Who's Who in the DCAU?, Part 3 (The Cadmus Project to Curare)

Back when I started collecting comic books, one of my favorite series was Who’s Who:  The Definite Directory of the DC Universe.  Published between 1984 and 1987, it was a sort of companion to Crisis on Infinite Earths, the twelve issue maxiseries designed to streamline the DC Universe and eliminate any problems in continuity.  The character biographies contained inside were my introduction to the DC Universe at large, and they proved useful as I began my scholarship of the DCAU.

While character bios of the characters from Batman:  The Animated Series, Justice League, and other related shows exist, I found many of them to be lacking in depth, content, and quality.  Therefore, I’ve taken it upon myself to create character bios for the characters of the DCAU based upon existing information from Series Bibles, the episodes themselves, material from the comic books, and information from the creative teams.  Many of these began as bios written for my character profiles on The Justice League Watchtower.  Also, the bios I’m writing are limited to characters that I consider key, so no bios for Thomas Blake, Dana Tan, or Snapper Carr. 

This time, it’s the Cs.  Again, everyone noteworthy from that section of the dictionary will be included, along with voice actor information, the date and location of their first appearance, and accompanying images.

The Cadmus Project

First Appearance: Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #133 (October 1970)

Sensing the untapped potential found in the planet’s rapidly expanding superhuman population, the seeds of Project:  Cadmus (or the Cadmus Project, as it is alternately known) were sown in the initial collaborations between military and industry, whose actions were shrouded in secrecy and whose motivations were less than altruistic.  These covert dealings—which included, but were not limited to, the analysis of advanced technologies, as well as experimentation on metahumans, mutants, and aliens—continued unabated for decades, providing both parties with profit and secrets well-suited for military application.  Many of these top secret projects dealt with the manipulation and training of metahumans with the intent of transforming them into living weapons, such as Project:  Firestorm (which produced the pyrotechnic mutant Volcana) and the as-yet unnamed project that produced what would later become known as the Royal Flush Gang.  Other projects came about as a response to the rising prominence of the superhumans, such as Project:  Achilles, the Luthor / Hardcastle collaboration designed to eliminate the perceived threat of Superman.  In the end, these projects produced results, but would prove to be ineffective the day their nightmare scenario came true.

Superman’s invasion proved to all parties how woefully unprepared they were should they fall victim to an organized superhuman attack.  This realization—driven home by frequent alien invasions, a dramatic rise in metahuman crime, and the emergence of the Justice League—led to a consolidation of these myriad top secret projects into a cohesive, organized government program, codenamed Cadmus.  Answering directly to the President, the Cadmus Project existed to create weapons specifically designed to combat the threat that the Justice League, and their metahuman ilk, now pose to the powers-that-be.

Following their conflict with the Justice League, the Cadmus Project is now defunct, but one would suspect that the various projects formerly under their control have been reassigned to other government-related black ops organizations.

EPISODE APPEARANCES:

• “Fearful Symmetry”:  Professor Emil Hamilton, Galatea

• “Ultimatum”:  Amanda Waller, Maxwell Lord, Professor Emil Hamilton

• “Dark Heart”:  General Wade Eiling

• “The Doomsday Sanction”:  Amanda Waller, Professor Emil Hamilton, General Wade Eiling, Tala, Doctor Hugo Strange, Doctor Milo

• “Task Force X”:  Amanda Waller, Tala

• “The Balance”:  Tala

• “Clash”:  Amanda Waller, Professor Emil Hamilton

• “Question Authority”:  Amanda Waller, General Wade Eiling, Professor Emil Hamilton, Doctor Moon

• “Flashpoint”:  Amanda Waller, Galatea

• “Panic in the Sky”:  Amanda Waller, Professor Emil Hamilton, General Wade Eiling, Galatea

• “Divided We Fall”:  Amanda Waller

• “Epilogue”:  Amanda Waller

Calendar Girl

Voiced by Sela Ward

First Appearance:  Detective Comics #259 (Calendar Man, September 1958), Detective Comics #506 (Manikin, September 1981), “Mean Seasons” (Calendar Girl, May 4, 1998)

Once a prominent actor, spokeswoman, and supermodel, Paige Monroe’s career dried up when she “turned thirty,” as more youthful talent began getting hired over her.  Desperate to maintain her beauty and youthful appearance, she dieted, exercised, and endured a number of cosmetic surgeries, but to no avail.  Seeking revenge following her fortieth birthday, she reemerged as Calendar Girl—a stunning supervillain whose face was obscured by a white, emotionless doll mask.

