Quakemaster
Encyclopedia
Quakemaster is a fictional supervillain
in the DC Comics
universe. He first appeared in DC Special #28 (June-July 1977)
. His reputation is irreparably damaged when an apartment complex he designed and built does not withstand a hurricane. Feeling that he has been wrongly branded, Coleman creates the alias of the Quakemaster and uses his super-charged jackhammer
to create earthquakes in Gotham City
. His scheme backfires and only his buildings are damaged in the quakes. Quakemaster is defeated and captured by Batman
.
Quakemaster is later released and recruited by the Secret Society of Super Villains
to be part of the team working with the Silver Ghost to kill the Freedom Fighters
. This story was scheduled to appear in Secret Society of Supervillains #17, but the title was canceled before it could be published. It eventually appeared in issue #2 of Cancelled Comic Cavalcade, the extremely limited series produced by DC Comics.
Quakemaster is part of a team of supervillains recruited by Lex Luthor
and Brainiac
during the so called Crisis on Infinite Earths
.
Quakemaster later takes to hanging out with other villains who have apparently fallen on hard times. This group includes Black Mass
, Sonar
, the original Blackrock
and the Cavalier
. The villains gather at a New York bar to play games of poker
. In one such game, the villains lose most of their weapons and devices to Wally Tortelloni, an everyday civilian. When the villains gang up to track Tortelloni down and retake their devices, they are apprehended by members of the Justice League International
.
In The Adventures of Superman #608 (November 2002), Quakemaster is one of the numerous villains hired by Manchester Black
to attack friends and family members of Clark Kent, secretly Superman
. He is once again defeated.
In Infinite Crisis
, Quakemaster became a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains
.
during the Gotham City
disaster known as the Cataclysm
.
Still later, another supervillain called Geomancer takes up Quakemaster's m.o.
, although seemingly without the aid of technical equipment.
In the first issue of the Hero Hotline
miniseries, the titular team battled an exo-skeleton-wearing criminal who was using a super-powered jackhammer to tunnel under a building which had been erected over the hiding place for his loot while he was in prison. Although the character was identified as potentially being Quakemaster, his identity was never verified.
Supervillain
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...
in the DC Comics
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...
universe. He first appeared in DC Special #28 (June-July 1977)
Fictional character biography
Robert Coleman is an architect of some note in Gotham CityGotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
. His reputation is irreparably damaged when an apartment complex he designed and built does not withstand a hurricane. Feeling that he has been wrongly branded, Coleman creates the alias of the Quakemaster and uses his super-charged jackhammer
Jackhammer
A jackhammer is a pneumatic tool that combines a hammer directly with a chisel that was invented by Charles Brady King. Hand-held jackhammers are typically powered by compressed air, but some use electric motors. Larger jackhammers, such as rig mounted hammers used on construction machinery, are...
to create earthquakes in Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
. His scheme backfires and only his buildings are damaged in the quakes. Quakemaster is defeated and captured by Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
.
Quakemaster is later released and recruited by the 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...
to be part of the team working with the Silver Ghost to kill the Freedom Fighters
Freedom Fighters (comics)
Freedom Fighters is a DC Comics comic book superhero team made up of characters acquired from the defunct company Quality Comics. Although the characters were created by Quality, they never were gathered in a group before acquired by DC...
. This story was scheduled to appear in Secret Society of Supervillains #17, but the title was canceled before it could be published. It eventually appeared in issue #2 of Cancelled Comic Cavalcade, the extremely limited series produced by DC Comics.
Quakemaster is part of a team of supervillains recruited by Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
and Brainiac
Brainiac (comics)
Brainiac is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Action Comics #242 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
during the so called Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
.
Quakemaster later takes to hanging out with other villains who have apparently fallen on hard times. This group includes Black Mass
Black Mass (comics)
Black Mass is a fictional DC Comics supervillain. He first appeared in Justice League of America #234 -Fictional character biography:...
, Sonar
Sonar (comics)
Sonar is a DC Comics supervillain. He first appeared in Green Lantern #14, July , and was created by John Broome and Gil Kane.-Fictional character biography:...
, the original Blackrock
Blackrock (comics)
Blackrock is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics universe. Blackrock is a recurring enemy of Superman first appearing in Action Comics #458, .-Pre-Crisis and Zero Hour:...
and the Cavalier
Cavalier (comics)
The Cavalier is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics universe. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #81, , and was created by Don Cameron and Bob Kane.-Mortimer Drake:...
. The villains gather at a New York bar to play games of poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
. In one such game, the villains lose most of their weapons and devices to Wally Tortelloni, an everyday civilian. When the villains gang up to track Tortelloni down and retake their devices, they are apprehended by members of the Justice League International
Justice League International
Justice League International is a DC Comics superhero team written by Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis, with art by Kevin Maguire, created in 1987.-Publication history:...
.
In The Adventures of Superman #608 (November 2002), Quakemaster is one of the numerous villains hired by Manchester Black
Manchester Black
Manchester Black is a fictional character, and an antihero in the DC Comics universe. He was created by Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke in Action Comics #775, .-Fictional character biography:...
to attack friends and family members of Clark Kent, secretly Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
. He is once again defeated.
In 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...
, Quakemaster became a member of the 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...
.
Powers and abilities
Quakemaster has no inherent powers or abilities. He uses a power charged jackhammer of his own design. It projects pluses waves of energy capable of destroying concrete or smashing bone.Other versions
For a brief time, the name Quakemaster is used by fellow villain the VentriloquistVentriloquist (comics)
The Ventriloquist is a fictional character, a supervillain and enemy of Batman in the . The Ventriloquist first appeared in Detective Comics #583 and was created by Alan Grant, John Wagner and Norm Breyfogle...
during the Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
disaster known as the Cataclysm
Batman: Cataclysm
"Cataclysm" is an 18 chapter DC Comics crossover story arc that ran through the various Batman family comics from March to May, 1998. The plot of the storyline centers around Gotham City being hit by a massive earthquake, the epicenter of the which is less than a mile from Wayne Manor...
.
Still later, another supervillain called Geomancer takes up Quakemaster's m.o.
Modus operandi
Modus operandi is a Latin phrase, approximately translated as "mode of operation". The term is used to describe someone's habits or manner of working, their method of operating or functioning...
, although seemingly without the aid of technical equipment.
In the first issue of the Hero Hotline
Hero Hotline
Hero Hotline is a fictional DC Comics corporate superteam introduced in Action Comics Weekly #637, January . They were created by Bob Rozakis and Stephen DeStefano.-History:...
miniseries, the titular team battled an exo-skeleton-wearing criminal who was using a super-powered jackhammer to tunnel under a building which had been erected over the hiding place for his loot while he was in prison. Although the character was identified as potentially being Quakemaster, his identity was never verified.
External links
- Quakemaster at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe