Blockbuster is the name of three fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe. The first one was primarily a foe of Batman and Robin, while the second frequently fought Nightwing. The latest Blockbuster first appeared in the pages of the series 52 wherein he is directed into battle against Lex Luthor's team of superheroes, Infinity Inc.. DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... In comic books, first appearance refers to the date or issue of a characters first appearance. ... Cover of Detective Comics #27 (May 1939). ... Gardner Francis Fox (May 20, 1911, Brooklyn, New York – December 24, 1986) was an American writer best known for writing comic books and co-creating numerous comics characters, especially for DC Comics. ... Carmine Infantino (born May 24, 1925, Brooklyn, New York City) is an American comic book artist and editor who was a major force in the Silver Age of Comic Books. ... The Secret Society of Super Villains (SSoSV) is a group of comic book villains that exist in the DC Universe. ... Suicide Squad is a name for a number of fictional organizations created for and owned by DC Comics. ... A fictional character is any person who appears in a work of fiction. ... DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... Cover to the History of the DC Universe trade paperback. ... Batman (originally referred to as the Bat-Man and still referred to at times as the Batman) is a DC Comics fictional superhero who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. ... Robin is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. ... Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics Universe. ... A Roman law prohibits the execution of old and crippled slaves. ... Lex Luthor is a fictional DC Comics supervillain. ... Infinity Inc. ...

Character history

Mark Desmond

The first Blockbuster was Mark Desmond, a chemist who wanted to become stronger. Experimenting on himself, he grew stronger and taller, but in the process was turned into a mindless brute. Desmond was cared for by his criminally-minded brother, Roland, who shielded Mark's monstrous appearance from their mother. A chemist pours from a Florence flask. ... The magnitude of physical strength, often referred to as just strength, determines the ability of a person or animal to exert force on physical objects using muscles. ...

Roland used Mark to commit crimes until they were stopped by Batman and Robin. Desmond had years earlier been rescued from drowning by Bruce Wayne, and the Dark Knight Detective discovered that he could calm and stall the behemoth by removing his cowl and revealing his face. The sight did indeed calm the giant, preventing further destruction. Blockbuster sought solitude when free, only to find himself opposing the Caped Crusader on various occasions. He served as a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains during a battle with the Justice League. He was recruited by Amanda Waller's new Suicide Squad, and died battling Darkseid's creation Brimstone. The Secret Society of Super Villains (SSoSV) is a group of comic book villains that exist in the DC Universe. ... The Justice League, sometimes called the Justice League of America or JLA for short, is a fictional DC Universe superhero team. ... Dr. Amanda Blake Waller is a fictional character from the DC Universe, first appearing in Legends #1 in 1986. ... Suicide Squad is a name for a number of fictional organizations created for and owned by DC Comics. ... Darkseid is a fictional character, a supervillain in the DC Comics Universe created by Jack Kirby as part of the Fourth World series of comic books in the early 1970s. ... Brimstone is a robot also dubbed Engine of Destruction, sent by Darkseid of Apokolips to Earth. ...

Roland Desmond

Roland Desmond became the second Blockbuster after a debilitating malady forced him to be treated with experimental steroids. Like his brother Mark, Roland found he was now a child-minded super-strong behemoth. He went on a rampage in the Southwest, strong enough to give Starman V trouble, but Batman and Starman together ensured that he wound up behind bars (Starman #10) DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... In comic books, first appearance refers to the date or issue of a characters first appearance. ... The Hobgoblin character co-created by Stern. ... Cover to The Comet #1, pencil art by Lyle Thomas Tom Lyle is a comic book artist and penciller. ... A genius is a person with great intelligence. ... Batman (originally referred to as the Bat-Man and still referred to at times as the Batman) is a DC Comics fictional superhero who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. ... Several incarnations of Starman. ...

Acquiring a genius-level intellect became Desmond's obsession, and the demon Neron made it a reality. Selling his soul to the demon, he obtained awesome acumen that matched his phenomenal physical power. There was an irony to this bargain that he would later reveal to the young hero Impulse. As an unintelligent brute he had only the dimmest understanding of what he wanted, and had wished for intelligence. Once that had been granted, however, he realized that what he had truly desired was simply to be normal. Intelligence is the mental capacity to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend ideas and language, and learn. ... Neron is also an alternative name of the Roman Emperor Nero. ... Impulse is the name of two DC Comics superheroes: Kent Shakespeare, a retired member of the Legion of Super-Heroes who was only active during the Five Year Gap Bart Allen, now known as Kid Flash This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that...

Still the same ambitious criminal of before, Desmond set up shop in his mother's home of Blüdhaven (a city bereft of heroes). He forced out crimelord Angel Marin and took over the criminal organizations there. Roland's plan was to build a criminal empire in the 'Haven, that would eventually enable him to extend his dominion over Gotham, Star City, Metropolis and New York's underworlds. For that purpose, he bought the corrupt elements of the city's Police Department, most notably the Police Chief Redhorn and Inspector Dudley "Deadly" Soames. Blüdhaven is a fictional city in the DC Universe. ... The Gotham skyline with the Bat-signal. ... Star City is a fictional city that appears in stories published by DC Comics, best known as the traditional home of the superheroes known by the shared alias of the Green Arrow. ... Metropolis as depicted in the Superman Returns video game Metropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. ... NY redirects here. ... Torque is a supervillain in the DC Comics Universe, and an enemy of Nightwing. ...

