General (DC Comics)

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caption=
comic_color=background:#8080ff
character_name=the General
real_name=Ulysses Hadrian Armstrong
publisher=DC Comics
debut="Detective Comics" #654, December 1992
creators=Chuck Dixon
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
alliances= "Los Bandidos"Fact|date=October 2007
aliases=
powers= military genius|

"For Wade Eiling, also sometimes known as "the General", see General Wade Eiling"

The General is a fictional character, one of Batman's rogues in DC Comics, that first appeared in "Detective Comics" #654.

Fictional character biography

Ulysses Hadrian Armstrong was a psychotic child with the mind of a military genius. Feeling bored of his life at a military school, he read books about military history. Ulysses later scares the bullies that picked on him into helping him to escape the school, and work as his henchmen. He goes to Gotham City to recruit gang members into his "army", uses his military planning to grow his gang, and has taken on Black Mask's gang. His reputation has gained him the nickname "The General". He dresses himself and his henchmen, primarily gangs he has conquered, in historical attire as they act out crimes based on military history.

While his father and brother know of his psychosis and the threat he poses, his mother is blind with affection for him, even as he is being hauled into juvenile hall after his crimes are foiled by Batman. The General was expanded beyond "Batman" into the larger DC Universe and has also taken on Robin separately.

The General has teamed up with other costumed criminals, including Maxie Zeus and the Toyman, however these partnerships always end in mutual betrayal.

After a very long absence, the General has returned to Gotham, having aged several years and now looks to be roughly the same age as Robin. He has for reasons yet unknown been hired by Spoiler to gather information about the Gang Wars, and find a possible solution to them. Not so unexpectedly however, Ulysses continued to hold a grudge against Robin and betrays Spoiler.

Powers and abilities

While The General is only a child, he is a military genius. He has vast knowledge of military history, and his careful planning are what earned him the respect of his henchmen.

Alternate versions

"Legends of the Dark Knight" #55-57, set in the near-future, features an adult Ulysses Armstrong as one of a number of crime bosses contacted by Vigil, Inc., a corrupt private police force which is actually a protection racket for criminals. This adult version of the General wears modern military gear, rather than the historic costumes of his younger self, and surrounds himself with women who have general's stars tattooed on their foreheads.