A victim of body dysmorphia, Paige now considers her flawless body hideous and makes every attempt to cover it.  With the aid of her Chippendale-esque henchmen the Pin-Up Boys, she kidnapped the CEOs of Gotham Motors, Donna Days Fashion, and Gotham World Broadcasting with plans to murder them in revenge for them firing her for getting old.  However, like fellow Gotham rogue the Riddler, she left clues in the form of calendar pages for the police and Batman to find.  In the end, this proved to be her undoing, as Batman and Batgirl were able to deduce her identity and capture her before she carried out her plans.

Captain Atom

Voiced by George Eads (“Initiation”), Chris Cox (All Other JLU Appearances)

First Appearance:  Space Adventures #33 (Charlton Comics, March 1960), Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #195 (Wildfire, June 1973), Captain Atom #1 (DC Comics, March 1987)

A volunteer for a top secret military project, Air Force Captain Nathaniel Adams was subjected to an experimental procedure using alien technology, resulting in his body transforming into a sentient energy field requiring a special containment suit in order to prevent it from dispersing.  Now possessing abilities including flight, super strength, and energy manipulation, the newly christened Captain Atom was permitted a leave of absence to join the expanded Justice League by the military, although it’s possible that this was to allow him to keep tabs on the organization for the U.S. government and Project:  Cadmus.

Captain Boomerang

Voiced by Donal Gibson

First Appearance:  The Flash #117 (December 1960)

The secret, illegitimate son of W.W. Wiggins, an American toy maker, and a married Australian woman named Betty Harkness, George “Digger” Harkness grew up in poverty in small Australian town of Korumburra.  Presumably aware of the affair, his stepfather hated the boy, and he acted out, eventually learning that he had considerable skill in the manufacture and use of boomerangs, which he first used for mischief, but later as weapons in robberies.  Kicked out of the house following one such theft, his mother gave him a plane ticket and suggested he seek out his birth father in the United States.

Relocating to Central City, he discovered that his father was the head of the Wiggins Game Company, and he was looking for a spokesman for his latest product, a toy boomerang.  Under an alias, Digger got the job, and Wiggins gave him a costume and the name “Captain Boomerang.”  Almost immediately, he used his new identity—and his own specially designed boomerangs—to commit a series of robberies in town, which brought him to the attention of the Flash.  Over time, he became part of the Rogues—the loosely-knit group of local costumed criminals engaged in regular encounters with the Scarlet Speedster.

Over time, Digger’s activities brought him to the attention of Amanda Waller who, during one of Digger’s stints in prison, came to him with an offer:  reduced prison time in exchange for his participation in a covert ops team performing top secret missions on behalf of national security.  He agreed, and he found himself inducted into Task Force X, where he served for five years under Col. Rick Flagg and, at various times, the Cadmus Project.

Following his release, he returned to Central City, where he—along with fellow Rogues Mirror Master, Captain Cold, and the Trickster—attempted to kill the Flash at the opening of a museum in his honor.  Defeated by the Justice League, Digger was arrested again, but—like the weapon that is his namesake—there is little doubt that he will return in some capacity.

Captain Cold

Voiced by Lex Lang

First Appearance:  Showcase #8 (June 1957)

Raised in an abusive household by his alcoholic, former police officer father, Leonard Snart left home at an early age to start a criminal career.  After his first heist was foiled by the Flash, Snart began looking for a way to even the odds.  Studying kinetic energy and thermal motion during his stint in prison, he found an article about how temperature was determined by atomic movement, and that as the atoms slow down, the object gets colder, approaching absolute zero.  Later, following his release, he built a weapon and charged it in a cyclotron, creating a “cold gun” that could negate kinetic energy and slow down even the Flash.  Donning a blue parka, Snart hit the streets as Captain Cold, the man who mastered absolute zero.

Originally a notorious womanizer, it appears that Captain Cold has settled down in recent years, married to a woman whom Captain Boomerang refers to as an “ice queen.”

