Arkham Origins: Killer Croc Origin & Review

Debuting in 1983’s, Batman #357, Killer Croc arrived in Gotham City with one goal, to be “King.”  He had the strength, the intimidation and the drive to make a name for himself.  Born with a rare skin disease called Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis which left large scale like markings all over his body, Waylon Jones had a rough childhood to say the least.  His mother died while giving birth and his father abandoned him, leaving Waylon to be raised by his abusive aunt.  Disgusted by his appearance, she forced Waylon to painfully scrub his skin to remove the scales.

   

Picked on by the other children, Waylon was a loner.  Growing up different in the south did not help as he got older.  In and out of the juvenile detention center, Jones became more and more filled with rage.  At the age of 16, he committed his first murder when he killed a fellow inmate for mocking his appearance.

After spending years in prison, Waylon made parole.  He found work with a sideshow wrestling alligators.  It was there that Waylon Jones became known as Killer Croc.  For the first time in his life, Croc had found a place where he belonged and forged a family with the traveling carnival.  But when the carnival fell apart, Croc had few options and turned to crime.

NOTE:  In the New 52, Croc learns that he is being swindled by the circus owner and bites his arm off.

   

Blowing off petty crime, Killer Croc set out to take over the Gotham Underground.  With one henchman recruited, he knew he needed to prove himself.  He killed big time crime head, Tony Falco and the up-and-coming mob boss, the Squid and stole an advanced computer from S.T.A.R. Labs to show he meant business.

Unfortunately for him it was not long before he grabbed the attention of Gotham’s protector.  After getting the best of Batman a few times, he was finally defeated and sent up the river.  Killer Croc spends much of his time in and out of Arkham Asyslum.

  

Whether lurking in the sewers, pulling off a grand heist or being a physical threat to the Dark Knight, Killer Croc remains one of the scariest and deadliest foes in DC Comics.  His superhuman strength and fast healing factor make him almost impossible to defeat.  Batman and the GCPD often have to subdue the monster in order to return him to his cage.  Few chains and restraints can do the trick and it usually isn’t long before Killer Croc is free once more and reeking havoc in Gotham!

That brings us to today’s toy review.  I have to say, I rarely purchase these deluxe size action figures.  They are not to scale with the 6 or 6.5 inch figures and they usually do not move all that well.  But as a fan of Batman and Killer Croc, I could not pass this one up!

First off, the resemblance to the character in Batman: Arkham Origins is amazing.  His beady eyes and sinister grin exude a frightening confidence that only a man with a crocodile appearance could pull off.  The head, shoulders and back are detailed nicely with his classic scaly markings.  Unlike many of the larger action figures that DC Collectibles has produced (Darkseid, Bane), this one has a waist joint.  They seem to be getting better with the articulation on their toys.

One of the main reasons I purchased this action figure is because of his attire.  As silly as that may sound, Croc’s pants and suspenders remind me of carnival workers or Carnies.  As previously mentioned, Waylon Jones worked for a carnival as part of the sideshow before devoting his life to crime as Killer Croc.

Then there is the size.  Standing at 10 inches, Croc easily towers over Batman (and everyone else).  Though slightly unrealistic, it certainly adds to his creep factor.  All in all I really like this figure, good sculpt and articulation throughout.  Check out Batman: Arkham Origins and DC Collectibles for more details.

 

Building Gotham: Week Three

“Mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it…”

I have started work on another building.  This is from the infamous scene where Catwoman “kisses” Batman for the first time.  With wood dowels purchased from a local Lowes, this one is pretty straight forward.  Sanding and wood filler will be completed this week.

For the chimney, I built a wood base. I purchased Andi Mini Brick & Stone #AM0205CNR, Charcoal Brick.  The grouting, which I will complete in the coming days, will be Andi Mini Brick & Stone Mortar Mix #AM0239.

Both buildings still need to be painted.  I would like to first get the foundation for the project complete.  Here are the buildings together so far.

