| The Cavalier | |
|---|---|
 Cavalier fromDetective Comics #81. Art byBob Kane. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Detective Comics #81 (November 1943) |
| Created by | Don Cameron (writer) Bob Kane (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Mortimer Drake |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Secret Society of Super Villains Suicide Squad |
| Abilities | Good athlete Skilled hand to hand combatant and swordsman Carries a rapier that emits electric blasts Feather plume-like steel tipped dart on his hat |
Cavalier (Mortimer Drake) is asupervillain appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics.
The character first appeared inDetective Comics #81 (November 1943) and was created byDon Cameron andBob Kane.[1]
Mortimer Drake was a man of exotic andidiosyncratic taste. When he found himself unable to purchase more exotic valuables for his collection legally, he resorted to theft.[2] Donning a costume resembling that of aMusketeer, he called himself the Cavalier. His course of actions ultimately brought him into conflict withBatman andRobin.[3] His code of gallantry was important to him; in one story, he helps an old woman carry her groceries in the middle of making his escape.[4]
Drake matched wits against Batman and Robin several times, and escaped them in each encounter, but Batman was able to deduce the Cavalier's identity, leading to Drake's eventual imprisonment.[1]InBatman Family #10,[5]Batgirl andBatwoman team up to defeatKiller Moth and the Cavalier. Cavalier is unable to find a way around his code, which prevents him from hitting females, but after a self-examination he concludes "the devil with gallantry" and punches Batgirl.
BeforeCrisis on Infinite Earths, the Cavalier existed both onEarth-One andEarth-Two. The stories where he harmed women, something that neither the Earth-One nor Earth-Two versions of him would ever do, take place inEarth-B, an alternate Earth that included stories that could not be considered canonical on Earth-One or Earth-Two.[6] Later "Earth-B" would be divided into two separate Earths: Earth-Twelve and Earth-Thirty-Two.[7]
During "Knightfall", he faced Batman once again, but was defeated with ease. Cavalier had become insane and was kept inArkham Asylum.[1] The Cavalier was later said to have been in a closeted gay relationship withCaptain Stingaree, another lesser-known Batman villain.[1]InBatman: Battle for the Cowl, Cavalier temporarily becomesLeslie Thompkins' bodyguard.[8] Soon afterward, he returns to crime and orchestrates the embezzlement of millions of dollars fromWayne Enterprises. Batman and Catwoman, working together, are able to follow the money trail to Drake, expose his role in the embezzlement, and return the money.[9]
In September 2011,The New 52 revised the fictional history and characters portrayed in the DC Comics superhero comic book line. Cavalier is depicted as using Venom, a strength-enhancing drug also used byBane.[10]
The second incarnation of Cavalier,Hudson Pyle, was created by writerJames Robinson and writerTim Sale, and first appeared inBatman: Legends of the Dark Knight #32 (June 1992).[11]
InBlades, Pyle, an ex-Hollywood stuntman looking for fame, becomes the Cavalier, a masked crimefighting vigilante. While Pyle's motives and actions are revealed to be honorable, he harbors a dark secret which ultimately leads to his downfall. Pyle is in love with a woman who is being blackmailed by gangsters, and as a result of this winds up being blackmailed as well. To save his love, Pyle is forced to commit burglaries and thus loses the confidence of the people. Pyle comes into conflict with Batman, defeating him in a sword duel. He leaves Batman, who is very weak and feverish after injuries sustained in a previous fight, and purposely charges nearby police officers. He is gunned down and dies of his injuries.[12]
InBlackest Night, Pyle is temporarily resurrected as a member of theBlack Lantern Corps.[13]
An unidentified Cavalier resembling the Hudson Pyle incarnation appears inDC Rebirth as a member of theSuicide Squad before being killed during his first mission.[14][15]
While he has no superhuman abilities, the Cavalier is a skilled athlete, hand-to-hand combatant, and swordsman who carries a rapier that emits electric blasts.[16] Additionally, the feather plume in his hat is a steel-tipped dart.[citation needed]
The Mortimer Drake incarnation of the Cavalier appears as a character summon inScribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[18]