Captain Marvel

Voiced by Jerry O’Connell

First Appearance:  Whiz Comics #2 (Fawcett Comics, February 1940), Shazam! #1 (DC Comics, February 1973)

Orphaned by his parents’ murder and abandoned by his legal guardian, young Billy Batson was forced to fend for himself on the streets of Fawcett City.  Adapting to his situation, he sold newspapers at night and subsisted on scraps of food, while managing to keep himself in school during the day.  However, destiny intervened, as one night he was guided to a mysterious cave underneath the city, where he encountered an ancient wizard known as Shazam.  Recognizing his courage and good heart, the wizard granted the boy the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury—which transforms the young boy into the adult body of the super-powered Captain Marvel.

Capable of tapping into his patron’s abilities by shouting the wizard’s name, the World’s Mightiest Mortal has used these abilities—as well as the power of flight—to combat anything from power-mad scientists to super-intelligent alien worms.  Meanwhile, Billy Batson has made good with his own life, becoming a newscaster for WHIZ radio and making enough money to support himself while he continues his education.  While not as well-known as Superman, whom he bears more than a passing resemblance to, Captain Marvel is nearly as powerful; capable of fighting the Man of Steel to a standstill.

A later addition to the expanded Justice League, the awestruck Captain Marvel was a favorite among his peers, who appreciated his optimism and friendly, outgoing nature.  However, he reluctantly left the team after a much publicized falling out with Superman, after realizing that his ideology was radically different from that of his former idol.  Today, he flies alone, protecting Fawcett City from all who would threaten it.

Catwoman

Voiced by Adrienne Barbeau

First Appearance:  Batman #1 (Spring 1940)

Originally an orphan growing up on the streets of Gotham City, Selina Kyle learned to steal from an early age by a gang of thieves, but quickly struck out on her own, establishing herself as a formidable cat burglar.  Eventually, she took this identity literally, as she began using her pet cat, Isis, to assist her in her robberies.  And finally, possibly taking a cue from the crimefighter Batman, she adopted the costumed identity of Catwoman and embraced the freedom she found in her new persona.

Now able to afford to mingle with Gotham’s elite, she posed as a wealthy socialite who raised money for wildlife protection organizations.  Using her façade to stalk the fortunes of the idle rich—in fact, she steals exclusively from the rich—the playboy who entertains Selina one evening might find his valuables stolen by Catwoman the following one.  However, her crime wave was interrupted when she met the Dark Knight.  Initially antagonistic, the two animal-themed adventurers were forced to team up to save Gotham City from the menace of the terrorist Red Claw.  However, despite her actions protecting the city (and their simmering attraction to each other), he reluctantly turned her over to Gotham police.

Sentenced to five years’ probation, she attempted to go straight, but circumstances reduced her to playing Bruce Wayne’s love interest and Batman’s damsel in distress.  Unable to settle for a stifled version of her life, she returned to her criminal ways, once again stealing from the wealthy both locally and internationally.

Gifted with cat-like reflexes and an expertise with a bullwhip, Selina is a formidable opponent who is nearly a match for the Dark Knight in terms of agility and fighting ability.  In addition, she possesses a unique ability to connect with all felines, from the common stray to the fiercest lion, as they instinctively trust her.  No longer bound by society’s laws, she is once again the cat who walks by herself.

Chameleon Boy

Voiced by Jason Priestley

First Appearance:  Action Comics #267 (April 1960)

A native of the planet Durla, Reep Daggle chose to use his shapeshifting powers in service to the Legion of Super Heroes as Chameleon Boy.  In addition to his activities in the 31st century, he has frequently travelled back in time on Legion missions, such as when he, along with Saturn Girl and Cosmic Boy, helped a young Clark Kent protect himself against a future version of Brainiac in the 1970s, as well as the time he travelled back to mourn the loss of Star Boy, who gave his life to defeat the Fatal Five.

Cheetah

Voiced by Sheryl Lee Ralph

First Appearance:  Wonder Woman #6 (Priscilla Rich, Autumn 1943), Wonder Woman #274 (Deborah Domaine, December 1980), Wonder Woman #7 (Barbara Ann Minerva, August 1987)

A skilled scientist specializing in genetic engineering, Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva studied the possibilities of genetic animal augmentation for the purpose of improving human attributes.  However, as her research funding ran out—removing the possibilities of test subjects—Dr. Minerva chose to use herself as one and spliced cheetah DNA into her own body.  The resulting experiment transformed her into a human / cheetah hybrid, providing her with the best attributes of both species, but also with the physical appearance of a humanoid cat.

