Origin and First Appearance of Superheroes and Villains Beginning With B

Ballox the Monstroid

Ballox was an android sent by the Skrull who crashed into the ocean on Earth.

The Puppet Master found Ballox and manipulated him, calling him Monstroid.

With his super strength and nearly indestructible build, Monstroid battles Vision and Spider-Man.

The two heroes can barely do any damage to Monstroid until the doll Puppet Master is using to control Ballox is destroyed, leaving the android inoperable.

Bane

As the only Batman villain to ever break and completely defeat Batman, Bane is a foe to be reckoned with.

Born in prison, Bane committed his first murder at the age of eight. Unusually smart, physically powerful, and an amazing fighter, Bane is the complete package.

During his time in prison, Bane is injected with an experimental drug known as Venom, which greatly increases his abilities. However, he must take it every 12 hours with injections directly to the brain.

Since his childhood, Bane has been haunted by a vision of a bat. Following his escape from prison, Bane becomes obsessed with defeating Batman – convinced that he is the reason for his nightmares.

During the Knightfall storyline, Bane releases every prisoner from Arkham Asylum, resulting in Batman having to recapture all of his old enemies.

Finally, after Batman is done, Bane confronts Batman and breaks his back in Batman #497, leaving him paralyzed.

Bane was the villain in the last Batman movie.

Baron Blitzkrieg

Baron Blitzkrieg was a Nazi officer who was blinded and disfigured by a concentration camp prisoner.

German scientists experimented on Blitzkrieg, giving him superhuman strength, invulnerability, energy beams and the ability to fly.

During WWII, Blitzkrieg battles the All-Star Squadron. Later, Blitzkrieg joins the Secret Society of Super Villains, but is killed by Superboy-Prime.

Blitzkrieg is buried under the Hall of Justice, but is revived during the Blackest Night storyline.

Baron Blood

Baron Blood is a vampire that appears several times in the Marvel Universe.

He possesses superhuman strength and durability, and hypnotism, and is weak against sunlight, garlic, silver, decapitation and a stake through the heart.

Originally, Baron Blood served the Nazis in WWII, before being defeated by Captain America, Union Jack, and other superheroes.

Throughout history, Baron Blood is revived numerous times.

Baron Mordo

Born in Transylvania, Mordo is on a mission to restore his home country back to its previous glory before its fall in WWI.

Learning black magic from The Ancient One, Mordo hopes to one day replace The Ancient One.

However, it is revealed that Stephen Strange (Dr. Strange) is the true heir, causing Mordo to become jealous and increasingly evil.

The feud between Dr. Strange and Baron Mordo continued for several decades until Mordo was diagnosed with cancer. Mordo realizes the error of his ways and seeks forgiveness from Dr. Strange.

Eventually, Mordo dies from his cancer.

Baron Zemo

As a brilliant scientist working for the Nazis, Heinrich Zemo created many deadly weapons, including a death ray and several androids.

Zemo begins wearing a hood to conceal his identity. During a battle with Captain America, one of Zemo's inventions, Adhesive-X, was spilt, causing his mask to become permanently stuck to his face, driving him insane.

Following the defeat of Germany in WWII, Zemo flees to South America and hides for many years. Later, he forms the Masters of Evil with Black Knight, Melter, Radioactive Man, Enchantress, Executioner, and Wonder Man.

Eventually, Captain America and Zemo come face to face again, resulting in Zemo's death in an avalanche.

Years later, Heinrich Zemo's son, Helmut J. Zemo, takes up where is father left off, swearing vengeance against Captain America.

Basilisk

Basil Elks was a petty thief attempting to heist an emerald when he was caught red-handed.

Unknown to Elks is that the emerald is actually a Kree alien artifact, known as the Alpha Stone.

When the guard shoots at Elks, the Alpha Stone shatters, transforming Elks into a serpent-like creature.

With his new powers of superhuman strength and speed, and the ability to shoot lasers from his eyes, Elks takes on the persona Basilisk.

Later, he obtains the Omega Stone, giving him even greater power.

Batgirl

Barbara Gordon, daughter of Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon, grew up around Batman and Robin, and knew Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson.

Librarian Babs goes to a Gotham Police Ball dressed as "Batgirl," and surprisingly finds herself battling a villain named Killer Moth, who is there to attack Bruce Wayne.

Keeping her identity a secret, she assists Bruce and later decides to branch out on her own as a real "Batgirl".

Armed with only her intellect and a skill in combat, she became the female equivalent to Batman, and was an active part of the superhero scene for years, until crippled by The Joker. After that, she became the super-hacker Oracle.

Reboots have since gotten her back on her feet.

Batman

Batman is perhaps the second-most well-known hero in all of comicdom, behind only Superman.

