Prisoner #234026
 |
| Phil Cho's commission |
Another in a list of stupid villains that could be cool and scary under the right writers, Killer Moth was created in 1951. Bill Finger, Dick Sprang, and Lew Schwartz created the character for Batman #63. Introduced as a common criminal already in prison, Killer Moth has no original identity. He sees Batman as a vigilante resource for the police, and upon release, decides to set himself up as an "anti-Batman", a resource for criminals. He becomes a grifter, and creates for himself the identity of Cameron Van Cleer, a wealthy businessman and philantropist. As an alter ego to his alter ego, he also becomes Killer Moth, a henchman for hire with a moth motif, complete with workable wings and a spiderman webslinger-esque cacoon gun.
Now, the premise of a Batman for criminals, a gun for hire that anyone can call with a beeper, is a pretty cool idea. Later on, other mercenary/hitman characters get created, but Killer Moth had the idea first. However, the execution of the idea is a little suspect. Where does this dude get all the money to become the rich Cameron Van Cleer? Presumably money he stole and hid before he went to prison. Must have been one heck of a score, and hidden very well for authorities to just forget about it. Also, where does he pick up all the skills needed to be confident with fighting Batman?
The character is never taken seriously, even after being rebooted in 1992. He is a mercenary who is a resource for the common criminal is similar to Moriarty from Sherlock Holmes, and he's terrifying. Killer Moth is also a cipher, we never do find out his real pre-prison identity. If Killer Moth was portrayed as a credible threat, with actual dangerous skills, and resources, he could be compelling.
There is another character with a moth theme, Tiger Moth, created in 1966. She has similar abilities too (flight, theme weapons). Perhaps she'll appear in another post in full.
Now, the premise of a Batman for criminals, a gun for hire that anyone can call with a beeper, is a pretty cool idea. Later on, other mercenary/hitman characters get created, but Killer Moth had the idea first. However, the execution of the idea is a little suspect. Where does this dude get all the money to become the rich Cameron Van Cleer? Presumably money he stole and hid before he went to prison. Must have been one heck of a score, and hidden very well for authorities to just forget about it. Also, where does he pick up all the skills needed to be confident with fighting Batman?
The character is never taken seriously, even after being rebooted in 1992. He is a mercenary who is a resource for the common criminal is similar to Moriarty from Sherlock Holmes, and he's terrifying. Killer Moth is also a cipher, we never do find out his real pre-prison identity. If Killer Moth was portrayed as a credible threat, with actual dangerous skills, and resources, he could be compelling.
There is another character with a moth theme, Tiger Moth, created in 1966. She has similar abilities too (flight, theme weapons). Perhaps she'll appear in another post in full.