Now ostracized from the scientific community, Dr. Minerva must now acquire funding through less-than-legal means, such as through theft and mercenary work, in order to continue her research.  Now known as the Cheetah in criminal circles, she utilizes her cat-like agility and reflexes, night vision, and razor-sharp claws in service to the highest bidder.  However, despite her belief in her work, she is still insecure over her transformation and resents the fact that society has deemed her a freak.

Initially serving in Lex Luthor’s incarnation of the Injustice Gang, Cheetah would later join Grodd’s Legion of Doom.  Allied with Luthor’s forces during Grodd’s insurrection, she was one of the few villains to survive the headquarters’ destruction.

Chronos

Voiced by Peter MacNichol

First Appearance:  The Atom #3 (November 1962)

Fifty years into the Justice League’s future, Physics Professor David Clinton—a resident of Neo Gotham—became convinced that time travel was possible, a belief that caused him to be denied tenure.  Nevertheless, he persisted and, over time, he developed the Chronosuit, which contained a belt allowing him to move across the timeline at will.  Initially content to steal historical trinkets from the past that “wouldn’t be missed,” an argument with David’s wife, Enid, prompted him to attempt to steal one of Batman’s utility belts from the Justice League’s Watchtower.  However, after triggering an alarm, he fled into the past, with Batman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman following him through his time portal.

Landing in 1879 Oklahoma, David was robbed at gunpoint by western outlaw Tobias Manning, who stole his time belt and used it to travel into the future to steal future technology, which he brought back to the past and put to use to take over the mining town of Elkhorn, OK.  Taken prisoner, David was held in the town jail and forced to teach Manning and his henchmen how to use the materials he brought back.  This continued for six months until the time-displaced Justice League members arrived and teamed up with a collection of Old West heroes to defeat Manning and remove the technology from the timeline.  Once more in possession of the time belt, he double-crossed the League and fled back to the future, with them in hot pursuit.

Upon arriving back in Neo Gotham, Clinton was a changed man.  Perhaps deriving inspiration from Tobias Manning, Clinton—under a new name, Chronos—built a power base for himself by recruiting members of the Jokerz gangs and, using technology from his own future (which he no doubt became familiar with through Manning), enhanced them into a cyberpunk army, which he used to destroy his timeline’s version of the Justice League, reducing them to three members:  Static, Warhawk, and the second Batman, Terry McGinnis.  With that major obstacle out of the way, Chronos felt free to continue his historical collecting, turning Neo Gotham into a showroom of historical buildings and objects from all points of history, actions that caused significant damage to the time stream.

When Batman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman arrived in the future (Chronos’ present), they were attacked by the Jokerz, who possessed specific weapons and abilities designed to counteract those of the arriving League members.  Fortunately, the remaining members of the future League—tipped off by Chucko as to when they would arrive—was able to save their predecessors from the ambush.  Later, Batman—with help from his older, future self—developed a program to disable Chronos’ time belt.  Eventually tracking him to the time-displaced Roman Colosseum, Batman and Green Lantern, the sole remaining League members, attempted to reason with the Lord of Time, but that turned into pursuit as he made an attempt to flee to the beginning of time, which could have granted him godlike levels of power.  Fortunately, Green Lantern captured the tyrant prior to his arrival, and Batman loaded the program to his belt, thus negating the damage to the time stream.

Fifty years into the Justice League’s future, Physics Professor David Clinton—a resident of Neo Gotham—became convinced that time travel was possible, a belief that caused him to be denied tenure.  Nevertheless, he persisted and, over time, he developed the Chronosuit, which contained a belt allowing him to move across the timeline at will.  Initially content to steal historical trinkets from the past that “wouldn’t be missed,” an argument with David’s wife, Enid, prompted him to attempt to steal one of Batman’s utility belts from the Justice League’s Watchtower.  However, prior to Clinton pressing the button to travel back to the Watchtower, Batman’s program triggered before he touched it, thereby putting him ten seconds into his own past, unbeknownst to the would-be time lord.  Thus, David Clinton is now trapped in an infinite loop of about ten seconds duration, thereby preventing Chronos from ever coming into existence.