While you don't learn the origin, how Bruce Wayne became Batman in Detective Comics #27, you do see the grim, dark, violent, pulpy side of the Caped Crusader, long before Robin, the Boy Wonder came along.

Bruce Wayne's parents, of course, had been killed by a mugger, to which young Bruce was a horrified witness. Inspired by a bat flying in his window, he vows to avenge their murders by taking on the bat's horrifying aspect, and thereby scaring the daylights out of Gotham's criminals, a job he is still doing 74 years later.

Batroc the Leaper

George Batroc is a mercenary and master fighter, well-trained in the ways of the French kickboxing style savate.

Often hired by HYDRA or other terrorist organizations, Batroc is usually tasked with stealing an item, or to fight Captain America or Spider-Man. In the JLA/Avengers crossover, Batroc even faces Batman.

Later, Batroc joins Baron Zemo's Thunderbolts team, but eventually goes back to his favorite type of work: Mercenary for hire.

His latest mission involved stealing the remains of the original Human Torch.

Battleaxe

Wielding an axe and working as a professional wrestler, Battleaxe is a massive woman with superhuman strength and durability.

She defeats Titania in a wrestling match, becoming the leader of the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation. 

Battleaxe later joins the Femizons, an all-female super villain team who battle against Captain America, but are defeated.

Batzarro

Appearing as a twisted and confused clone of Batman, Batzarro is "The world's worst detective."

Batzarro seems to idolize Batman but the two only meet once. 

Little is known about Batzarro's history, except that he was created by the Joker, who at the time possessed some kind of cosmic powers.

Batzarro is very similar to Bizarro (Superman's bizarre self), whom Joker also created. 

Batzarro is later shot by Joker when he steps in front of the bullet to save Batman. However, Bizarro seems to have healed Batzarro, as he is seen in a later storyline.

Beast

Born Henry "Hank" McCoy, Beast is a mutant with ape-like features, including blue fur, superhuman strength, and excellent hand-to-hand combat skills.

Despite his appearance, Beast is incredibly intelligence and is a leading authority on genetics. 

Beast is a founding member of the original X-Men team, as well as a frequent member of the Avengers.

Later, Beast undergoes a second mutagenic transformation, becoming more of a feline-like beast.

Beowulf

It is hard to imagine the first appearance of a hero in 1984 when that hero had been the subject of legend since roughly 750 AD, but nonetheless this graphic novel concerns the Prince of the Geats, Beoeulf, come to save Hrothgar's mead hall from the monster Grendel.

Aside from being based on the same source material, this one-off had nothing to do with the DC Beowulf series of the 1970s.

Beowulf does not really have powers as such, except for great ability as a warrior.

Bernadeth

As one of the New Gods of Apokolips and co-leader of the New Furies, Bernadeth is a very formidable and scary foe.

She ultimately serves Darkseid, the ruler of Apokolips. At one point in time, Darkseid kills Bernadeth, but eventually brings her back to life.

Bernadeth uses "faren-knives", which burn her victims from the inside out.

Betsy Ross

Betsy Ross was originally Elizabeth Ross, a WAAC and friend of Steve Rogers, aka Captain America.

She was initially unaware of his secret identity, but later learned of it and became his sidekick, replacing Bucky Barnes.

It was later revealed that she is the aunt of General "Thunderbolt" Ross and the great-aunt of Betty Ross, both of Incredible Hulk fame.

Beyonder

Beyonder is the sentient and self-aware energy of a parallel universe.

With his infinite powers, Beyonder creates a planet called Battle-World where he abducts Earth's superheroes and villains so they can battle each other.

Later, Doctor Doom and Galactus attempt to steal Beyonder's power, only to fail.

Finally Beyonder is killed by Molecule Man. His death creates a Big Bang which births a new universe.

Big Barda

Big Barda is Scott Free's wife, and is a New God, born on Apokolips, raised by Granny Goodness to lead the Female Fury Battalion.

She met Scott Free, and, sensing something in him, had a change of heart, and helped Scott escape Apokolips and head to Earth. She followed him later.

She has a near-immortal lifespan, super-strength, endurance, and speed, and is a master of weapons, carrying a Mega-Rod and Aero Disks.

After many years of a relatively calm life with Scott in Connecticut, she was killed by Infinity Man, but was subsequently rebooted and revived.

See our DC Comic superheroes price guides.

Bishop

Lucas Bishop is a mutant from a dystopian future timeline in which mutants have been rounded up, branded with "M" tattoos, and forced to live in concentration camps.

In Uncanny X-Men #282, he travels back in time to arrive in the 20th century and becomes an ally of the X-Men, who he knows only as heroes from the past.

His main mutant power is that of being able to absorb and redirect energy, so that any type of energy directed towards him can be fired back in the same or altered form at his attacker.

