| KGBeast | |
|---|---|
| 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 | HumanCyborg |
| Team affiliations | KGB Black Lantern Corps Suicide Squad USSR |
| Notable aliases | The Beast,Commander Star |
| Abilities |
|
KGBeast (Anatoli Knyazev) is asupervillain appearing incomic books published byDC Comics. Created byJim Starlin andJim Aparo, the character first appeared as an adversary ofBatman.[1]
KGBeast has appeared in numerous series and films. Anatoli appeared in his first live adaptation as a recurring cast member onThe CWArrowverse television seriesArrow played byDavid Nykl. Anatoli also appeared as a secondary antagonist and a henchman forLex Luthor in theDC Extended Universe filmBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice played byCallan Mulvey.
KGBeast first appeared inBatman #417 (March 1988) and was created byJim Starlin andJim Aparo.[2]
Anatoli Knyazev (Russian:Анато́лий Кня́зев,Anatoliy Knyazev), code-named "The Beast", and known to theCIA as the "KGBeast" is trained as an assassin by "The Hammer", a top secret cell of theKGB. In addition to being the master of severalmartial 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.
The Beast made his first appearance in the storyline, "Ten Nights of The Beast"Batman #417 (March 1988), which was later reprinted as atrade paperback of the same name. It was written by Jim Starlin and drawn by Jim Aparo andMike DeCarlo.[3]
The Hammer's general, angry that theSoviet 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 theStrategic Defense Initiative program. These include scientists, civilian administrators, military figures, and politicians, the last of whom being then-U.S. PresidentRonald Reagan, scheduled to visitGotham 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 theBatrope. 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, CIA 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 contacted the police to pick up the subdued villain.
However, the Beast escapes and goes into hiding, from where he sees the Soviet Union dissolve. His protégé, the NKVDemon, surfaces inRussia, but is killed by Batman's ally, Soviet police detective Nikita Krakov.[4] The Beast becomes a traditionalsupervillain, engaging in a counterfeiting scheme and having additional cybernetic implants inserted into his body. He fightsRobin and theHuntress, but is ultimately defeated byKing Snake. He later acquires a small nuclear bomb that he uses to threaten Gotham City. He is defeated by Robin and imprisoned inBlackgate Penitentiary.[5]
InNo Man's Land, the Beast appears as a henchman ofLock-Up during the latter's tenure as the unofficial warden of Blackgate.
InOne Year Later, KGBeast is killed byTally Man as part of theGreat White Shark's plot to discreditTwo-Face.[6] However, his body is recovered by a mysterious group who intend to resurrect him.[7]
InBlackest Night, KGBeast is temporarily resurrected as aBlack Lantern.[8]
As part of theNew 52, the character gets a new backstory on theNew Suicide Squad #2 (October 2014). KGBeast/Commander Anatoli Knyazev is a citizen of the USSR until it dissolves. He is trained by Boris Ulyanov/Hammer, as well as others likeKanto,[9] and masters several forms of martial arts. In addition, he gains cybernetic abilities which increase his strength.[citation needed] He fights against the Suicide Squad as a Russian military soldier. After losing many times, he becomes a member of Suicide Squad.[volume & issue needed]
InDC Rebirth, KGBeast is now simplyThe Beast. He is described as one of the world's best contract killers, who formerly worked for the U.S. government and typically is exclusive toWashington D.C. His logo is a 666 symbol. He has his own private island constructed to take his captured enemies there and hunt them to the death, free from national jurisdiction. He is hired by thePenguin,Black Mask, and Great White Shark to kill Batman and Two-Face after the latter threatens to release his collection of blackmail data to the world.[10] Anatoli is last seen when, to stop him killing a group of rioting civilians, Batman lunges into him and over a cliff. Batman is saved byDuke Thomas, leaving Beast's fate uncertain.
Bane later hires KGBeast to break Batman by assassinating his protegeNightwing.[11] Nightwing survives, but the head trauma combined with manipulation from theCourt of Owls causes him to become amnesiac and take on the identity ofRic Grayson.[12][13][14] KGBeast is tracked by Batman for one last encounter that leaves KGBeast in the snow with a broken neck, but it is later reported that KGBeast is saved from death by other agents.[15]
An alternate universe variant of KGBeast appears inFlashpoint as an inmate of the military Doom prison.[16]
Using the Cold War as their backdrop, writer Jim Starlin and artist Jim Aparo crafted the four-part storyline 'Ten Nights of the Beast'.
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