Spellbinder (DC Comics)
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Spellbinder is a name of three DC Comics villains, and versions of the character have appeared on both the Batman Beyond and The Batman animated series.
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[edit] Delbert Billings
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Spellbinder is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Detective Comics #358 (December 1966), and was created by John Broome and Sheldon Moldoff.
He is the alter-ego of Delbert Billings. Billings was a painter who used optical illusions and hypnotic weapons to commit crimes.
Delbert was a forger of pop art who decided to put his talents to use as a supervillain. He created the Spellbinder identity, designed hypnotic weapons and assembled a team of henchmen. He ran into Batman II during his first robbery, but Spellbinder hypnotized the crimefighter into believing he was involved in an entirely different situation, and his gang made their getaway. This ploy worked twice, but on his third robbery Batman was able to overcome it and send him to jail.
Spellbinder joined a loosely knit conglomerate of crime organized by the Monarch of Menace. Spellbinder was the first member of the group to be captured by Batman, who later disguised himself as Spellbinder to infiltrate the group and capture the Monarch. (Batman #336)
Spellbinder was on the run from the law with his new girlfriend Fay Moffit when he was confronted by the demon-lord Neron. Neron made an offer of immense power in exchange for his soul, but Spellbinder declined. Fay, however, thought it sounded like a great idea, so she shot Spellbinder in the head and accepted the offer for herself.
[edit] Powers
- Spellbinder used a number of optical devices of his own invention that hypnotize others. His fighting skills were minimal.
[edit] League Buster
A second Spellbinder with genuine mystical abilities appeared in Justice League International Vol. 2 #65 (June 1994) as a member of the Government sanctioned "League-Busters". He has not appeared again.
[edit] Lady Spellbinder
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During the Underworld Unleashed crossover, Delbert Billings (the original Spellbinder) turned down Neron's offer, and was shot by his girlfriend Fay Moffit, who then became the third Spellbinder (aka, Lady Spellbinder). (Detective Comics #691-692)
Neron granted her the ability to induce genuine hallucinations, and she is followed by Batman and Robin, but they did not count on the scale of her illusion-casting abilities, which extend to making absolutely everything disappear. She escapes from Batman and Robin due to her ability to create a total illusion in her immediate vicinity, which remains even if they close their eyes. They realize that the only way to be able to approach her safely is if the approach is controlled by someone outside her immediate area of influence. Robin acts as Batman's eyes once Spellbinder is tracked down by the police, guiding him through a version of virtual reality technology. Once captured, she discovers that her deal with Neron was not all she'd hoped - if her eyes are covered, her illusion-casting abilities no longer function.
She subsequently appeared in Birds of Prey, where she created an illusory world in which Barbara Gordon was Batgirl (although she did not realize this had once been true). She had been hired by Blockbuster to kidnap Oracle. Oracle was able to defeat her when she attacked her with a fire extinguisher (to blind her and prevent her from casting illusions) and a club, and then tied her up for the cops. (Birds of Prey: Batgirl)
She returned to Birds of Prey when Black Canary and Catwoman were kidnapped by the rogue parademon Pharzoof. She was being transported with several fellow villains when their train was hi-jacked and taken to Apokolips. The villains battled the parademons, and eventually were returned to Earth where they were taken to the Slab. (Birds of Prey #12-14)
During The Joker: Last Laugh mini-series, she returned again. In Birds of Prey #36, she battles Black Canary. Black Canary is trapped inside Slabside Penitentiary along with a host of villains infected by the Joker, making them even more crazed than ever. Her sonic cry is able to give most of them pause, but Joker sends Copperhead and Hellgrammite after her, as neither have ears. After dealing with them, she is briefly confronted by the Shadow Thief before meeting, to her great relief, Batman, Superman and Mary Marvel. However, she soon notices that Marvel's lightning bolt is backwards, and the heroes are revealed to be an illusion created by Spellbinder, the first of the female villains affected by the Joker. Much later, Canary is comforted by Blue Beetle and Oracle - even though she was sucker-punched by Spellbinder, she did later warn Nightwing and Batman of the Joker's wider-reaching plans, effectively saving their lives.
Spellbinder was apparently killed alongside the Trigger Twins by a group of gun-toting super-heroes during Infinite Crisis.
It is noted that she bears a striking resemblance (both physically and in terms of powers) to the mysterious Harlequin. Although very similar, they appear to be two separate characters.
[edit] Powers
Spellbinder can create terrifying realistic illusions, and the recipients can feel the actual pain of the illusions.
If she is blinded or has her eyes closed, she is unable to cast the illusions.
[edit] Other media
Spellbinder has appeared in both Batman Beyond and The Batman. The Batman Beyond version is loosely based on Billings, and usually appeared whenever a story called for a Scarecrow-like villain. The Spellbinder in The Batman is a very different character, possibly based on the second version.
[edit] Spellbinder in Batman Beyond
In Batman Beyond, Spellbinder is the alter-ego of Ira Billings; a part-time counselor at Hamilton High. He wears a costume featuring an orange and black swirl design, and uses a large floating 'eyeball', that allows him to project images into the minds of others using hypnosis. He is known for his phrase, "Don't be afraid, I don't bite" said both to his first victim, a girl, and Terry McGinnis. He was voiced by Jon Cypher.
One question that has been raised about this Spellbinder is how he came to acquire his advanced mind-warping technology on his meager counseling salary, especially since the most advanced virtual reality technology in the Batman Beyond universe still requires larger immobile machines. One theory is that Billings inherited the mind-altering technology of the Mad Hatter, either as his son or that of an associate.
Spellbinder features in the following episodes of Batman Beyond:
- 'Spellbound' (Episode 09)
- 'Hooked Up' (Episode 21)
- 'Eyewitness' (Episode 27)
[edit] Spellbinder in The Batman
Spellbinder in The Batman has a third eye which he acquired whilst meditating in the far east. This gives him the ability to induce hallucinations in others, a power he uses to steal from Gotham City's wealthiest citizens.
Spellbinder in The Batman wears a red cape over a grey suit. It has three black-rimmed eye holes.
The following episodes of The Batman feature Spellbinder:
- 'The Butler Did It' (Episode 20)
- 'Rumors'
This Spellbinder's voice is provided by Michael Massee.
