Doctor Phosphorus

Publication history

Doctor Phosphorus first appeared in Detective Comics #469 (May 1977), and was created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Walt Simonson.

Fictional character biography

Alexander Sartorius was a member of the Tobacconists' Club who wanted to build a nuclear power plant in Gotham City with help from chairman Rupert Thorne. However, he was forced to build elsewhere following public opposition and was transformed into a metahuman during a meltdown at the plant, gaining transparent, burning skin and the ability to generate harmful radiation. He then battled Batman before falling into a nuclear reactor and being presumed dead.

During the Underworld Unleashed storyline, Phosphorus sells his soul to the demon Neron to gain increased control over his powers.

In James Robinson's series Starman, Phosphorus battles Starman and douses him with radiation that will soon kill him. In response, Starman uses his cosmic rod to bury Phosphorus deep underground, apparently killing him.

Phosphorus returns in Detective Comics #825, where he is being held in Cadmus Research laboratories. Cadmus scientists discover that he is no longer human and has had his organs replaced by energy. He eventually escapes before being defeated by Batman and imprisoned in Arkham Asylum.

During Batman's absence after his presumed death, Phosphorus escapes custody and kidnaps Kirk Langstrom and his wife Francine for information about their research. However, Kirk stops him after transforming into Man-Bat.

In Brightest Day, Phosphorus escapes Arkham when Deathstroke and the Titans attack the facility before being stopped by Arsenal.

In 2011, The New 52 rebooted the DC Comics universe. In this new continuity, Phosphorus appears as a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains.

In Batman: Three Jokers, Doctor Phosphorus is incarcerated at Blackgate Penitentiary when Batman goes there to see Joe Chill.

Powers and abilities

Doctor Phosphorus has the ability to manipulate radiation for various effects, such as burning skin and toxic fume emissions. His body's major organs are not present, but he produces an endless source of energy for himself. When he sold his soul to Neron, Sartorius was granted greater powers, as well as temperature control.

Other versions

An alternate universe variant of Doctor Phosphorus appears in Flashpoint.

In other media

Television

• Doctor Phosphorus was used as inspiration for The Batmans incarnation of Firefly (voiced by Jason Marsden). In the episode "White Heat", Firefly and his girlfriend, Dr. Jane Blazedale attempts to steal a phosphorus isotope so he can upgrade his arsenal. However, an accident occurs that turns Firefly into Phosphorus, granting him volcanic physiology, fiery skin, and a burning touch. As he slowly goes insane, he attempts to destroy Gotham in retaliation for no one being able to remember his name, only to be defeated by Batman.
• Alexander "Alex" Sartorius / Doctor Phosphorus appears in Creature Commandos, voiced by Alan Tudyk. This version is an inmate of Belle Reve Penitentiary's Non-Human Internment Division, former scientist turned crime boss, widower to an immigrant woman named Parvin, and member of the eponymous group. In flashbacks, Alex sought out industrialist and crime lord Rupert Thorne's help in funding research to cure cancer via nuclear fusion while secretly giving Thorne falsified data due to the latter's involvement with the fascist nation of Bialya. Upon discovering this, Thorne had Parvin and the Sartoriuses' son killed, framed Alex for it, and attempted to kill him with his nuclear equipment. Following his transformation, Alex went insane, killed Thorne and his family, and took over his criminal empire until he was defeated by Batman and sent to Belle Reve.

Film

Doctor Phosphorus appears in The Lego Batman Movie.

Video games

• Doctor Phosphorus appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.
• Dr. Alex Sartorius appears in Batman: Arkham Knight via Simon Stagg's audiotapes. This version was raised as a Catholic, but chose science over faith and became an employee at Stagg Industries. He later discovers that Stagg is collaborating with the Scarecrow to develop the Cloudburst technology and is exposed to the latter's fear toxin, causing him to develop pyrophobia.

Miscellaneous

Doctor Phosphorus appears in Smallville Season 11: Titans.

Appears as part of the Lego minifigure series for the Batman Movie Series 2.

References

References

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2. Petski, Denise. (19 October 2024). "'Creature Commandos' Trailer: First Look At James Gunn's DC Adult Animated Series".
3. Wallace, Dan. (2008). "The DC Comics Encyclopedia". [[Dorling Kindersley]].
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6. ''Detective Comics'' #469. DC Comics.
7. ''Detective Comics'' #470. DC Comics.
8. ''Detective Comics'' #825. DC Comics.
9. ''Titans'' (vol. 2) #28. DC Comics.
10. ''Forever Evil'' #1. DC Comics.
11. ''Batman Eternal'' #2. DC Comics.
12. ''Batman Eternal'' #6. DC Comics.
13. ''Batman'' (vol. 3) #19. DC Comics.
14. ''Detective Comics'' #1003. DC Comics.
15. ''Detective Comics'' #1005. DC Comics.
16. ''Batman: Three Jokers'' #2. DC Comics.
17. ''Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe'' #6 (August 1985)
18. ''Underworld Unleashed'' #1 (November 1995)
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26. Cardona, Ian. (December 5, 2017). "LEGO Batman Movie Reveals Second Wave of Minifigs". [[Comic Book Resources]].