Paul Dekker (New Earth)

Crazy Quilt
Mainstream Universe‎‎, 1950s-2011‎
Gallery
Real Name	Paul Dekker
Main Alias	Crazy Quilt
Affiliation	Secret Society of Supervillains, Underground Society
Base Of Operations	Gotham City
Status
Alignment	Bad
Identity	Secret Identity
Citizenship	American
Marital Status	Single
Occupation	Criminal
Characteristics
Gender	Male
Height	5' 11"
Weight	172 lbs (78 kg)
Eyes	Blue
Hair	Brown
Origin
Universe	Earth-One · New Earth
Creators	Jack Kirby · Joe Simon
First Appearance	Batman #316 (October, 1979)

Crazy Quilt was a noted painter who leads a double-life as a master criminal.

History

He gave the plans for his crimes to various henchmen through clues left in his paintings. His criminal empire crashed to a halt when one of his henchmen double-crossed him and set him up to be arrested. Blinded by a gunshot wound, he was sent to prison, where he volunteered for an experimental procedure that would restore his vision. This is achieved with a special helmet fused to his optic nerves. The procedure worked to a point, but had a tragic side effect: he could see, but the colors were blindingly vivid and disorienting. It drove him mad, and upon his release he took on the guise of Crazy Quilt.

Crazy Quilt's sight was restored briefly for a time after he kidnapped a surgeon to assist him. For the crimes commited to achieve his goal, Quilt was stopped by Batman and the first Robin during the confrontation, Quilt was permanently blinded. Obsessing over his young adversary, he becomes one of the few bat-villains to hate Robin more than his mentor. This extends to Graysons' successors in the role. Later, thinking to enact his revenge upon Grayson, he mistakenly takes out his aggression on Jason Todd, who was new to the role at the time. Todd is nearly beaten to death. Again, it is Robin who is pivotal to stopping Crazy Quilt's plans.

Years later, Crazy Quilt reappears during a gathering of the Secret Society of Super-Villains. Dozens of villains gather in response to the JLA's new moonbase and extended team efforts. During the meeting, Quilt has his outfit insulted by the Monocle. The meeting turns out to be a JLA trap and all the villains are captured. Crazy Quilt is subsequently incarcerated in Belle Reve. During a prison riot, Crazy Quilt is seen lugging around the eviscerated body of the prison warden. The prisoners, along with much of humanity, were being affected by outside forces.

He was also seen in Arkham Asylum at some point.

Powers and Abilities

Abilities

• Artistry
• Thievery
• Hand-to-Hand Combat (Basic)

Other Characteristics

• Blindness
  

Paraphernalia

Equipment

• Crazy Quilt Helmet
  • Color Manipulation
  • Energy Projection
  • Hypnosis

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.

Related

• 20 Appearances of Paul Dekker (New Earth)
• 8 Images featuring Paul Dekker (New Earth)
• Quotations by or about Paul Dekker (New Earth)
• Character Gallery: Paul Dekker (New Earth)

Footnotes

Batman Villain(s) This character, team or organization, has been primarily an enemy of the Batman, or the Batman Family as a whole. This template will categorize articles that include it into the category "Batman Villains."

Robin Villain(s) This character, team or organization, is or was primarily an enemy of any of the young heroes who have been known as Robin. This template will categorize articles that include it into the category "Robin villains."