I have started testing out the lighting that I purchased on eBay.  I am using Houseworks Power Strip #2203 and a Cir-Kit Concepts Transformer.  This is my first time trying lighting on a project.  Let’s just say it has been very trial and error thus far.

Here is a little taste:

    

DC Comics Top 5 Ice-Themed Villains

As winter approaches and temperatures drastically drop, this is the perfect time to reflect on some of DC Comics most dangerous and bizarre ice-themed villains.  These coldhearted foes have been bringing a chill to pop culture since the Golden Age of comics.  This list will explore those characters who base their modus operandi on the use of icy powers, freeze rays, climate control, snow trickery, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.  So put on your best winter wear and let the snowball fight and bad puns begin!

5) Snowman

Here to break the ice, half yeti, half man, Klaus Kristin is the first villain on the countdown.  Calling himself “Snowman,” Klaus made two comic book appearances in the early eighties, taking on the Dark Knight.  In Batman #337, Klaus kills two men before facing Batman and eventually falling off a cliff.  Batman later confronts Kristin and his yeti father.  Klaus has the ability to change from an albino human into a yeti.  Snowman would later assist other ice themed villains in an attempt to takeover a small African nation.

4) Icicle

The oldest of the villains on this list, debuting in 1947 in All-American Comics #90, Dr. Joar Mahkent arrived in Gotham City freezing a luxury liner completely solid.  Covered in a layer of permafrost and wielding a freeze ray gun, Icicle quickly attracted the attention of Green Lantern, Alan Scott.  Shortly after, he became a member of one of the first super villain team-ups, the Injustice Society of the World.  Now deceased, Joar’s body lay entombed below the Hall of Justice.

As they say, father like son, Cameron Mahkent would later take up the mantle as the new Icicle.  After years of prolonged exposure to cryogenic chemicals and gases, Joar’s genetics were compromised and passed on to his son, giving Cameron cryokinetic powers.  No love loss for dear old dad, Cameron has stated that his turn to villainy is less about legacy and more about wreaking havoc.  Aligning himself with the a new Injustice Society and later the Secret Society of Super Villains, this ruthless predecessor has taken on some of the highest profile heroes, including Superman and Batman (Public Enemies).

3) Killer Frost

Crystal Frost, a student at Hudson University, fell in love with her uninterested professor, Martin Stein (one half of Firestorm).  Talk about your coldshoulder.  After getting accidentally locked in a thermo frost chamber, Crystal transformed in to the frigid Killer Frost, directing her anger at Firestorm.  She would later join the likes of Ultra-Humanite and Cheetah in the Secret Society of Super Villains to take on the Justice League of America.  Eventually she confided in her friend, Louise Lincoln, who ran test on her and discovered that her powers were slowly killing her.  In an effort to save her life, Firestorm allowed Frost to absorb some of his energy.  Unfortunately she absorbed too much and died.

Repeating the experiment that transformed her friend and colleague, Crystal into Killer Frost, Louise would assume her identity.  Blaming Firestorm for Crystal’s death, she sought revenge.  Frost has the ability to generate projectiles and defense walls made entirely of ice.  Unlike other ice-themed villains, Killer Frost can absorb heat based weaponry and thrives on it.  She went on to join Lex Luthor, Joker, and Cheetah in the Injustice League.  Loren Fontier and most recently, Caitlin Snow would also take up the moniker of Killer Frost.

2) Captain Cold

One might argue that the top spot for ice-themed villain in DC Comics should go to this man, Leonard Snart aka Captain Cold.  Coming from a troubled home, Leonard got his criminal start in small time theft.  After being incarcerated by the Flash, Snart decided to up his game and devised a cold gun that could reach absolute zero, which could slow down the world’s fastest man.  Captain Cold is the leader of the Rogues, a group of the Flash’s greatest foes.  Snart and the Rogues have a strict code of honor.  He enforces a rule of no drug use, no senseless violence, and no killing especially woman and children.  This moral code, as interesting as it may be for a bad guy, is the reason for his position as second top ice-themed villain.  In his most current incarnation, Snart has traded in his cold gun for actual cryokinetic powers.

