Killer Moth (Drury Walker) is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, usually as an adversary and dedicated original foil personality of Batman (prior to the creations of Wrath, Prometheus, and Hush). Like Batman, he has no superpowers and relies on his technical equipment, including a Mothmobile and numerous gimmicks. Killer Moth originally wore a garish costume of purple and green striped fabric, with an orange cape and moth-like mask. In Underworld Unleashed, Killer Moth is transformed into the monster Charaxes with superhuman abilities.

Publication history

Killer Moth first appeared in Batman #63 (February 1951) and was created by Bill Finger, Dick Sprang, and Lew Schwartz.

Fictional character biographies

Pre-Crisis/ "Cameron van Cleer"

The original Killer Moth was a prisoner identified only by his prison number, 234026. While in prison, he reads a newspaper article about Batman and decides to set himself up as the "anti-Batman", hiring himself out to Gotham City's criminals to help them elude capture by police. Upon his release, he uses the hidden proceeds of his crimes to build a "Mothcave", modeled on the photos of the Batcave in the newspaper article he read. Killer Moth also establishes a false identity as millionaire philanthropist Cameron van Cleer, during which he befriends Bruce Wayne. Meanwhile, he promotes himself to Gotham's criminals using his identity as Killer Moth, giving them each an infrared Moth-Signal. In his first job, he rescues some criminals from the police and then uses his Mothmobile to defeat and capture Batman and Robin. The duo escape and lead Killer Moth to a climactic battle on Gotham Bridge, in which he is defeated. In his third appearance (Detective Comics #173 (July 1951)) Killer Moth kidnaps Bruce Wayne and learns his secret identity. However, he is shot by other criminals and the resultant cranial injury causes amnesia. He remains a persistent enemy through the Silver Age of Comic Books, being the first villain Batgirl encounters in Detective Comics #359 (January 1967). He teams up with the Cavalier twice: the first time in Batman Family #10 (March–April 1977), where they battle Batgirl and Batwoman (Kathy Kane, who comes out of retirement for the first time in years) and the second (and final) time in Batman Family #15 (December 1977-January 1978), where they battle Batgirl and Robin.

Post-Crisis

Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity reboot, Killer Moth is revealed to be Drury Walker. In Batman: Shadow of the Bat, Killer Moth forms a team called "the Misfits" with fellow minor villains Catman and the Calendar Man. In Underworld Unleashed, Neron transforms Killer Moth into a monstrous moth dubbed Charaxes. In Infinite Crisis, Charaxes is killed by Superboy-Prime. Booster Gold travels back in time and replaces Killer Moth to ensure Batman's existence, but accidentally alters the timeline before restoring it. In Blackest Night, Charaxes is resurrected as a Black Lantern before Prime kills him using a Black Lantern ring. Killer Moth is later permanently resurrected in The New 52 and DC Rebirth relaunches.

Unknown

A new, unidentified incarnation of Killer Moth is introduced in Batman #652, part of the Face the Face storyline.

Powers, abilities, and equipment

In his original incarnation, Killer Moth has no superhuman abilities, but relies on the vast array of equipment he had developed, including a Mothmobile, zipline cables, a cocoon gun, and an air pistol. As Charaxes, he possesses immense physical abilities and can fly and generate acid.

In other media

Television

Film

Video games

Lego

Merchandise

Miscellaneous