He can also instantly determine his location, and has super-strength, near-invulnerability, and great healing abilities.

Bizarro

Bizarro is the opposite of Superman, having most of Superman's powers, but with the opposite effect (i.e. freeze vision instead of heat vision).

Several Bizarro's have been created throughout the DC Universe, usually with a duplicating ray.

However, Joker, Batman's nemesis, also creates a Bizarro using fifth Dimensional powers.

Sometimes Bizarro is an antagonist for Superman, but on occasion, they work together.

Bizarro has a bizarre way of speaking, and everything he says means the exact opposite.

Black Adam

As an Egyptian prince, Teth-Adam was chosen as high priest Shazam's heir.

Adam was set to receive all of Shazam's powers; however, in a deal with the gods, Adam gains the power of six Egyptian gods instead.

Furious with Adam's trick, Shazam sends Adam to the furthest reaches of space.

Traveling for over 5,000 years, Adam finally arrives in the present day.

Adam is seen a neutral character, sometimes fighting for villains, and sometimes for the Justice League of America.

UPDATE: 1st Bronze Age Black Adam now a hot property!

Since the Shazam! movie was announced by DC, the first re-appearance of Black Adam has rocketed in value. Shazam! #28 is the one to look for.

Black and White Bandit

Roscoe Chiara was a painter in Gotham City, who became colorblind after using special paints developed by Winsor Munsell.

Enraged, Chiara begins stealing art from Munsell's museum, dubbing himself the Black and White Bandit.

Batman catches on to Chiara's antics, swiftly ending his days of thievery.

The Black and White Bandit hasn't been seen since.

Black Bolt

Black Bolt is the leader of the Inhumans.

While he possesses superhuman strength and speed, and the ability to fly, his most devastating power is his voice. 

Just by uttering a sound, Black Bolt can level entire cities. At its full capacity, Black Bolt's Sonic Scream could destroy a planet.

Most of the time, he remains silent.

Black Canary

Black Canary, like Marvel's Black Widow, who she must have inspired, initially seems to be a villain, but subsequently shows herself to be a heroine.

Eventually she joins the JSA and becomes Green Arrow's girlfriend and crime-fighting partner.

Originally, she had no super-powers except her intelligence and her fighting ability, but later gained a "canary cry", a high-pitched howl that could disable enemies and shatter glass.

Black Cat

The Black Cat is Felicia Hardy, who began as a non-super-powered cat burglar, eventually acquiring some powers down the road.

Her father had been a very successful cat burglar himself, but had lived a lie, pretending to be a traveling salesman.

Eventually, he was arrested, and Felicia first suited up as the Black Cat to try and break him out of jail. She was unsuccessful, and her father died.

That same night, she met Spider-Man and felt an attraction for him.

She tried, unsuccessfully, to become a hero to impress him, but over time, a strange aura of bad luck seemed to spring up around her, foiling her attempts every time.

She eventually gained the powers of catlike night vision and sense of smell, along with the ability to selectively use her bad luck aura to affect the outcomes of events.

Black Flash

Black Flash represents death for all those connected to the Speed Force, the source that grants all speedsters their power.

Black Flash was seen by both Barry Allan and Johnny Quick before their deaths.

Black Flash brings speedsters back to the Speed Force when they die. When Black Flash comes to take Wally West (the third Flash), West races it to the end of time where Black Flash has no powers. 

Black Fox

Black Fox was Dr. Robert William Paine, a hero, and no relation to the earlier Spider-Man villain of the same name.

Black Fox was a part of Marvel's Lost Generation of retro-heroes, having begun his career shortly after returning from service in WWII.

He had no genuine superpowers, but used his tremendous wealth, his brilliant mind, and top-level combat skills to battle super-villains.

He fought crime for many years before retiring to work as a history professor.

Coaxed to come out of retirement to help the First Line team battle a Skrull invasion of the earth, Black Fox was killed, along with most of the other First Line heroes.

Black Goliath

Dr. Bill Foster had been a supporting character in the Avengers (as Henry Pym's lab assistant) since 1966.

But Foster didn't become Black Goliath until 1975, when he acquired the formula for "Pym Particles," allowing him to increase his size in the manner of Henry Pym.

He could grow to great heights and, as with his former employer, his strength would grow as his stature did.

Later he became the second Giant Man.

Black Hand

William Hand used his creative genius to begin life as one of the greatest criminals the world has ever known.

Creating a device that allows him to drain powers from Green Lantern's power ring, Hand becomes a formidable foe.

Following several battles with Green Lantern and other members of the Justice League, and after multiple incarcerations, Black Hand gives up his evil ways for a short period of time, only to come back stronger and further corrupted. 

Later, Black Hand is abducted by the Kroloteans alien race.

The Kroloteans perform medical experimentations on Black Hand, resulting in an increase in his power.

