Blockbuster (DC Comics)#Mark Desmond

{{About|the DC Comics supervillain|the Marvel Comics supervillain|Blockbuster (Marauder)|other meanings|Blockbuster (disambiguation)}}

Blockbuster is the name of four supervillains and a criminal organization appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |title=The Essential Batman Encyclopedia |date=2008 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=9780345501066 |pages=57–58}} The first iteration was an adversary of Batman and Robin, while the second served as one of Nightwing's greatest enemies. The third debuted in 52 as a member of Lex Luthor's Infinity, Inc.

Blockbuster has appeared in various media outside comics, including television series and films. Kevin Michael Richardson, Dee Bradley Baker, René Auberjonois, and Dave Fennoy have voiced the character in animation.

Publication history

The Mark Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster first appeared in Detective Comics #345 (November 1965), and was created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino.{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=48}}

The Roland Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster first appeared in Starman #9 (April 1989), and was created by Roger Stern and Tom Lyle.

Fictional character biography

=Mark Desmond=

{{Infobox comics character

|image=Blockbuster (Mark Desmond).png

|imagesize=174

|converted=y

|caption=The Mark Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster as depicted in Batman #309 (March 1979).
Art by John Calnan.

|character_name=Blockbuster

|alter_ego=Mark Desmond

|species=Metahuman

|publisher=DC Comics

|debut=Detective Comics #345 (November 1965)

|creators=Gardner Fox (writer)
Carmine Infantino (artist)

|alliances=Secret Society of Super Villains
Suicide Squad

|aliases=

|powers=*Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability

|cat=super

|subcat=DC Comics

|villain=y

|sortkey=Blockbuster (comics)

}}

The first Blockbuster is Mark Desmond, a chemist who desires to increase his physical strength. He succeeds, but is rendered mindless and aggressive.{{cite book | last =Rovin | first =Jeff | title =The Encyclopedia of Supervillains |publisher =Facts on File | date =1987 | location =New York | isbn = 0-8160-1356-X | page=34}} His brother Roland cares for him and manipulates him into committing crimes on his behalf.{{Cite book | last=Greenberger | first=Robert | contribution=Blockbuster I | editor-last=Dougall | editor-first=Alastair | title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia | page=56 | publisher=Dorling Kindersley | location=London | year=2008 | isbn=978-0-7566-4119-1}}{{cite book |last1=Eury |first1=Michael |last2=Kronenberg |first2=Michael |title=The Batcave Companion |date=2009 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1893905788 |page=220}}

In later appearances, Blockbuster joins the Secret Society of Super Villains and the Suicide Squad before being killed in battle with Brimstone.{{multiref2|Secret Society of Super Villains #1-15 (June 1976 - July 1978)|Justice League of America #135 (October 1976)|Legends #3 (January 1987)

}} He returns following The New 52 continuity reboot.{{multiref2|Hawk and Dove (vol. 5) #6 (April 2012)|The Savage Hawkman #18 (May 2013)|Justice League of America (vol. 3) #3 (July 2013)

}}

=Roland Desmond=

{{Infobox comics character

|character_name=Blockbuster

|image=Blockbuster (Roland Desmond).png

|converted=y

|caption=The Roland Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster as depicted in Underworld Unleashed: Patterns of Fear #1 (November 1995). Art by Rick Burchett.

|alter_ego=Roland Desmond

|species=Metahuman

|publisher=DC Comics

|debut=Starman #9 (April 1989)

|creators=Roger Stern (writer)
Tom Lyle (artist)

|alliances=Blockbuster's Gang
Underground Society
Black Lantern Corps

|aliases=

|powers=*Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability

Genius-level intellect

}}

Roland Desmond, Mark's brother, becomes the second Blockbuster after undergoing experimental treatment for an illness.Starman #10 (May 1989). DC Comics.{{Cite book| last=Wallace | first=Dan | contribution=Blockbuster II | editor-last=Dougall | editor-first=Alastair | title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia | page=55 | publisher=Dorling Kindersley | location=London | year=2008 | isbn=978-0-7566-4119-1}} He later moves to his mother's hometown of Blüdhaven, where he battles Nightwing.Nightwing (vol. 2) #44 (June 2000). DC Comics.{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=McAvennie |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |title=DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-8578-6 |page=258}}

Desmond later develops albinism and a heart defect as a side effect of his initial transformation. He receives a heart transplant in Gorilla City before Tarantula kills him.Nightwing (vol. 2) #93 (July 2004)

In Blackest Night, Blockbuster is resurrected as a Black Lantern.Blackest Night: Batman #1 (October 2009) He later returns permanently following the DC Rebirth relaunch.Nightwing (vol. 4) #22 (August 2017) In Nightwing #96, he is killed by Heartless.{{Cite web |last=Brooke |first=David |date=October 18, 2022 |title=Nightwing #97 review |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2022/10/18/nightwing-97-review/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |website=AIPT Comics |language=en-us}}

=Other Blockbusters=

Two unidentified incarnations of Blockbuster appear in 52 and Superman #689, with the former being a member of Infinity, Inc. created by Lex Luthor.52 #21. DC Comics.Superman #689 (August 2009) In Salvation Run, Martian Manhunter disguises himself as Blockbuster to observe the exiled villains.Salvation Run #3 (March 2008)

Powers and abilities

All incarnations of Blockbuster possess superhuman physical abilities coupled with reduced intelligence. Roland Desmond temporarily overcomes this weakness after receiving enhanced power from Neron.Underworld Unleashed #1 (November 1995)

Other versions

An alternate universe variant of Blockbuster appears in Just Imagine.... This version is Brock Smith, a murderer and death row inmate who is rescued and empowered by Dominic Darrk and joins the Doom Patrol. He is defeated by Batman and Wonder Woman and dies after being electrocuted.Just Imagine... JLA #1, DC Comics.

