The Spellbinder is the name of four fictional supervillains who appear in comic books published by DC Comics. Versions of the character have appeared on the animated series Batman Beyond and The Batman.

Fictional character biography

Delbert Billings

The first Spellbinder, Delbert Billings, first appeared in Detective Comics #358 (December 1966), and was created by John Broome and Sheldon Moldoff. He is a painter who uses optical illusions and hypnotic weapons to commit crimes. Throughout his appearances, Spellbinder battles Batman and Superman before being killed by his girlfriend, Fay Moffit.

Real name unknown

A second, unidentified Spellbinder appears in Justice League International (vol. 2) #65 as a member of the government-sanctioned "League-Busters".

Fay Moffit

In Underworld Unleashed, Delbert Billings' girlfriend Fay Moffit kills him and gains Neron's power. She becomes the third Spellbinder, also known as Lady Spellbinder, before being killed during Infinite Crisis.

The New 52

A fourth Spellbinder, Viktor Mironov, is introduced in The New 52 continuity reboot. He is a Russian magician who assists John Constantine in combating the Cult of the Cold Flame before being killed in battle.

Infinite Frontier

A fifth Spellbinder, Charles Dante, is introduced in Infinite Frontier. He is an artist, psychiatrist, and former classmate of Barbara Gordon who seeks to free Gotham City's citizens from what he sees as brainwashing.

Powers and abilities

The original Spellbinder used a number of optical and aural devices of his own invention to hypnotize others. His fighting skills were minimal. The second unnamed Spellbinder had genuine mystical abilities. The third Spellbinder, also known as Lady Spellbinder, can create realistic illusions that cause real pain to the recipients. However, she is unable to use this ability if she is blinded or otherwise has restricted vision.

In other media

Television

Video games

Spellbinder and Lady Spellbinder appear as character summons in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.

Miscellaneous

Spellbinder makes a minor appearance in the novel Wayne of Gotham.