batwoman (Kathy Kane, who comes out of retirement for the first time in years) and the second (and final) time in Batman Family #15 (December 1977-January 1978), where they battle Batgirl and Robin
.

Post-Crisis

In the 1990s, in the post-Crisis continuity, Killer Moth's real identity is revealed as Drury Walker, an unsuccessful criminal whom no one takes seriously. He again adopts the false identity of Cameron van Cleer and the persona of Killer Moth to fight Batman. This version first appears in Batman: Shadow of the Bat #7-9 (December 1992-February 1993), with a more detailed origin story appearing in Batgirl: Year One #1-9 (February–October 2003).

In Batman: Shadow of the Bat #7-9, Killer Moth sets up a team called "the Misfits", comprising Batman villains such as the

cocoons in which to keep his prey.[7] In a later story, Charaxes begins laying hundreds of eggs, all of which hatch into duplicates of Drury Walker. Charaxes despises his progeny, but is unable to destroy them. Following his capture, these duplicates are taken into government custody. During an argument between various bodies as to what should be done with them, they attack a scientist and are killed.[8] At around the same time, the Oracle is confronted by a criminal named Danko Twag who claims to be the "real" Killer Moth (the one she had defeated), and that Drury Walker had been an impostor. During a rant in which he claims they are going to be a team, she captures him in an energy cell and he seemingly disintegrates himself.[9]

In

Elvis costume for Booster. Booster stops the version of him dressed as Killer Moth from defeating Batman and makes sure that Wiley gets away with the loot, thus restoring the timeline.[11]

During the

Zero Year" story arc in which he was defeated by both Batman and Green Arrow, teaming up for the first time.[14] In DC Rebirth, Killer Moth is again Drury Walker, a low-level criminal sporting a purple outfit and helmet.[16]

Unknown

A new Killer Moth appears in

Albuquerque, New Mexico and defeated them all. Ray Palmer then tortured Killer Moth by entering his head via the nasal pathways and growing inside his skull. Killer Moth immediately gave up Prometheus as his employer. In Red Robin
#9, Red Robin returns to Gotham City where he runs into Killer Moth in his classic costume, holding a man at gunpoint. Red Robin thinks to himself: "I think this is Killer Moth. The costume and the man change from time to time, so you can never really tell". This Killer Moth seems to be scared and on the run, stating: "Are you with him? Are you with the Atom? I won't let you torture me, too!"

Powers, abilities, and equipment

In his original incarnation, Killer Moth has no superhuman abilities, but relies on the vast array of equipment he had developed. His range of gimmicks includes a Mothmobile and zipline cables, which allows him to swing through the skies as if he were flying. He even carries a

cocoon gun that fires streams of sticky threads to totally envelop his victims.[17] As Charaxes, he possesses immense strength, stamina, durability, speed, agility, and reflexes, as well as winged flight, natural weapons, and the secretion of acidic substances.[18]

In the

New 52, he utilizes an air pistol, which shoots out compressed waves powerful enough to stop bullets in mid-air.[19]

In other media

Television

Killer Moth as depicted on Teen Titans
Killer Moth as seen in The Batman
  • A short episode of the 1960s Batman series that introduced Batgirl featured Killer Moth (portrayed by Tim Herbert), but it was never aired. It had since been circulated through bootlegs on the Internet or at conventions. In 2014, it was released as a bonus feature in the series' official complete DVD/Blu-ray sets.[20]
  • When asked about Killer Moth's inclusion in The New Batman Adventures, producer Bruce Timm expressed little interest and joked that the only way they would use him is if they could cast Dan Aykroyd for the role and have him scream, "I'm a bug!". Producer Alan Burnett, on the other hand, stated, "we just haven't thought of a good story for him yet". Ultimately, Killer Moth never appeared in the series.[21]
  • Killer Moth appears in Teen Titans, initially voiced by Thomas Haden Church and later by Marc Worden.[22] This version possesses bio-engineering expertise, a background in lepidopterology, and has a spoiled daughter named Kitten (voiced by Tara Strong).[23] In the episode "Date with Destiny", he attempts to use mutant moths to take over Jump City. However, at the prodding of Kitten, whose boyfriend Fang (voiced by Will Friedle)[24] recently broke up with her, Killer Moth forces Robin to take Kitten to her junior prom as well. With Starfire's help, Robin breaks the moth control device and Killer Moth, Fang, and Kitten are subsequently arrested while Beast Boy secretly adopts one of Killer Moth's mutant larva and names it Silkie. In the episode "Can I Keep Him?", Silkie bonds with Starfire and resists Killer Moth's attempts to control it. As of the episodes "Calling All Titans" and "Titans Together", Killer Moth and Kitten have joined the Brotherhood of Evil to attack young heroes across the world, but the expanded Teen Titans regroup and eventually defeat the Brotherhood.
  • Killer Moth, based on the Drury Walker incarnation, appears in The Batman, voiced by Jeff Bennett.[22] This version is a physically weak individual with a milquetoast personality and poor combat capabilities. In his most notable appearance in the episode "Team Penguin", Killer Moth joins the Penguin's eponymous team, but serves as an errand boy until he is exposed to chemical fumes and radioactive moths that mutate him into a monstrous Charaxes-esque form nicknamed "Mothy". He intimidates the other members of Team Penguin into obeying their leader before they are all eventually defeated by Batman, Robin, and Batgirl. Killer Moth also makes a cameo appearance in the episode "Rumors" as a prisoner of the vigilante Rumor.
  • An amalgamated incarnation of Killer Moth appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Corey Burton.[22] This version is based on Drury Walker and once used the Cameron van Cleer alias.
  • Killer Moth appears in Teen Titans Go! (2013), voiced by Scott Menville.[22] This version has a base underneath the Jump City Bridge.
  • Killer Moth appears in the DC Super Hero Girls (2019) episode "#BreakingNews". This version is a female mutant moth.

