Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Spaceopoly The NON-LEGION comics trivia thread!!! Round two

Which Batman-villain had a brief supporting role in Neil Gaiman's Sandman?

Not -

Two-Face
Mad Hatter
Scarecrow
Rose & Thorn
Dr. Destiny
Hugo Strange
Catwoman
The "Funland" Killer
Calendar Man
Poison Ivy
Riddler
Cluemaster
Penguin
Calculator
Mr Freeze
Dr. Death
or
Gorilla Boss of Gotham

Clues so far -

* A specifically Batman-villain.
* Their appearance in Sandman was more of a supporting role than a cameo (but not a very big one).
* Never appeared 'in costume' (though they do normally wear one).
* Not only did they never appear 'in costume', no mention of their other identity or the fact that they are a villain (let alone a Batman-villain) was ever made. Thus, if you didn't know that X was the secret identity of Y, you probably wouldn't have known that this was a Batman-villain you were reading about.
* Before their appearance in Sandman, this character had been "dead" in the then-current DCU for a number of years. Ever since then they've been "alive", with no in-DCU continuity explanation why - leaving fans (and Wikipedia) to assume that they had been one of the sinners shown escaping from Hell when Lucifer abdicated his throne a few issues earlier.

New clue -

* This character first appeared in the 1970s.

Ah! I researched it and discovered the answer. Definitely on the fringes of Batman's rogues, but not super-duper obscure. I'll let the fun continue with one more clue: there have been multiple characters to go by the name.

(btw, the wikipedia article seems to contradict itself by saying that versions 1 & 3 participated in the same relatively recent story--I wonder if they both really did?)

Clayface?

Clayface is a good guess as it fits in with Lardy's clue (which was going to be my next one) but it's not the right answer.

Updating the question -

Which Batman-villain had a brief supporting role in Neil Gaiman's Sandman?

Not -

Two-Face
Mad Hatter
Scarecrow
Rose & Thorn
Dr. Destiny
Hugo Strange
Catwoman
The "Funland" Killer
Calendar Man
Poison Ivy
Riddler
Cluemaster
Penguin
Calculator
Mr Freeze
Dr. Death
Gorilla Boss of Gotham
or
Clayface

Clues so far -

* A specifically Batman-villain.
* Their appearance in Sandman was more of a supporting role than a cameo (but not a very big one).
* Never appeared 'in costume' (though they do normally wear one).
* Not only did they never appear 'in costume', no mention of their other identity or the fact that they are a villain (let alone a Batman-villain) was ever made. Thus, if you didn't know that X was the secret identity of Y, you probably wouldn't have known that this was a Batman-villain you were reading about.
* Before their appearance in Sandman, this character had been "dead" in the then-current DCU for a number of years. Ever since then they've been "alive", with no in-DCU continuity explanation why - leaving fans (and Wikipedia) to assume that they had been one of the sinners shown escaping from Hell when Lucifer abdicated his throne a few issues earlier.
* This character first appeared in the 1970s.

New clue -

* 3 different characters have fought Batman under this identity. The one who appeared in Sandman is the original (and current-again I think) wearer of the disguise.

Firebug?

Which Batman-villain had a brief supporting role in Neil Gaiman's Sandman?

Not -

Two-Face
Mad Hatter
Scarecrow
Rose & Thorn
Dr. Destiny
Hugo Strange
Catwoman
The "Funland" Killer
Calendar Man
Poison Ivy
Riddler
Cluemaster
Penguin
Calculator
Mr Freeze
Dr. Death
Gorilla Boss of Gotham
Clayface
or
Firebug

Clues so far -

* A specifically Batman-villain.
* Their appearance in Sandman was more of a supporting role than a cameo (but not a very big one).
* Never appeared 'in costume' (though they do normally wear one).
* Not only did they never appear 'in costume', no mention of their other identity or the fact that they are a villain (let alone a Batman-villain) was ever made. Thus, if you didn't know that X was the secret identity of Y, you probably wouldn't have known that this was a Batman-villain you were reading about.
* Before their appearance in Sandman, this character had been "dead" in the then-current DCU for a number of years. Ever since then they've been "alive", with no in-DCU continuity explanation why - leaving fans (and Wikipedia) to assume that they had been one of the sinners shown escaping from Hell when Lucifer abdicated his throne a few issues earlier.
* This character first appeared in the 1970s.
* 3 different characters have fought Batman under this identity. The one who appeared in Sandman is the original (and current-again I think) wearer of the disguise.

New clue -

* Their appearance in Sandman was as someone's love interest.

Thessaly?

Blockbuster?