Blackhawk

Blackhawk led the Blackhawks, a team of ace pilots who vowed to bring down the Axis during WWII.

Blackhawk himself is rather mysterious, his real name conspicuously withheld.

He, along with the Blackhawks (there were a rotating cast of seven, representing various nationalities), flew missions from their hidden base on Blackhawk Island in Grumman XF5F Skyrocket planes, against Axis foes, masked villains, and dragon-lady type ingénues.

The series was in continuous publication from 1941 until the 1960s, outselling even Superman at its height.

DC Comics acquired Blackhawk along with most of the rest of the Quality Comics roster, and has featured him consistently.

Blackhawk

Blackhawk and his team of ace fighter pilots are the premier force of good during WWII, fighting against oppression and the tyranny of evil.

The first Blackhawk was Bart Hawk, a Polish fighter pilot who assembles a team of other allies to battle the Nazis.

Later, Janos Prohaska takes over leading the squadron.

Blackhawk is one of the oldest comic series still in print. At one time, during the 1940s and 50s, Blackhawk comics outsold all other comics except Superman.

Blackheart

Blackheart is the demon son of Mephisto, created from the energy of pure evil. 

Blackheart attempts to corrupt Daredevil and Spider-Man, but fails when he realizes the power of human free will and good over evil. 

In his failure, Mephisto banishes Blackheart to Earth.

Blackheart yearns to destroy Mephisto and become ruler of his own portion of Hell.

Black Knight

Dane Whitman was the direct descendent of the original Black Knight, and the nephew of Nathan Garrett, a villain who used the name The Black Knight and who had battled the Avengers.

On his deathbed, he made Dane promise to become the next Black Knight and clear the family name. Dane does so, and with a winged horse named Aragorn, becomes a superhero.

Using his mystical blade and shield, the Black Knight eventually became an Avenger and a Defender, before being turned to stone and transported to the 12th century, where he was trapped for years.

Eventually he was brought back and rejoined the Avengers.

Black Lightning

Black Lightning is Jefferson Pierce, a former Olympic athlete who returns to his boyhood home in a bad part of Metropolis as a high school teacher.

Pierce finds that the neighborhood and the school are in the grip of a dangerous street gang known as "The 100."

Jeff fought back, but the gang retaliated and created trouble in the school. He decided to combat the gang in a way that wouldn't bring any retribution back to him or the school, as a superhero.

Armed with a force-field belt that allowed him to generate lightning bolts, as well as being an Olympic-level athlete and having a limited ability to fly, Black Lightning was born. In addition to his costume, Jeff adopted a more "street" way of talking when he was Black Lightning, and wore a large afro wig.

He was later a member of The Outsiders, and remains active.

Black Manta

Black Manta's origins are hazy, but one thing remains clear – he hates Aquaman and will stop at nothing to destroy him. 

Using his full body wetsuit, Black Manta is granted superhuman strength and durability, and has the ability to breathe normally under water.

With an array of weapons at his disposal, including laser beams that shoot from the eyes of his helmet, Black Manta is bent on dominating the oceans.

Black Marvel

The Black Marvel was a man named Dan Lyons.

He was chosen by a "Black Feet" (sic) Indian chief as a champion of justice after he was able to outrun a deer, outswim a salmon, wrestle a bear, and shoot a bullseye with bow and arrow while blindfolded.

The chief gave him a long bow and told him that for every good deed, he could add a notch to the bow. When he got to 100 notches, he would officially be worthy of the name "Black Marvel."

Black Marvel didn't stay around long enough to get all 100 notches, disappearing with most of Timely Comics' other heroes after WWII.

Black Mask

Born into a family of upper class socialites, Roman Sionis is forced to watch his parents live their greedy lives of lies and money.

In his adult life, Sionis kills his parents in an angry rage, thus beginning is life of crime.

After ruining his father's business, Sionis vows to become Gotham's one and only crime lord. (See the Batman villains list for other candidates!) He begins calling himself Black Mask and building an army dubbed the False Face Society.

Sometime after the original Black Mask is killed by Selina Kyle (Catwoman), a second Black Mask appears. Black Mask II is later revealed to be Dr. Jeremiah Arkham (Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1).

Blackout

Marcus Daniels was an average man, working as a lab assistant to the brilliant Dr. Croit, who was studying energies from other dimensions. 

After an accident, Daniels is covered in the extra-dimensional energy known as Darkforce, thus giving him the ability to control the Darkforce dimension and its objects.

However, Daniels' new powers take a toll on his mental stability, and he eventually kills Dr. Croit. 

To avoid capture by the Avengers, Daniels constantly moves back and forth between dimensions, causing his mental status to deteriorate further.

Eventually, he dies from a cerebral hemorrhage.

