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Killer Moth (Drury Walker) is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, usually as an adversary and dedicated original foil personality of Batman (prior to the creations of Wrath, Prometheus, and Hush). Like Batman, he has no superpowers and relies on his technical equipment, including a Mothmobile and numerous gimmicks. Killer Moth originally wore a garish costume of purple and green striped fabric, with an orange cape and moth-like mask.[1] In Underworld Unleashed, Killer Moth is transformed into the monster Charaxes with superhuman abilities.

Killer Moth
Interior artwork from Batman Family #15 (December 1977), art by Michael Golden.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Batman #63 (February 1951) (as Charaxes) Underworld Unleashed #1 (November 1995)
Created by	Bill Finger (writer) Dick Sprang (artist) Lew Schwartz (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Drury Walker Unknown
Team affiliations	(Walker) Secret Society of Super Villains Longbow Hunters
Notable aliases	(Walker) Cameron van Cleer
Abilities	(Both) Flight via suit Incapacitating cocoon gun Razor-sonar waves (as Charaxes) Superhuman strength, speed, agility, reflexes, stamina, and durability Flight Sharp claws Sticky cocoon mucus

Publication history

Killer Moth first appeared in Batman #63 (February 1951) and was created by Bill Finger, Dick Sprang, and Lew Schwartz.[2]

Fictional character biographies

"Cameron van Cleer"

The original Killer Moth was a prisoner identified only by his prison number, 234026.[3] While in prison, he reads a newspaper article about Batman and decides to set himself up as the "anti-Batman", hiring himself out to Gotham City's criminals to help them elude capture by police. Upon his release, he uses the hidden proceeds of his crimes to build a "Mothcave", modeled on the photos of the Batcave in the newspaper article he read. Killer Moth also establishes a false identity as millionaire philanthropist Cameron van Cleer. In this guise, he becomes friends with Bruce Wayne.[4] Meanwhile, he promotes himself to Gotham's criminals using his identity as Killer Moth, giving them each an infrared Moth-Signal. In his first job, he rescues some criminals from the police and then uses his Mothmobile to defeat and capture Batman and Robin. The duo escape and lead Killer Moth to a climactic battle on Gotham Bridge, in which he is defeated.[5] In his third appearance (Detective Comics #173 (July 1951)) Killer Moth kidnaps Bruce Wayne and learns his secret identity. However, he is shot by other criminals and the resultant cranial injury causes amnesia. He remains a persistent enemy through the Silver Age of Comic Books, being the first villain Batgirl encounters in Detective Comics #359 (January 1967). He teams up with the Cavalier twice: the first time in Batman Family #10 (March-April 1977), where they battle Batgirl and Batwoman (Kathy Kane, who comes out of retirement for the first time in years) and the second (and final) time in Batman Family #15 (December 1977-January 1978), where they battle Batgirl and Robin.

Drury Walker

In the 1990s, in the Post-Crisis continuity, Killer Moth's real identity is revealed as Drury Walker, an unsuccessful criminal whom no one takes seriously. He again adopts the false identity of Cameron van Cleer and the persona of Killer Moth to fight Batman. This version first appears in Batman: Shadow of the Bat #7-9 (December 1992-February 1993), with a more detailed origin story appearing in Batgirl: Year One #1-9 (February-October 2003).

In Batman: Shadow of the Bat #7-9, Killer Moth sets up a team called "the Misfits", comprising Batman villains such as the Catman and the Calendar Man, to make another kidnapping attempt on Bruce Wayne, as well as other prominent citizens. This team proves unsuccessful, turning against Killer Moth when they realize he plans to kill the hostages.[6] He is one of the villains who sells their souls to the demon-lord Neron in Underworld Unleashed #1 (November 1995) and in Robin (vol. 2) #23-24 (December 1995-January 1996), where he asks to become feared instead of always being laughed at. He is metamorphosed into a carnivorous moth-like monster called Charaxes. As Charaxes, Walker resembles a vaguely humanoid, giant brown moth. He consumes humans and spins cocoons in which to keep his prey.[7] In a later story, Charaxes begins laying hundreds of eggs, all of which hatch into duplicates of Drury Walker. Charaxes despises his progeny, but is unable to destroy them. Following his capture, these duplicates are taken into government custody. During an argument between various bodies as to what should be done with them, they attack a scientist and are killed.[8] At around the same time, the Oracle is confronted by a criminal named Danko Twag who claims to be the "real" Killer Moth (the one she had defeated), and that Drury Walker had been an impostor. During a rant in which he claims they are going to be a team, she captures him in an energy cell and he seemingly disintegrates himself.[9]

