Baron Bedlam

Baron Bedlam
Baron Bedlam and the Bad Samaritan in Batman and the Outsiders.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Batman and the Outsiders #1 (August 1983)
Created by	Mike W. Barr (writer) Jim Aparo (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Baron Frederick DeLamb
Abilities	Superior fighter and tactician Formerly: Superhuman strength, endurance, and durability Flight Lava blasts Gravity manipulation Earth manipulation

Baron Bedlam (Baron Frederick DeLamb) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Batman and the Outsiders #1 (August 1983).

Fictional character biography[edit]

Baron Bedlam is really Baron Frederick DeLamb ("Bedlam" is an anagram of his last name). DeLamb's father, formerly a minor government official in the kingdom of Markovia, was installed as a puppet ruler by the Nazis during World War II. It was during this time that Bedlam made advances to a young woman. She became distressed over this and smashed a bottle into his face. Bedlam gained a prominent scar from that incident, and the woman was executed. At the end of the war, American forces helped the Markov family reclaim the throne. Even though Frederick managed to flee the country, his father was hanged by the mob.

Years later, Frederick DeLamb, taking the name Baron Bedlam, gains the support of the Soviet army and the mysterious political manipulator Bad Samaritan. Bedlam murders King Viktor and seizes the throne. Soviet and Markovian forces battle, leading to deaths on both sides.

The crown prince, Brion Markov, with the aid of the scientist Dr. Jace, gains superpowers for the express purpose of stopping this invasion. With the aid of other superheroes, a grouping under Batman's leadership that would soon call themselves the Outsiders, they infiltrate the country. But having heard of Dr. Jace's work in metahuman research, Bedlam underwent a similar process to Prince Markov and gained similar earth-manipulating abilities. In order to aid in the invasion of Markovia and depose King Gregor to take back the country.^[1] In the final confrontation between Bedlam's forces and Markovia's outmatched army, the Outsiders intervene, turning the tide of the battle. Geo-Force apparently kills Bedlam by dropping him into a raging mob. Bedlam survives this, however, and has returned many times to face the team.^[2]

Soon after, the Outsiders confront another aspect of Bedlam's forces, the super-powered Masters of Disaster. The two groups engage in a prolonged battle. In the meantime, the Bad Samaritan also discovers Bedlam's plan to clone Adolf Hitler, when it's revealed that he was indeed killed but cloned back to life in a similar process. Bedlam was not pleased at this and attacks his ally. The clone project ultimately ends in failure. The new Hitler ends up being greatly distressed at what his 'father' has done and has no wish to continue the madness.^[3] The Hitler clone later commits suicide, his body being found by the Outsiders.

At one point, in the Outsiders 1987 special, the Psycho-Pirate took on the Baron Bedlam identity.^[4]

Powers and abilities[edit]

Baron Bedlam is a superior fighter, a ruthless tactician and he possesses vast financial resources. He once underwent the same Geo-Force enhancement process which gave Brion Markov his abilities. Though Bedlam's were further along than the Prince's, given his ability to manipulate the earth long before Brion could. But because Fredrick was not of the royal line in Markovian principality, Bedlam's faulty powers shorted out in a battle with the revived hero, leaving him powerless once more.^[5]

Other versions[edit]

The name Baron Bedlam has recently been taken by another DC supervillain, formerly known as Doctor Bedlam.

In other media[edit]

Baron Bedlam appears in Young Justice: Outsiders, voiced by Nolan North. This version is the brother of Markovia's queen and biological uncle of Princes Gregor and Brion Markov who runs a secret metahuman trafficking syndicate in Markovia called Bedlam. Additionally, he has undergone metahuman experimentation, which gave him a durable stone-like body. DeLamb orchestrates a coup by hiring a Quraci speedster to murder the king and queen, and then attempts to frame Brion for his crimes. However, Gregor easily sees through his uncle's lies and has him arrested after Superboy defeats DeLamb. DeLamb later escapes captivity and attempts to regain the throne, but is killed by Brion, who was secretly manipulated by Zviad Baazovi into doing so.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Cosmic Teams: Baron Bedlam