Black Panther

T'Challa was the prince of the Panther Tribe in the fictional, hidden African nation of Wakanda.

He had gained Panther powers of enhanced strength, speed, and agility through a ritual that involved the use of sacred herbs, and summons the Fantastic Four to Wakanda to test them and ask for their help.

Eventually, he journeys to the USA, and ends up joining the Avengers. He has been associated ever since with them, on and off.

It is worth noting that the Black Panther was the first black superhero published by any company, and that his debut preceded the creation of the Black Panther Party.

Blackrock

Peter Silverstone needed to increase the ratings for his TV network, and he was willing to do so any way possible.

Using the power of an ancient alien artifact known as the black rock, Silverstone begins controlling others, drawing the attention of Superman.

By attaching the black rock to himself, Silverstone is granted superhuman strength, flight, and energy blasts, and he names himself Blackrock.

However, use of the stone takes a toll on Silverstone's mind and he eventually goes insane.

Blacksmith

By stealing and using the magical elixir used by Goldface, Amunet Black transforms herself into Blacksmith, a new super villain with the ability to become one with metal. 

Black operated an underground black market known as the Network in Central City and Keystone City.

Using her underground black market as a home base, Black assembles a new team of Rogues to fight against the Flash.  

Following her defeat, Black is incarcerated at Iron Heights prison and her underground black market collapses.

Black Spider

Eric Needham was another Gotham City heroin addict when he went from small time criminal to full-fledged murderer.

After his arrest, Needham kicks his heroin habit, and begins a vigilante tirade against drug traffickers.

After he brutally murders several of Gotham's drug dealers, Needham, now going by the name Black Spider, shows up on Batman's radar.

Batman doesn't approve of Black Spider's crime-fighting ways, and the two are often at odds with each other.

Later, Black Spider kills several drug lords and dealers using a suicide bomb. Somehow, Needham survives and he appears in subsequent Batman adventures.

Black Talon

Pascal Horta was a painter who lost his hand in an auto-accident. To replace his lost hand, Horta undergoes transplant surgery, receiving the hand of an executed serial killer.

Over time, the new hand begins taking over Horta's mind, driving him to kill other artists in his city.

At each crime scene, Horta began leaving paintings of his victims' death. He later battles Captain America and Bucky, but escapes capture.

Later, Horta joins the Nazis, but is finally apprehended by Captain America and the Human Torch.

See our Golden Age Captain America Comics price guide here.

Black Terror

Black Terror was pharmacist Bob Benton, who got into the merchandise a bit, doing some experimenting and mixing until he came up with something he called "formic ethers" by adding formic acid from red ants to some other chemicals.

The formic ethers, when inhaled, gave Benton super strength and invulnerability. He procured a black suit with death's head logo and a cape, and then procured a sidekick named Tim, whom he outfitted similarly with costume and ethers, and they formed a duo called The Terror Twins.

Black Terror lasted until 1949, and after Nedor's collapse, the character ended up in the public domain.

Black Widow

Natasha Romanoff was a Russian who had been coerced into acting as a spy and saboteur by the Soviet Premier himself, Nikita Kruschev.

Initially she is a non-super-powered femme-fatale who beguiles men with her beauty, and trying to sabotage or steal Tony Stark's inventions.

Later, she gained super-powers (great fighting ability and agility, along with "Widow's Bite" wrist blasters), and was Daredevil's partner and love interest for several years.

See our full article on Black Widow movie comic books here.

Black Zero

Black Zero is one of the main antagonists that caused Krypton, Superman's home planet, to explode.

Black Zero later targets earth for destruction, creating a huge missile to blow up the planet.

Superman, with the help of Jax-Ur, defeats and kills Black Zero.

You can find our Superman comics price guide here.

Blastaar

Once the ruler of planet Baluur in the Negative Zone, Blastaar (the living bomb-burst) was dethroned due to his tyrannical ways.

Since then, Blastaar has attempted to conquer Earth, but is defeated by the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and other superheroes. 

Blastaar is also the enemy of Annihilus, and the two often battle for control over the Negative Zone. 

Eventually, Blastaar becomes the king over the entire Negative Zone.

Blaze and Satanus

Blaze and Satanus are demonic / human hybrid siblings, created the wizard Shazam and a demoness.

Blaze first appears in Action Comics #655. She is responsible for creating many of Superman's enemies, such as Silver Banshee and Skyhook.

Blaze disguises herself as Metropolis nightclub owner Angelica Blaze.

Satanus first appears in Adventures of Superman #493. Lord Satanus creates DMN, a magical drug that transformed people into demons.

Together, the brother and sister duo attempt to harvest as many souls as possible, with the overall goal of ruling Metropolis and possibly, the world.

After their numerous attempts at domination are foiled by Superman, Blaze and Satanus battle Nero to take control of Hell.

