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Spellbinder (DC Comics)
Encyclopedia
Spellbinder is the name of three fiction
al characters that appear as villains in comic book
s published by DC Comics
. Versions of the character have appeared on the animated series Batman Beyond
and The Batman
.
Spellbinder (Delbert Billings) first appeared in Detective Comics
#358 (December 1966), and was created by John Broome
and Sheldon Moldoff
. He 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
during his first robbery, but hypnotized the crimefighter into believing he was involved in an entirely different situation, as 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.
After leaving prison, Spellbinder faced off with Superman
in Superman
#330 (1978). Using a miniature turntable, he was able to create sonic blasts that would make targets more susceptible to his hypnotic suggestions. The addition of a shock absorbing chin-guard to his helmet protected him from being knocked out by Superman, and special lenses protected him from hypnosis by the Man of Steel. He was finally defeated when his own sonic blasts were echoed back on him (rendering him unconscious). This issue also revealed how Superman uses sub-conscious hypnosis (heightened by the Kryptonian lenses in his glasses) to successfully disguise himself as Clark Kent.
Spellbinder joined a loosely knit conglomerate of crime organized by the Monarch of Menace. He 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.
Later, 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 Spellbinder's soul, but he declined. Fay, however, thought it sounded like a great idea, so she shot Spellbinder in the head and accepted the offer for herself. Neron was not surprised and explained that he had never actually been addressing Spellbinder with the offer; he had been addressing her all along.
vol. 2, #65 (June 1994), as a member of the government sanctioned "League-Busters".
During the Underworld Unleashed
crossover, Delbert Billings (the original Spellbinder) turned down Neron
's offer of immense power and was shot by his girlfriend, Fay Moffit, who then became the third Spellbinder (also known as Lady Spellbinder).
Neron granted her the ability to induce genuine hallucinations. She was followed by Batman
and Robin
, but they did not know the scale of her illusion-casting abilities, which extend to making absolutely everything disappear. She escaped from the heroes 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 using a version of virtual reality technology. Once captured, Spellbinder discovers that her deal with Neron was not all she had 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 Barbara. Barbara was able to defeat Spellbinder 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.
Spellbinder 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.
Spellbinder returned again in the mini-series The Joker: Last Laugh. In Birds of Prey #36, she battles Black Canary, who is trapped inside Slabside Penitentiary along with a host of villains infected by the Joker
, making them even more crazed than ever. Black Canary's sonic cry is able to give most of them pause, but the 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, Black Canary soon notices that Marvel's lightning bolt is backwards, and the heroes are revealed to be an illusion created by Spellbinder, who was the first of the female villains infected by the Joker.
Spellbinder was apparently killed alongside the Trigger Twins by a group of gun-toting superheroes 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.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al characters that appear as villains in comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. Versions of the character have appeared on the animated series Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond is an American animated television series created by Warner Bros. Animation in collaboration with DC Comics as a continuation of the Batman legacy...
and 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...
.
Delbert Billings
Detective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
#358 (December 1966), and was created by John Broome
John Broome (writer)
John Broome , who additionally used the pseudonyms John Osgood and Edgar Ray Meritt, was an American comic book writer for DC Comics.-Early life and career:...
and Sheldon Moldoff
Sheldon Moldoff
Sheldon "Shelly" Moldoff is an American comic book artist best known his early work on the DC Comics characters Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and as one of Bob Kane's primary "ghost artists" on the superhero Batman. He co-created the Batman supervillains Poison Ivy, Mr...
. He was a painter who used optical illusions and hypnotic
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
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
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...
during his first robbery, but hypnotized the crimefighter into believing he was involved in an entirely different situation, as 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.
After leaving prison, Spellbinder faced off with Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
in Superman
Superman (comic book)
Superman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character Superman began as one of several anthology features in the National Periodical Publications comic book Action Comics #1 in June 1938...
