The Psycho-Pirate is the name of two supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Bob Frazer portrayed the character for his live action debut during The CW's 2018 Arrowverse crossover "Elseworlds".

Publication history

The Charles Halstead version of Psycho-Pirate first appears in All-Star Comics #23 and was created by Gardner Fox and Joe Gallagher. The Roger Hayden version of Psycho-Pirate first appears in Showcase #56 and was created by Fox and Murphy Anderson.

Fictional character biography

Charles Halstead

Charles Halstead is a minor character who first appears in All-Star Comics #23, created by Gardner Fox and Joe Gallagher. He is a linotyper for the Daily Courier who is jealous of his boss's success and becomes the criminal mastermind Psycho-Pirate. He plans crimes based on emotions, hoping to ruin his boss. Halstead later shoots the Atom, who works with the Justice Society to expose him. He is sentenced to a lengthy prison term and eventually dies in the 1960s.

Roger Hayden

Roger Hayden first appeared as the second Psycho-Pirate in Showcase #56, and was created by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson. Hayden is a gangster and cellmate to Halstead on Earth-Two who obtains the Medusa Mask, which enables him to manipulate emotions. Ultra-Humanite later recruits him into the Secret Society of Super Villains before the group is imprisoned in Limbo. In Crisis on Infinite Earths, Psycho-Pirate is kidnapped by the Anti-Monitor and becomes his accomplice. After the multiverse is destroyed, Psycho-Pirate is among the only beings who remember it. In Underworld Unleashed, Psycho-Pirate sells his soul to the demon Neron to gain enhanced power. He battles Manhunter before being defeated and arrested. In Joker: Last Laugh, Psycho-Pirate appears as an inmate of the Slab prison. In JSA Classified, Psycho-Pirate and Power Girl are revealed to be refugees from Earth-Two. He is later killed by Black Adam, after which Raven destroys the Medusa Mask. In Blackest Night, Psycho-Pirate is resurrected as a Black Lantern before Superboy kills him. In The New 52 continuity reboot, Psycho-Pirate gains his psychic abilities from a virus created by Brainiac. In DC Rebirth, he joins Amanda Waller's Task Force X.

Powers and abilities

The Charles Halstead incarnation of Psycho-Pirate has no superhuman powers; however, he is a brilliant criminal mind knowledgeable in psychology and emotions. The Roger Hayden incarnation of Psycho-Pirate can manipulate, drain, and amplify the emotions of others using the Medusa Mask. Furthermore, he can fly and create psychic constructs and illusions.

Other versions

In other media

Television

Film

The Charles Halstead incarnation of Psycho-Pirate appears in the Tomorrowverse, voiced by Geoffrey Arend. An alternate universe incarnation of Halstead named the Advisor appears in Justice Society: World War II, while the main universe incarnation appears in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Video games

Miscellaneous