Blazing Skull

The Blazing Skull was an ordinary man named Mark Todd who, while covering the second Sino-Japanese War, took cover from artillery fire in a cave.

There, he met The Skull Men, a race of human beings with flaming skulls for heads. They told him that he was their new champion of justice, and trained him in their ways, eventually making him invulnerable to fire and granting him other super-powers.

He returned home to America, designed a costume with a mask that looked like a flaming skull in their honor, and embarked on a career of crime fighting.

Like most other Timely superheroes, Blazing Skull didn't last past WWII.

Blob

Fred Dukes was a circus attraction due to his giant sized features.

Professor Xavier sees Dukes and makes him aware that he is a mutant, offering him a home at his school for mutants.

Dukes refuses, and decides that he would rather fight against the X-Men instead.

Later, Dukes joins up with Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, but he mostly useless and is kicked off the team. 

After losing his powers due to the Scarlet Witch's decimation, Dukes becomes a world famous weight loss celebrity.

Blockbuster

Hating his small stature and physical weakness, Mark Desmond, a brilliant chemist, experimented on himself, becoming incredibly strong and extremely tall.

However, as a result of the experiment, Desmond became a mindless brute, destroying anything could, taking on the alias Blockbuster.

Manipulated by his brother, Roland, Blockbuster begins a life of crime until being stopped by Batman and Robin.

Blockbuster later joins the Secret Society of Super Villains and also the Suicide Squad. Blockbuster is later killed by Brimstone.

Blockbuster

To cure an illness, Roland Desmond undergoes experimental steroid treatment.

Following in the footsteps of his brother, Roland becomes an aggressive and strong monster but loses his mental capacity.

Desmond uses his new powers to become crime lord of Bludhaven, but he is stopped several times by Nightwing (Dick Grayson, formerly Robin).

Later, when Desmond attempts to take over Gotham City, he is killed by Tarantula.

Bloodsport

Robert DuBois is a mercenary that is hired by Lex Luthor to kill Superman.

Taking the name Bloodsport, DuBois uses advanced weaponry made of kryptonite, Superman's only true weakness. 

During a lengthy battle, Bloodsport is able to cause a significant amount of damage to Metropolis and Superman, but is stopped when he is confronted by his brother, who forces him to surrender. DuBois is promptly incarcerated.

Later, DuBois is killed by another prisoner who is also using the alias Bloodsport.

Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary is vampire from Apokolips and member of the Female Furies.

She can fly, shoot lasers, hypnotize her enemies, and obviously, she enjoys sucking blood out of her victims.

Bloody Mary is later killed by Infinity-Man.

Blue Beetle (Dan Garret)

The first Blue Beetle was a rookie cop who decided that he also needed to fight crime in his time off.

Initially, he had no superpowers, and wore a blue suit with matching fedora and mask. Later, he acquired a set of blue, bulletproof tights, and something called "Vitamin 2X" that gave him double strength, speed, etc.

He always had his blue scarab beetle emblem, however, and over time he gained (perhaps from the scarab) some more significant super-powers (x-ray vision, flight) without explanation, only to lose them again, in similarly unexplained fashion.

This Dan Garret is not the same as the later, Charlton version of the Blue Beetle, even though the Charlton version is named Dan Garrett.

Blue Beetle (Jamie Reyes)

One day, on the way home from school, Jaime Reyes found a strange object on the ground – the Blue Beetle Scarab.

Little did Jaime know is that this special scarab gives powers to anyone who possesses it…

That night, the Blue Beetle Scarab grafts itself to Jaime's spine, endowing him with a suit of high tech body armor capable of various feats and abilities.

However, Jaime can barely control the Blue Beetle Scarab at first, but he eventually masters his new powers.

Jamie uses his new powers for good, teaming up with many of DC's superheroes, and he can often be found hanging out with the Posse. Jamie is the third Blue Beetle.

Blue Marvel

Adam Braesher was an all-American man of many talents and a long list of achievements.

After his time in the Marines, Braesher began a project attempting to gather anti-matter from the Negative Zone.

However, an explosion occurred, and Braesher's body became one with the anti-matter, giving him astounding super powers.

Braesher now uses his super powers for the benefit of all mankind, fighting evil and oppression, as well as taking a staunch position on racism.

Blue Streak

Acting as a spy for the Corporation, Don Thomas, going by the alias Blue Streak, infiltrates the S.H.I.E.L.D.

However, Captain America quickly ousts Thomas as a spy, and the two become lifelong enemies.

Blue Streak begins a "successful" life of crime, until he is killed by Scourge of the Underworld.

Blue Streak is later resurrected by the Hood, but is killed again by the Punisher's partner Henry.