Circe

Voiced by Rachel York

First Appearance:  Wonder Woman #37 (September / October 1949)

The gravest of dangers often come in the most innocent of forms, but only the Fates could have predicted that Circe, a nymph originally from the island of Aeaea, would one day become one of the most powerful and feared sorceresses on Earth.  The daughter of the sun god Helios and the Oceanid Perse, the immortal maiden hungered for power, and she sought it by summoning forth Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft.  With the dark deity in her presence, Circe made a pact with the goddess and received vast magical powers as a result of their deal.  Now possessing an array of abilities—such as the ability to transform humans into beasts—Circe used these powers for her own amusement, transforming visitors to her island into animals and making them her slaves.

This is not to say, however, that she was incapable of kindness, as shown by the frequently recounted tale of her encounter with the Greek hero Odysseus.  When Odysseus, during his visit to Aeaea, learned that several of his men were transformed into swine by Circe, he personally travelled to her home to confront the witch.  Aided by a sprig of moly—a magic-negating herb provided by the god Hermes—Odysseus confronted Circe, who—upon discovering that her powers were useless against him—relented and freed his people.  Captivated by the noble and resourceful hero, Circe invited Odysseus and his men to stay as her guests.  He agreed, and they stayed for over a year before once again setting sail for his kingdom of Ithaca.  Other incidents, however, showcased her more brutal leanings:  she changed the deity Picus into a woodpecker when he spurred her advances, and she also transformed the beautiful nymph Scylla into a horrible monster in order to spite her lover Glaucus.  In addition, Circe was also an enemy to the Amazons of Themyscira, which proved to be her undoing as Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons, pulled some strings and had her sent to Tartarus as punishment for her many misdeeds.

It was there, in the underworld, that Circe endured centuries of horrific punishments for her crimes until, finally, it was decided that she should be released … under the condition that she not seek retribution against Hippolyta.  Released into a world that had long before forsworn sorcery in favor of science, Circe discovered that, in her absence, Hippolyta had a daughter.  Eager to get back at her hated enemy in any way possible, Circe confronted her enemy’s daughter—better known to Man’s World as Wonder Woman—and transformed her into a pig.  It was only through the sacrifice made by her friend and teammate Batman—whose spirit, it could be speculated, reminded Circe of the Ithacan king she knew so long ago—that she broke the spell, but she can return at any time to bedevil the Amazonian princess with her magics.

Clayface

Voiced by Ron Perlman

First Appearance:  Detective Comics #40 (Basil Karlo, June 1940), Detective Comics #298 (Matt Hagen, December 1961), Detective Comics #477 (Preston Payne, June 1978)

Known in Hollywood as the “Man of a Million Faces,” Matt Hagen’s acting career looked as though it was over following a disfiguring accident, until he was visited in the hospital by Roland Daggett, CEO of pharmaceutical giant Daggett Industries.  Sensing Hagen’s desperation, Daggett offered him the opportunity to become the first test subject for Renuyu, a miracle facial cream that granted elasticity to flesh, allowing subjects to reshape their facial features at will.  Realizing that Renuyu would accomplish in minutes what plastic surgery would take years to accomplish, Hagen took Daggett’s offer and, with his good looks restored, went on to star in the greatest roles of his career.  Unfortunately, Daggett neglected to inform him of the chemical’s side effects, such as Renuyu’s twenty-four hour time limitation and, when used over extended periods, how any attempts to stop using it would cause considerable pain.  Now at Daggett’s mercy, he consented to become an impersonator and hit man in Daggett’s service in exchange for a continued supply of the Renuyu formula.

This arrangement continued for years until Hagen, disguised as Wayne Enterprises CEO Bruce Wayne, botched the attempted murder of Lucius Fox, an executive in the company, which was part of an orchestrated takeover bid by Daggett.  The latest in a string of failures, Roland Daggett placed a hit on Hagen, which was carried out when he was discovered attempting to steal more Renuyu from Daggett’s headquarters.  Holding Hagen down, Daggett’s henchmen force-fed him a large supply of the Renuyu formula and dumped his body in an alleyway.  However, unknown to the killers, Hagen did not die but, instead, was transformed through a chemical reaction into a creature composed entirely of malleable, organic clay.