#330 (1978). Using a miniature turntable, he was able to create sonic blasts that would make targets more susceptible to his hypnotic suggestions. The addition of a shock absorbing chin-guard to his helmet protected him from being knocked out by Superman, and special lenses protected him from hypnosis by the Man of Steel. He was finally defeated when his own sonic blasts were echoed back on him (rendering him unconscious). This issue also revealed how Superman uses sub-conscious hypnosis (heightened by the Kryptonian lenses in his glasses) to successfully disguise himself as Clark Kent.
Spellbinder joined a loosely knit conglomerate of crime organized by the Monarch of Menace. He 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.
Later, Spellbinder was on the run from the law with his new girlfriend, Fay Moffit, when he was confronted by the demon-lord Neron
Neron
Neron is a fictional demon, a comic book character published by DC Comics. He first appeared in the DC Comics cross-over event Underworld Unleashed #1, , and was created by Mark Waid and Howard Porter.- Publication history :...
. Neron made an offer of immense power in exchange for Spellbinder's soul, but he declined. Fay, however, thought it sounded like a great idea, so she shot Spellbinder in the head and accepted the offer for herself. Neron was not surprised and explained that he had never actually been addressing Spellbinder with the offer; he had been addressing her all along.
Unnamed
A second Spellbinder appeared in Justice League InternationalJustice League International
Justice League International is a DC Comics superhero team written by Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis, with art by Kevin Maguire, created in 1987.-Publication history:...
vol. 2, #65 (June 1994), as a member of the government sanctioned "League-Busters".
Fay Moffit
Underworld Unleashed
Underworld Unleashed was a multi-title comic book cross-over event released by DC Comics in 1995. As well as the core story-line of the three-issue Underworld Unleashed mini-series, most of the DC titles published in November and December 1995 and a number of one-off titles were part of the...
crossover, Delbert Billings (the original Spellbinder) turned down Neron
Neron
Neron is a fictional demon, a comic book character published by DC Comics. He first appeared in the DC Comics cross-over event Underworld Unleashed #1, , and was created by Mark Waid and Howard Porter.- Publication history :...
's offer of immense power and was shot by his girlfriend, Fay Moffit, who then became the third Spellbinder (also known as Lady Spellbinder).
Neron granted her the ability to induce genuine hallucinations. She was followed by 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...
and Robin
Tim Drake
Timothy "Tim" Drake is a superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics and in related media. The character was created by Marv Wolfman and Pat Broderick. From 1989 to 2009, he was known as Robin in the Batman comics, becoming the third character to take up the identity...
, but they did not know the scale of her illusion-casting abilities, which extend to making absolutely everything disappear. She escaped from the heroes 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 using a version of virtual reality technology. Once captured, Spellbinder discovers that her deal with Neron was not all she had 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
Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and in related media, created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino...
was 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...
(although she did not realize this had once been true). She had been hired by Blockbuster to kidnap Barbara. Barbara was able to defeat Spellbinder 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.
Spellbinder returned to Birds of Prey when Black Canary
Black Canary
Black Canary is the name of two fictional characters, DC Comics superheroines created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino. The first Black Canary debuted appeared in Flash Comics #86 . The first Black Canary was the alter-ego of Dinah Drake, who took part in Golden Age adventures...
and Catwoman
Catwoman
Catwoman is a fictional character associated with DC Comics' Batman franchise. Historically a supervillain, the character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's cousin, Ruth Steel...
were kidnapped by the rogue parademon
Parademon
Parademons are a fictional group of aliens in the . They are monstrous shock troops of Apokolips used by Darkseid to maintain order of the planet. The original Parademons were created by Jack Kirby in The New Gods #1 .-Fictional history:...
Pharzoof
Pharzoof
Pharzoof is a fictional extraterrestrial published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Birds of Prey #6 , and was created by Chuck Dixon and Greg Land.-Fictional character biography:...
. She was being transported with several fellow villains when their train was hi-jacked and taken to Apokolips
Apokolips
In the DC Comics fictional shared Universe, Apokolips is the planet ruled by Darkseid, established in Jack Kirby's Fourth World series. It is also integral to many DC Comics stories. The planet is considered the opposite of New Genesis....
