Reaper is the name of several characters in the

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, primarily appearing as enemies of

Batman Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...

Publication history

The pre-''

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'' Reaper debuted in ''Batman'' #237 (December 1971) and was created by

Dennis O'Neil Dennis "Denny" Joseph O'Neil (May 3, 1939 – June 11, 2020) was an American comic book writer and editor, principally for Marvel Comics and DC Comics from the 1960s through the 1990s, and Group Editor for the Batman family of titles until h ...

. The character was inspired by science-fiction writer

Harlan Ellison Harlan Jay Ellison (May 27, 1934 – June 28, 2018) was an American writer, known for his prolific and influential work in New Wave science fiction, New Wave speculative fiction and for his outspoken, combative personality. His published wo ...

suggesting to O'Neill that he writes a story about Nazi war criminals. Created by writer Mike W. Barr and designed by artist

Alan Davis Alan Davis (born 18 June 1956) is an English comic book writer and artist, known for his work on ''Captain Britain'', ''The Uncanny X-Men'', ''The ClanDestine, ClanDestine'', ''Detective Comics'', ''Excalibur (comic book), Excalibur'', ''JLA: ...

, the Judson Caspian version of the Reaper first appeared in ''

Detective Comics ''Detective Comics'' (later retitled as ''Batman Detective Comics'') is an American comic book series published by Detective Comics, later shortened to DC Comics. The first volume, published from 1937 to 2011 (and later continued in 2016), is ...

'' #575 (June 1987), the first part of the four-part '' Batman: Year Two'' storyline. After the changes in DC continuity that '' Zero Hour'' established, ''Year Two'',

Joe Chill Joe Chill is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of ...

's death and the Reaper are erased. Chill was back in continuity after 2005's ''

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, ...

''. An unidentified Reaper appears in ''

The New 52 The New 52 was the 2011 revamp and relaunch by DC Comics of its entire Line (comics), line of ongoing monthly superhero American comic books, comic books. Following the conclusion of the "Flashpoint (comics), Flashpoint" Fictional crossover, cros ...

'', a 2011

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of the DC Comics universe.

Fictional character biographies

Dr. Benjamin Gruener

Dr. Benjamin Gruener is a German Jew who was placed in a

concentration camp A concentration camp is a prison or other facility used for the internment of political prisoners or politically targeted demographics, such as members of national or ethnic minority groups, on the grounds of national security, or for exploitati ...

run by Colonel Kurt Schloss. He kills Schloss at a

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parade and seemingly dies battling

when he falls off the edge of a dam. In Tony S. Daniel's "Batman: Life After Death" story arc, Hugo Strange resurrects Gruener and manipulates him into becoming a mass murderer. However, Batman makes Gruener see that Strange is using him before leaving.''Batman'' #692-697 (December 2009-May 2010)

Judson Caspian

Judson Caspian is a

socialite A socialite is a person, typically a woman from a wealthy or aristocratic background, who is prominent in high society. A socialite generally spends a significant amount of time attending various fashionable social gatherings, instead of having ...

by day and a vigilante by night. After losing his wife to a robber in the streets, he becomes the Reaper, targeting public menaces and murdering them with a scythe. He has a run-in with Green Lantern

Alan Scott Alan Ladd Wellington Scott is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, and the first character to bear the name Green Lantern. He fights evil with the aid of his mystical ring, which grants him a variety of powers. H ...

before traveling to Europe and disappearing. Several decades later, Caspian reassumes the Reaper identity and battles Batman. Batman works with the mob and

to battle the Reaper, who eventually kills Chill. Caspian is later killed in a battle with Batman after choosing to fall off a ledge.

Joe Chill Jr.

In the 1991 one-shot sequel ''Batman: Full Circle'', Chill's son Joe Jr. briefly assumes the mantle of Reaper as part of a plan to drive Batman insane. He eventually unmasks Batman, but does not recognize him. Chill attempts to mentally break Batman, who escapes and spares him.

''The New 52''

In ''

'', the Reaper is an inmate of

Blackgate Penitentiary This page lists the locations in the DC Universe, the shared universe setting of DC Comics. Sites Arrowcave The Arrowcave is the former base of operations of the Green Arrow and Speedy. Avernus Cemetery Avernus Cemetery is a hidden burial gro ...

. He is among those who escape in a breakout orchestrated by Bane.

''DC Rebirth''

DC Rebirth DC Rebirth is a 2016 relaunch by the American comic book publisher DC Comics of its entire Line (comics), line of ongoing monthly superhero comic book titles. Using the end of The New 52 (2011–2016) initiative in May 2016 as its launching point ...

, an unnamed criminal takes up the mantle of the Reaper.''Detective Comics'' Annual #2 (July 2019)

''DC All In''

In DC All In, an unnamed Reaper is introduced as a judge for the White Church courthouse. He and

Two-Face Two-Face is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Bob Kane, and first appeared in ''Detective Comics'' #66 (August 1942). He has become one of the superhero Batman's most enduring e ...

work together to maintain order in Gotham's criminal underworld.''Two-Face'' #1 (December 2024)

Equipment

As the Reaper, Judson Caspian wears a hooded black cloak with armored red leather or cuir bouilli, which prevents bullets and punches from affecting him. The knees and elbows of the red leather armor are tipped with spikes that add more power to blows Caspian inflicts. Caspian also wears a skull-shaped mask with hooks on the mouth to cover up the lower part of the face and red glowing eyes. The Reaper also wields two

scythe A scythe (, rhyming with ''writhe'') is an agriculture, agricultural hand-tool for mowing grass or Harvest, harvesting Crop, crops. It was historically used to cut down or reaping, reap edible grain, grains before they underwent the process of ...

-shaped weapons, with various other lethal implements contained in the spiked shafts of both weapons. The haft contains a handgun and smoke pellets. The scythes are stored in inverted sheaths on his back, under his cloak.

References

{{Batman characters Characters created by Dennis O'Neil Characters created by Mike W. Barr Comics characters introduced in 1987 DC Comics male supervillains Fictional American Jews in comics Fictional German Jews Fictional serial killers Fictional socialites Groups of fictional characters Vigilante characters in comics