Which Batman-villain had a brief supporting role in Neil Gaiman's Sandman?

Not -

Two-Face
Mad Hatter
Scarecrow
Rose & Thorn
Dr. Destiny
Hugo Strange
Catwoman
The "Funland" Killer
Calendar Man
Poison Ivy
Riddler
Cluemaster
Penguin
Calculator
Mr Freeze
Dr. Death
Gorilla Boss of Gotham
Clayface
Firebug
Thessaly
or
Blockbuster

Clues so far -

* A specifically Batman-villain.
* Their appearance in Sandman was more of a supporting role than a cameo (but not a very big one).
* Never appeared 'in costume' (though they do normally wear one).
* Not only did they never appear 'in costume', no mention of their other identity or the fact that they are a villain (let alone a Batman-villain) was ever made. Thus, if you didn't know that X was the secret identity of Y, you probably wouldn't have known that this was a Batman-villain you were reading about.
* Before their appearance in Sandman, this character had been "dead" in the then-current DCU for a number of years. Ever since then they've been "alive", with no in-DCU continuity explanation why - leaving fans (and Wikipedia) to assume that they had been one of the sinners shown escaping from Hell when Lucifer abdicated his throne a few issues earlier.
* This character first appeared in the 1970s.
* 3 different characters have fought Batman under this identity. The one who appeared in Sandman is the original (and current-again I think) wearer of the disguise.
* Their appearance in Sandman was as someone's love interest.

New clue -

* Comics this character has appeared in include Detective Comics, Batman, Batman: Shadow of the Bat, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Secret Origins, Birds of Prey, Young Justice, Identity Crisis, Salvation Run, Villains United, Who's Who, Underworld Unleashed, JLA, JSA, Superman/Batman, Secret Six, Gotham Central and, of course, Sandman.

The Spook

Dr Light?

Man-bat?

Blacula, even though this question has been going awhile, I love how you keep giving hints to keep the thread alive and moving! My hat is off to you, sir!

(I have no idea what the answer is, btw...)

^ Thanks lancesrealm. Honestly, I wasn't expecting to have to leave all these clues, but people are taking longer to answer this question than I was expecting. And I'd hate to be the cause of Trivia Thread Death.

---

Which Batman-villain had a brief supporting role in Neil Gaiman's Sandman?

Not -

Two-Face
Mad Hatter
Scarecrow
Rose & Thorn
Dr. Destiny
Hugo Strange
Catwoman
The "Funland" Killer
Calendar Man
Poison Ivy
Riddler
Cluemaster
Penguin
Calculator
Mr Freeze
Dr. Death
Gorilla Boss of Gotham
Clayface
Firebug
Thessaly
Blockbuster
The Spook
Dr. Light
or
Man-Bat

Clues so far -

* A specifically Batman-villain.
* Their appearance in Sandman was more of a supporting role than a cameo (but not a very big one).
* Never appeared 'in costume' (though they do normally wear one).
* Not only did they never appear 'in costume', no mention of their other identity or the fact that they are a villain (let alone a Batman-villain) was ever made. Thus, if you didn't know that X was the secret identity of Y, you probably wouldn't have known that this was a Batman-villain you were reading about.
* Before their appearance in Sandman, this character had been "dead" in the then-current DCU for a number of years. Ever since then they've been "alive", with no in-DCU continuity explanation why - leaving fans (and Wikipedia) to assume that they had been one of the sinners shown escaping from Hell when Lucifer abdicated his throne a few issues earlier.
* This character first appeared in the 1970s.
* 3 different characters have fought Batman under this identity. The one who appeared in Sandman is the original (and current-again I think) wearer of the disguise.
* Their appearance in Sandman was as someone's love interest.
* Comics this character has appeared in include Detective Comics, Batman, Batman: Shadow of the Bat, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Secret Origins, Birds of Prey, Young Justice, Identity Crisis, Salvation Run, Villains United, Who's Who, Underworld Unleashed, JLA, JSA, Superman/Batman, Secret Six, Gotham Central and, of course, Sandman.

New clue -

* Even though this character is traditionally a "villain" of Batman's, their goals/objectives are actually the same as his - but their modus operandi is what brings them into conflict with the Bat-family.

Killer Moth?

Catman?

Found the answer through research as well. I don't think I've personally ever read a story where this character was the main villain, though I have heard of them. Mainly from one of those "Daily Planet" in-house ads back in the 1970's that focused on a story of Batman vs. this baddie.

Reaper?

Which Batman-villain had a brief supporting role in Neil Gaiman's Sandman?

