Unrevealed

The first Gearhead appeared as a henchman of the supervillain

Supervillain

A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...

 called White Rabbit.

Nathan Finch

The second Gearhead is Nathan Finch, a former engineer at General Robotics. While he was kidnapping and holding his boss' daughter for ransom, Gloria Osteen he runs afoul of Batman

Batman

Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...

 who rescues her. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to save Nathan from falling to an icy death. Nathan Finch's body was discovered by two down-and-out people who take him to an unnamed underworld doctor. It turned out that Nathan wasn't dead and the doctor wanted his knowledge of cybernetics. Due to ravages of frostbite, the doctor removed his arms and legs and replaced them with cybernetic arms and legs. Nathan becomes Gearhead and develops his own cybernetic arsenal of removable body parts as well as a goal to exterminate Batman, whom he refers to as the "vermin".

He played a part in the Robin

Robin (comics)

Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...

section of the No Man's Land crossover, in which he is one of a number of villains competing for control of Gotham City

Gotham City

Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...

's sewers. Without the use of his cybernetic arms and legs, he is forced into partnership with the thuggish Tommy Mangles, who carries around Finch's torso. The duo are iced by Mr. Freeze

Mr. Freeze

Mr. Freeze, real name Dr. Victor Fries , is a DC Comics supervillain, an enemy of Batman. Created by Bob Kane, he first appeared in Batman #121 ....

, a fate particularly frightening for Gearhead, given his origin.

He put in an appearance in the comic mini-series Rush City

Rush City (comics)

Rush City is a six-issue comic book limited series published monthly by DC Comics from September of 2006 until 2007. The series is written by Chuck Dixon with illustrations by Timothy Green II colored by Jose Villarrubia. DC Comics produced a special Zero issue web-comic that is available on the DC...

, where he is physically attached to his car.

In Infinite Crisis

Infinite Crisis

Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...

, Gearhead became a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains

Secret Society of Super Villains

The Secret Society of Super Villains is a group of comic book supervillains that exist in the DC Universe...

.

Television

• Gearhead first appeared in the The Batman
  The Batman (TV series)
  The Batman is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. It ran from 2004 to 2008, on the Saturday morning television block Kids' WB...
  
  episode "RPM" voiced by Will Friedle
  Will Friedle
  William Alan "Will" Friedle is an American actor, voice actor and comedian. He is best known for his comedic roles, most notably the underachieving elder brother Eric Matthews on the long-running TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000...
  
  . In this version, Gearhead (Nathan Finch) is a criminal car racer, who operates with advanced forms of nanotechnology
  Nanotechnology
  Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
  
  . He appears to be a cyborg
  Cyborg
  A cyborg is a being with both biological and artificial parts. The term was coined in 1960 when Manfred Clynes and Nathan S. Kline used it in an article about the advantages of self-regulating human-machine systems in outer space. D. S...
  
  , as the Batman says, "He doesn't control nanotechnology; he is nanotechnology". His right arm has cords of some kind of nanotechnological virus which infects the vehicle and alters it into a yellow-coloured, more hi-tech form with advanced features. His fingertips can extend to form claws when he is engaged in combat. His right arm bears certain shells of the nanotechnological virus, which he can fire at other vehicles and control them remotely. Also, he has a robotic right eye that can automatically guide and maneuver his vehicle through traffic and other obstructions for him. Gearhead first shows up in yellow race car during a charity race that Bruce Wayne (the Batman) is also competing in. Gearhead wins the race and steals all the charity money and rides off, leaving all the contestants baffled. Soon after, he ends up getting chased by the Batman in his Batmobile
  Batmobile
  The Batmobile is the automobile of DC Comics superhero Batman. The car has evolved along with the character from comic books to television and films. Kept in the Batcave, which it accesses through a hidden entrance, the Batmobile is a gadget-laden vehicle used by Batman in his crime-fighting...
  
  . However, Gearhead appears to be too fast for the Batman, and later the batman eventually loses control of the Batmobile and falls off a cliff. He manages to jump in time, but has the Batmobile destroyed. Later, at the Batcave
  Batcave
  The Batcave is the secret headquarters of fictional DC Comics superhero Batman, the alternate identity of playboy Bruce Wayne, consisting of a series of subterranean caves beneath his residence, Wayne Manor.-Publication history:...
  
  , Wayne builds a new Batmobile with upgraded parts from other prototypes in his possession, from the Wayne Industries and even from the nanotechnological shell that he recovered from a vehicle that Gearhead was earlier controlling. With a bigger and better vehicle, the Batman, along with the Batgirl
  Batgirl
  Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman...
  
  , outraces Gearhead and defeats him. When he tries to steal the new Batmobile by injecting his cords into it, he is electrocuted, as the Batman tells that he reversed the effects of the virus so that it can't infect his vehicle. Gearhead is then sent to jail.

Toys

• Two action figures of Gearhead were made for the The Batman toyline. One for EXP line, and one for the Shadowtek line. However, Mattel renamed him "Metal Head" due to legal reasons.

Miscellaneous

• Gearhead appears in The Batman Strikes!
  The Batman (TV series)
  The Batman is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. It ran from 2004 to 2008, on the Saturday morning television block Kids' WB...
  
  . In issue #36, it is revealed he used to be Nathan Finch, a big celebrity in underground racing. A car accident severely crippled him, making him lose the use of his arms and legs, and destroyed his career. Finch, lusting for power and glory, gained cybernetic parts and nanotechnology from an unknown benefactor, becoming Gearhead, and wreaked havoc in Gotham City. Gearhead later makes a cameo alongside many rogues in Arkham Asylum
  Arkham Asylum
  The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, commonly referred to simply as Arkham Asylum, is a fictional psychiatric hospital in the DC Comics Universe, usually appearing in stories featuring Batman...
  
   in issue #39 who take revenge against recently-imprisoned Black Mask
  Black Mask (comics)
  Black Mask is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. An enemy of Batman, he first appeared in Batman #386 . Black Mask was created by Doug Moench and Tom Mandrake.-Dark beginning:...
  
  .