| Electrocutioner | |
|---|---|
 The first incarnation of the Electrocutioner as depicted inWho's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #7 (September 1985). Art by Dave Ross (penciller) and Klaus Janson (inker). | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | (Buchinsky) Batman #331 (January 1981) (Unknown) Detective Comics #626 (February 1991) (Lester Buchinsky) Detective Comics #644 (May 1992) |
| Created by | (Buchinsky) Marv Wolfman (writer) Michael Fleisher (writer) Irv Novick (artist) (Unknown) Marv Wolfman (writer) Jim Aparo (artist) (Lester Buchinsky) Chuck Dixon (writer) Tom Lyle (artist) Scott Hanna (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Buchinsky (Electrocutioner I) Unknown (Electrocutioner II) Lester Buchinsky (Electrocutioner III) |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | (Lester Buchinsky) Suicide Squad Secret Society of Super Villains |
| Abilities |
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TheElectrocutioner is an alias used by three fictional characters in theDC Universe, all minor enemies of thesuperheroBatman.
The first Electrocutioner (known only as Buchinsky) appeared inBatman #331 (January 1981) and was created by writersMarv Wolfman andMichael Fleisher and artistIrv Novick.[1]
The Electrocutioner II first appeared inDetective Comics #626 (February 1991) and was created by Wolfman and artistJim Aparo.
Lester Buchinsky, the Electrocutioner III, first appeared inDetective Comics #644 (May 1992) and was created by writerChuck Dixon and artistsTom Lyle and Scott Hanna.
Buchinsky (first name unknown) is a self-appointed executioner of criminals inGotham City who uses an electrically charged suit and goes by the name "Electrocutioner".[2]Batman has three encounters with him. In the first, Electrocutioner murders killer Mike Caine;[3] in the second, Batman rescues Dane Whitney;[volume & issue needed] in the third, Electrocutioner falls through a window, grips a metal railing, and shocks himself so that he lets go and plunges off a cliff into the river below.[volume & issue needed]
Electrocutioner later goes toManhattan. He encounters two muggers inCentral Park and attacks them with lethal doses of electricity from his gauntlets. TheVigilante, meanwhile, continues to cut a bloody swathe of bodies in the name of justice. He breaks into Charles McDade's limousine and shoots McDade and his lady friend Mona Simpson to death. That evening, the Vigilante learns that Electrocutioner is back in town and is, in fact, targeting the same criminal element that the Vigilante himself is.[4][5] Electrocutioner is eventually killed by the Vigilante.[6]
WhenS.T.A.R. Labs opened a portal toLimbo in Operation Zeppelin, they did this as various deceased criminals wished to return to the earthly realm through the portal. These criminals included Electrocutioner,Icicle,Clayface, El Papagayo, the Iron Major, and theTop. When Operation Zeppelin's creator Director Jeffrey Simon disappeared, a rescue party went through the portal and the villains captured them. They bargained with their demonic jailer, a demon impersonatingEtrigan the Demon, exchanging their prisoners to gain temporary mortal forms and preparing to return to Earth. They were opposed byHawk,Dove, andTitans West. The battle was fierce, but the tide turned when J.E.B. Stuart came down fromHeaven and gave Hawk hisHaunted Tank. The false Etrigan offered them a way out through another portal, but he was merely toying with the dead villains: when he sent them through the portal, it turned out to be an entrance toHell.[7]
The second Electrocutioner used a red costume rigged to generate a lethal electrical shock against criminals (including Cannon and Saber), and ran afoul of Batman, who disapproved of his extreme justice.[8] His real name was never revealed.
Lester Buchinsky is the brother of the original Electrocutioner. Originally fighting for justice just like his brother, he later became a criminal and a mercenary. Overly reliant on his ability to generateelectricity, Electrocutioner has faced (and been defeated by)Batman,Robin, andNightwing. In at least one scheme, working with theCluemaster to steal an armored car full of money, theSpoiler works to oppose him. The Spoiler turned out to be the Cluemaster's daughter. The stupidity of Lester's second partner, a hulking brute with delusions of intelligence calling himself Czonk the Baffler, would also hamper their plans.[9] For a time, Lester was frequently seen in the employ ofBlüdhaven crime boss theBlockbuster II.[10] InInfinite Crisis, Lester became a member of theSecret Society of Super Villains.[11] During the 34th week of the series52, Electrocutioner appeared as part of a Suicide Squad operation againstBlack Adam.[12]
In theRise and Fall storyline,Green Arrow is still hunting Electrocutioner and those who worked withPrometheus; keeping secret his murder of the man as the rest of theJustice League tries to track him down. Green Arrow confronts Electrocutioner, who set off the device that devastated Star City inJustice League: Cry for Justice. He was close to killing the man when theBlack Canary stops him during their argument. Black Canary then realizes what Green Arrow did; thus, Electrocutioner escapes from the Green Arrow's attempt to bring him down.[13] Although Electrocutioner was defeated and horrifically injured bySpeedy,[14] the Green Arrow's arrival convinces Speedy that killing is not the answer and the two archers take him into custody.[15] Once Electrocutioner awoke from hiscoma,Roy Harper vowed revenge. He broke into the jail and killed Electrocutioner, despite Green Arrow's protests.[16]
All of the Electrocutioners wore a special costume lined with built-in circuitry that allows them to project bolts of electricity for either stunning or killing their targets. They even have expertise in weaponry.
An unidentified Electrocutioner makes a cameo appearance in theBatman: Arkham Knight prequel comic. This version claims to be an underling of Lester Buchinsky, having acquired several of his prototypes and modified them usingWayne Industries technology. Following the events ofBatman: Arkham City, this Electrocutioner attacks Batman, who defeats him quickly as well before leaving him for the GCPD. However, theArkham Knight finds Electrocutioner first and kills him.[23]
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