Initially repulsed by his condition, Hagen became intrigued when he discovered that the transformation also afforded him near-limitless shape-shifting abilities.  Able to transform his body into anyone, anything, or any combination of things; able to be as solid as rock or flow as liquid, Hagen adopted the identity of Clayface and set out to avenge himself against Roland Daggett, a plot that was foiled by Batman.  Unknown to Clayface at the time, the Dark Knight would soon become his primary opponent, as he foiled frequent attempts to steal money and supplies necessary for attempts to cure or, sometimes, stabilize his condition.

Recently freed by the Secret Society from the private collection of Morgan Edge, Clayface joined the organization after their leader, Gorilla Grodd, offered to help Hagen improve his condition, which would have allowed him the opportunity to keep his powers while gaining a measure of normality.  The offer fell through, however, following the Society’s defeat at the hands of the Justice League, leaving Clayface torn between the phenomenal power at his command and his desire for a normal life.

The Clock King

Voiced by Alan Rachins

First Appearance:  World’s Finest #111 (William Tockman, August 1960), “The Clock King“ (Temple Fugate, September 21, 1992), Harley Quinn #11 (December 2014)

Originally a tightly wound efficiency expert, Temple Fugate was attempting to protect his company from a $20 million dollar judgement when Hamilton Hill, then an attorney who shared Fugate’s subway schedule, recommended deviating from his normal schedule to relax a bit.  Fugate took his advice, but a series of unfortunate events led to him arriving late for his hearing, forcing the judge to let the judgement stand.  Financially ruined, Fugate went on to discover that Hill was a lawyer who worked for the law firm representing his opponent, and this knowledge ignited a lasting, burning hatred of the Gotham lawyer.

Seven years later, following Hill’s successful first term as mayor of Gotham City, Temple Fugate returned as the Clock King to bedevil his foe as he began his reelection campaign for a second term.  Initially sabotaging the city’s infrastructure and planting vandalized election posters, Fugate’s activities expanded to attempted murder of both Hill and Batman, who successfully saved the mayor from the Clock King’s assassination attempt.

A thorough researcher and expert in reaction time, the Clock King is able to stay steps ahead of his opponents, whether it’s escape via anticipating an early train or calculating how fast the Dark Knight can throw a punch.  Coupled with exploding pocket watches and, later, an experimental temporal displacement device that can both locally accelerate and slow the flow of time (stolen from scientist Dr. Wakati), the Clock King proved to be a powerful, but lesser known, member of Batman’s famed Rogues’ Gallery.

Later, during his imprisonment, Fugate was tapped by Colonel Rick Flag and Amanda Waller for their Task Force X program, allowing him to greatly shorten his sentence in exchange for participating in dangerous black ops missions for the government.  Utilizing his unique talents as a mission controller, Fugate now provides research for the team’s missions, as well as directing field agents and providing intel when necessary.  However, the Clock King is no doubt counting down the days when he can resume his original goal:  the death of Mayor Hamilton Hill.

Colonel Rick Flag

Voiced by Adam Baldwin

First Appearance:  The Brave and the Bold #25 (September 1959)

The son of military hero Richard Montgomery Flag, Rick Flag is the leader of Task Force X.  A gifted tactician and expert hand-to-hand combatant, Flag needed no specialized weapons during his mission on the Watchtower. 

Colonel Vox

Voiced by Larry Drake

First Appearance:  Metal Men #51 (Vox, the Bionic Bandit; May 1977)

A Kasnian double agent in league with Vandal Savage, Colonel Vox possesses sonic powers that can destroy buildings and bring even the most powerful to their knees.

Commander Steel

Voiced by Kevin Conroy (Uncredited)

First Appearance:  Steel, The Indestructible Man #1 (March 1978), Justice League of America Annual #2 (Hank Heywood III, October 1984)

Grandson of the original Commander Steel, a superhero from the 1940s, Hank Heywood III was subjected by his grandfather to a series of painful operations designed to artificially grant him the abilities of the former hero.  His bones replaced by a titanium / steel alloy, his muscles replaced by servo mechanisms, his skin replaced by a subdermal plasticated mesh—Hank was now more metal than flesh.  Taking the costumed identity at the urging of his grandfather, Commander Steel is now a member of the Justice League.