In Infinite Crisis, Charaxes is killed by being ripped in half by Superboy-Prime during the Battle of Metropolis.[1] To ensure the existence of Batman, Rip Hunter tells Booster Gold and Skeets that they have to make sure Wiley Dalbert, a time-travelling criminal who had hired Killer Moth, completes his crime successfully. Booster does this by dressing up as Killer Moth and taking his place. During the robbery, he is forced to fight with Batman and Robin and takes them both down. An unfortunate, unintended side effect of this is that, when they return to the present, Gotham still has no Batman and Killer Moth is now a serious threat, thanks to the "street cred" from the robbery.[10] Booster, Skeets and his sister Goldstar attempt to fix the anomaly they created by taking Batman's place in the robbery, but things go wrong when Alfred Pennyworth intervenes; the Time Masters barely escape in the Batmobile. Instead they steal Batgirl's costume and purchase an Elvis costume for Booster. Booster stops the version of him dressed as Killer Moth from defeating Batman and makes sure that Wiley gets away with the loot, thus restoring the timeline.[11]

During the Adventure Comics series' Blackest Night tie-in story, Charaxes is reanimated as a member of the Black Lantern Corps.[12] Superboy-Prime destroys Charaxes on Earth Prime, using the black ring cycling through the power set, resulting in a burst of colored energy that destroys Black Lanterns.[13] In The New 52, a more serious, less garish Drury Walker/Killer Moth appears as an enemy of Green Arrow. [14] This version, preferring the title "Moth", utilizes a gas mask and a compression gun which he calls a "Stinger". Moth later appeared as a member of Richard Dragon's Longbow Hunters.[15] He first appeared in the "Zero Year" story arc in which he was defeated by both Batman and Green Arrow, teaming up for the first time.[16] In DC Rebirth, Killer Moth is again Drury Walker, a low-level criminal sporting a purple outfit and helmet.[17]

Unknown

A new Killer Moth appears in Batman #652, during the Face the Face storyline wherein he displays competence in hand-to-hand combat and the ability of flight when facing Robin. He later appears working alongside fellow Gotham criminals the Firefly and Lock-Up in the Gotham Underground miniseries. The identity and origins of this new Killer Moth remain unrevealed. Several villains clad in Killer Moth costumes appear in Secret Six (vol. 3) #7. At least one of them is killed by Deadshot. Killer Moth recently appeared in the first issue of the miniseries Justice League: Cry for Justice. He was hired by Prometheus to kidnap and torture Mike Dante, ex-assistant to Atom ally Professor Hyatt. The two current holders of the Atom identity, Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi, tracked Killer Moth and his goons down to a hideout in Albuquerque, New Mexico and defeated them all. Ray Palmer then tortured Killer Moth by entering his head via the nasal pathways and growing inside his skull. Killer Moth immediately gave up Prometheus as his employer. In Red Robin #9, Red Robin returns to Gotham City where he runs into Killer Moth in his classic costume, holding a man at gunpoint. Red Robin thinks to himself: "I think this is Killer Moth. The costume and the man change from time to time, so you can never really tell". This Killer Moth seems to be scared and on the run, stating: "Are you with him? Are you with the Atom? I won't let you torture me, too!"

Powers and abilities

In his original incarnation, Killer Moth has no superhuman abilities; he relies on the vast array of equipment he has developed. Killer Moth’s range of gimmicks includes a Mothmobile, a Moth-Signal, and a steel line, which allows him to swing through the skies as if he were flying. He carries a cocoon gun that fires a stream of sticky threads that can totally envelop a victim. The gun can also fire a grenade. As Charaxes, he has superhuman strength, agility and endurance, an exoskeleton that gives him some protection from physical and energy attacks, a set of wings that allows him to fly, sharp claws and sharp, prehensile antennae. Charaxes secretes a sticky acidic substance that can trap the strongest of men and dissolve their bodies. In DC Rebirth, he uses a highly compressed air gun to great effect as a weapon, shown to be powerful enough to stop a bullet in mid-air.

