Zebra-Man is the name of four fictional characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics.
Jacob Baker first appeared inDetective Comics #275 (Jan 1960) and was created byBill Finger andSheldon Moldoff.[1]
Kobra's Zebra-Man first appeared inOutsiders #21 and was created byMike W. Barr.
| Zebra-Man | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Detective Comics #275 (1960) |
| Created by | Bill Finger (writer) Sheldon Moldoff (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Jacob Baker |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Abilities | Can magnetize anything |
Jacob Baker is a high-tech scientist whose machinery irradiated his body, giving him the ability to attract and repel anything besides metal (referred to as "Diamagnetism").[2] He takes the name Zebra-Man, derived from the stripes covering his body. During his first fight with Zebra-Man,Batman is accidentally irradiated by the same energy and left unable to control his powers. Batman attracts Zebra-Man to himself and takes him to the Gotham City Police Department.[3]
| Zebra-Man | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Outsiders #21 (1987) |
| Created by | Mike W. Barr |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Unknown |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Team affiliations | Strike Force Kobra Secret Society of Super Villains |
| Abilities | Can magnetize anything |
WhenKobra researches the origins of some of Batman's enemies and creates a strike-force calledStrike Force Kobra to usurpStagg Enterprises in his goal of world domination, one of the villains he creates is patterned after the original Zebra-Man. This version lacks the aura of the first Zebra-Man and has a mohawk that evokes the image of hisequine namesake. Zebra-Man, alongside the other Strike Force Kobra members, fights theOutsiders to a draw, but Zebra-Man escapes with Elemental Woman,Planet Master,Lady Eve, and Kobra. His colleague Spectrumonster does not survive the battle while Clayface escapes.[4]
Zebra-Man appears as a member ofAlexander Luthor Jr.'sSecret Society of Super Villains during the Battle ofMetropolis alongside his Strike Force Kobra teammates Planet Master and Spectrumonster.[5]
| Vortex | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Batman: The Dark Knight (vol. 2) #1 (2011) |
| Created by | Paul Jenkins (writer) David Finch (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Unknown |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Notable aliases | Zebra Man |
| Abilities | Can magnetize anything |
In 2011,The New 52 rebooted the DC Universe. A version of Zebra-Man first appears as an inmate ofArkham Asylum, currently going by the moniker "Vortex". He is one of the many prisoners attempting to escape in a massive breakout attempt, which is stopped byBatman.[6] He later appears attempting to helpCatwoman escape her incarceration in the asylum, but is physically beaten by her.[7]
Vortex appears in theDC Rebirth reboot, renamedZebra Man. This version sports short hair with black leather gloves, boots, and shorts. Zebra Man is one of the many villains taken down by Batman and Catwoman after he takes her along with him on an average night of his job.[8]
In "Doomsday Clock, Vortex is seen as an inmate at Arkham Asylum at the time when Batman incarceratedRorschach there. He protects Rorschach from the other inmates.[9]
Vortex is later seen inZambia partaking in a card game withFiddler,Psych, andShrike. When Psych learns that Fiddler has cheated, Fiddler is held at gunpoint only for Psych to kill the three villains with the projections of the people they killed.[10]
During the "Forever Evil" storyline, a different Zebra-Man appears as a member ofCheetah's Menagerie. He is among those frozen byKiller Frost.[11]
Zebra-Man later join an Anti-Task Force X group calledThe Revolutionaries before joining theSuicide Squad under their new supervisor Lok.[12]
The first two incarnations of Zebra-Man possess "diamagnetism" which enables them to attract or repel all matter besides metal. Both use an inhibitor belt to control their abilities.