Condiment King

Voiced by Stuart Pankin

First Appearance:  “Make ‘Em Laugh” (November 5, 1994), Birds of Prey #37 (Mitchell Mayo, January 2002)

Originally Buddy Standler, a standup comic with a hit television series, he had the unfortunate luck to run afoul of the Joker during the annual Gotham Laugh-Off Comedy Competition.  Disguised as “Smilin’ Shecky Rimshot,” the Clown Prince of Crime attempted to win the prize with stale jokes and a missed registration date.  Dragged offstage, he swore revenge on Standler and his fellow judges, Harry Loomis and Lisa Lorraine.

One year later, he was abducted by the Joker and dosed with one of the Mad Hatter’s mind control chips.  Dressed up as the Condiment King, a costumed extremist using ketchup and mustard guns, the hapless Standler embarked on a crime spree that was quickly stopped by Batman.  Arrested and fired from his show, he was presumably released and reinstated once the Joker’s plan was brought to light.

Copperhead

Voiced by Efrain Figueroa (“Injustice for All”), Jose Yenque (All Other Appearances)

First Appearance:  The Brave and the Bold #78 (July 1968)

A nameless contortionist from parts unknown, the serpentine figure known only as Copperhead had successfully obscured his origins and past from prying eyes.  All that was known of him was the mark he made on the criminal underworld as a master thief and assassin.  Utilizing mysterious genetic enhancements and a specially made snake suit, Copperhead was always ready to strike his opponents, crushing the life out of them like his namesake and delivering a fatal dose of venom from his helmet.  His mission accomplished, he would slink back to the shadows unseen and wait patiently for his next victim.

Initially recruited for Lex Luthor’s Injustice Gang, he chose to remain on the team under Aresia’s tenure.  He would later join Grodd’s Legion of Doom but following the disastrous battle between Grodd and Luthor’s factions, he met his end at the hands of Killer Frost.

Cosmic Boy

Voiced by Chad Lowe

First Appearance:  Adventure Comics #247 (April 1958)

Leader of the Legion of Super Heroes and one of its founding members, Rokk Krinn is a native of the planet Braal, and thus possesses his people’s inherent mastery over magnetic fields.  In addition to his activities in the 31st century, he has frequently travelled back in time on Legion missions, such as when he, along with Saturn Girl and Chameleon Boy, helped a young Clark Kent protect himself against a future version of Brainiac in the 1970s, as well as the time he travelled back to mourn the loss of Star Boy, who gave his life to defeat the Fatal Five.

The Creeper

Voiced by Jeff Glen Bennett

First Appearance:  Showcase #73 (April 1968)

During an investigative report into the life of the Joker—held at the Ace Chemical Factory, the chemical plant where the Joker underwent his transformation—Reporter Jack Ryder was shocked to find the Clown Prince of Crime making an unexpected appearance on his own special.  Not too keen on having his background delved into, he sprayed Ryder with his Smilex gas and dumped him into the same chemical bath that transformed him a lifetime ago.  Surviving the experience, but transformed into a demented, laughing maniac with bright yellow skin, Jack Ryder raided a vintage clothing store for a costume and went out into the night as the Creeper to get his revenge on the Joker.  Despite an elaborate car chase and significant property damage, the Creeper successfully aided Batman in the Joker’s capture, who was so put off by the yellow maniac that he literally begged Batman to return him to Arkham Asylum.

Now, permanently transformed by his experience, he must wear a specially treated skin patch that keeps his transformation in check.  However, should he ever be needed, Ryder can pull the patch off and transform back into his zany alter ego.

The Crime Syndicate 

First Appearance:  Justice League of America #29 (August 1964)

At first glance, the Crime Syndicate appears to be a super team similar to the Justice League, as its roster features an invulnerable being from Krypton, a speedster, and a man wielding a green power ring.  However, the similarities end there, as this team is a literal criminal syndicate fronted by mirror universe doppelgängers of the Justice League.  It is to be expected, as on this world the people we think of as heroes are villainous just as the villains themselves are heroic.

The Crime Syndicate was an organization made up of five (formerly six) supervillain teams, each in charge of a particular territory and fronted by a boss.  Trusted and competent lieutenants were recognized by these family heads and moved up in the organization by being granted super powers and costumed identities, making them “made men.”  The bosses of these families were Ultraman, Owlman, Superwoman, Power Ring, and Johnny Quick (the sixth member, the Martian J’edd J’arkus, died previously during a conflict with the Jester, a member of that world’s Justice League).  Of these leaders, Ultraman was the boss of bosses.