. The villains battled the parademons and eventually were returned to Earth where they were taken to the Slab.
Spellbinder returned again in the mini-series The Joker: Last Laugh. In Birds of Prey #36, she battles Black Canary, who is trapped inside Slabside Penitentiary along with a host of villains infected by the Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
, making them even more crazed than ever. Black Canary's sonic cry is able to give most of them pause, but the Joker sends Copperhead
Copperhead (DC Comics)
Copperhead is a DC Comics supervillain, he first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #78, June and was created by Bob Haney and Bob Brown.-"John Doe":...
and Hellgrammite
Hellgrammite (comics)
Hellgrammite is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in DC Comics. He first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #80 .-Fictional character biography:...
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
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, and Mary Marvel
Mary Marvel
Mary Marvel is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine, originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics. Created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze, she first appeared in Captain Marvel Adventures #18 in...
. However, Black Canary soon notices that Marvel's lightning bolt is backwards, and the heroes are revealed to be an illusion created by Spellbinder, who was the first of the female villains infected by the Joker.
Spellbinder was apparently killed alongside the Trigger Twins by a group of gun-toting superheroes during 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...
. 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.
Powers and abilities
The Original Spellbinder used a number of optical and aural devices of his own invention to hypnotize others. His fighting skills were minimal. The Second Unnamed Spellbinder had genuine mystical abilities. The Third Spellbinder, better known as Lady 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.In other media
- In Batman BeyondBatman BeyondBatman Beyond is an American animated television series created by Warner Bros. Animation in collaboration with DC Comics as a continuation of the Batman legacy...
, Spellbinder is the alter-ego of Ira Billings, the psychologistSchool psychologySchool psychology is a field that applies principles of clinical psychology and educational psychology to the diagnosis and treatment of children's and adolescents' behavioral and learning problems...
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 appears in the episodes "Spellbound", "Hooked Up", and "Eyewitness"; and was voiced by Jon CypherJon Cypher-Biography:Born in New York City, Cypher graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in 1949 and Brooklyn College in 1953. He made his television debut as the Prince in the original 1957 production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella opposite Julie Andrews in the title role...
. One question that has been raised about this Spellbinder is how he came to acquire his advanced mind-warping technology on his meager salary, especially since the most advanced virtual realityVirtual realityVirtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
technology in the Batman Beyond universe still requires larger immobile machines. It can be assumed, given his knowledge and intellect, that he created his devices from scratch. Bruce Wayne even admits that his technology is highly advanced, meaning much more so than standard consumer technology.
- In The BatmanThe 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...
, Spellbinder has a third eyeThird eyeThe third eye is a mystical and esoteric concept referring in part to the ajna chakra in certain spiritual traditions. It is also spoken of as the gate that leads within to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness...
which he acquired while meditating in the Far EastFar EastThe Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. This third eye gives him the ability to induce hallucinations in others, a power he uses to steal from Gotham CityGotham CityGotham 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 wealthiest citizens. This Spellbinder wears a red cape over a grey suit with three black-rimmed eye holes. In "The Butler Did It", he came close to discovering Batman's secret identitySecret identityA secret identity is an element of fiction wherein a character develops a separate persona , while keeping their true identity hidden. The character also may wear a disguise...
when Batman responded to a hypnotic command directed to Bruce Wayne. Fortunately, thanks to AlfredAlfred PennyworthAlfred Pennyworth is a fictional character that appears throughout the DC Comics franchise. The character first appears in Batman #16 , and was created by writer Bob Kane and artist Jerry Robinson. Alfred serves as Batman’s tireless butler, assistant, confidant, and surrogate father figure...
's timely intervention and his audio link to Batman, he breaks free from the hypnosis and Spellbinder believes that Batman just pretended to be under his command to catch him unguarded. Spellbinder later appears "Rumors". He was voiced by Michael MasseeMichael MasseeMichael Massee is an American actor perhaps best known for his roles as villains in film and television, as well as his unintentional and accidental involvement in the death of Brandon Lee.-Career:...
.