The Pied Piper is a master musician reputed to hypnotize anyone with his sonic flute.
History
Hartley Rathaway was a master musician who was known as the "Pied Piper", due to him being reputed to be able to hypnotize anyone with his flute just like the Pied Piper from the popular children's tale. He lived in an apartment in Central City with the police officer David Singh, whom he was in a relationship with.[1] Some of the Anti-Living entered his home when the Anti-Life Equation began infecting everyone else. Wally West rescued him by using his superspeed to quickly transport the Anti-Living away.[2]
Hartley and David stayed in Central City as the situation got worse. David cut off the elevator access and blocked the stairways when a horde of Anti-Living charged at their apartment, due to Hartley using his flute to drive them away, but having the opposite effect. David after finding this out, stated he only had two bullets left and suggested they commit suicide, though Hartley protested against it and stated he preferred to go down fighting with him. The Martian Manhunter came to their rescue as the Anti-Living were about to break down their door, taking them to Superman and Wonder Woman, to whom Hartley explained why the undead were attracted to their apartment. The Martian Manhunter later took them to the Fortress of Solitude.[1]
The League later moved the survivors to Poison Ivy's garden in Gotham City. Learning that the Anti-Living horde led by Black Adam was going to assault it, Hartley agreed with Lex Luthor's plan to lure them into the Land of the Nightshades through a portal created by the infected Nightshade, while Wink transported him when needed, even if it cost them their lives.[3]
What Wink later came to realize was that Hartley couldn't stop playing once he started. The Aerie soon came after her, determined to help, and found Nightshade amidst the horde. As they brought her before the two heroes, Black Manta destroyed Wink's gun before she could kill her. Wink suggested they all escape, but Hartley told her not to, telling the two that he was finally done playing. As Nightshade rushed towards him, he quickly stabbed her through the eye with his flute. Wink teleported all three back to Gotham before the portal closed.[4]
Powers and Abilities
Abilities
- Master Musician: Hartley was a master with flute composition. He also built a special flute which he could use to hypnotize just about anyone.[1]
Other Characteristics
- Obsessive Compulsiveness (Formerly): Hartley couldn't stop playing once he started, but he overcame this problem during the battle against the Anti-Living to save Gotham.[4]
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Pied Piper's Flute: The flute can hypnotize just about anyone. It doesn't work on the Anti-Living however and only attracts them further.[1]
Notes
- Pied Piper was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, first appearing in The Flash #106. However, the DCeased version of Pied Piper first appeared in DCeased: Hope at World's End #1 by Tom Taylor and Dustin Nguyen.
Related
- 6 Appearances of Hartley Rathaway (DCeased)
- 1 Images featuring Hartley Rathaway (DCeased)
- Quotations by or about Hartley Rathaway (DCeased)
- Character Gallery: Hartley Rathaway (DCeased)
Footnotes