Not -

Two-Face
Mad Hatter
Scarecrow
Rose & Thorn
Dr. Destiny
Hugo Strange
Catwoman
The "Funland" Killer
Calendar Man
Poison Ivy
Riddler
Cluemaster
Penguin
Calculator
Mr Freeze
Dr. Death
Gorilla Boss of Gotham
Clayface
Firebug
Thessaly
Blockbuster
The Spook
Dr. Light
Man-Bat
Killer Moth
Catman
or
Reaper

Instead of offering a new clue I'm going to amend some of the clues given so far -

* A specifically Batman-villain.
* Their appearance in Sandman was more of a supporting role than a cameo (but not a very big one). THEY APPEARED IN THE KINDLY ONES STORYLINE.
* Never appeared 'in costume' (though they do normally wear one). A RATHER GARISHLY-COLOURED ONE.
* Not only did they never appear 'in costume', no mention of their other identity or the fact that they are a villain (let alone a Batman-villain) was ever made. Thus, if you didn't know that X was the secret identity of Y, you probably wouldn't have known that this was a Batman-villain you were reading about.
* Before their appearance in Sandman, this character had been "dead" in the then-current DCU for a number of years. Ever since then they've been "alive", with no in-DCU continuity explanation why - leaving fans (and Wikipedia) to assume that they had been one of the sinners shown escaping from Hell when Lucifer abdicated his throne a few issues earlier. THEY HAD ORIGINALLY DIED AFTER DETONATING A BOMB STRAPPED TO THEIR BACK.
* This character first appeared in the 1970s. AND IS VERY MUCH A 1970s TYPE OF CHARACTER.
* 3 different characters have fought Batman under this identity. The one who appeared in Sandman is the original (and current-again I think) wearer of the disguise. THE SECOND ONE WAS KILLED BY CRISPUS ALLEN BEFORE HE BECAME THE SPECTRE.
* Their appearance in Sandman was as someone's love interest. SPECIFICALLY, LYTA HALL'S (BRIEF) LOVE INTEREST.
* Comics this character has appeared in include Detective Comics, Batman, Batman: Shadow of the Bat, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Secret Origins, Birds of Prey, Young Justice, Identity Crisis, Salvation Run, Villains United, Who's Who, Underworld Unleashed, JLA, JSA, Superman/Batman, Secret Six, Gotham Central and, of course, Sandman.
* Even though this character is traditionally a "villain" of Batman's, their goals/objectives are actually the same as his - but their modus operandi is what brings them into conflict with the Bat-family. THEY KILL DRUG DEALERS.

Sheesh. With those additional clues, I can certainly tell which character in Sandman you're referring to, but I have no idea what his costumed villain identity was.

Short of actually looking up the answer, I'll try one more educated guess. I remember in the Kindly Ones, Lyta was dating her boss, a guy named Eric (or Erik).

I don't know the details of this Batman villain other than the fact that he seems to fit the "opposite number" traits of your last clue, but, was it The Wrath?

(If that's not it, I think I'm out of guesses).

Black Spider?

Not The Wrath, Exnihil, but good guess.

But someone does finally put me out of my misery and get the answer (it was getting harder and harder to come up with those clues) -

Well done Kent! It was the Batman-villain Black Spider, otherwise known as Eric Needham, who briefly dated Lyta Hall at the end of Neil Gaiman's Sandman run!

(Did you work it out from the clues or did you have to look it up?)

Since his other identity was never mentioned, there's some debate as to whether Gaiman was actually using the Gerry Conway-created DCU character in his book - but it would be a pretty weird coincidence if there just happened to be TWO black guys of the same age and build and appearance named Eric Needham in DC comics.

I don't think Gaiman's ever explained the usage but since Sandman drew so heavily on 70s DC concepts (Kirby Sandman, Destiny, Cain & Abel, House of Mystery, etc.) it's obvious he was very familiar with that era and maybe just had a soft-spot for the Black Spider or something?

Whatever the case, most Black Spider/Eric Needham biographies now list his resurrection in Sandman as canon.

Here are his Wikipedia and Batman-Wikia entries for people wanting to know more about him -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Spider

http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Black_Spider

He's a cool character that I'd like to see more of actually.

Now over to you Kent.

I discovered the answer earlier by going through a list of minor Batman villains directed from the Batman entry on Wikipedia. I clicked on every one that originated in the '70s and found him in that manner. It was such a cool, tricky question that I wanted to see how far it would go. I hope we see more of the Black Spider soon!

I'd found it on that same wikipedia list, but I thought since I knew someone else had already researched it out, that it wasn't really for me to spoil. Well done, Kent.