Madmen
Encyclopedia
The Madmen are a team of villains in the DC Comics
created by Steve Ditko
and David Glanzman. The Madmen first appeared in Blue Beetle
#3 (1967). They were originally owned by Charlton Comics
but DC later acquired the rights to the characters.
s. The gang donned wigs, face paint, and multicolored costumes and started robbing banks. This brought them to the attention of Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)
.
During the fight the Madmen gained control of Beetle's gun but could not figure out how to use it. The public did not know what powers the gun possessed; the Madmen took advantage of this to enhance their crimes. Blue Beetle eventually regained his gun (only containing a strobe light
) and apprehended the Madmen. After serving their sentences, the Madmen retired until they were paid to attack Kord Industries
by Doctor Alchemy. Once again they were jailed.
The Madmen became a more persistent annoyance to Blue Beetle. They returned to face him time and again only to be defeated after each attempt. Fleeter, however, was not discouraged. Taking a job at Georgetown University
to steal drugs, he was involved in an accident that gave him the power to mentally control anyone he touched. He used this power to create an army of Madmen, but was defeated in a confrontation with Hawk and Dove
and sent to Belle Reve
prison.
Sometime later, Fleeter was incarcerated at Arkham Asylum
and was a victim of the Joker's
venom. He caused problems in Gotham City until he was captured by the Beetle and Robin.
During the Infinite Crisis
, the Madmen were invited to join Alexander Luthor, Jr.
's Secret Society of Super Villains
. Their first assignment was to attack Blue Beetle. Though they failed, their actions led to his death. Next, they were given guard duty and were attacked by the Secret Six
. During the Battle of Metropolis the Madmen were gunned down by Wild Dog
, Crimson Avenger III
, and Vigilante
.
One Year Later
, some of the Madmen apparently survived the battle. They attacked Wonder Woman
and Manhunter
after Everyman
appeared disguised as Blue Beetle. After attacking the trio, the Madmen dispersed.
They later appeared as part of a group of villains attempting to defeat the new Blue Beetle, Jaime Reyes
. After suffering a blast from one of Jaime's weapons, the group beat a hasty retreat.
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
created by Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
and David Glanzman. The Madmen first appeared in Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle is the name of three fictional superheroes that appear in American comic books published by a variety of companies since 1939.-Publication history:...
#3 (1967). They were originally owned by Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1985, having begun under a different name in 1944. It was based in Derby, Connecticut...
but DC later acquired the rights to the characters.
History
Looking to make money, Farley Fleeter transformed his gang into a group of supervillainSupervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
s. The gang donned wigs, face paint, and multicolored costumes and started robbing banks. This brought them to the attention of Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)
Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)
Blue Beetle is the second Blue Beetle, a superhero who was originally published by Charlton Comics and later picked up by DC Comics...
.
During the fight the Madmen gained control of Beetle's gun but could not figure out how to use it. The public did not know what powers the gun possessed; the Madmen took advantage of this to enhance their crimes. Blue Beetle eventually regained his gun (only containing a strobe light
Strobe light
A strobe light or stroboscopic lamp, commonly called a strobe, is a device used to produce regular flashes of light. It is one of a number of devices that can be used as a stroboscope...
) and apprehended the Madmen. After serving their sentences, the Madmen retired until they were paid to attack Kord Industries
Kord Industries
Kord Enterprises is a fictional company that exists in the DC Universe and is run by Ted Kord, the superhero Blue Beetle. Founded by his father, Ted Kord eventually takes over Kord Industries...
by Doctor Alchemy. Once again they were jailed.
The Madmen became a more persistent annoyance to Blue Beetle. They returned to face him time and again only to be defeated after each attempt. Fleeter, however, was not discouraged. Taking a job at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
to steal drugs, he was involved in an accident that gave him the power to mentally control anyone he touched. He used this power to create an army of Madmen, but was defeated in a confrontation with Hawk and Dove
Hawk and Dove
Hawk and Dove is the moniker given to two superheroes when they team up to fight crime. Hawk and Dove describes each character's attitude or approach to fighting crime. The hawk represents aggression, and the dove representing pacifism.-Hank and Don Hall:...
and sent to Belle Reve
Belle Reve
Belle Reve Penitentiary is a fictional prison and sanitorium in the DC Universe, first appearing in Suicide Squad #1 by John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell.-Fictional background:...
prison.
Sometime later, Fleeter was incarcerated at Arkham Asylum
Arkham Asylum
The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, commonly referred to simply as Arkham Asylum, is a fictional psychiatric hospital in the DC Comics Universe, usually appearing in stories featuring Batman...
and was a victim of the Joker's
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
venom. He caused problems in Gotham City until he was captured by the Beetle and Robin.
