Blockbuster (DC Comics)

Blockbuster is the name of four supervillains and a criminal organization appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first iteration was an adversary of Batman and Robin, while the second served as one of Nightwing's greatest enemies. The third debuted in 52 as a member of Lex Luthor's Infinity, Inc.

Blockbuster has appeared in various media outside comics, including television series and films. Kevin Michael Richardson, Dee Bradley Baker, René Auberjonois, and Dave Fennoy have voiced the character in animation.

The Mark Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster first appeared in Detective Comics #345 (November 1965), and was created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino.

The Roland Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster first appeared in Starman #9 (April 1989), and was created by Roger Stern and Tom Lyle.

The first Blockbuster is Mark Desmond, a chemist who desires to increase his physical strength. Experimenting on himself, he succeeds in making himself stronger and taller, but as a side-effect of the process he becomes almost mindlessly aggressive. The mentally debilitated Desmond is cared for by his brother Roland, a local criminal, who keeps their mother from discovering what Mark had done to himself.

Roland manipulates 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 Desmond by removing his cowl and showing his face. Desmond later clashes with Batman on various occasions.

Blockbuster absorbs energies from the Alfred Memorial which gave him some powers and was once substituted for the super-strong undead villain Solomon Grundy from Earth-Two due to a machine that was substituting people from both Earths. Green Lantern causes him to fight Grundy, leading to them both briefly knocking each other out. Grundy is taken back to Earth-Two by the Justice Society of America, while Blockbuster is handed over to the police by the Justice League.

Blockbuster briefly joins the Secret Society of Super Villains for a battle with the Justice League.