| Signalman | |
|---|---|
 Signalman from Detective Comics #466,artist Ernie Chan. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Batman #112 (December 1957) |
| Created by | Bill Finger (writer) Sheldon Moldoff (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Phillip "Phil" Cobb |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Secret Society of Super Villains |
| Notable aliases | Blue Bowman |
| Abilities | Skilled hand-to-hand combatant Wields various small, compact weapons |
Signalman (Phillip Cobb) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is a member of Batman's rogues gallery.
Publication history
Signalman first appeared in Batman #112 (December 1957), and was created by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff.
Fictional character biography
Phillip "Phil" Cobb was a gangster with big ideas. He came to Gotham City intent on hiring a gang of his own and making it big, only to be laughed at when he tried to recruit the gang because he had no reputation. Steaming with anger, he vowed to prove himself to Gotham's mobsters, and when he noticed how modern society was regulated by signs, signals and symbols, he found the inspiration for his criminal career. As the Signalman, he went on a spectacular crime spree using those signs and symbols as his motif.
Ultimately captured by Batman and Robin, he returned for a rematch a year later and became the Blue Bowman, a copycat of Green Arrow. After that, he remained unseen until 1976, when he resumed his Signalman guise in Detective Comics #466 where he actually managed to trap Batman inside the Bat-Signal.
In the years since then, Signalman has also been a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains and, in that capacity, battles the Justice League and the Justice Society.
In Identity Crisis, Doctor Moon and Phobia kidnap and seemingly kill Signalman. He later resurfaces in "One Year Later" and Final Crisis.
In "Trinity War", Signalman is sent with Giganta and Vandal Savage into tracking Pandora. After Pandora successfully subdues Giganta, Signalman realizes that Pandora is more parahuman than originally thought.
In 2016, DC Comics implemented another relaunch of its books called "DC Rebirth", which restored its continuity to a form much as it was prior to "The New 52". Signalman is one of the many villains taken down by Batman and Catwoman after the latter takes the former along with on an "average night" of Batman's job.
Powers and abilities
Signalman has no superhuman powers but he is a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant. He also carries items such as a knockout-gas gun, miniature flares that cause fires, electric "sparks" capable of controlling the signals to the human brain, and a remote-control device in his belt that alters signals of an electronic nature.
Other versions
- Signalwoman, a character based on Signalman, makes minor appearances in Kingdom Come.
- An elderly Signalman appears in Batman Beyond, where he is released from prison and reforms before being murdered by an unknown assailant.
In other media
Signalman makes non-speaking cameo appearances in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Additionally, Blue Bowman appears in the episode "Deep Cover for Batman!" as an evil alternate universe version of Green Arrow and member of the Injustice Syndicate, voiced by James Arnold Taylor.
See also
References
- Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 325. ISBN 9780345501066.
- Fleisher, Michael L. (1976). The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume 1: Batman. Macmillan Publishing Co. pp. 336-338. ISBN 0-02-538700-6. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 325. ISBN 9780345501066.
- Batman #124. DC Comics.
- Batman #139. DC Comics.
- Batman #466. DC Comics.
- Justice League of America #195-197. DC Comics.
- Justice League of America (vol. 3) #3. DC Comics.
- Justice League of America (vol. 2) #1. DC Comics.
- Final Crisis #1. DC Comics.
- Trinity of Sin: Pandora #2. DC Comics.
- Batman (vol. 3) #14. DC Comics.
- Batman Beyond (vol. 2) #1. DC Comics.
- "Blue Bowman Voice - Batman: The Brave and the Bold (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 9, 2024. 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.
