Blockbuster (comics)

Superherobox|


caption= As drawn by John Byrne in Legends #3.
comic_color=background:#c0c0ff
character_name=Blockbuster
real_name=Mark Desmond
publisher=DC Comics
debut="Detective Comics" #345 (Nov. 1965)
creators=Gardner Fox
Carmine Infantino
alliance_color=background:#cccccc
alliances=Secret Society of Super Villains
Suicide Squad
aliases=
powers=Super-strength and stamina.|

Blockbuster is the name of three fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe. The first one was primarily a foe of Batman and Robin, while the second frequently fought Nightwing, formerly Robin. The latest Blockbuster first appeared in the pages of the series 52 wherein he is directed into battle against Lex Luthor's team of superheroes, Infinity Inc.

Fictional character biography

Mark Desmond

The first Blockbuster was Mark Desmond, a chemist who desired to increase his physical strength. Experimenting on himself, he succeeded in making himself stronger and taller, but a side-effect of the process became almost mindlessly aggressive. The mentally debilitated Desmond was cared for by his brother Roland, a local criminal, who kept their mother from discovering what Mark had done to himself.Citation | last = Greenberger | first = Robert | author-link = | contribution = Blockbuster I | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia | pages = 56 | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | place = London | year = 2008 | ISBN = 0-7566-4119-5]

Roland manipulated his brother into committing crimes on his behalf until they came into conflict with Batman and Robin. Bruce Wayne had once rescued a young Desmond from drowning, and he discovered that he could calm the enraged adult Desmond by removing his cowl, showing him his face. Desmond later found himself clashing with Batman on various occasions. He joined the Secret Society of Super Villains briefly for a battle with the Justice League. Later, Amanda Waller recruited Desmond for her revived Suicide Squad. He was killed fighting Darkseid's creation Brimstone. [Cite comic | Writer = Ostrander, John | Penciller = Byrne, John | Inker = Kesel, Karl | Story = Send For... the Suicide Squad! | Title = Legends | Volume = | Issue = 3 | Date = January, 1987 | Publisher = DC Comics | Page = 14 | Panel = | ID = ]

Roland Desmond

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caption=Blockbuster vs Nightwing.
Artwork for "Nightwing: Secret Files & Origins 1999".
Art by Dale Eaglesham
comic_color=background:#c0c0ff
character_name=Blockbuster
real_name=Roland Desmond
publisher=DC Comics
debut="Starman" #9 (April 1989)
creators=Roger Stern
Tom Lyle
alliance_color=background:#c0c0ff
alliances=Underground Society
aliases=
powers=Genius-level intellect; super-strength and stamina; criminal mastermind.

Roland Desmond became the second Blockbuster after a severe illness forced him to be treated with experimental steroids. Like his brother Mark, Roland became a child-minded super-strong monster. He ran wild in the Southwest, but Batman and Starman brought his rampage to an end. ["Starman #10"] Citation | last = Wallace | first = Dan | author-link = | contribution = Blockbuster II | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia | pages = 55 | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | place = London | year = 2008 | ISBN = 0-7566-4119-5]

Desmond became obsessed with elevating himself greatly above his debilitated intellect. A pact with the demon Neron granted him a genius-level intellect, and Desmond embarked once more on a career of crime and destruction. He began his revived criminal career by causing chaos in the town of Manchester, although his schemes were foiled by the speedster Impulse.

Desmond then moved to his mother's home town of Blüdhaven. He forced the crimelord Angel Marin out of power and took over the city's criminal rackets. Roland's plan was to build a criminal empire in the 'Haven, that would eventually enable him to extend his dominion over Gotham, Star City, Metropolis, and New York's underworlds. For that purpose, he bought the corrupt elements of the city's Police Department, most notably the Police Chief Redhorn and Inspector Dudley "Deadly" Soames.

Despite his swift and vicious consolidation of power, Blockbuster's hold on Blüdhaven's organized crime was nevertheless weakened by the intervention of the city's new protector: Nightwing (Dick Grayson, the former Robin), who, with Oracle's help, foiled Desmond's plans at every turn.

Desmond's primary goal became the elimination of the young vigilante. He placed a contract on Nightwing's life, employing the services of several assassins, including Lady Vic, Stallion, Brutale, the Trigger Twins, and Shrike.

Death of Blockbuster

As a further result of his initial transformation, Desmond later developed albinism and a heart defect. He was restored to (comparative) health by a heart transplant from one of the talking apes of Gorilla City, and was consolidating his control over Blüdhaven and contemplating a takeover of Gotham City, when he was killed by the new Tarantula, Catalina Flores.

The New Blockbuster

Lex Luthor created a new Blockbuster in the pages of the miniseries event "52" to serve as an opponent of his manufactured hero team, Infinity Inc.

Little is revealed about this Blockbuster, save for the fact that Luthor possesses some measure of control of his actions and level of strength. Luthor also comments that he is stronger than either of the two previous Blockbusters. This brute's cognitive abilities and appearance are very similar to the original. Blockbuster, with controlled interference from Lex Luthor, kills the superhero Trajectory.

A Blockbuster appears amongst the villains exiled to an alien world in "Salvation Run". In issue #3 it is revealed to be a disguised Martian Manhunter.

Powers and abilities

All Blockbuster's have super human strength, agility and endurance. They have a high degree of resistance to physical and energy attacks.

After selling his soul to Neron, Roland Desmond gained super intelligence.

In other media

Blockbuster (Mark Desmond) was first seen in the "Justice League Unlimited" episode "Kid's Stuff" voiced by Dee Bradley Baker. He, Cheetah, Copperhead, and KGBeast were robbing a gold vault. Blockbuster was also a member of the Secret Society in the series. However, after siding against Lex Luthor during the mutiny in favor of Gorilla Grodd, he was frozen by Killer Frost and blown up by Darkseid, along with the other mutineers.

Mark Desmond has also appeared on "The Batman", and was suspected of being absorbed into that series as part of the so-called Bat-Embargo; however, his inclusion in the Secret Society has scuttled this.

He is also reportedly featured in David S. Goyer's script for an upcoming Green Arrow film project entitled "Super Max". [ [http://latinoreview.com/news/supermax-green-arrow-story-details-villains-inmates-gallery-4673 Supermax: Green Arrow Story Details + Villains/Inmates Gallery - Movie News - Latest Movie Reviews and trailers ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.dcuguide.com/chronology.php?name=blockbuster The Unofficial Blockbuster Chronology]