Firebug is the name of three supervillains appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily as enemies of Batman. All three are insect-themed arsonists, similar to Firefly.
| Firebug | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | (Rigger) Batman #318 (December 1979) (Combs) Gotham Central #3 (March 2003) (Unnamed) Deadshot (vol. 2) #1 (February 2005) |
| Created by | (Rigger) Len Wein (writer) Irv Novick (artist) (Combs) Ed Brubaker (writer) Michael Lark (artist) (Unknown) Christos Gage (writer) Steven Cummings (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | -Joe Rigger -Harlan Combs -Unnamed |
| Species | Human |
| Abilities | (Rigger) Military training Costume contains napalm tanks to set things on fire |
Firebug has made limited appearances in media outside comics, with Tom Kenny voicing the Joe Rigger incarnation of the character in Batman: Caped Crusader.
Publication history
editThe Joe Rigger incarnation of Firebug debuted in Batman #318 and was created by Len Wein and Irv Novick.[1]
The Harlan Combs incarnation of Firebug debuted in Gotham Central #3 and was created by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark.
The unnamed Firebug debuted in Deadshot (vol. 2) #1 and was created by Christos Gage and Steven Cummings.
Fictional character biographies
editJoe Rigger
editJoe Rigger is a soldier and demolitions expert who returns to Gotham City when several family members are killed in building-related accidents. Using his military training and a costume containing tanks of napalm, he becomes Firebug and attempts to destroy the buildings to prevent further accidents. He is defeated by Batman atop the Gotham State Building and believed dead after his tank explodes.[2][3]
Firebug later resurfaces and becomes a rival of Firefly before being scarred in an explosion and retiring.[4][5] He returns to villainy in The New 52 continuity reboot.[6][7]
Harlan Combs
editThe second Firebug, Harlan Combs, is a civilian and thrill-seeker who succeeds Joe Rigger following his retirement. He is later implicated for the murder of his family babysitter Bonnie Lewis and arrested.[8]
Unnamed
editAn unnamed character using the name Firebug debuted in Deadshot - Urban Renewal #1 (February 2005).[9] He had won the name and costume from an Internet auction. After taking on the Firebug name, he enters the costume business.[10]
Firebug later appeared in a flashback revealing that he teamed up with Mr. Freeze, but was defeated by Batman and Harvey Dent prior to Batman leaving Gotham City for a year.[11][12]
In other media
edit- Firebug appears as a boss in Batman: The Video Game. This version is the Joker's bodyguard who seeks revenge on Batman for defeating his brother and possesses super-speed and pyrokinesis.
- The Joe Rigger incarnation of Firebug appears in the Batman: Caped Crusader episode "The Night of the Hunters", voiced by Tom Kenny.[13][14] He is used by Harvey Bullock and Arnold Flass to serve as bait to draw out Batman. Firebug starts a fire which caused Batman to save some people from the burning building. Firebug is killed by Bullock and Flass as a way to cover up their involvement.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 136. ISBN 9780345501066.
- ^ Detective Comics #689-690. DC Comics.
- ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. pp. 129–130. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
- ^ Hero Hotline #5. DC Comics.
- ^ Gotham Central #4-5. DC Comics.
- ^ Batgirl (vol. 4) #17 (April 2013). DC Comics.
- ^ Batgirl (vol. 4) #18 (May 2013). DC Comics
- ^ Gotham Central #3-5. DC Comics.
- ^ Deadshot (vol. 2) #1. DC Comics.
- ^ Deadshot (vol. 2) #4-5. DC Comics.
- ^ Batman #651-654. DC Comics.
- ^ Detective Comics #817-820. DC Comics.
- ^ Flook, Ray (July 22, 2024). "Batman: Caped Crusader Spotlights Firebug, Gentleman Ghost, Nocturna". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ "Firebug Voice - Batman: Caped Crusader (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 30, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
External links
edit- Firebug (Joseph Rigger) at DC Comics Wiki
- Firebug (Harlan Combs) at DC Comics Wiki
- Firebug III at DC Comics Wiki
- Firebug at Comic Vine