Everyman

Everyman (Hannibal Bates) is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. He debuted in 52 #21 (September 2006), and was created by Grant Morrison, Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen and Joe Bennett. His name is a combination of Hannibal Lecter and Norman Bates.

Fictional character biography

Everyman is a shapeshifter, who can physically duplicate another person after eating part of their body. He is generally unpopular with his teammates, mostly due to his searching for toenails, etc., of his teammates that he could eat. In 52, week 39, it is revealed that he has killed his teammate Skyman and has been masquerading as him for quite some time. During the impersonation, he 'assists' Natasha Irons in her investigation of Lex Luthor's super-human program. Skyman's ravaged body is shown; Hannibal states that though he only needs a small portion, he just likes the taste. Natasha Irons, who was romantically involved with Skyman, battles and nearly subdues Everyman, until Lex Luthor saves him.

In week 40, when Steel (John Henry Irons) and the Teen Titans come to rescue Natasha Irons, Everyman morphs into a giant crab and tries to crush Steel, but the hero easily defeats him. Fleeing the battle, Everyman is next seen in week 46, masquerading as Lex Luthor as the former mogul is led to jail. His ruse is discovered by Clark Kent, and the real Luthor is placed into custody.

One Year Later

In Manhunter (3rd series) #27, Everyman poses as Ted Kord, returned from the grave, until a DNA test proves otherwise, and he is taken into custody. He is later freed by Circe, who orders him to disguise himself as Sarge Steel, and instigates the events leading up to the "Amazons Attack" storyline. In the aftermath, Everyman is captured and arrested by Nemesis. Everyman reappears, this time impersonating Green Arrow and tries to strangle Black Canary on their wedding night. She manages to kill him with an arrow to the neck. His deception is not discovered until a month later when Batman and Dr. Mid-Nite perform an autopsy. In Green Arrow and Black Canary #3, it is revealed by Granny Goodness (in the guise of Athena) that the switch was made during the Injustice League's attack on the wedding. Everyman was meant to pose as Green Arrow for a short time, then fake his death. Unfortunately, Everyman suffered from impotency, which forced him to try and kill Black Canary on the wedding night, rather than chance his cover being blown.

Powers and abilities

• Thanks to Luthor's Exo-gene program, Everyman is able to duplicate any organic lifeform, provided he eats a small portion of it first. He loses those powers when his Exo-gene is shut down by Lex Luthor, but they are restored by Circe. His duplication is far more than skin deep. All physical evidence reads as identical to whoever he is impersonating. Even Hal Jordan's Green Lantern ring has been fooled. However, it appears Everyman cannot accurately duplicate non-organic matter, as evidenced when he replicated Sarge Steel, who possesses a metal hand. Nemesis was able to tell who the real Steel was by stabbing the imposter's "metal" hand with a pencil, drawing blood.

References