Bob, Agent of HYDRA

Before becoming an agent of HYDRA, Bob was just an average guy who had trouble holding a steady job.

Enticed by a rewarding employment with HYDRA (and health benefits), Bob joins the terrorist organization.

Later, upon encountering Deadpool, Bob leaves HYDRA to become Deadpool's partner.

Bob is a very fearful and unskilled mercenary. He cannot fight and has no super powers – his best skill is his ability to run away and hide.

Despite this, he has become a valuable sidekick to Deadpool, saving his life numerous times.

Bolivar Trask

Fearing that mutants would someday rise up and dominate over humans, Bolivar Trask creates the Sentinels, mutant-hunting robots. 

Despite intervention by Professor Xavier, Trask unleashes the Sentinels on the world.

Later, Trask comes to realize that the X-Men are actually trying to protect humanity and sacrifices himself to help stop the Sentinels. 

At one point, Trask's Sentinels racked up over 16 million mutant kills.

Ironically, Trask's two children are both mutants, however, his son Larry doesn't know this.

Booster Gold

Booster Gold is a 25th-century man named Michael Jon Carter, who travels back in time to the 20th-century to become famous as a superhero.

In the 25th century, he'd stolen artifacts from the Metropolis Space Musuem like a Legion of Super-Heroes flight ring, and Brainiac-5's force field belt, before using Rip Hunter's old time machine to transport him back to the 20th century.

Once there, he showed off, planning to use his superhero fame to create a profitable corporation based on his image.

He had intended to use the superhero name Goldstar, but got mush-mouthed when telling the President his name, conflating it with his old football-team nickname, Booster, inadvertently identifying himself as Booster Gold. The name stuck, to his chagrin.

He joined the JLA and then Extreme Justice, and for a time called himself Supernova.

His powers mostly come from stolen devices, including flight, force fields, and super-strength.

Bozo the Iron Man

Bozo the Iron Man was a large robot, used by a mysterious gent named Hugh Hazzard to help fight crime.

Initially a tool to commit crimes, the robot was repurposed by Hazzard into stopping villainy, and given the ability to fly as well. Hazzard names him "Bozo", for reasons that are lost to the mists of time.

After 42 issues of Smash Comics, Bozo lost his luster, and when Quality was liquidated in 1956, he was acquired by DC, who has not seen fit to have Bozo make any further appearances.

Bozo is no relation to the Silver Age Iron Man, Tony Stark.

Brainiac

Brainiac is one of Superman's arch enemies, and has been a constant source of strife for decades.

Brainiac's first mission was to shrink several cities on Earth in an attempt to reform his home planet Bryak. 

After Superman defeats Brainiac, he appears several more times in various forms.

It is revealed that he is actually an android, and several versions of himself exist all throughout time.

Brainwave (Henry King)

Henry King was born with incredible psionic powers.

Always an introvert, King becomes a psychiatrist in order to further develop his psi abilities and help him in his ultimate goal – becoming a criminal mastermind.

As a member of the Injustice Society, Henry King, better known as Brainwave, begins a lifelong battle with the Justice Society of America, particularly Green Lantern. 

During a battle with Ultra-Humanite, King dies protecting his son. His body is buried in the Hall of Justice's tomb.

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Brainwave (Henry King Jr.)

Following the death of his father, the original Brainwave, Henry King Jr. takes up his father's title. 

King Jr. spends his time with mostly super villain groups, but on occasion, he has allied with the forces of good.

He has been a member of the Infinity Inc. (good) Legion of Doom (bad), and the JSA (good).

Brotherhood of Evil

The Brotherhood of Evil is a team of super villains who seek world domination and revenge.

The group came together out of hatred for the genetic experiments that they were forced to undergo. 

The Brotherhood of Evil is led by the Brain and his partner Monsieur Mallah.

Over time, membership changes but the core members were Madame Rouge, General Immortus, Garguax, the Brain, and Monsieur Mallah.

Brotherhood of Evil Mutants

No group in the Marvel Universe has been more resilient and powerful than the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.

Originally founded and led by Magneto, the group's members and goals have changed many times throughout the years. 

Overall, the Brotherhood seeks to eliminate threats from anti-mutant humans and organizations, and to assert mutant domination over humans.

Of course, taking over the world is also on their agenda.

The original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants consisted of Magneto, Quicksilver, Scarlett Witch, Toad, and Mastermind.

Brother Voodoo

Brother Voodoo began as Haitian Jericho Drumm, who traveled to the United States for many years, training and practicing as a psychologist.

When he returned to Haiti, he found that his twin brother, Daniel, the local houngan, was dying, cursed by a local voodoo sorcerer.

After Daniel died, Jericho traveled to see Daniel's old mentor, Jamba, who trained him in voodoo until Jericho is even more knowledgeable and powerful a houngan than Daniel was.

