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Blockbuster (DC Comics)

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This article is about the DC Comics supervillain. For the Marvel Comics supervillain, see Blockbuster (Marauder). For other meanings, see Blockbuster (disambiguation).

Blockbuster is the name of four supervillains and a criminal organization appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.[1] The first iteration was an adversary of Batman and Robin, while the second served as one of Nightwing's greatest enemies. The third debuted in 52 as a member of Lex Luthor's Infinity, Inc.

Blockbuster has appeared in various media outside comics, including television series and films. Kevin Michael Richardson, Dee Bradley Baker, René Auberjonois, and Dave Fennoy have voiced the character in animation.

Publication history

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The Mark Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster first appeared in Detective Comics #345 (November 1965), and was created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino.[2]

The Roland Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster first appeared in Starman #9 (April 1989), and was created by Roger Stern and Tom Lyle.

Fictional character biography

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Mark Desmond

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Blockbuster
The Mark Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster as depicted in Batman #309 (March 1979).
Art by John Calnan.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceDetective Comics #345 (November 1965)
Created byGardner Fox (writer)
Carmine Infantino (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoMark Desmond
SpeciesMetahuman
Team affiliationsSecret Society of Super Villains
Suicide Squad
Abilities

The first Blockbuster is Mark Desmond, a chemist who desires to increase his physical strength. Experimenting on himself, he succeeds in making himself stronger and taller, but as a side effect of the process he becomes mindless and aggressive.[3] The mentally debilitated Desmond is cared for by his brother Roland, a local criminal, who keeps their mother from discovering what Mark had done to himself.[4]

Roland manipulated his brother into committing crimes on his behalf until they came into conflict with Batman and Robin. Bruce Wayne had once rescued a young Desmond from drowning, and he discovered that he could calm Desmond by removing his cowl and showing his face.[5] Desmond later found himself clashing with Batman on various occasions.

Blockbuster briefly joined the Secret Society of Super Villains for a battle with the Justice League.[6]

Later, Amanda Waller recruited Desmond for her revived Suicide Squad. He was killed fighting Darkseid's creation, Brimstone.[7]

Mark Desmond is resurrected following The New 52 relaunch, which rebooted the continuity of the DC Universe. This version is a patient of Dr. Phayne who undergoes procedures to enhance his intelligence, where he is gradually given a green compound via intravenous therapy. Another patient, believing himself to be in pain, causes an accident that causes Desmond to overdose on the compound and transform into Blockbuster.[8] Blockbuster later appears as a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains, having been recruited by Outsider.[9]

Roland Desmond

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Blockbuster
The Roland Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster as depicted in Underworld Unleashed: Patterns of Fear #1 (November 1995). Art by Rick Burchett.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceStarman #9 (April 1989)
Created byRoger Stern (writer)
Tom Lyle (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoRoland Desmond
SpeciesMetahuman
Team affiliationsBlockbuster's Gang
Underground Society
Black Lantern Corps
Abilities
  • Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability
  • Genius-level intellect

Roland Desmond became the second Blockbuster after a severe illness forced him to be treated with experimental steroids. Like his brother Mark, Roland became a child-minded super-strong monster. He ran wild in the Southwest, but Batman and Starman (Will Payton) brought his rampage to an end.[10][11]

Desmond becomes obsessed with elevating himself above his debilitated brain and make a pact with the demon Neron to restore his mind in exchange for his soul. He begins his revived criminal career by causing chaos in Manchester, Alabama, although his schemes are foiled by Impulse.[12][13]

Desmond later moves to his mother's hometown of Blüdhaven. He forces the crime lord Angel Marin out of power and takes over the city's criminal rackets. Desmond plans to build a criminal empire in Blüdhaven that will enable him to extend his dominion over Gotham City, Star City, Metropolis, and New York City.[14][15]