1) Mr. Freeze

It should come as no surprise that the number one villain on this countdown is Victor Fries aka Mr. Freeze.  Mr. Freeze began his comic book life as Mr. Zero, a somewhat joke character that became popular after the 1960’s Batman TV Series.  In the 90’s, Freeze would receive a makeover.  The once petty thief, who used an ice gun similar to Captain Cold, gained a purpose when his back story revealed a scientist trying to save his wife Nora, from terminal illness.  Victor placed his wife in cryo-stasis but his work was interrupted, and he was subjected to the cryo-chemicals which lower his body temperature requiring him to wear a special suit.  This version of the character committed crimes to further his research though he does have a weakness for diamonds.

Mr. Freeze lands the number one spot on this list because aside from his great origin story, he is a brilliant scientist in multiple fields, multi-lingual, and is immune to most toxins, bacteria, and viruses.  His refrigeration suit gives him super strength and his accident has drastically slowed down the aging process making him a fierce competitor long after Batman is gone.  Mr. Freeze was recently revealed to have never been married to Nora.  She was a research subject that he fell in love with which cost him his job at Wayne Enterprises.  This version makes Freeze out to be more psychotic (Arkham bound) and potentially more dangerous.  Mr. Freeze, though not the oldest ice-themed villain, has certainly received the most screen time and attention making him a fan favorite among Batman and comic book lovers.

So there you have it, the top 5 ice-themed villains of DC Comics (sorry, Minister Blizzard and Cryonic Man, maybe next time).  Now go have yourself a hot cocoa and warm up!

Gotham: Dark Origins

What’s in a Name?

Fabled tales of a town called Gotham, an Anglo-Saxon term meaning “Goat’s Town,” have circulated orally since the twelfth century. These unflattering stories, first printed in the 1565 book, “The Merry Tales of Mad Men of Gottam,” depicted its citizens as simpleminded fools.  A later book, “The Wise Men of Gotham” would show its residents as only fronting as fools to outsmart a king.  In 1807, famous author Washington Irving would reference the term to mock the “self-important” and “foolish people” of Manhattan, NY.  Following the nineteenth century, Gotham became a well-known nickname for New York City.  The term has become closely associated with the often dark, gothic architecture that cloaks much of the Big Apple.  In 1940, not wanting to directly use New York City for Batman’s base of operations, writer Bill Finger decided on Gotham City (Batman #4) after finding ‘Gotham Jewelers’ in a New York phone book.  (Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 by Edwin G. Burrows, Mike Wallace, pages 12-14).

Early History

38,000 B.C. – It is said that Gotham City was pre-destined to a troubled fate when an evil warlock (returns as Doctor Gotham) was buried alive beneath what is now known as the central island of Gotham (currently the site of the Breed Building).  Many believe his evil essence seeped into the soil, poisoning the ground with his corruptive touch and fathering the modern spirit of the city.  (Shadowpact # 5, 2006)

Miagani Tribe

Several centuries before European explorers crossed the Atlantic, the burial ground was inhabited by a Native American tribe known as Miagani (translation: the Bat-people).  Legend has it that the Miagani fell to a wicked shaman named Blackfire.  The tribe, unable to defeat the shaman, trapped him in a cave and erected a totem to warn others of the evil that lurked inside.   (Batman: The Cult # 1, 1988)

17th Century

1609 – Unbeknownst to the totem’s significance, a group of pioneers attempted to colonize the region but disappeared quickly, leaving only a pool of blood to be discovered by another colony. (Batman: The Cult # 1, 1988)

• Blackfire was one of many villains raised from the dead in Gotham City to join the new Black Lantern Corps during Blackest Night.

