| Spellbinder | |
|---|---|
 The Spellbinder's debut inDetective Comics #358, art byCarmine Infantino | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | (Billings) Detective Comics #358 (December 1966) (Unnamed) Justice League International (vol. 2) #65 (June 1994) (Moffit) Detective Comics #691 (November 1995) |
| Created by | (Billings) John Broome (writer) Sheldon Moldoff (artist) (Moffit). Chuck Dixon (writer) Staz Johnson (artist) Scott Hanna (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Delbert Billings Unnamed Fay Moffit |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Notable aliases | (Billings) Keith Sherwood (Moffit) Lady Spellbinder |
| Abilities | (Billings) Use of optical and aural devices that hypnotize people Minimal hand-to-hand combatant (Unnamed) Genuine mystical abilities (Moffit) Genuine illusion-casting powers |
TheSpellbinder is the name of fivesupervillains who appear incomic books published byDC Comics. Versions of the character have appeared on the animated seriesBatman Beyond andThe Batman.
Spellbinder (Delbert Billings) first appeared inDetective Comics #358 (December 1966), and was created byJohn Broome andSheldon Moldoff.[1] He was a painter who usedoptical illusions andhypnotic weapons to commit crimes.[2]
Billings is a forger ofpop art who decides to put his talents to use as a supervillain. He creates the Spellbinder identity, designs hypnotic weapons, and assembles a team of henchmen. He runs intoBatman during his first robbery, but hypnotizes him into believing he is involved in an entirely different situation as his gang escapes.[3] This ploy works twice, but on Spellbinder's third robbery, Batman is able to overcome it and send him to jail.[4]
The Spellbinder joins a loosely knit conglomerate of crime organized by the Monarch of Menace. He is the first member of the group to be captured by Batman, who later disguises himself as Spellbinder to infiltrate the group and capture the Monarch.[5]
During theUnderworld Unleashed event, Spellbinder is on the run from the law with his girlfriend, Fay Moffit, when they are confronted by the demon-lordNeron. Neron offers Spellbinder power in exchange for his soul, but he rejects the offer. Moffit kills Spellbinder by shooting him in the head and takes the deal for herself. Neron is unsurprised, having intended to give Fay power all along.[6]
A second, unidentified Spellbinder appears inJustice League International (vol. 2) #65 as a member of the government-sanctioned "League-Busters".[7][8]
During theUnderworld Unleashed crossover event, Delbert Billings (the original Spellbinder) rejected Neron's deal of immense power in exchange for his soul and was shot in the head and killed by his girlfriend,Fay Moffit, who then took the deal for herself and became the third Spellbinder (also known asLady Spellbinder) as a result.[6] Neron grants Moffit the ability to induce genuinehallucinations, which are nullified if her eyes are covered or closed.[9]
During theInfinite Crisis event, Spellbinder is killed byVigilante andWild Dog.[10]
A fourth Spellbinder,Viktor Mironov, is introduced inThe New 52.[11] Mironov, as the Spellbinder, is aRussian magician known for his ability to use magic to attack a person's psyche. WhenJohn Constantine contacts him to recruit him in a plan to fight the Cult of the Cold Flame, Spellbinder initially reacts by attacking Constantine and rummaging through his mind. When Spellbinder discovers that Constantine is sincere, he agrees to the plan.
However, a spell gone wrong byPapa Midnite sends the entire plan into shambles. Constantine is sent to the wrong time period to fight the Cult. Without Constantine's guidance, Spellbinder and another mage are killed fighting the Cold Flame.[12]
A fifth Spellbinder,Charles Dante, is introduced inInfinite Frontier. He is an artist, psychiatrist, and former classmate ofBarbara Gordon who seeks to freeGotham City's citizens from what he sees as brainwashing.[13]
The original Spellbinder used a number of optical and aural devices of his own invention to hypnotize others. His fighting skills were minimal.
The second unnamed Spellbinder had genuine mystical abilities.
The third Spellbinder, also known as Lady Spellbinder, can create realistic illusions that cause real pain to the recipients. However, she is unable to use this ability if she is blinded or otherwise has restricted vision.[9]
Spellbinder and Lady Spellbinder appear as character summons inScribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[15]
Spellbinder makes a minor appearance in the novelWayne of Gotham.
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