Knight Watchman (AKA: Reid Randall) is a fictional

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...

from the

Big Bang Comics ''Big Bang Comics'' is an American comic book anthology series, designed to be an homage to Golden Age and Silver Age comics. Most stories in ''Big Bang Comics'' take place either on "Earth-A," during the 1960s, or on "Earth-B" during the 1940 ...

universe, residing on Earth A during the

Silver Age of comics The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and widespread commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those featuring the superhero archetype. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an in ...

. He first appeared in ''Berzerker #1'' (February 1993), and was created by writer/artist Chris Ecker. In the fictional history of Big Bang Comics, his first appearance was in ''Deductive Comics''.

Fictional character biography

Knight Watchman is based in

Midway City Midway City is a census-designated place in the United States that forms part of the county land controlled by Orange County, California. The only area in Orange County that incorporates its chamber of commerce and homeowners association to act ...

(not to be confused with the city featured in Doom Patrol), where he fought crime for fifty years while maintaining a career as a fashion designer. Reid Randall's crimefighting life started after receiving a telegram saying that his brother, Ted, was in the hospital, leaving no one to run the family business, a garment factory. Back home, his mother told him that Ted had gambling debts, and the people he owed wanted to take the business. The beating Ted had received was a warning; next time the factory would be destroyed. Later that evening a hood tells Ted to sign over the business; Reid walks in and the hood runs out. Later Ted and Janet (Ted's wife) are killed by a car bomb. Reid swears to find the men responsible, make them pay, and rid the world of their kind. Knight Watchman trained in ninjutsu with Hamato Yoshi. As time goes on, he becomes more of an

anti-hero An antihero (sometimes spelled as anti-hero) or antiheroine is a main character in a story who may lack conventional heroic qualities and attributes, such as idealism, courage, and morality. Although antiheroes may sometimes perform actions ...

. By the time

had entered the modern day (the 1990s), Knight Watchman is reluctant to come out of retirement despite attempts by

Ultiman Ultiman is a fictional character published by Big Bang Comics. First appearing in Big Bang Comics #1 (Spring 1994), he was created by Gary Carlson and drawn by his partner Chris Ecker, among others. There are two existing versions of Ultiman. Metaf ...

to place Randall back in the cape. Reid's nephew, Jerry Randall, becomes Knight Watchman's sidekick, Kid Galahad. As he grows up Jerry becomes a hero in his own right as Galahad (a reference to

Dick Grayson Richard John "Dick" Grayson is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with Batman and Teen Titans. Created by writer Bill Finger and artist Bob Kane, he first appeared in ''Detective Comics' ...

's career as Robin and

Nightwing Nightwing is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character has appeared in various incarnations; the identity was adopted by Dick Grayson when he left his role as Batman's vigilante partner Robin. Although ...

). After Reid retires, Jerry fills both roles; as the publicly known and liked Galahad during the day, and as the mysterious and feared Knight Watchman at night. Reid later came out of retirement at the age of 55 when Jerry was hospitalized with a broken leg. Although in comics continuity, Knight Watchman exists in Earth-A ( Silver Age), Knight Watchman appeared alongside the Earth-B

Golden Age The term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology, particularly the ''Works and Days'' of Hesiod, and is part of the description of temporal decline of the state of peoples through five Ages of Man, Ages, Gold being the first and the one during ...

heroes in the TV movie ''Knights of Justice''.

Enemies

Knight Watchman has an assortment of enemies: * Baron Fledermaus * Cheshire Cat * El Diablo * Faulty Towers * Grandfather Clock - A supervillain that commits time-based crimes. He is loosely based on

Clock King The Clock King is the name of three supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first Clock King debuted in '' World's Finest Comics'' #111 (August 1960), and was created by France Herron and Lee Elias. The Clock ...

. * Mr. Mask - A supervillain that can reshape his clay-like face. His is based on

Clayface Clayface is an alias used by several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Most incarnations of the character possess clay-like bodies and shapeshifting abilities, and all of them have been depicted as List of Bat ...

. * Pink Flamingo - He is based on both Joker and

Penguin Penguins (order (biology), order List of Sphenisciformes by population, Sphenisciformes , family (biology), family Spheniscidae ) are a group of Water bird, aquatic flightless birds. They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere: on ...

. * Quizmaster - A former

quiz show A game show is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment (radio, television, internet, stage or other) where contestants compete for a reward. These programs can either be participatory or demonstrative and are typically directed by a host, sh ...

question writer. He is based on

Riddler The Riddler (Edward Nigma, later Edward Nygma or Edward Nashton) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang, and debuted in ''Detective Comics'' #140 in Oc ...

References

{{Reflist

External links

Knight Watchman webpage on International Superheroes

Image Comics superheroes Big Bang Comics