Desmond later develops albinism and a heart defect as a side effect of his initial transformation and receives a heart transplant in Gorilla City which restores his health. He is consolidating his control over Blüdhaven and contemplating a takeover of Gotham City when he is killed by Tarantula (Catalina Flores).[16]

In Blackest Night, Blockbuster is resurrected as a Black Lantern.[17] He later returns permanently following the DC Rebirth relaunch.[18] In Nightwing #96, he is killed by Heartless.[19]

Blockbuster III

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In 52, Lex Luthor creates a new Blockbuster to serve as an opponent of his manufactured hero team Infinity, Inc. Little is revealed about this Blockbuster, save for the fact that Luthor possesses some measure of control over his actions and level of strength. With controlled interference from Lex Luthor, Blockbuster kills Trajectory, a member of Infinity, Inc.[20]

Martian Manhunter's disguise

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A Blockbuster appears among the villains exiled to an alien world in Salvation Run. In issue #3, Blockbuster is revealed to be Martian Manhunter, who disguised himself as Blockbuster to observe the exiled villains.[21]

Female Blockbuster

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A newer, female Blockbuster appears in the swamps of Louisiana and fights Mon-El.[22]

Powers and abilities

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All incarnations of Blockbuster possess superhuman physical abilities coupled with reduced intelligence. Roland Desmond overcame this weakness after receiving enhanced power from Neron.[12]

Other versions

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An alternate universe variant of Blockbuster appears in Just Imagine.... This version is Brock Smith, a murderer and death row inmate who is rescued and empowered by Dominic Darrk and joins the Doom Patrol. He is defeated by Batman and Wonder Woman and dies after being electrocuted.[23]

In other media

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Television

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Blockbuster as he appears in Young Justice.

Film

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Video games

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Miscellaneous

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 57–58. ISBN 9780345501066.
  2. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  3. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains. New York: Facts on File. p. 34. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
  4. ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). "Blockbuster I". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1.
  5. ^ Eury, Michael; Kronenberg, Michael (2009). The Batcave Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 220. ISBN 978-1893905788.
  6. ^ Secret Society of Super Villains #1 (May 1976)
  7. ^ Legends #3 (January 1987)
  8. ^ The Savage Hawkman #18 (May 2013)
  9. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 3) #3 (July 2013)
  10. ^ Starman #10 (May 1989)
  11. ^ Wallace, Dan (2008). "Blockbuster II". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1.
  12. ^ a b Underworld Unleashed #1 (November 1995)
  13. ^ Impulse #8 (November 1995)
  14. ^ Nightwing (vol. 2) #44 (June 2000)
  15. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019). DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 258. ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
  16. ^ Nightwing (vol. 2) #93 (July 2004)
  17. ^ Blackest Night: Batman #1 (October 2009)
  18. ^ Nightwing (vol. 4) #22 (August 2017)
  19. ^ Brooke, David (October 18, 2022). "Nightwing #97 review". AIPT Comics. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  20. ^ 52 #21 (November 2006)
  21. ^ Salvation Run #3 (March 2008)
  22. ^ Superman #689 (August 2009)
  23. ^ Just Imagine... JLA one-shot (February 2002)
  24. ^ a b c d e f "Blockbuster Voices (Batman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 5, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  25. ^ a b c "Mark Desmond Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved March 23, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  26. ^ "Blockbuster Turn by *Phillybee". Deviant Art. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  27. ^ Mayimbe, El (May 19, 2008). "Supermax: Green Arrow Story Details + Villains/Inmates Gallery". LatinoReview.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  28. ^ "Tough Guy Voice - Justice League: Gods and Monsters (Movie)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved March 23, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  29. ^ Gerding, Stephen (January 13, 2016). "Exclusive: Nightwing's Romantic Life Takes a Hit in Batman: Bad Blood Clip". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on June 9, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  30. ^ "Adventures in the DC Universe #1 - Now You See 'Em (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  31. ^ "Batman: Arkham Knight: Genesis #4 (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved March 23, 2024.


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