Black Lantern Corps, Blackfire

1635 – Gotham City was officially founded by Captain Jon Logerquist, a Swedish mercenary.  The settlement was named Fort Adolphus after Gustavus Adolphus, the great Swedish general.  (Atlas of the DC Universe, 1990)

1674 – The British take Fort Adolphus and General Adam Howe renames the settlement Gotham City.  (Atlas of the DC Universe, 1990)

18th Century

1774 – The city was no stranger to evil, attracting various occult rites.  Jacob Stockman, Thomas Wayne and four others, including a young Thomas Jefferson lead a young woman into a cellar with the intent of sacrificing her to a Bat Daemon.  The ceremony would later temporarily possess a modern day citizen, Edward Nigma aka the Riddler.  (Batman # 452-454, 1990)

1779 – During the American Revolution, Darius Wayne (Bruce Wayne ancestor) and his brother “Mad” Anthony Wayne fought against the British.  The British held Gotham for much of the war but with the help of Darius, a victory was secured for Gotham. (Atlas of the DC Universe, 1990)

On the opposing side of the American Revolutionary War, Sir Nigel Cobblepot (Oswald Cobblepot ancestor) fought against Gotham before eventually calling the city his home.  (His descendant, Nathan would rise to hero status in the North during the American Civil War.)  (Gotham Underground Vol 1 #9, 2008)

Sir Nigel Cobblepot & Nathan Cobblepot

1799 – Using a large plot of land rewarded to him for his heroic efforts during the war, Darius began construction on Wayne Manor. (Atlas of the DC Universe, 1990)

19th Century Gotham aka “Gotham Town”

19th Century

Solomon Wayne & Cyrus Pinkney

1840 – Gotham underwent a major urban planning initiated by Judge Solomon Wayne and a young architect named Cyrus Pinkney.  The new structures would come to define what many consider the “Gotham Style.”  From Gargoyles to frighten people onto the path of righteousness to rounded edges to confuse malevolent beings and thick walls to lock in virtue, Pinkney saw his designs as a living being that in itself could fight against evil.  (Batman Legends of the Dark Knight, #27, 1992)

Old Gotham as imagined by Wayne & Pinkney

Having gained his fortune in the steel industry, Theodore Cobblepot became Gotham’s longest running mayor.  Decades later his great-great grandson, Oswald (aka the Penguin) would attempt the same feat with much less luck.  Unfortunately, the Cobblepot family fortune would later be squandered away by his son and then grandson on an unsuccessful hotel.  (Gotham Underground #9, 2008)

1881 –  Alan Wayne (Bruce Wayne ancestor), Theodore Cobblepot (Oswald Cobblepot ancestor) and Edward Elliot (Thomas Elliot ancestor), considered the founding fathers of Gotham, constructed three bridges (Gates of Gotham), each baring one of their last names.  Edward Elliot became increasingly jealous of the Wayne family’s popularity and wealth during this time period, a jealousy that would spread to his great-great grandson, Thomas Elliot aka Hush.  A fourth, less reputable figure of the city, Cameron Kane (Bruce Wayne descendant) owned most of the north land of Gotham (Kane County), an area known for its seedy nature.  (Batman: Gates of Gotham, 2011)

Alan Wayne, Theodore Cobblepot, & Edward Elliot

1888 – Over 1,000 feet tall, Wayne Tower, the tallest building in Gotham, and many other buildings were commissioned by Alan Wayne.  Due to superstitions, Wayne had the thirteenth floor “removed” in each of his buildings.  The thirteenth floors would later be discovered as the headquarters to the elite secret society, the Court of Owls.  (Batman: Vol 1 #2, 2011)

The Court of Owls have been around for centuries.