Despite his swift and vicious consolidation of power, Blockbuster's hold on Blüdhaven's organized crime was nevertheless weakened by the intervention of the city's new protector: Nightwing (Dick Grayson, the former Robin), who, with Oracle's help, fouled Desmond's plans at every turn. Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics Universe. ... Robin is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. ... Barbara Gordon is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics and related media. ...

Thus, the kingpin's primary goal became the elimination of the young vigilante in order to insure the longevity of his criminal cartel. Not only placing a sizable contract on Nightwing's head, Blockbuster also employed the services of several assassins, including Lady Vic, Stallion, Brutale, the Trigger Twins and Shrike. However, Desmond's attempts and resources failed to stop the hero. The Trigger Twins was a Western themed comic book series published by DC Comics. ... Shrike is the name of 4 DC Comics characters. ...

Death of Blockbuster

Desmond later developed albinism and heart defect: side-effects of his transformation. He received a heart transplant from one of Gorilla City's talking apes, and was tightening his grip over Blüdhaven and contemplating a takeover of Gotham City. Albinism (from Latin albus, meaning Bobby Herrick; extended etymology at Wiktionary), more technically hypomelanism or hypomelanosis, is a form of hypopigmentary congenital disorder, characterized by a lack of melanin pigment in the eyes, skin and hair (or more rarely the eyes alone). ... A congenital heart defect is a defect in the structure of the heart and great blood vessels of the newborn. ... The Gotham skyline with the Bat-signal. ...

Blockbuster is shot dead by Tarantula. Art by Patrick Zircher.

But this changed with the death of his beloved mother. Blockbuster wrongfully blamed Nightwing, and started a vengeance campaign against the vigilante. Now knowing his secret identity, the criminal kingpin bombed Dick Grayson's apartment complex, killing most of its residents. Still shocked, Nightwing enlisted the help of Blüdhaven's newest vigilante: the amoral female Tarantula, Catalina Flores. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Cover to Cable and Deadpool #12 by Zircher Patrick Zircher is a comic book artist and penciller. ... The Tarantula is one of two characters in the DC Comics universe. ...

Blockbuster had beaten down Grayson both physically and emotionally. When an exhausted Nightwing confronted Blockbuster, he was at his lowest ebb, but still managed to champion the battle. During the fight and for a short time after its end, Blockbuster threatened Dick with killing all the people that he cared about, even the strangers who approached him in the street. The timely arrival of Tarantula would end it all, however; she shot Blockbuster dead at point blank range as Nightwing didn't want to stop her when he could. Suffering a panic attack, Dick fled to the rooftop, where he broke down, begging for Bruce's forgiveness. Nightwing's inaction has became a source of tremendous guilt for the young hero. But Blockbuster's demise ended his stranglehold over Blüdhaven once and for all. This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

The New Blockbuster

Lex Luthor has created a new Blockbuster in the pages of the miniseries event 52 to serve as an opponent of his manufactured hero team, Infinity Inc.. Lex Luthor is a fictional DC Comics supervillain. ... 52 is the title of a comic book limited series published by DC Comics, which debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue Infinite Crisis. ... Infinity Inc. ...

Little is revealed about this Blockbuster, save for the fact that Luthor possesses some measure of control of his actions and level of strength. Luthor also comments that he is stronger than either of the two previous Blockbusters. This brute's psychology and appearance are very similar to the original.

In other media

Blockbuster (Mark Desmond) was first seen in the Justice League Unlimited episode called "Kid's Stuff" where he, Cheetah, Copperhead and KGBeast were robbing a gold vault. He was portrayed by Dee Bradley Baker. Blockbuster was also a member of the Legion of Doom in the series. However, after siding against Lex Luthor during the mutiny in favor of Gorilla Grodd, he was frozen by Killer Frost and blown up by Darkseid, along with the other mutineers. Justice League Unlimited (or JLU) was an American animated television series produced by and aired on Cartoon Network. ... The Cheetah is a fictional character in the Wonder Woman stories published by DC Comics, and is also the archenemy of Wonder Woman. ... Copperhead was a DC Comics supervillain, he first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #78, June (1968) and was created by Bob Haney and Bob Brown. ... KGBeast is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics, primarily as an opponent of Batman. ... Dee Bradley Baker Dee Bradley Baker (born August 31, 1962 in Indiana) is an American voice actor for animated television series and video games. ... The Hall of Doom, the Legion of Dooms headquarters The Legion of Doom was a group of supervillains led by Lex Luthor that appeared in Super Friends, a 1970s and 1980s animated series that starred superheroes from DC Comics. ... Lex Luthor is a fictional DC Comics supervillain. ... Gorilla Grodd is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics, primarily as an opponent of The Flash. ... Killer Frost is either of two DC Comics supervillains and one of Firestorms foes. ... Darkseid is a fictional character, a supervillain in the DC Comics Universe created by Jack Kirby as part of the Fourth World series of comic books in the early 1970s. ...

Mark Desmond has also appeared on The Batman, and was suspected of being absorbed into that series as part of the so-called Bat-Embargo; however, his inclusion in the Legion of Doom has scuttled this. The Batman is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. ...

External links

• The Unofficial Blockbuster Chronology