Collectively, the Crime Syndicate had a stranglehold on the world’s governments and law enforcement, bribing those they could control and executing those they could not.  The only thing preventing them from completely taking over the world was a threat of a nuclear strike, which they were preparing to outmaneuver by building a quantum bomb with which to blackmail the world into total submission.  In response, their world’s Lex Luthor, the last survivor of that world’s Justice League, created an interdimensional transport device with which to seek help from the Justice League of another Earth.

In the end, the Justice League offered to help Luthor, and the Syndicate fell.  Now free of this superpowered mafia, the governments of the world were able to enforce law and order, but it is possible that the surviving members of the Crime Syndicate could return to power at any time.

As previously stated, the supervillain teams that made up the [formerly] six families of the Crime Syndicate were each headed by one of the aforementioned bosses and staffed by super-powered made men.  Based on the limited information provided, this is what is known about the breakdown of those associates:

Ultraman

Mr. Action (Variant of Jimmy Olsen)

Owlman

Black Power (Variant of Black Lightning), Aurora (Variant of Halo), Sai (Variant of Katana), Model Citizen (Variant of Looker)

Superwoman

Captain Super (Variant of Captain Marvel), Captain Super, Jr. (Variant of Captain Marvel, Jr.); Uncle Super (Variant of Uncle Dudley / Uncle Marvel), Manhawk (Variant of Hawkman), Mary Mayhem (Variant of Mary Marvel), Megamorpho (Variant of Metamorpho), Mister Horrific (Variant of Mister Terrific), She-Bat (Variant of Man-Bat and Catwoman)

Power Ring

Olympia (Variant of Wonder Woman)

Johnny Quick

Warwolf (Variant of Lobo), Archer (Variant of Green Arrow), Scream Queen (Variant of Black Canary)

J’edd J’arkus

Angelique (Variant of Hawkgirl), Breakdance (Variant of Vibe), Extruded Man (Variant of Elongated Man), Gypsy Woman (Variant of Gypsy), Vamp (Variant of Vixen)

The Crimson Avenger

Voiced by Kevin Conroy (Uncredited)

First Appearance:  Detective Comics #20 (October 1938)

Owner of the New York City newspaper The Daily Globe-Leader, Lee Travis adopted the identity of the Crimson Avenger first to avenge the life of a friend but decided to fight on as a superhero.

Crimson Fox

First Appearance:  Justice League Europe #6 (September 1989)

Very few people know that the French hero known as the Crimson Fox is, in actuality, an identity shared by twin sisters Vivian and Constance D’Armis.  Both possessing natural agility and tempered steel claws, the sisters take turns with their costumed identity, allowing each the luxury to pursue other interests while secure in the knowledge that the streets are protected by their sibling.

Crowbar

First Appearance:  Justice League of America #233 (December 1984)

A member of a Detroit gang known for using a crowbar in his activities, the Overmaster infused his weapon of choice with incredible energies and recruited Malcolm Tandy, now known as Crowbar, for his supervillain team, the Cadre.  Following a disastrous confrontation with the Justice League, Crowbar decided to remain with his teammates and attempted to seek his fortune in the criminal underworld.

Although he sided with Grodd during the mutiny, Crowbar was not singled out for punishment by Luthor.  However, it appears that he died in the Hall of Doom’s destruction in deep space.

Curaré

Voiced by Melissa Disney

First Appearance:  “A Touch of Curaré” (May 15, 1999)

One of the deadliest assassins of the latter twenty-first century, Curaré is a former member of the Society of Assassins.  Possessing a flawless record, she experienced her first failure while attempting to murder Neo Gotham District Attorney Sam Young, an encounter that brought her into conflict with the second Batman.  Marked for death by her organization for her failure, she sought out and eliminated the entire society, thus annulling her death sentence.

Known for her distinctive dress and ice blue skin tone, Curaré is an excellent martial artist whose favored weapon is a scimitar with an edge no thicker than a molecule.  Her original identity unknown, her new name comes from a South American paralyzing agent derived from plant extracts (it is possible that her blue skin tone may have been caused by a previous curare poisoning).  Now free to pursue her own agenda, she may come into conflict with Batman again, as he is the only one to have seen her unmasked face.

Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, DC Comics, and Jerry Seinfeld. Crime Syndicate art courtesy of Jerome-K-Moore's DeviantArt page.