1895 – Though the new look of Gotham may have inspired much good, evil was never too far away.  The legend may vary but the tale is fairly consistent for one unscrupulous Gotham millionaire who went by the name of Cyrus Gold.  Believed to have had an affair with a young prostitute, Cyrus refused to yield to blackmail when she tried to extort him for money after becoming pregnant with his child.  This led to her pimp bludgeoning Cyrus with a shovel and tossing his dead body into Slaughter Swamp.  Years passed and Cyrus Gold’s body lay unfound at the bottom of the swamp until one day he returned from the dead to seek vengeance as Solomon Grundy!  (Batman: Shadow of the Bat  #39)

 The rejuvenating chemicals of Slaughter Swamp have also been linked to the creation of the Lazarus Pit most commonly used by Ra’s al Ghul.  Using the pit, Ra’s has been able to keep himself alive for many years.  However, long-term exposure to the pit leads to destabilizing side effects.  (Batman: Arkham City, 2011)

Slaughter Swamp

By the end of the century, Gotham City, now at the forefront of business and industry, was also a haven for poverty and government corruption.  Solomon Wayne, the man responsible for much of Gotham’s financial success, died at the age of 104 while his son Alan continued his legacy.  Wayne’s last words were a reflection on the rapidly increasing crime rates of his city,

“I wished to lock evil out of men’s neighborhoods and hearts. I fear that instead I have given it the means to be locked in.”

20th Century

1920 – With new Prohibition laws being enforced, the illegal selling of alcohol became popular in Gotham causing a gang war for superiority.  Giuseppe Bertinelli became Don of Gotham after uniting three of the “Five Families” of crime behind him against the other two.  This would lead to corruption among politicians and the police force.  His great-granddaughter, Helena Bertinelli would later fight against such corruption as the Huntress.  (Huntress: Year One, 2008)

Amadeus Arkham

1921 – The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane opens its doors.  Named after his recently deceased mother, Amadeus Arkham remodeled his mansion hoping to help others.  He would soon find his wife and daughter raped and murdered during the construction of the facility by Martin “Mad Dog” Hawkins who became one of the asylum’s first patients. His nephew, Jeremiah would later inherit the asylum after he was considered legally insane.  (Batman Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, 1989)

1940 – Alan Scott moves to Gotham and becomes the superhero, Green Lantern after being exposed to a magical force called the Starheart.  He took on such villains as The Gambler and Sportsmaster.  He joined forces with other superheroes to become a founding member of the first Justice Society of America. The Gambler and Sportsmaster would join together with other villains to form the very first Injustice Society.  (All-American Comics #16, 1940)

Injustice Society

1960’s – Gotham City planners began development on an Underground Highway that would link with the subway.  The project proved to be too expensive and was left unfinished beneath the streets of Gotham.  It has since become a retreat for criminals such as Killer Croc.  (Batman # 471)

Thomas, Bruce, & Martha Wayne

Post 60’s – Thomas Wayne, father to Bruce, took his son and a young Tommy Elliot to Metropolis where the boys witness a formerly retired Alan Scott/Green Lantern face off against his old nemesis, Icicle.  Later as adults, Wayne and Elliot would come to battle as Batman and Hush.  (Batman: Hush, 2003)

Falcone Family

Organized crime became more and more prominent in Gotham as the years went on.  Though many crime families have tried making a name for themselves in the city, one has excelled above the rest, The Falcone family.  Vincent Falcone once brought his dying son, Carmine to Thomas Wayne’s manor after he had been shot by rival gang leader, Luigi Maroni.  With a young Bruce Wayne watching, Thomas helps Carmine, unknowing that one day that same boy would come to seize power over the city’s crime syndicate.  (Batman: The Long Halloween, 1997)

On a tragic night while leaving a theater, Gotham’s leading citizens, Thomas and Martha Wayne were gunned down by a petty crook named Joe Chill while their young son, Bruce watched.  Bruce would grow up to become one with the night, striking vengeance in the heart of evil men, he would become the Batman!  As they say, the rest is history.