Flamingo (comics)

Flamingo
Flamingo
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceBatman #666 (July 2007)
Created byGrant Morrison (writer)
Frank Quitely (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoEduardo Flamingo
SpeciesHuman
Place of originEarth
Team affiliationsCircus of Strange
PartnershipsDevin
Notable aliasesEduardo Flamingo
AbilitiesFirearms expert

Flamingo (Eduardo Flamingo) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of Batman.

The character appeared on the second season of Gotham, portrayed by Raúl Castillo.

Publication history

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Flamingo first appeared in Batman #666 (July 2007) and was created by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely.[1]

Fictional character biography

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Eduardo Flamingo is an emotionless, unfeeling pink-wearing flamboyant killer who has a tendency to eat his victim's faces after he has murdered them. Jason Todd (the second Robin, who had become Red Hood) has rallied a defense against Flamingo, but sustains bullet wounds to the face and knee-cap. Flamingo then turns his attentions to Red Hood's partner Scarlet. Flamingo then tugs at the seams of Scarlet's mask before she gashes him with one of her blades. Feeling responsible for the girl and her condition, Robin jumps into the fray to help, but receives four bullets to his cape-protected spine, paralyzing him from the waist down. Dick Grayson (who is operating as Batman) delivers a boot to Flamingo's face. When Dick is nearly tossed over the side of the building, Jason uses a construction digger to scoop Flamingo up and deposit him over the edge, sending him plummeting to the Earth below. Commissioner James Gordon later tells Batman that Flamingo's body was never found.[2]

In 2011, "The New 52" rebooted the DC universe. Flamingo is first seen among the villainous inmates at Arkham Asylum. He joins the inmates and is seen attacking the Batman before Joker (who was actually Nightwing in disguise) appears to come to Batman's aid and the pair work together to beat back the group of rampaging inmates.[3]

During the "Forever Evil" storyline, Flamingo appears as a member of the Crime Syndicate of America's incarnation of the Secret Society of Super Villains.[4]

During the "Gothtopia" storyline, Flamingo was later seen among those who have taken over Arkham Asylum. He and Nocturna later get knocked out by Batman.[5]

While Batman is teased by Julia about his romantic failure with Catwoman, he gets distracted when Flamingo's motorcycle skids past him. Batman makes a hurried u-turn and catches up to his prey, running him down, and sending the assassin flying from his bike.[6] He has taken down Flamingo and allows the man to wake in a cemetery. Batman watches Flamingo get up and leave, in order that he can follow him back to his employer. En route, Flamingo receives an invitation to Catwoman's impending murder. Batman follows Flamingo to the Moffat Building, where he discovers the aftermath of the shooting. Dragos Ibanescu lies dead and both Catwoman and Killer Croc are traumatized by Jade McKillen's death.[7]

In Catwoman #60 (2023), he was shown flirting with a male ballet dancer.[8]

Powers and abilities

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Flamingo does not have any powers, but he is a skilled hitman, in excellent physical condition. He wields a variety of weapons, from chain whips to sub-machine guns. He also drives a variety of vehicles, though the most common is a bright pink motorcycle.

Other versions

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  • A possible future version of Flamingo appears in Batman #666 as an enemy of Damian Wayne / Batman.[9]
  • An alternate universe variant of Eduardo Flamingo appears in the limited series The Batman's Grave. This version is a less flamboyant and outwardly dashing mob hitman who tries to befriend his marks, was lobotomized by his employers, and is later murdered by a member of the Scorn Army.[10]

In other media

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  • Flamingo makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "The Knights of Tomorrow!".
  • Eduardo Flamingo appears in the Gotham episode "A Bitter Pill to Swallow",[11] portrayed by Raúl Castillo. This version is a spike-wielding cannibal and hitman who sees killing as an art form.[12]

References

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  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 113. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^ Batman and Robin #6. DC Comics.
  3. ^ Batman (vol. 2) #1. DC Comics.
  4. ^ Forever Evil #1. DC Comics.
  5. ^ Detective Comics (vol. 2) #28. DC Comics.
  6. ^ Batman Eternal #27. DC Comics.
  7. ^ Batman Eternal #28. DC Comics.
  8. ^ Catwoman (vol. 5) #60. DC Comics.
  9. ^ Batman #666. DC Comics.
  10. ^ The Batman's Grave #1-5, DC Comics.
  11. ^ "Gotham: Ben McKenzie, Robin Lord Taylor, Bruno Heller Season 2 Interview - Comic-Con 2015 - IGN". 11 July 2015.
  12. ^ "'Gotham' Casts 'Looking' Alum as DC Comics Villain (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 25 September 2015.
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