During the Infinite Crisis
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, and a number of tie-in books...
, the Madmen were invited to join Alexander Luthor, Jr.
Alexander Luthor, Jr.
Alexander Luthor Jr. is a DC Comics character who turned from a hero to a villain. Created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, Alexander has a prominent role in the DC Universe storylines Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis....
's Secret Society of Super Villains
Secret Society of Super Villains
The Secret Society of Super Villains is a group of comic book supervillains that exist in the DC Universe...
. Their first assignment was to attack Blue Beetle. Though they failed, their actions led to his death. Next, they were given guard duty and were attacked by the Secret Six
Secret Six (comics)
The Secret Six is the name of three different fictional comic book teams in the , plus an alternate universe's fourth team. Each team has had six members, led by a mysterious figure named Mockingbird, whom the characters assume to be one of the other five members.-Original Secret Six:The Secret Six...
. During the Battle of Metropolis the Madmen were gunned down by Wild Dog
Wild Dog (comics)
Wild Dog is a fictional vigilante based in the Quad Cities published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Wild Dog #1 , and was created by Max Allan Collins and Terry Beatty.-Publication history:...
, Crimson Avenger III
Crimson Avenger
The Crimson Avenger is the name of three separate fictional characters, superheroes who exist in the DC Comics universe.-Lee Walter Travis:The original Crimson Avenger made his first published appearance in Detective Comics #20...
, and Vigilante
Vigilante (comics)
Vigilante is the name used by several fictional characters appearing in DC Comics. The original character was one of the first DC Comics characters adapted for live-action film, beating Superman by one year.-Greg Saunders:...
.
One Year Later
One Year Later
"One Year Later" was a 2006 storyline event running through the DC Universe. As the title suggests, it involves a narrative jump exactly one year into the future of the DC Comics Universe following the events of the Infinite Crisis event, to explore major changes within the continuities of the many...
, some of the Madmen apparently survived the battle. They attacked Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
and Manhunter
Manhunter (Kate Spencer)
Manhunter is a fictional character, a superheroine in publications from DC Comics. Kate Spencer is the eighth DC Comics character depicted using the name Manhunter, and the first female to do so. The character first appears in Manhunter Manhunter is a fictional character, a superheroine in...
after Everyman
Everyman (DC Comics)
Everyman is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. He debuted in 52 #21 , and was created by Grant Morrison, Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen and Joe Bennett...
appeared disguised as Blue Beetle. After attacking the trio, the Madmen dispersed.
They later appeared as part of a group of villains attempting to defeat the new Blue Beetle, Jaime Reyes
Jaime Reyes
Blue Beetle is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Infinite Crisis #3 Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes) is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Infinite Crisis #3 Blue...
. After suffering a blast from one of Jaime's weapons, the group beat a hasty retreat.
Powers and abilities
The Madmen have no real powers, they are just a band of criminals that use a theme. They are usually reasonably skilled hand-to-hand combatants and sometimes they carry guns.Television
- The Madmen (referred to as the Madniks) appear in the Batman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain...
episode "Menace of the Madniks!" voiced by Dee Bradley BakerDee Bradley BakerDee Bradley Baker is an American voice actor. He is noted as his long-running-role as Klaus Heissler in American Dad! and other various characters including Squilliam Fancyson in the hit TV series SpongeBob SquarePants, Nightcrawler in X-Men: Legends and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance...
. When Batman is shown fighting the Madniks, Booster Gold learns that they once fought Blue Beetle. Booster Gold goes back in time where he ends up helping Blue Beetle fighting the Madniks when they break into S.T.A.R. Labs to steal the Quark Pistol. When Booster Gold shoots the Quark Pistol, it ends up knocking them out. When Booster Gold returns to the present, he finds Batman fighting an Energy Monster and Batman figures out that Booster Gold was behind this. When Batman and Booster Gold end up transporting back in time to see Blue Beetle, they end up going to Hub City Penitentiary where the escape of the Madniks causes them to turn into Energy Monsters that drained energy from the electric fence. Batman, Blue Beetle, and Booster Gold end up pursuing the Madnik Energy Monsters to Hub City's Nuclear Plant. Batman and Booster Gold managed to reverse the polarity of the Nuclear Plant in order to return the Madniks back to normal.
Miscellaneous
- One of the Madmen has appeared in the Justice League UnlimitedJustice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
spin-off comic book. His appearances are in issues #10.