Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Trivia Quiz #8 Answers



#1 is the Signalman. The Signalman is one of the fairly rare Batman villains who had more than one appearance during the early 1960s, and one of the extremely rare villains who had two identities during the Silver Age of Comics. Phil Cobb, a small-time crook found it hard to raise a gang of supporters, so he assumed the costumed identity of the Signalman and used signs and signals in his crimes. After two appearances in that guise, he became the Blue Bowman, the Green Arrow of crime.

#2 is the Kiteman, a hood who uses kites (and hang-gliders) to commit his crimes. His initial appearance in Batman #133 is also the final Dick Sprang story in Batman (aside from reprints).

#3 is the Dummy. Danny the Dummy had a good shtick; he was a ventriloquist who looked like a dummy, so he would perch on the lap of a real dummy. Note: The Dummy is clearly modeled after Charlie McCarthy, one of the most famous dummies of all time:



#4 is the Wheel, who appeared in Batman #135. Frank "Wheels" Foster decides to use wheels to commit crimes.

#5 is the Brand. Notice the cowboy outfit and the Circle B on his chest? He uses brands to provide clues to his next crimes.

Good job by commenter George C, who correctly identified the first three villains. Joe Bloke also recognized those same villains.