Doctor Phosphorus
| Doctor Phosphorus | |
|---|---|
 Doctor Phosphorus as depicted in Batman: Eternal #6 (May 2014). Art by Trevor McCarthy. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Detective Comics #469 (May 1977) |
| Created by | |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Alexander James Sartorius |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Team affiliations | Secret Society of Super Villains |
| Abilities |
|
Doctor Phosphorus (Alexander James Sartorius) is a supervillain who has appeared in various comic book series published by DC Comics. Primarily an enemy of Batman, the villain exists in DC's main shared universe, known as the DC Universe.[1]
Publication history
[edit]Doctor Phosphorus first appeared in Detective Comics #469 (May 1977), and was created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Walt Simonson.[2]
Fictional character biography
[edit]Alexander Sartorius was a member of the Tobacconists' Club who wanted to build a nuclear power plant in Gotham City with help from chairman Rupert Thorne.[3] However, he was forced to build elsewhere following public opposition and was transformed into a metahuman during a meltdown at the plant, gaining transparent, burning skin and the ability to generate harmful radiation.[4] He then battled Batman before falling into a nuclear reactor and being presumed dead.[5][6]
During the Underworld Unleashed storyline, Phosphorus sells his soul to the demon Neron to gain increased control over his powers.[2]
In James Robinson's series Starman, Phosphorus battles Starman and douses him with radiation that will soon kill him. In response, Starman uses his cosmic rod to bury Phosphorus deep underground, apparently killing him.[2]
Phosphorus returns in Detective Comics #825, where he is being held in Cadmus Research laboratories. Cadmus scientists discover that he is no longer human and has had his organs replaced by energy.[7] He eventually escapes before being defeated by Batman and imprisoned in Arkham Asylum.[2]
During Batman's absence after his presumed death, Phosphorus escapes custody and kidnaps Kirk Langstrom and his wife Francine for information about their research. However, Kirk stops him after transforming into Man-Bat.
In Brightest Day, Phosphorus escapes Arkham when Deathstroke and the Titans attack the facility before being stopped by Arsenal.[8]
In 2011, The New 52 rebooted the DC Comics universe. In this new continuity, Phosphorus appears as a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains.[9][10][11][12][13][14]
In Batman: Three Jokers, Doctor Phosphorus is incarcerated at Blackgate Penitentiary when Batman comes there to see Joe Chill.[15]
Powers and abilities
[edit]Doctor Phosphorus has the ability to manipulate radiation for various effects, such as burning skin and toxic fume emissions. His body's major organs are not present, but he produces an endless source of energy for himself.[16] When he sold his soul to Neron, Sartorius was granted greater powers, as well as temperature control.[17]
Other versions
[edit]An alternate universe variant of Doctor Phosphorus appears in Flashpoint.[18][19]
In other media
[edit]Television
[edit]- Batman Beyond character Derek Powers / Blight (voiced by Sherman Howard) is visually inspired by Doctor Phosphorus.[20]
- The Batman's incarnation of Garfield Lynns / Firefly (voiced by Jason Marsden) is inspired by Doctor Phosphorus. In the episode "White Heat", he steals a phosphorus isotope that gives him fiery skin and a burning touch.
- Doctor Phosphorus will appear in Creature Commandos,[21][22] voiced by Alan Tudyk.[23] This version is an inmate of Belle Reve and a member of the eponymous group.
Film
[edit]Doctor Phosphorus appears in The Lego Batman Movie.
Video games
[edit]- Doctor Phosphorus appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[24]
- Dr. Alex Sartorius appears in Batman: Arkham Knight via Simon Stagg's audiotapes. This version was raised as a Catholic, but chose science over faith and became an employee at Stagg Industries. He later discovers that Stagg is collaborating with the Scarecrow to develop the Cloudburst technology and is exposed to the latter's fear toxin, causing him to develop pyrophobia.
Miscellaneous
[edit]Doctor Phosphorus appears in Smallville Season 11: Titans.[25]
Further reading
[edit]- Dr. Phosphorus: Walter Simonson recalls the real origin of the brilliant bad guy in Comic Book Artist Collection: Volume 2 by Jon Cooke, TwoMorrows Publishing (2002) page 20-22
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ^ a b c d Wallace, Dan (2008), "Doctor Phosphorus", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 105, ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1, OCLC 213309017
- ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 115–116. ISBN 9780345501066.
- ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. p. 102. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
- ^ Detective Comics #469. DC Comics.
- ^ Detective Comics #470. DC Comics.
- ^ Detective Comics #825. DC Comics.
- ^ Titans (vol. 2) #28. DC Comics.
- ^ Forever Evil #1. DC Comics.
- ^ Batman Eternal #2. DC Comics.
- ^ Batman Eternal #6. DC Comics.
- ^ Batman (vol. 3) #19. DC Comics.
- ^ Detective Comics #1003. DC Comics.
- ^ Detective Comics #1005. DC Comics.
- ^ Batman: Three Jokers #2. DC Comics.
- ^ Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol 1 #6 (August 1985)
- ^ Underworld Unleashed Vol 1 #1 (November 1995)
- ^ Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #2 (July 2011). DC Comics.
- ^ Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #3 (August 2011). DC Comics.
- ^ Blum, Jeremy (September 27, 2022). "A Classic Batman Beyond Enemy Just Got a White Knight Reinvention". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ Kit, Borys (January 31, 2023). "DC Slate Unveiled: New Batman, Supergirl Movies, a Green Lantern TV Show, and More from James Gunn, Peter Safran". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "The Next Generation of DC Movies and TV Has Arrived..." January 31, 2023.
- ^ Oddo, Marco (April 12, 2023). "Here's the Full Cast of DC's 'Creatures Commandos' [Exclusive]". Collider. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ Smallville Special Titans
External links
[edit]- Doctor Phosphorus at Comic Vine
- Fictional characters who have made pacts with devils
- Fictional characters with energy-manipulation abilities
- Fictional characters with fire or heat abilities
- Fictional characters with nuclear or radiation abilities
- DC Comics scientists
- DC Comics supervillains
- DC Comics metahumans
- Comics characters introduced in 1977
- Characters created by Steve Englehart
- Batman characters