Gearhead

Infobox comics character
character_name = Gearhead


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publisher = DC Comics
debut = "Steel" #14 (April 1995)
"Detective Comics" #712 (August 1997)
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cat = super
subcat = DC Comics
villain = y
sortkey = PAGENAME

Gearhead is the name of 2 DC Comics supervillains.

History

Unrevealed

First appearing in "Steel" #14 (April 1995), the first Gearhead appeared in "Steel" #14–16, as a henchman of the supervillain called White Rabbit.

Nathan Finch

First appearing in "Detective Comics" #712 (August 1997), this second Gearhead is Nathan Finch. While he was kidnapping and holding his boss' daughter for ransom, he runs afoul of Batman who rescues her. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to save Nathan from falling to an icy death. Nathan Finch's body was discovered by two down-and-out people who take him to an unnamed underworld doctor. It turned out that Nathan wasn't dead and the doctor wanted his knowledge of cybernetics. Due to ravages of frostbite, the doctor removed his arms and legs and replaced them with cybernetic arms and legs. Nathan becomes Gearhead and develops his own cybernetic arsenal of removable body parts as well as a goal to exterminate Batman, whom he refers to as the "vermin".

He played a part in the "Robin" section of the "No Man's Land (comics)" crossover, in which he is one of a number of villains competing for control of Gotham City's sewers. Without the use of his cybernetics arms and/or legs, he is forced into partnership with the thuggish Tommy Mangles, who carries his torso about. The duo are iced by Mr. Freeze, a fate particularly frightening for Gearhead, given his origin.

He put in an appearance in the comic mini-series "Rush City", where he is physically attached to his car.

In "Infinite Crisis", Gearhead became a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains.

Other media

Television

Gearhead is one of many villains appearing on the Kids WB TV show, "The Batman" voiced by Will Friedle. He first appeared in "RPM", the fifth episode of the third season.

In this version, GearheadNathan Finch is a criminal car racer who operates with advanced forms of nanotechnology, Gearhead first showed up with a suped-up yellow race car during a charity race that Bruce Wayne, alias Batman, was competing in. Gearhead stole all the charity money and rode off, leaving all the contestants baffled. Soon after, Bruce Wayne changes into his alter ego of the Batman and is hot on Gearhead's trail. However, the criminal's hi-tech vehicle had some surprises of its own--it could extend small metal cords and attach them to other vehicles, giving Gearhead full control over the vehicle. Later, back at the Batcave, Bruce and his faithful butler Alfred looked more deeply into nanotechnology and made some new adjustments to the Batmobile. With a bigger and better vehicle, Batman was ready for round two of his match. With the help of Batgirl, he rode out to take Gearhead down. In the final battle when Batman almost destroyed Gearhead's vehicle, the villain jumped out of his hi-tech car and it reverted into a junky, beat-up old one. Gearhead then took control of an ordinary motorcycle, and it transformed into a super vehicle just like his car had been. This revealed to Batman that Gearhead was probably some sort of a cyborg who was built of nanotechnology and could alter vehicles and mechanical devices at will. The fight went on for a while, until Gearhead tried to use his technology to take over the new Batmobile. To his dismay, however, Batman's new adjustments countered any attempts to take over the new Batmobile, causing Gearhead's metal cords to lock in place when he tried. Gearhead was trapped and soon placed in jail. Gearhead was among the villains captured by Rumor.

The animated version of Gearhead appears in "The Batman Strikes!". In issue #36, it is revealed he used to be Nathan Finch, a big celebrity in underground racing. A car accident severely crippled him, making him lose the use of his arms and legs, and destroyed his career. Finch, lusting for power and glory, gained cybernetic parts and nanotechnology from an unknown benefactor, becoming Gearhead, and wreaked havoc in Gotham City. Gearhead later makes a cameo alongside many rogues in Arkham Asylum in issue #39 who take revenge against recently-imprissioned Black Mask.

Toys

Two action figures of Gearhead were made for the "The Batman" toyline. One for "EXP" line, and one for the "Shadowtek" line. However, Mattel renamed him "Metal Head."

References

*comicbookdb|type=character|id=7693|title=Gearhead (Nathan Finch)