- I'm really the man who needs your freshly harvested heart... its norepinephrine and adrenaline... its deliciously bubbling stress hormones... all the natural ingredients for a stew of organic fear...
- — Cornelius Stirk src
Cornelius Stirk is a mentally diseased serial killer from Gotham City.
History
Stirk was confined to Arkham Asylum at the young age of 16 after he tried to murder a classmate. For sixteen years, Stirk was locked in Arkham, where he was diagnosed with a severe hypothalamic disorder, which is a result of a deficiency of certain neurotransmitters in his brain. However, the doctors at Arkham couldn't explain how Stirk gained the Psi-Powers that allow him to alter his appearance in other people's minds.[1]
During his time as an Arkham inmate, Stirk remained under constant medication until he learned how to control his psi-powers and used them to manipulate the doctors, convincing them that he was completely sane. Stirk was eventually released. After only a week of freedom, he started killing people, terrorizing them and removing their hearts from their bodies. Stirk's madness caused him to believe that all he needed to survive was to ingest other people's organs and the fluids they produce under the effects of fear.[2]
When Stirk claimed his third victim, he was finally confronted by Batman. Although Stirk managed to get the upper hand in their first confrontation, he was ultimately defeated and returned to Arkham Asylum, where the doctors learned about Stirk's powers and resumed medicating him for the foreseeable future.[1]
Arkham Asylum
After the massive breakout from Arkham orchestrated by Bane, Stirk worked with the Joker in an attempt to kidnap Commissioner Gordon. However, Stirk tried to kill Gordon rather than kidnap him, much to Joker's dismay. Gordon hallucinates that Stirk is actually Batman as Stirk tries to kill Gordon with a knife. The real Batman stops Stirk and the madman is successfully returned to Arkham.[3]
While in the new Arkham, Stirk was allowed to be interviewed by Elliot Beeston, a writer who wanted the perspective of an actual serial killer for his upcoming book. Stirk took this opportunity to murder the writer and project his image to escape from Arkham. Immediately, he went to the Iceberg Lounge in order to kill the new Mayor of Gotham, Marion Grange, but he was stopped by Batman and once again, returned to Arkham.[4]
The Widening Gyre
Stirk resurfaces some time after the Infinite Crisis, back to his old tricks. When Batman comes to stop him, Stirk successfully renders him unconscious and keeps him bound inside his hideout. This time, Robin shows up and defeats him, rescuing Batman and sending Stirk back into custody.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
Abilities
Other Characteristics
Recommended Reading
Related
- 25 Appearances of Cornelius Stirk (New Earth)
- 6 Images featuring Cornelius Stirk (New Earth)
- 1 Quotations by or about Cornelius Stirk (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Cornelius Stirk (New Earth)
Footnotes
Batman Villain(s) |