In other media

=Television=

Image:Blockbusteranimated.jpg.]]

The Mark Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster appears in Justice League Unlimited, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.{{cite web |title=Blockbuster Voices (Batman) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Batman/Blockbuster/ |access-date=December 5, 2023 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. This version is a member of Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society before being killed by Darkseid.
Mark Desmond appears in The Batman episode "Meltdown", voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} This version is an African-American scientist working for Wayne Enterprises who is in charge of enforcing Ethan Bennett's parole.
The Mark Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by James Arnold Taylor and Kevin Michael Richardson respectively.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} This version is a prodigy who stole chemicals from S.T.A.R. Labs to create a strength-enhancing serum.
The Mark Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster appears in Young Justice, voiced initially by René Auberjonois and again by Dee Bradley Baker following Auberjonois' death.{{cite web |title=Mark Desmond Voice - Young Justice (TV Show) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Young-Justice/Mark-Desmond/ |access-date=March 23, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. This version is a senior member of Project Cadmus and the Light. Additionally, he was redesigned due to his perceived similarity to Marvel Comics character the Hulk,{{Cite web | url=http://phillybee.deviantart.com/art/Blockbuster-Turn-188081365?q=boost%3Apopular+Blockbuster&qo=5 | title=Blockbuster Turn by *Phillybee | work=Deviant Art | access-date=December 29, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709015901/http://phillybee.deviantart.com/art/Blockbuster-Turn-188081365?q=boost:popular+Blockbuster&qo=5 | archive-date=July 9, 2011 | url-status=dead}} with Desmond's transformation having his Blockbuster form ripping through his human skin.
Mark Desmond appears in The Flash episode "Funeral for a Friend", portrayed by an uncredited actor.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} This version is a criminal who wields an exo-suit stolen from Ivo Laboratories.

=Film=

Blockbuster was reportedly featured in David S. Goyer's unproduced screenplay for a Green Arrow film project entitled Escape from Super Max{{Broken anchor|date=2024-12-19|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Green Arrow in other media#Escape from Super Max|reason= The anchor (Escape from Super Max) has been deleted.}} as an inmate of the eponymous prison.{{cite web|url=http://latinoreview.com/news/supermax-green-arrow-story-details-villains-inmates-gallery-4673|title=Supermax: Green Arrow Story Details + Villains/Inmates Gallery|last=Mayimbe|first=El|work=LatinoReview.com|date=May 19, 2008|access-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013133359/http://latinoreview.com/news/supermax-green-arrow-story-details-villains-inmates-gallery-4673|archive-date=October 13, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
An alternate universe variant of Blockbuster appears in Justice League: Gods and Monsters, voiced by Marcelo Tubert.{{cite web |title=Tough Guy Voice - Justice League: Gods and Monsters (Movie) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/movies/Justice-League-Gods-and-Monsters/Tough-Guy/ |access-date=March 23, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. He and a group of terrorists fight their universe's Justice League before Batman kills him.
The Roland Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster makes a minor appearance in Batman: Bad Blood.{{cite web |last=Gerding |first=Stephen |date=January 13, 2016 |title=Exclusive: Nightwing's Romantic Life Takes a Hit in Batman: Bad Blood Clip |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/exclusive-nightwings-romantic-life-takes-a-hit-in-batman-bad-blood-clip |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609124208/http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/exclusive-nightwings-romantic-life-takes-a-hit-in-batman-bad-blood-clip |archive-date=June 9, 2016 |access-date=January 14, 2016 |work=Comic Book Resources}}
The Mark Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster appears in Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Fred Tatasciore.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}
The Roland Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster appears in Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, voiced by Dave Fennoy. This version is a henchman of Professor Zoom before being killed by Killer Frost.

=Video games=

The Mark Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster appears as a boss in Young Justice: Legacy, voiced by Mark Rolston.
The Roland Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster appears in Batman: The Telltale Series, voiced by Steve Blum. This version has blue skin and is a member of the Children of Arkham, an anti-corruption terrorist group.

=Miscellaneous=

The Roland Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster appears in Adventures in the DC Universe #1.{{Cite web |title=Adventures in the DC Universe #1 - Now You See 'Em (Issue) |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/adventures-in-the-dc-universe-1-now-you-see-em/4000-43549/ |access-date=March 23, 2024 |website=Comic Vine}}
The Mark Desmond incarnation of Blockbuster appears in Batman: Arkham Knight – Genesis #5 as an associate of the Joker, Harley Quinn, and Catman until Jason Todd kills him.{{Cite web |title=Batman: Arkham Knight: Genesis #4 (Issue) |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/batman-arkham-knight-genesis-4/4000-506139/ |access-date=March 23, 2024 |website=Comic Vine |language=en}}