Blockbuster (DC Comics)

Blockbuster
Interior artwork from Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe 3 (May 1985  DC Comics). Art by Michael T. Gilbert.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Detective Comics #345 (November 1965)
Created by	Gardner Fox Carmine Infantino
In-story information
Alter ego	Mark Desmond
Team affiliations	Secret Society of Super Villains Suicide Squad
Abilities	Superhuman strength, stamina, and endurance High-level resistance to injury

Blockbuster
Interior artwork from Nightwing: Secret Files and Origins 1 (October 1999  DC Comics). Art by Greg Land.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Starman #9 (April 1989)
Created by	Roger Stern Tom Lyle
In-story information
Alter ego	Roland Desmond
Team affiliations	Underground Society Black Lantern Corps
Abilities	Superhuman strength, stamina, and endurance High-level resistance to injury Genius-level intellect

Blockbuster is the name of four fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe. The first one was primarily a foe of Batman and Robin, while the second frequently fought Nightwing (formerly Robin). The latest Blockbuster first appeared in the pages of the series 52 wherein he is directed into battle against Lex Luthors team of superheroes, Infinity, Inc.

The Mark Desmond version of Blockbuster first appeared in Detective Comics #345 and was created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino.

The Roland Desmond version of Blockbuster first appeared in Starman #9 and was created by Roger Stern and Tom Lyle.

The first Blockbuster was Mark Desmond, a chemist who desired to increase his physical strength. Experimenting on himself, he succeeded in making himself stronger and taller, but as a side-effect of the process he also became almost mindlessly aggressive. The mentally debilitated Desmond was cared for by his brother Roland, a local criminal, who kept their mother from discovering what Mark had done to himself.

Roland manipulated his brother into committing crimes on his behalf until they came into conflict with Batman and Robin. Bruce Wayne had once rescued a young Desmond from drowning, and he discovered that he could calm the enraged adult Desmond by removing his cowl, showing him his face, though when Blockbuster first appears he has to leap into a swamp and thrash around like him to remind Blockbuster of this. Desmond later found himself clashing with Batman on various occasions. He joined the Secret Society of Super Villains briefly for a battle with the Justice League. Later, Amanda Waller recruited Desmond for her revived Suicide Squad. He was killed fighting Darkseid's creation Brimstone.