Other versions

Teen Titans Go!

In the Teen Titans Go! comic book series, Killer Moth was the second villain to arrive at the tower for the Titans' Party Party and informed them that he only attended to spend more time with Silkie. Throughout the party, he cuddled with the mutant moth larva until Robin ordered all the villains to leave, including Killer Moth. Killer Moth attacked Jump City and told the Titans they were outmatched. He noticed Cyborg, who had been disguised, and asked about his identity. Beast Boy lied to him, telling him that Cyborg was their brand new Killer Robot Titan and asked Killer Moth if he wanted to see how he fared against one. The villain, however, immediately left.

Batman: Arkham Knight

In Batman: Arkham Knight's prequel comic, after the events of Batman: Arkham Origins, following the defeat of Black Mask, Drury Walker checked out books from Barbara Gordon at the local library about moths and staked out her and her father, the newly-promoted Commissioner Gordon, which Barbara noticed. Later, at a GCPD panel that proved Batman was simply a man with gadgets instead of some 'paranormal entity', Killer Moth crashed it to advertise his services with a free trial of killing Commissioner Gordon while his henchmen kept Batman preoccupied on the other side of Gotham. Barbara quickly put on the sample Batman costume, managed to defeat Killer Moth's henchmen, and disarmed the villain. After he realized that his plans were falling apart, Killer Moth threw Gordon off the rafters to kill him and used that as a diversion for his escape. As Barbara saved her father, Walker made his escape and tried to calm himself down by saying that Batgirl was just a girl in a suit like Batman, who happened to arrive just in time and subdued him.

Injustice 2

Killer Moth appears in the prequel comic to Injustice 2. Following the events of the first game, Killer Moth is shown to be a member of this universe's Suicide Squad,[18] but after an impostor Batman (later revealed to be Jason Todd) surprisingly appears and takes control of the Squad, he kills Killer Moth using the bomb implanted in his neck, considering him to be useless.[19]

In other media

Television

• A short episode of the 1960s Batman series that introduced Batgirl featured Killer Moth (portrayed by Tim Herbert), but it was never aired. It had since been circulated through bootlegs on the Internet or at conventions, and in 2014 was finally released as a bonus feature in the official complete DVD/Blu-ray sets.[20]
• When asked about Killer Moth's inclusion in The New Batman Adventures, producer Bruce Timm expressed little interest and joked that the only way they would use him is if they can cast Canadian actor Dan Aykroyd for the role and have him scream, "I'm a bug!". Producer Alan Burnett, on the other hand, stated, "we just haven't thought of a good story for him yet". Ultimately, Killer Moth never appeared in the series.[21]
• Killer Moth appears in Teen Titans, initially voiced by Thomas Haden Church and later by Marc Worden. This version possesses bio-engineering expertise, a background in lepidopterology, and a spoiled daughter named Kitten (voiced by Tara Strong). In the episode "Date with Destiny", he attempts to use mutant moths to take over Jump City. However, at the prodding of Kitten, whose boyfriend Fang (voiced by Will Friedle) recently broke up with her, Killer Moth forces Robin to take Kitten to her junior prom instead. With Starfire's help, Robin breaks the moth control device and Killer Moth, Fang, and Kitten are subsequently arrested while Beast Boy secretly adopts one of Killer Moth's mutant larva and names it Silkie. In the episode "Can I Keep Him?", Silkie bonds with Starfire and resists Killer Moth's attempts to control it. As of the episodes "Calling All Titans" and "Titans Together", Killer Moth and Kitten have joined the Brotherhood of Evil to attack young heroes across the world, but the expanded Teen Titans regroup and eventually defeat the Brotherhood.
• A variation of Killer Moth appears in The Batman, voiced by Jeff Bennett. This version is a physically weak individual based on the Drury Walker incarnation with a milquetoast personality and poor combat capabilities. In the episode "Team Penguin", Killer Moth joins the Penguin's eponymous team, but serves as an errand boy until he is exposed to chemical fumes and radioactive moths that mutate him into a monstrous Charaxes-esque form nicknamed "Mothy". He intimidates the other members of Team Penguin into obeying their leader before they are all eventually defeated by Batman, Robin, and Batgirl. Killer Moth also makes a brief appearance in the episode "Rumors" as a prisoner of the vigilante Rumor.
• Killer Moth appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Corey Burton. This version is based on the Drury Walker incarnation and once used the Cameron van Cleer alias.
• Killer Moth appears in Teen Titans Go!, voiced by Scott Menville. This version has a base underneath the Jump City Bridge.
• A variation of Killer Moth appears in the DC Super Hero Girls episode "#BreakingNews". This version is a gigantic mutant creature.

