And now the weather: partly gaga with a 50% chance of schizophrenia!!! 
- — Creeper src
Jack Ryder was a reporter transformed by the Joker into The Creeper. As a hero, he became a member of the Justice League.
History
Jack Ryder
During an investigatory segment about the Joker at the Ace Chemical Plant where his creation took place, reporter Jack Ryder and his crew were attacked by the Clown Prince of Crime himself. Ryder was exposed to Joker Venom and thrown into a vat of chemicals. As the factory around him exploded, Ryder was sucked away into the discharge system and drifted into the sewers. Deformed both physically and mentally, Ryder, now a yellow skinned madman, swore revenge on the Joker stating he would "fight fire with fire". While going on an insane chase through various Joker henchmen and Batman himself, in the end Batman apprehended the Joker, sedated Ryder and developed a dermal application drug to revert his changes. Fearing his career in shambles, Batman points out no one else is aware of the Creeper's identity and should remain so as long as he continues to wear his skin patch. Deciding he enjoyed the rush of power, Ryder subsequently removed the patch.[1]
The Creeper later joined the Justice League after the Thanagarian invasion.[2] He later helped Hawk and Dove defend Coast City from Apokolips Warriors. Dove and the Creeper ran down the steps of Justice League base to capture Lex's team of supervillians.[3]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Transformation: Due to a mixture of Joker's laughing gas and various industrial chemicals, Ryder's physiology has been augmented. His skin is now a sickly yellow and his hair green.[4]
- Accelerated Healing[4]
- Enhanced Senses
- Superhuman Agility: Creeper can effortlessly navigate and balance himself across buildings and infrastructure with little signs of fatigue.
- Superhuman Durability: While not indestructible, Creeper can withstand blunt force trauma without major sign of injury.
- Superhuman Strength: Creeper possesses substantial physical strength enough he could even knock Batman aside with a single backhand.
- Super-Leaping: With his considerable strength applied to his leg muscles, The Creeper can leap substantial heights or distances; from building to building or off tall structures to land directly on people.[4]
Abilities
Other Characteristics
- Mental Disorder: In his Creeper form, Ryder's mental faculties become substantially inferior; to the point he begins exhibiting sporadic behavior, spontaneous laughter and decreased attention span. Though a small patch administering antidote could keep him in his normal form, the "Creeper" side could break out if Ryder lost concentration.
Notes
- This version of the character is exclusive to the continuity of the DC Animated Universe and is an adaptation of Jack Ryder/The Creeper. The original character was created by Steve Ditko and Don Segall and first appeared in Showcase #73.
- Jack Ryder and the Creeper were voiced by Jeff Bennett.
Recommended Reading
Related
- 17 Appearances of Jack Ryder (DCAU)
- 11 Images featuring Jack Ryder (DCAU)
- 3 Quotations by or about Jack Ryder (DCAU)
- Character Gallery: Jack Ryder (DCAU)
External Links
Footnotes
  This character has been a member of the Justice League of America, or the Justice League in any of its various incarnations, sworn by a duty to act as guardians of America and the world by using their skills and/or superpowers to protect Earth from the clutches of both interstellar and domestic threats. |