Planet Master is the name of two fictional characters appearing in comics published by

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...

. The first Planet Master, a scientist called Irving Norbert and his lab assistant, who would later take on the name and costume, first appeared in ''Detective Comics'' #296 in October 1961. The characters were created by writer

Bill Finger Milton "Bill" Finger (February 8, 1914 – January 18, 1974) was an American comic strip, comic book, film and television writer who was the co-creator (with Bob Kane) of the DC Comics character Batman. Despite making major (sometimes, signatur ...

and artist Jim Mooney.

Fictional character biographies

Irving Norbert

Professor Irving Norbert is a scientist who was exposed to the gases of a meteor. The result caused him to develop a

Jekyll and Hyde ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'' is a 1886 Gothic novella by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. It follows Gabriel John Utterson, a London-based legal practitioner who investigates a series of strange occurrences between his old ...

-type personality with the bad one turning to a life of crime. Using his knowledge of astronomy, Norbert became a costumed villain named Planet Master and used weapons based on the nine planets. He managed to outwit Batman and Robin in the first battle. Norbert's unscrupulous assistant Edward Burke discovered the double identity of his boss and decided to either join forces with Planet Master or to use his equipment on his own. Ultimately though, the effects of the gas wore off. Norbert's criminal self was erased and Batman brought Burke to justice.

Edward Burke

When Kobra was creating a strike-force called Strike Force Kobra to usurp Stagg Enterprises in his goal of world domination, one of the villains he created was patterned after the original Planet Master. What makes this version different from the original is that he can simulate the abilities of the other planets. He, alongside the other members of Strike Force Kobra, fought the Outsiders and was defeated. Although never stated, it is possible that this Planet Master is Edward Burke (who was the former assistant of the first Planet Master). Even years ago, Burke planned to use the original Planet Master's equipment in crime. Either way, this Planet Master popped up during the ''

Infinite Crisis "Infinite Crisis" is a 2005–2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, ...

'' storyline as a member of Alexander Luthor Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains where he was seen during the Battle of Metropolis alongside Strike Force Kobra teammates Zebra-Man and a somehow-revived Spectrumonster.''Infinite Crisis'' #7. DC Comics.

Powers and abilities

The first Planet Master uses weapons based on the planets. The second Planet Master could simulate the conditions typical to any of the nine planets in the

Solar System The Solar System Capitalization of the name varies. The International Astronomical Union, the authoritative body regarding astronomical nomenclature, specifies capitalizing the names of all individual astronomical objects but uses mixed "Solar ...

. For example, he can use the speed of Mercury, the heat of Mars, the strength of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, and the cold of Pluto.

In other media

* A hybridized version of Planet Master appears in '' Batman: The Brave and the Bold'', voiced by

Stephen Root Stephen Root (born November 17, 1951) is an American actor. He has starred as Jimmy James on the television sitcom '' NewsRadio'', as Milton Waddams in the film ''Office Space'' (1999), and provided the voices of Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickl ...

. This version resembles the Irving Norbert incarnation, but possesses similar powers as the Edward Burke incarnation. * Edward Burke can be heard in the '' Batman: Arkham Knight'' DLC "A Matter of Family", voiced by JB Blanc. Throughout several audio tapes, this version is depicted as a billionaire whose daughter was dying of cancer. He was approached by Dr. Penelope Young, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, and the Joker under the alias of "Jack White" to cure her while Burke built the Seaside Amusement Park as a favor to White, though Burke's daughter died regardless. Devastated, Burke gave ownership of the park to White and was driven to suicide with pills that were later revealed to have been laced with

Joker venom The Joker is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson, and first appeared in the debut issue of the comic book '' Batman'' on April 25, ...

References