Film

• Killer Moth appears in Batman: Bad Blood, voiced by Jason Spisak. This version is a mercenary working for the League of Assassins and serves as one of Talia al Ghul's henchmen, frequently working with Firefly to attack enemies from above. He is later crushed by a boulder while fighting Batwing.
• Killer Moth appears in The Lego Batman Movie.
• Killer Moth was meant to appear in Batgirl, portrayed by Douglas Russell.[22]

Video games

Killer Moth appears as a boss in the NES Batman game.

LEGO

• The Drury Walker incarnation of Killer Moth appears as a playable character and boss in Lego Batman: The Video Game, with vocal effects provided by Steve Blum.[23] This version is attracted to bright lights like his namesake, wields a handgun, and can glide. In the Nintendo DS version, Killer Moth in both his original form and one based on his appearance in the Teen Titans animated series appear as unlockable characters.
• Killer Moth appears as an optional boss and a playable character in Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, voiced by Joseph Balderrama.
• Killer Moth appears as a playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, voiced by Christopher Corey Smith.

Toys

• An action figure of Killer Moth in his Charaxes form was released in 2006 Mattel's The Batman: Shadowtek line.
• Corgi released a die-cast car of the Killer Mothmobile in their Batman line in 2006.
• A collector's version of Corgi's Killer Mothmobile, including a statuette of Killer Moth, was released in 2007.
• An action figure of Killer Moth was released in 2009 from Mattel's DC Universe Classics Wave 6 line.
• Three LEGO Minifigures based on Killer Moth have been produced. The first appeared in set 26054 Scarecrow: Harvest of Fear in 2016. The second appeared in set 76069 Batman vs. Killer Moth, as part of the Mighty Micros line released in 2017. The third was released in 2018 as part of the second Collectible Minifigure blind-bag series based on The LEGO Batman Movie.
• An action figure of Killer Moth in a more modernized appearance was released in 2020, from Spin Master's Creature Chaos Line.

Miscellaneous

• In The Batman Strikes!, a comic series based on The Batman TV series, Killer Moth in his Charaxes form joins forces with two crooks to rob a bank, but is easily foiled by Robin.
• Killer Moth appears in the DC Super Hero Girls web series, voiced by Phil LaMarr. This version talks with a lisp.

See also

• List of Batman family enemies

References

На других языках

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- [en] Killer Moth

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[es] Polilla Asesina

La Polilla Asesina es un personaje ficticio de DC Comics. Apareció por primera vez en Batman #63 publicado en 1951. Polilla Asesina originalmente llevaba un traje llamativo con spandex con rayas moradas y verdes, una capa de color naranja y una máscara de polilla.[1]

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[fr] Killer Moth

Killer Moth est un personnage de fiction créé par Bill Finger et Lew Schwartz dans Batman #63 en 1951. Plus qu'un personnage, il s'agit d'une identité qui sera portée par plusieurs individus.

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[it] Falena Assassina

La Falena Assassina (Killer Moth), il cui vero nome è Drury Walker (noto originariamente come detenuto 234026), è un personaggio dei fumetti creato nel 1951 da Bill Finger, Dick Sprang e Lew Schwartz. È uno dei nemici di Batman, in particolare è il primo avversario a porsi come una proiezione negativa del Cavaliere Oscuro.

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