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Crazy Quilt

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This article is about the DC Comics villain. For other uses, see Crazy Quilt (disambiguation).
Crazy Quilt
The first appearance of Crazy-Quilt, as depicted on the cover of Boy Commandos #15 (May 1946); art by Jack Kirby.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearance
Created by
In-story information
Alter egoMr. Quilt
Paul Dekker I
Paul Dekker II
Unidentified female
SpeciesHuman
Abilities
  • Color manipulation, energy projection, and hypnosis via helmet
  • Technological aptitude

Crazy-Quilt is the name of several characters in DC Comics. The first version, Mr. Quilt, is an enemy of the Boy Commandos and later Robin. The second version, Paul Dekker, is an enemy of the Blackhawks. The third version, also named Paul Dekker, is an enemy of the Post-Crisis Batman and Robin. The fourth version is an unnamed female who was a member of Alexander Luthor Jr.'s Secret Society. The first and third are blind and use special helmets that enable them to regain their vision and generate rainbow energy beams. Crazy Quilt also appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Jeffrey Tambor, and the DC Super Hero Girls franchise, voiced by Tom Kenny.

Publication history

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Mr. Quilt, the original Crazy-Quilt, first appeared in Boy Commandos #15 (May-June 1946) and was created by Jack Kirby.[1] He first encountered Robin in Star Spangled Comics #123 (December 1951).

The first Paul Dekker incarnation of Crazy Quilt appeared in Blackhawk #180 (January 1963) and was created by artist Dick Dillin and an uncredited writer.

The Post-Crisis version of the original Crazy Quilt was first seen in Detective Comics #566 (September 1986) by Doug Moench and Gene Colan. At first, his real name was not mentioned, but in Batman: The Widening Gyre #4 (February 2010) he was given the name Paul Dekker rather than Mr. Quilt.

The unidentified female version of Crazy Quilt first appeared in Villains United #2 (August 2005) and was created by Gail Simone and Dale Eaglesham.

Fictional character biography

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Mr. Quilt

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Crazy-Quilt began life as a noted painter named Quilt who leads a double-life as a master criminal. He gives the plans for his crimes to various henchmen through clues left in his paintings. However, he is blinded by a gunshot wound after one of his henchmen betrays him. Subsequently, he volunteers for an experimental procedure to restore his vision, but is left unable to see anything but bright colors.[2] In his second published appearance, he regains his vision using a special light-emitting helmet.[3] After five published encounters with the Boy Commandos, Crazy-Quilt faces Robin the Boy Wonder for the first time.[4]

In Earth-One continuity, Crazy-Quilt's history is identical to the Golden Age version. Crazy-Quilt's sight is restored briefly after he kidnaps a surgeon to assist him. Batman and Robin intervene, during which Crazy-Quilt is blinded again after Robin reflects his light beams at him. Obsessing over his young adversary, he becomes one of the few bat-villains to hate Robin more than his mentor.[5]

Later, attempting to enact revenge upon Robin, Crazy-Quilt mistakenly takes out his aggression on Jason Todd, nearly killing him.[6] He later fought Jason Todd again after knocking Batman unconscious.[7]

Paul Dekker I

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In a 1962 issue of Blackhawk, a fence named Paul Dekker uses the name Crazy Quilt, but the titular heroes capture him.[8]

Paul Dekker II

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When Ra's al Ghul caused a mass prison break at Arkham Asylum and Blackgate Penitentiary, Crazy Quilt was among the freed inmates that worked for Ra's al Ghul by abducting Alfred Pennyworth, Commissioner James Gordon, Vicki Vale, Harvey Bullock, and Julia Pennyworth.[9]

Crazy Quilt was later seen in Arkham Asylum when Batman was Arkham Asylum's latest patient.[10] He joins the other inmates in attacking Batman who ends up defeating them.[11]

In Underworld Unleashed, Crazy Quilt was among those who were offered a carved black candle of Neron.[12]

Crazy Quilt also has a role in one of the many incarnations of the Secret Society of Super Villains. He and dozens of villains gather in response to the JLA's new moon base and extended team efforts. The meeting turns out to be a JLA trap and all the villains are captured.[13]

Crazy Quilt appears in the Belle Reve riot in JLA #34, lugging around the eviscerated body of the prison warden. The prisoners, along with much of humanity, were being affected by Mageddon and Hector Hammond.[14]

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Paul Dekker is an insane ex-Wayne Enterprises geneticist and ally of Doctor Death and Hugo Strange. He is later killed after injecting himself with an experimental formula, causing his body to decay.[15]

Female Crazy Quilt

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An unnamed, female version of Crazy Quilt appears as a member of Alexander Luthor Jr.'s version of the Secret Society. She works with many other supervillains to take down the Secret Six.[16] In Outsiders #50, she is captured by the Suicide Squad.[17]

In the Secret Six series, she is one of the villains who accepts the offer of a bounty on the Secret Six from mysterious crime boss Junior, only to be gravely wounded. She later appears in James Robinson's Justice League: Cry For Justice miniseries as one of the many villains who attacks the team.

Skills and equipment

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Crazy Quilt has a helmet that allows him to hypnotize his victims using colorful flashing lights. It can project lethal laser beams and function as artificial eyes.[18] All versions possess an expertise in gadgetry.

In other media

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Television

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The Paul Dekker incarnation of Crazy Quilt appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Jeffrey Tambor.[19]

Film

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Crazy Quilt makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in The Lego Batman Movie.[19]

Video games

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The Paul Dekker incarnation of Crazy Quilt appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[20]

Miscellaneous

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 98. ISBN 9780345501066.
  2. ^ Boy Commandos #15 (May-June 1946)
  3. ^ Boy Commandos #18 (November-December 1946)
  4. ^ Star Spangled Comics #123 (December 1951)
  5. ^ Batman #316 (October 1979)
  6. ^ Batman #368 (February 1984)
  7. ^ Detective Comics #535 (February 1984)
  8. ^ Blackhawk #180 (January 1963)
  9. ^ Batman #400 (October 1986)
  10. ^ Batman: Shadow of the Bat #3 (August 1992)
  11. ^ Batman: Shadow of the Bat #4 (September 1992)
  12. ^ Underworld Unleashed #1 (November 1995)
  13. ^ JLA 80-Page Giant #1 (July 1998)
  14. ^ JLA #34 (October 1999)
  15. ^ Batman (vol. 2) #38 (March 2015)
  16. ^ Villains United #3 (September 2005)
  17. ^ Outsiders #50 (November 2007)
  18. ^ Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #5 (July 1985)
  19. ^ a b c "Crazy Quilt Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 14, 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.
  20. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
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