Cornelius Stirk

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Cornelius Stirk
Cornelius Stirk as depicted in Detective Comics #593 (December 1988). Art by Norm Breyfogle.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceDetective Comics #592 (November 1988)
Created byAlan Grant (writer)
Norm Breyfogle (artist)
In-story information
SpeciesMetahuman
Notable aliasesFear
AbilitiesCan cause fear or hallucinations through telepathy

Cornelius Stirk is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics. He is a cannibalistic supervillain with the ability to cause fear or hallucinations through telepathy and appears as a recurring adversary of Batman.

Publication history

He first appeared in Detective Comics #592 (November 1988) and was created by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle.[1]

Fictional character biography

Stirk is a serial killer who, like fellow Batman villain Scarecrow, uses fear to get to his victims. Stirk can make other people see him as someone else, allowing him to get close to his victims. He operates under the delusion that he requires the nutrients from people's hearts to stay alive.

In his first appearance, Stirk is released from Arkham Asylum, having been imprisoned there since he was 16. After his release, Stirk stops taking his medication and becomes a serial killer.

In Batman: Knightfall, Stirk works with the Joker in an attempt to kidnap Commissioner Jim Gordon. However, Stirk tries to kill Gordon rather than kidnap him, during which Gordon hallucinates him as Batman.[2]

In the Madmen Across the Water storyline, Stirk is imprisoned in Blackgate Penitentiary after Arkham is destroyed.[3]

Stirk makes minor appearances in Batman: No Man's Land and Batman: The Widening Gyre.

Powers and abilities

Cornelius Stirk can generate a hypnotic aura which allows him to take on any face he chooses, generally a face that people will trust.

In other media

  • Cornelius Stirk appears in the Gotham episode "Wrath of the Villains: A Legion of Horribles", portrayed by Kameron Omidian.
  • Cornelius Stirk appears in Batman Unburied, voiced by Sam Witwer.[4] This version is a former diener who becomes the serial killer Harvester.

References

  1. ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. New York City: Del Ray. p. 335. ISBN 9780345501066.
  2. ^ Batman #494
  3. ^ Showcase '94 #3–4
  4. ^ White, Peter (October 16, 2021). "Gina Rodriguez To Voice Barbara Gordon In Spotify's DC Podcast Series Batman Unburied". Deadline. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
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