- For the Marvel Comics character, see Everyman (Marvel Comics).
Everyman (Hannibal Bates) is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. He debuted in 52 #21 (September 2006), and was created by Grant Morrison, Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen and Joe Bennett. His name is a combination of Hannibal Lector and Norman Bates.
Fictional character biography
Everyman is a shapeshifter, requiring to eat a portion of a subject's organic material before he could physically duplicate it. He is generally unpopular with his teammates, mostly due to his searching for toenails, etc., of his teammates that he could eat. In 52, week 39, it was revealed that he had killed his teammate Skyman and was masquerading as him for quite some time. During the impersonation, he had 'assisted' Natasha Irons in her investigation of Lex Luthor's super-human program. Skyman's ravaged body is shown; Hannibal states that he only needed a small portion, he just liked the taste. Natasha Irons, who was very close to Skyman, battles and nearly subdues Everyman, until Lex Luthor saves him. In week 40, when Steel (John Henry Irons) and the Teen Titans came to rescue Natasha Irons, Everyman morphed into a giant crab and tried to crush Steel, but the hero easily defeats him. Fleeing the battle, Everyman is next seen in week 46, masquerading as Lex Luthor as the former mogul is led to jail. His ruse is discovered by Clark Kent, and the real Luthor was placed into custody.
One Year Later
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Main article: One Year Later
In Manhunter (3rd series) #27, Everyman poses as Ted Kord, returned from the grave, until a DNA test proved otherwise, and he was taken into custody. He is later freed by Circe, who orders him to disguise himself as Sarge Steel, and instigated the events leading up to Amazons Attack. In the aftermath, Everyman is captured and arrested by Nemesis. Everyman reappears, this time impersonating Green Arrow and trying to strangle Black Canary on their wedding night. She manages to kill him with an arrow to the neck. His deception is not discovered until a month later when Batman and Dr. Mid-Nite perform an autopsy. In Green Arrow and Black Canary #3, it was revealed by Granny Goodness (in the Guise of Athena) that the switch was made during the Secret Society of Super Villains attack on the wedding. Everyman was meant to pose as Green Arrow for a short time, then fake his death. Unfortunatly, Everyman suffered from impotency, which brought him to try and kill Black Canary on the wedding night, rather then chance his cover being blown.
Powers and Abilities
- Thanks to Luthor's Exo-gene program, Everyman was able to duplicate any organic lifeform, provided he eats a small portion of it first. He lost those powers when his Exo-gene was shut down by Lex Luthor, but they were restored by Circe. His duplication is far more than skin deep. All physical evidence reads as identical to whoever he is impersonating. Even Hal Jordan's Green Lantern ring has been fooled.
Other versions
References
