Reaper is the name of several characters in theDC Comicsuniverse, primarily appearing as enemies ofBatman.
The pre-Crisis Reaper debuted inBatman #237 (December 1971) and was created byDennis O'Neil.[1] The character was inspired by science-fiction writerHarlan Ellison suggesting to O'Neill that he writes a story about Nazi war criminals.[2]
Created by writerMike W. Barr and designed by artistAlan Davis, the Judson Caspian version of the Reaper first appeared inDetective Comics #575 (June 1987), the first part of the four-partBatman: Year Two storyline. After the changes in DC continuity thatZero Hour established,Year Two,Joe Chill's death and the Reaper are erased. Chill was back in continuity after 2005'sInfinite Crisis. An unidentified Reaper appears inThe New 52, a 2011reboot of the DC Comics universe.
Dr. Benjamin Gruener is aGerman Jew who was placed in aconcentration camp run by Colonel Kurt Schloss. He kills Schloss at aHalloween parade and seemingly dies battlingBatman when he falls off the edge of a dam.[3]
InTony S. Daniel's "Batman: Life After Death" story arc,Hugo Strange resurrects Gruener and manipulates him into becoming a mass murderer. However, Batman makes Gruener see that Strange is using him before leaving.[4]
| Reaper | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Detective Comics #575 (June 1987) |
| Created by | Mike W. Barr (writer) Alan Davis (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Judson Caspian |
| Species | Human |
| Abilities | Spiked leather armor Scythe-shaped weapons with hidden firearms |
Judson Caspian is asocialite by day and a vigilante by night. After losing his wife to a robber in the streets, he becomes the Reaper, targeting public menaces and murdering them with a scythe. He has a run-in with Green LanternAlan Scott before traveling to Europe and disappearing.[5]
Several decades later, Caspian reassumes the Reaper identity and battles Batman. Batman works with the mob andJoe Chill to battle the Reaper, who eventually kills Chill. Caspian is later killed in a battle with Batman after choosing to fall off a ledge.[6]
| Reaper | |
|---|---|
 Cover toBatman: Full Circle byAlan Davis. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Batman: Full Circle |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Joe Chilton III |
| Species | Human |
| Abilities | Spiked leather armor Sickle-shaped weapons with hidden firearms |
In the 1991one-shot sequelBatman: Full Circle, Chill's son Joe Jr. briefly assumes the mantle of Reaper as part of a plan to drive Batman insane. He eventually unmasks Batman, but does not recognize him. Chill attempts to mentally break Batman, who escapes and spares him.
InThe New 52, the Reaper is an inmate ofBlackgate Penitentiary.[7] He is among those who escape in a breakout orchestrated byBane.[8][9]
InDC Rebirth, an unnamed criminal takes up the mantle of the Reaper.[10]
InDC All In, an unnamed Reaper is introduced as a judge for the White Church courthouse. He andTwo-Face work together to maintain order in Gotham's criminal underworld.[11]
As the Reaper, Judson Caspian wears a hooded black cloak with armored red leather orcuir bouilli, which prevents bullets and punches from affecting him. The knees and elbows of the red leather armor are tipped with spikes that add more power to blows Caspian inflicts. Caspian also wears a skull-shaped mask with hooks on the mouth to cover up the lower part of the face and red glowing eyes. The Reaper also wields twoscythe-shaped weapons, with various other lethal implements contained in the spiked shafts of both weapons. The haft contains a handgun and smoke pellets. The scythes are stored in inverted sheaths on his back, under his cloak.
