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The Sewer King, as his name implied, lived in the sewers of [[Gotham City]]. After residing there for some time, he began kidnapping the (sometimes) orphaned children of Gotham. Giving them a "home", "food", and a "place to rest", he put them to work doing various tasks, including sewing, manual labor, and stealing. After living under such conditions, the children's eyes became acclimated to the darkness. As such, The Sewer King used light to punish them for any offense. Offenses included failure to return home and talking. Additionally, sewer crocodiles patrolled the area, preventing any unwelcome visitors from straying into the Sewer King's realm. |
The Sewer King, as his name implied, lived in the sewers of [[Gotham City]]. After residing there for some time, he began kidnapping the (sometimes) orphaned children of Gotham. Giving them a "home", "food", and a "place to rest", he put them to work doing various tasks, including sewing, manual labor, and stealing. After living under such conditions, the children's eyes became acclimated to the darkness. As such, The Sewer King used light to punish them for any offense. Offenses included failure to return home and talking. Additionally, sewer crocodiles patrolled the area, preventing any unwelcome visitors from straying into the Sewer King's realm. |
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| − | After a series of thieveries reportedly caused by "leprechauns", [[Batman]] began investigating the true cause. Cornering one child, Batman tried to confront him, but ended up bringing the boy to the [[Batcave]] with him. Though the boy refused to speak, he eventually led Batman through the sewers to the Sewer King's hideaway. The Sewer King provided |
+ | After a series of thieveries reportedly caused by "leprechauns", [[Batman]] began investigating the true cause. Cornering one child, Batman tried to confront him, but ended up bringing the boy to the [[Batcave]] with him. Though the boy refused to speak, he eventually led Batman through the sewers to the Sewer King's hideaway. The Sewer King provided a little difficulty for Batman to apprehend, but in the end the Dark Knight prevailed. Appalled by the villain's actions, Batman expressed a great desire to end the Sewer King's life there and then, but refrained and instead handed him to the police. |
==Abilities and Equipment== |
==Abilities and Equipment== |
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Revision as of 05:43, 5 June 2011
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The Sewer King ran a child-slavery racket in the sewers of Gotham City.
History
The Sewer King, as his name implied, lived in the sewers of Gotham City. After residing there for some time, he began kidnapping the (sometimes) orphaned children of Gotham. Giving them a "home", "food", and a "place to rest", he put them to work doing various tasks, including sewing, manual labor, and stealing. After living under such conditions, the children's eyes became acclimated to the darkness. As such, The Sewer King used light to punish them for any offense. Offenses included failure to return home and talking. Additionally, sewer crocodiles patrolled the area, preventing any unwelcome visitors from straying into the Sewer King's realm.
After a series of thieveries reportedly caused by "leprechauns", Batman began investigating the true cause. Cornering one child, Batman tried to confront him, but ended up bringing the boy to the Batcave with him. Though the boy refused to speak, he eventually led Batman through the sewers to the Sewer King's hideaway. The Sewer King provided a little difficulty for Batman to apprehend, but in the end the Dark Knight prevailed. Appalled by the villain's actions, Batman expressed a great desire to end the Sewer King's life there and then, but refrained and instead handed him to the police.
Abilities and Equipment
The Sewer King, with crocodiles in tow.
As far as his persona goes, the Sewer King has no actual abilities. However, he's a master at discipline: though it's unknown how, he tamed several sewer crocodiles (dubbed his "pretties"), and kept several orphaned or runaway children obedient to him under strict rule. As such, he had a small army of crocodiles at his disposal, which he used (amongst other things) to protect his "realm".
Background Information
The Sewer King's depraved treatment of children caused Batman to consider taking the legal system into his own hands, a rare action for the otherwise calm and collected vigilante.
Sewer King's eccentric garb suggests a pirate--specifically Captain Hook, and his squad of lost children suggest Peter Pan's Lost Boys. He also employs crocodiles--ironic, because Hook feared and hated crocodiles, particularly the one who bit his hand off--and at one point seems to be torn to pieces by the beasts (though it is a ploy). Both men also have handicaps--Hook has his missing hand replaced by a namesake metal hook, and Sewer King wears one dark glasses lens, suggesting both that is partially visually-impaired and giving the impression of a pirate's eyepatch.
He could also be a reference to Fagin, the villain in Dickens' Oliver Twist, who ran a similar child thievery ring. The Sewer King's garb also supports this as it resembles the clothing worn at the time the novel is set. Fagin is himself based on criminals of the time known as "kidsmen" who would teach children to pickpocket for them in return for shelter.
In 52 #25, Sewer King appeared as one of the crime lords of Gotham. He didn't fare well against Bruno Mannheim; in his only panel of screen time he is already killed.