Zebra-Man is the name of four DC Comics supervillains.
Publication history
Jacob Baker first appeared in Detective Comics #275 and was created by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff. Kobra's Zebra-Man first appeared in Outsiders #21 and was created by Mike W. Barr.
Fictional character biography
Jacob Baker
The first Zebra-Man was a high-tech scientist whose machinery irradiated his entire body. It also gave him superpowers that enabled him to attract and repel anything besides metal. With his body covered by black and white stripes and highlighted by a glowing aura, he became Zebra-Man. He went on a crime spree where he encountered Batman and Robin. During the first fight, Batman was accidentally irradiated by the same energy. Without an inhibitor belt, Batman was out of control with his diamagnetism causing Robin to go on without him. Batman soon took advantage of the diamagnetism and used it to attract Zebra-Man to himself and then attract both of them to Gotham City Police Department.
Kobra's Zebra-Man
When Kobra creates a strike-force called Strike Force Kobra to usurp Stagg Enterprises in his goal of world domination, one of the villains he creates is patterned after the original Zebra-Man. Unlike the previous Zebra-Man, this version lacks the aura of the first Zebra-Man and has a mohawk that evoked the image of his equine namesake. Kobra's Zebra-Man, alongside the other Strikeforce Kobra members, fights the Outsiders to a draw, but Zebra-Man escapes with Elemental Woman, Planet Master, Lady Eve, and Kobra. His colleague Spectrumonster does not survive the battle. When Strikeforce Kobra is reassembled, Zebra-Man is not seen. He has been sighted in Alexander Luthor Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains.
Vortex
In September 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, a version of Zebra-Man first appears as an inmate of Arkham Asylum, currently going by the moniker "Vortex." He is one of the many prisoners attempting to escape in a massive breakout attempt, which is stopped by Batman. He later appears attempting to help Catwoman escape her incarceration in the asylum, but is physically beaten by her. Vortex appears in the DC Rebirth reboot, but is renamed Zebra Man. This version sports short hair with black leather gloves, boots, and shorts. Zebra Man is one of the many villains taken down by Batman and Catwoman after he takes her along with him on an average night of his job. In the "Watchmen" sequel "Doomsday Clock," Zebra Man's Vortex appearance was seen as an inmate at Arkham Asylum at the time when Batman incarcerated Rorschach there. He protects Rorschach from the other inmates. Vortex was later seen in Zambia partaking in a card game with Fiddler, Psych, and Shrike. When Psych detected that Fiddler cheated, Fiddler is held at gun point only for all of them to be killed by the projections of the people they killed.
Menagerie's Zebra-Man
During the "Forever Evil" storyline, a different Zebra-Man appears as a member of Cheetah's Menagerie. He was among those frozen by Killer Frost.
Powers and abilities
Zebra-Man I and II have the ability of diamagnetism which enables them to attract and/or repel matter besides metal. Both used an inhibitor belt to control their diamagnetism.
Other versions
''Batman '66''
Zebra-Man is mentioned in the Batman '66 comic book continuation as one of the Batman enemies who attended the villain conference arranged by Joker, Penguin and Catwoman.
In other media
Television
The Jacob Baker version of Zebra-Man appears in the . In this show, his powers actually work on metal. Zebra-Man appears in "Legends of the Dark Mite" as an illusion created by Bat-Mite when he "becomes" Batman. Zebra-Man is defeated when the real Batman steals his stripes causing him to become embarrassed and leave. Zebra-Man later appears in the episode "Duel of the Double Crossers" where he is violating his parole by using his magnetic powers to rob an armored truck. He is easily defeated by Batman. The "Zebra Batman" appearance which Batman had during his first battle with Zebra-Man in the comics is also shown in the previous episode. In the episode "A Bat Divided", Zebra-Man was also seen in a bar where the bad guyshang out when Firestorm and the three Batmen show up.
Film
The second Zebra-Man appears in The Lego Batman Movie. He is among the villains that assist Joker in his attack on Gotham City.