Before Jamba dies, he resurrects Daniel's soul, merging it with Jericho's. Jericho now has superhuman strength, can manipulate fire, and can possess others with his brother's soul.

He fought and continues to fight many mystical opponents.

Bruce Wayne

Bruce Wayne is the civilian identity of superhero Batman. 

Born into a wealthy family and heir to Wayne Industries, Bruce's life is ripped apart when his parents are murdered before his eyes.

Seeking to end the criminal tyranny that rules Gotham City, Bruce uses his intellect and money to transform himself into the caped crusader, Batman. 

While he has no superpowers, Bruce relies on his genius level intelligence, technology, and his unwavering sense of justice to fight evil.

A little known fact is that Bruce Wayne is a graduate of Yale Law School.

Bruno "Ugly" Mannheim

Bruno is leader of the criminal syndicate Inergang and one of Metropolis' most ruthless gangsters. 

Later, after an encounter with Darkseid, Bruno becomes Darkseid's pupil.

Darkseid causes Bruno to go insane and he begins eating his victims, mostly other super villains.

Buck Rogers

Buck Rogers began as a character in stories in several pulp magazines, written by Philip Francis Nowlan.

After a year of growing popularity, a daily newspaper comic strip was launched, written by Nowlan and drawn by Dick Calkins.

Buck Rogers is a man with a job surveying the lower levels of an abandoned mine outside of Pittsburgh, PA. There are strange gases in the mine, and after a cave-in, Buck is somehow preserved deep below the earth in a state of suspended animation for 500 years, emerging into a 25th century torn apart by war, but which is nonetheless a technological wonderland.

After rescuing Wilma Deering, soon to be his love interest, Buck embarks on a series of adventures and attacks against the Airlords who have taken over America.

Bucky Barnes

James "Bucky" Barnes was, originally, Captain America's non-super-powered sidekick.

Too young to enlist in the army, Bucky hangs around the base, eventually walking in on his buddy Steve Rogers changing into his Captain America uniform.

After some training, he was officially assigned by the US Army to be Captain America's partner. At the age of 15. During wartime.

Bug Eyed Bandit

Bertram Larvan was a brilliant inventor who created a robotic insect that could control other living insects.

He used his invention to steal money and create more robots, such as beetles that can bite through steel.

Adopting the alias Bug-Eyed Bandit, Larven is eventually defeated by the Atom.

Later, the Bug-Eyed Bandit is killed in the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline.

Bulletman and Bulletgirl

Fashioning a bullet-shaped "Gravity Regulator Helmet" which allowed him to fly, and taking a chemical formula he created called the "crime cure," which gave him extra strength and intelligence, Jim Barr became Bulletman.

He was the son of a police officer slain in the line of duty, and vowed to do his part to stop crime. He couldn't pass the police physical, but got a job in ballistics, where he worked on the "crime cure" and the helmet.

He outfitted his girlfriend with a similar helmet, and gave her the "crime cure" as well, turning her into Bulletgirl.

They fought crime together until 1953, when Fawcett ceased operations. Now owned by DC, the two have been shoehorned into the WWII-era DC continuity as part of the All-Star Squadron.

Bullseye

The child that would become Bullseye grew up in a troubled home with an equally troubled family to that of Daredevil's.

As a kid, Bullseye would spend hours practicing shooting his rifle, quickly becoming an expert marksman.

As a teenager, Bullseye committed his first murder, when he threw a baseball at the head of the opposing team's batter, killing him instantly.

Later, the NSA recruits Bullseye to become an assassin, but he decides a life of crime is more his style, and he becomes a partner of Kingpin. 

While he has no superpowers, Bullseye is one of the greatest marksmen ever, and can use virtually any object as a projectile with enough force and accuracy to be lethal.

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Buzz

Buzz, in an alternate reality, is the grandson of J. Jonah Jameson, and eventually the teammate of Spider-Girl (May Parker, daughter of Peter and Mary Jane Parker) in The New Warriors.

Buzz was brought along to a demonstration of Human Fly battle armor by his grandfather, and after Buzz Bannon, a Navy SEAL who was testing out the armor, was killed by Dr. Jade, JJ puts on the armor and eventually tracked down Jade.

JJ has no super-powers of his own, but his armor gives him the powers of flight, super-strength, and the ability to shoot electrical blasts (the "Bug Zapper"), and an adhesive ("Fly Paper").

Byth

Byth was a brilliant thief on the planet Thanagar.

A scientist had just created a pill that would grant the user the ability to transform their body into any object.

However, Byth stole the pill and used it, using his new powers to escape Thanagar.

Byth travels to Earth to begin a life of crime. However, he is thwarted many times by Hawkman.

Eventually, Byth his exiled back to Thanagar where he has been imprisoned since.