Zebra-Man

Vortex
Vortex
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Batman: The Dark Knight (vol. 2) #1 (2011)
Created by	Paul Jenkins (writer); David Finch (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Unknown
Species	Metahuman
Notable aliases	Zebra Man
Abilities	Can magnetize anything

Zebra-Man
Zebra-Man
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Outsiders #21 (1987)
Created by	Mike W. Barr
In-story information
Alter ego	Unknown
Species	Metahuman
Team affiliations	Strike Force Kobra; Secret Society of Super Villains
Abilities	Can magnetize anything

Zebra-Man
Zebra-Man
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Detective Comics #275 (1960)
Created by	Bill Finger (writer); Sheldon Moldoff (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Jacob Baker
Species	Metahuman
Abilities	Can magnetize anything

Zebra-Man is the name of four fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

Publication history

Jacob Baker first appeared in Detective Comics #275 (Jan 1960) and was created by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff.^[1]

Kobra's Zebra-Man first appeared in Outsiders #21 and was created by Mike W. Barr.

Fictional character biography

Jacob Baker

Jacob Baker was a high-tech scientist whose machinery irradiated his entire body. It also gave him superpowers that enabled him to attract and repel anything besides metal (referred to within the story as "Diamagnetism").^[2] With his body covered by black and white stripes and highlighted by a glowing aura, he became Zebra-Man. He went on a crime spree where he encountered Batman and Robin. During the first fight, Batman was accidentally irradiated by the same energy. Without an inhibitor belt, Batman was out of control with his diamagnetism causing Robin to go on without him. Batman soon took advantage of the diamagnetism and used it to attract Zebra-Man to himself and then attract both of them to the Gotham City Police Department.^[3]

Kobra's Zebra-Man

When Kobra researches the origins of some of Batman's enemies and creates a strike-force called Strike Force Kobra to usurp Stagg Enterprises in his goal of world domination, one of the villains he creates is patterned after the original Zebra-Man. Unlike the previous Zebra-Man, this version lacks the aura of the first Zebra-Man and has a mohawk that evokes the image of his equine namesake. Kobra's Zebra-Man, alongside the other Strikeforce Kobra members, fights the Outsiders to a draw, but Zebra-Man escapes with Elemental Woman, Planet Master, Lady Eve, and Kobra. His colleague Spectrumonster does not survive the battle. When Strikeforce Kobra is reassembled, Zebra-Man is not seen.^[4]

He has been sighted in Alexander Luthor Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains during the Battle of Metropolis alongside his fellow Strike Force Kobra teammates Planet Master and a somehow-revived Spectrumonster.^[5]

Vortex

In 2011, The New 52 rebooted the DC Universe. A version of Zebra-Man first appears as an inmate of Arkham Asylum, currently going by the moniker "Vortex". He is one of the many prisoners attempting to escape in a massive breakout attempt, which is stopped by Batman.^[6] He later appears attempting to help Catwoman escape her incarceration in the asylum, but is physically beaten by her.^[7]

Vortex appears in the DC Rebirth reboot, but is renamed Zebra Man. This version sports short hair with black leather gloves, boots, and shorts. Zebra Man is one of the many villains taken down by Batman and Catwoman after he takes her along with him on an average night of his job.^[8]

In the "Watchmen" sequel "Doomsday Clock", Zebra Man's Vortex appearance was seen as an inmate at Arkham Asylum at the time when Batman incarcerated Rorschach there. He protects Rorschach from the other inmates.^[9]

Vortex was later seen in Zambia partaking in a card game with Fiddler, Psych, and Shrike. When Psych detected that Fiddler cheated, Fiddler is held at gunpoint only for Psych to kill the three villains with the projections of the people they killed.^[10]

Menagerie's Zebra-Man

During the "Forever Evil" storyline, a different Zebra-Man appears as a member of Cheetah's Menagerie. He was among those frozen by Killer Frost.^[11]

Zebra-Man later join an Anti-Task Force X group called The Revolutionaries before joining the Suicide Squad under their new supervisor Lok.^[12]

Powers and abilities

Zebra-Man I and II have the ability of diamagnetism which enables them to attract and/or repel matter besides metal. Both used an inhibitor belt to control their diamagnetism.

In other media

The Jacob Baker incarnation of Zebra-Man makes non-speaking cameo appearances in Batman: The Brave and the Bold.^[13] This version's powers can affect metal objects.
The second incarnation of Zebra-Man appears in The Lego Batman Movie as one of several villains who assist the Joker in his attack on Gotham City.

References

^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 384. ISBN 9780345501066.
^ Fleisher, Michael L. (1976). The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume 1: Batman. Macmillan Publishing Co. p. 386. ISBN 0-02-538700-6. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
^ Detective Comics #275. DC Comics.
^ Outsiders #21-22. DC Comics.
^ Infinite Crisis #7. DC Comics.
^ Batman: The Dark Knight (Vol. 2) #1 (2011). DC Comics.
^ Catwoman (Vol. 4) #19 (2011). DC Comics.
^ Batman (Vol. 3) #14. DC Comics.
^ Doomsday Clock #4. DC Comics.
^ The Flash (Vol. 5) #61. DC Comics.
^ Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. #5. DC Comics.
'^ Suicide Squad (Vol. 6) #1-2. DC Comics.
^ "Comic-Con International - Batman: The Brave and the Bold". Comics Continuum. 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2010-12-30.