Music Meister (The Brave and the Bold)

Music Meister

Publication informationThe Music Meister was a villain from the animated series, Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Although he was created specifically for the series, he draws some parallels to The Fiddler and Pied Piper. His ability to make his victims dance as well also recalls the The Maestro, a villain who attacked both the original 1960's Justice League and the version of the group based in Detroit. Features such as the gap in his teeth and bright orange hair are reminiscent of the character "Music Master", who appeared in the two part Justice League episode "Legends." He also resembles a comic villain named Johnny Dune, who appeared in only one issue of Justice League of America, able to control listeners with his voice. In his only appearance, Dune battled Batman, Green Arrow, Black Canary and the Atom, instead of Aquaman. Due to the success of the episode, the character has garnered a large fanbase.

He was voiced by actor Neil Patrick Harris.[1]

Contents [hide] 1 Origin 2 “Mayhem of Music Meister” 3 Powers 4 Popularity 5 References

[edit] Origin Music Meister claims he was bullied as a child, because he sang in choir. But he soon discovered that when he sang higher, that he could hypnotize people. He thus uses his newly discovered talents to control the people that had bullied him and plans “to settle the score”. As he sang during his first song "Bullies used to pick on me because I sang in choir, but something very strange occurred as I kept singing higher, the ruffians around me quickly fell into a trance, and it was then with wicked glee I made those puppets dance!"

[edit] “Mayhem of Music Meister” He uses his powers to get Black Canary, Green Arrow, Aquaman, Black Manta, Gorilla Grodd and Clock King to hijack a United Nations' communications satellite, launching it into space after they install a device for him. When Batman intervenes, he orders them to attack the hero, which they do in a dance style reminiscent of West Side Story. His plan successful, the Meister frustrates Batman once more, escaping by forcing his captives to dance towards the rocket blast, making the hero rescue them rather than apprehend the villain. Meister escapes to an empty opera house where, in a parody of Phantom of the Opera, he plays the organ to a cardboard audience. Batman tries to capture him on a cross-town chase while he sings “Drives us Bats", eventually releasing prison inmates (including villains seen from past episodes) to attack the heroes. Having heard Black Canary sing, he also has fallen for her, but not enough to give up villainy, and she rejects him. Meister manages to capture Batman and Black Canary and put them in a death trap. They escape as Music Meister hypnotizes the world with his music (with help of the satellite). When Black Canary becomes his slave, Batman gets the satellite to transmit her sonic scream which breaks Music Meister's mind control and frees everyone. Batman then finally gets his hands on the Meister, decking him with a single punch to the jaw.

Powers The Meister's main power is his singing voice, which creates a pitch so high that it hypnotizes people. In their state of hypnosis, it causes his victims to sing and dance too. He has a rod (roughly-shaped like conductor's baton) that can fire energy blasts shaped like music sheets. He is also seen riding on a motorcycle shaped liked paired eighth notes; at one point, the cycle splits into a pair of Segway-like scooters, now resembling separate notes (he and Batman race across telephone wires, like notes in the song being sung during the chase). He also seems to have the uncanny ability to change his outfit befitting different eras in music history extremely quickly, such as Cab Calloway's zoot suit and Elvis's disco suit (as seen multiple times throughout the episode...its colors also reference Marvin from Super Friends). Other costumes reference Liberace, The Music Man, Hair, Amadeus, country/western music and Wagnerian opera. The building he holds Canary and Batman in is known as "TB&TB". This is a reference to the now defunct punk rock bar CB-GB's; it is also the initials of the series.