Film

Video games

Killer Moth appears as a boss in Batman: The Video Game.

Lego

Lego Batman: The Video Game
.

Merchandise

  • Killer Moth in his Charaxes form received an action figure in Mattel's The Batman: Shadowtek line in 2006.
  • Corgi Toys released a die-cast Killer Mothmobile in their Batman line in 2006.
  • A collector's version of Corgi's Killer Mothmobile, including a statuette of Killer Moth, was released in 2007.
  • Killer Moth received an action figure in Wave 6 of Mattel's DC Universe Classics line in 2009.
  • Three LEGO Minifigures based on Killer Moth have been produced. The first appeared in set 26054 Scarecrow: Harvest of Fear in 2016. The second appeared in set 76069 Batman vs. Killer Moth, as part of the Mighty Micros line released in 2017. The third was released in 2018 as part of the second Collectible Minifigure blind-bag series based on The Lego Batman Movie.
  • A modernized Killer Moth received an action figure in Spin Master's Creature Chaos Line in 2020.

Miscellaneous

See also

References

  1. ^
    OCLC 213309017
    .
  2. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0
    .
  3. ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6
    .
  4. ISBN 0-02-538700-6
    . Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  5. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X
    .
  6. ^ Batman: Shadow of the Bat #7-9
  7. ISBN 9780345501066
    .
  8. ^ Robin (vol. 2) #107-110 (December 2002-March 2003)
  9. Birds of Prey
     #50-52 (February–April 2003)
  10. ^ Booster Gold (vol. 2) #11 (October 2008)
  11. ^ Booster Gold (vol. 2) #12 (November 2008)
  12. ^ Adventure Comics (vol. 2) #4 (November 2009)
  13. ^ Adventure Comics (vol. 2) #5 (December 2009)
  14. ^ a b Green Arrow (vol. 5) #25
  15. ^ Green Arrow (vol. 5) #31
  16. ^ Detective Comics #958
  17. ^ Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol 1 #12 (February 1986)
  18. ^ Underworld Unleashed Vol 1 #1 (November 1995)
  19. ^ Batman Vol 1 #652 (June 2006)
  20. ^ Batman: The Complete Television Series, Warner Bros., 2014.
  21. ^ "The World's Finest - Backstage - Unused Villains Database - Killer Moth".
  22. ^ a b c d e f "Killer Moth Voices (Batman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 15, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  23. ^ "Kitty Voice - Teen Titans (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 15, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  24. ^ "Fang Voice - Teen Titans (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 15, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  25. ^ Louis, Brandon (August 10, 2022). "New DC Villain For Cancelled Batgirl Movie Revealed In BTS Images". Screen Rant.
  26. ^ Game Informer features a two-page gallery of the many heroes and villains who appear in the game with a picture for each character and a descriptive paragraph. See "LEGO Batman: Character Gallery", Game Informer #186 (October 2008): 93.
  27. ^ Eisen, Andrew; Ferrarello, Scott. "Killer Moth - LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes Guide". IGN. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  28. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  29. ^ Eisen, Andrew. "Characters - LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Guide". IGN. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  30. ^ "Teen Titans Go! #15 - Pop Quiz (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  31. ^ "The Batman Strikes #49 - School Day (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  32. ^ Injustice 2 #1
  33. ^ Injustice 2 #2

External links

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