Bookworm (character)

{{Infobox comics character

| character_name = Bookworm

| image = Bookworm (character).jpg

| converted = yes

| caption = Bookworm as depicted in Batman '66 #30 (February 2016). Art by Michael Allred.

| first_series = Batman
"The Bookworm Turns" (April 20, 1966)

| first_comic = Gotham Academy #2 (January 2015)

| creators = William Dozier
Larry Peerce

| alter_ego =

| full_name =

| species =

| homeworld =

| alliances =

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| powers = Genius-level intelligence

}}

The Bookworm is a fictional criminal in the DC Universe, and an adversary of the superhero Batman.{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=David |date=2017-11-14 |title=The Bookworm |url=https://www.66batmania.com/bios/villains/the-bookworm/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=1966 Batman Pages |language=en-GB}} He was created for the Batman 1966 television series and was played by Roddy McDowall, but has since made his way into the comics. He’s usually depicted wearing a brown suit, meant to resemble a leather-bound book.

Fictional character biography

= Batman 1966 =

Bookworm was created for the Batman (1966) series and first appeared in the consecutive episodes "The Bookworm Turns" and "While Gotham City Burns". In these episodes, he steals many high-value books and leaves clues for Batman to solve - similar to the Riddler - which eventually leads to his defeat. His crimes are literature-themed, and his dialogue often contains literary references.

He appears in several issues of Batman '66, the tie-in comic series for the show. Batman '66 (vol. 1) #6, #11, #17, #18 and #30, . DC Comics.

= Comics =

Bookworm appears in Gotham Academy. This version is A.S. Scarlet. a literary teacher who commits literature-themed crimes, with his real name being given as A.S. Scarlet.Gotham Academy (vol. 1) #2-8. DC Comics.

Bookworm also appears in the comic series Huntress. This version is Alexander Wyvern, a serial killer who is later killed after tripping one of his own traps.

Powers and abilities

The Bookworm doesn't have any superpowers, but does have a genius level intellect, specifically a high knowledge of books and their contents.

In other media

= Television =

Bookworm makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Day of the Dark Knight!" as an inmate of Iron Heights Penitentiary.