Drury Walker (New Earth)

The Bat watches over straight citizens, He does what cops can't do. What about the crooks? Who do they turn to in order to get the job done for them?

— Drury Walker ^src

History

File:Killer Moth 2.jpg

Before the Crisis on Infinite Earths

The original Killer Moth is a prisoner identified only by his prison number, 234026. Whilst he is in prison, he reads a newspaper article about Batman and decides to set himself up as the "anti-Batman," hiring himself out to Gotham City's criminals to help them elude capture by police. Upon his release, he uses the hidden proceeds of his crimes to build a Mothcave modeled on the photos of the Batcave in the newspaper article he read.

Killer Moth also establishes a false identity, as millionaire philanthropist "Cameron van Cleer". In this guise, he becomes friends with Bruce Wayne. Meanwhile, he promotes himself to Gotham's criminals using his identity as Killer Moth, giving them each an infra-red Moth-signal. In his first job, he rescues some criminals from the police and then uses his Mothmobile to defeat and capture Batman and Robin. The duo escape and lead Killer Moth to a climactic battle on Gotham Bridge, which ends when the villain plunges 1,000 feet into the river and disappears.

In his second appearance Killer Moth kidnaps Bruce Wayne and learns his secret identity. However, he is shot by other criminals and the resultant cranial injury caused amnesia.^[1] He remains a persistent enemy appearing through the Silver Age of comics. He is frequently remembered as being the first criminal Batgirl encounters.^[2]

After the Crisis

In the 1990s, Killer Moth's real identity is revealed as Drury Walker. Walker is an unsuccessful criminal who no one takes seriously. He again adopts the false identity of Cameron van Cleer and the persona of Killer Moth to fight Batman.^[3]

In Shadow of the Bat, Killer Moth sets up a team called "the Misfits," comprising third-string Batman villains such as Catman and Calendar Man, to make another kidnap attempt on Bruce Wayne and other prominent citizens. This team proves unsuccessful, turning against Moth when they realize he plans to kill the hostages.

Charaxes

File:Charaxes.jpg

During Underworld Unleashed, Drury is one of the villains who sells their soul to the demon Neron. He asks to become feared, and he is metamorphed into a moth-like monster called "Charaxes". As Charaxes, Walker resembles a vaguely humanoid, giant brown moth. He consumes humans and spins cocoons in which to keep his prey.

In a later story, Charaxes begins laying hundreds of eggs, all of which hatch into duplicates of Drury Walker. Charaxes despises his progeny, but is unable to destroy them. Following his capture, these duplicates are taken into government custody. During an argument between various bodies as to what should be done with them, they attack a scientist, and are killed.

At around the same time, Oracle is confronted by a criminal named "Danko Twag" who claims to be the real Killer Moth (the one she had defeated), and that Drury Walker had been an imposter. During a rant in which he claims they are going to be a team, she captures him in an energy cell and he seemingly disintegrates himself.

In Infinite Crisis, Charaxes is ripped in half by Superboy-Prime during the Battle of Metropolis, and presumed deceased.

Post-Infinite Crisis

A new Killer Moth appeared during the Face the Face storyline where he displays competence in hand-to-hand combat and the ability of flight when facing Robin. In Gotham Underground, the third Killer Moth helps Firefly and Lock-Up. The identity and origin of this Killer Moth is unknown

Powers and Abilities

Powers

(As Charaxes) Proportionate abilities of a moth, flight, sharp claws, sticky cocoon mucus

Abilities

(As Killer Moth) Flight via suit

Paraphernalia

Equipment

Moth Lantern: The Moth Lantern was Killer Moth's brief attempt to forge his own version of the Bat-signal.

Moth Mansion: This was a large rural mansion located in Gotham City. It was the headquarters of Killer Moth and his underlings, Larva and Pupa. The mansion was outfitted with several secret panels and a trap door, which fed victims into a gravity well.^[2]

Transportation

Mothmobile: This was a custom made, convertable sports car used by Killer Moth. It's color and style were similar to the bright, pastel color scheme used in Killer Moth's costume.^[2]

Weapons

(As Killer Moth) Incapacitating cocoon gun
(As Charaxes) Razor-sonar waves

Notes

Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-One era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and should be considered apocryphal.
Another Killer Moth appears during the Face the Face storyline, but has made no appearance since.