Killer Croc
Killer Croc (Waylon Jones) is a fictional supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman. The character belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up Batman's rogues gallery.[1] Originally a sideshow wrestler, Jones suffers from a rare genetic condition that eventually gave him a crocodile-like appearance. Driven insane by his irreversible transformation, he adopted the name "Killer Croc" and turned to a life of crime, over time developing animalistic tendencies which make him a dangerous individual. The character has also been a member of the Suicide Squad, debuting in the fifth volume of the comic series revolving around the team, and a romantic interest of Enchantress.[2]
Killer Croc | |
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![]() Killer Croc in Batman #521 (August 1995) Art by Kelley Jones | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | Cameo appearance: Detective Comics #523 (February 1983) Full appearance: Detective Comics #524 (March 1983) |
Created by | Gerry Conway (writer) Don Newton (artist) Gene Colan (artist) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Waylon Jones |
Species | Metahuman |
Team affiliations | Secret Society of Super Villains Suicide Squad |
Notable aliases | Croc, King Croc |
Abilities |
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The character has been adapted into various media, most revolving around Batman, including animated series, films, video games, and novels.
Publication history
Killer Croc was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Gene Colan. The character made cameo appearances in Detective Comics #523 (February 1983) and Batman #357 (March 1983), with his full first appearance in Detective Comics #524 (March 1983).[3]
Fictional character biography
Pre-Crisis
Waylon Jones was born with a form of atavism that imparted him with reptilian traits. He was raised by his aunt, an abusive alcoholic who called him names like "lizardboy" and "reptilian freak".[4] Croc eventually killed his aunt and became a criminal in Gotham City. After committing several murders, he faced off against Batman and the new Robin, Jason Todd, who defeated him.
In these original, Pre-Crisis appearances, Killer Croc resembled a powerfully built man covered entirely in green scales, but was still basically human in his facial proportions and build.[5] He was also originally depicted as killing Jason Todd's parents (this was later retconned to make Two-Face their murderer).
Post-Crisis
Killer Croc escaped custody and sought revenge on Harvey Bullock and two others criminals who got him in jail. Batman tracked him down and Croc went into a homicidal rage. When new water tunnels were built, which would flood Killer Croc's new home, Croc seemingly sacrificed himself to hold the water back when they finally were open.[6]
In reality, Croc was buried under rubble and was freed from his prison by storm drains. Killer Croc survived on rats and was isolated for months, driving him further into madness. Croc went on a rampage after a confrontation with a vagrant and Croc wound up in a shopping mall. After delivering several blows to Croc, Batman is distracted by a glimpse of Bane. Croc then grabs Batman and tries to break his back. He fails, and Bane pits himself against Croc, breaking his arms. He is then put back into Arkham Asylum.[7]
When Bane breaks the inmates out of Arkham Asylum in the Knightfall saga, Croc attempts to get revenge on Bane. While in the sewers, he smells Bane and goes after him and the two fight each other atop a ledge. Bane casually breaks one of Croc's arms again, but Croc keeps fighting until the ledge they are standing on breaks and the two fall into the sewers. The fight ends up as a draw. Croc later returns, attacking the docks to try and lure Robin out, but is defeated by Dick Grayson (now acting as Batman after Bruce defeated Valley before taking time off for self-analysis) without realizing that he is facing a new Batman. Killer Croc is left for the police in a fishing net all bruised up with a broken arm.
Killer Croc is summoned by a paranormal force to break out of Arkham and make his way to the Louisiana swamps. Batman follows him there, only to find that the mysterious force is actually the Swamp Thing, who offers Croc a place in the swampland where he can finally give in to his animal side, live free from human persecution and have a peaceful and joyous life.[8]
Killer Croc has appeared in both the "Hush" storyline and its chronological follow-up, Broken City. In the former, he is infected with a virus that greatly increases the rate of his devolution, 'overseeing' a kidnapping for Hush before Batman defeats him; this provides Batman's first clue that someone else is orchestrating events, as he knows that Croc is too stupid to attempt a complex scheme like a kidnapping. Though Killer Croc was briefly restored to his original form, the Mad Hatter, under Black Mask's orders, implanted Killer Croc with a device that made him loyal to Black Mask and caused the virus to return. Batman freed Croc from Black Mask's control. Croc attempted to take revenge on the Mad Hatter, but was stopped by Batman. Croc then escaped.
Killer Croc attempts to cure his condition. When the doctor fails, Croc devours her and retreats to the sewers, vowing vengeance on Batman and Black Mask.[9]
In Infinite Crisis, Croc becomes a member of Alexander Luthor, Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains.
One Year Later during the "Face the Face" storyline, Killer Croc is shown to have been feeding on the dead body of Orca.[10] He next shows up in Countdown where he breaks free from his shackles in Arkham Asylum and attempts to kill Jimmy Olsen, who uses elastic powers to escape. Killer Croc is then subdued.[11]
He is later seen among the exiled supervillains in "Salvation Run." After the Martian Manhunter is defeated and imprisoned in a fiery cage, Croc suggests that he will eat him. Lex Luthor forbids it.
During the "Final Crisis" storyline, Killer Croc can be seen as the member of Libra's Secret Society of Super Villains.[12] Killer Croc is later turned into a Justifier.[13]
In the "Battle for the Cowl" storyline, Killer Croc is recruited by a new Black Mask to be a part of a group of villains aiming to take over Gotham and Bludhaven.
During the events of Brightest Day, Killer Croc is intentionally released from his cell by a guard whom Osiris kills when Deathstroke and his band of Titans infiltrate Arkham. While attempting to flee from the facility, he is attacked by Osiris who mistakes Killer Croc for his old enemy Sobek.[14]
The New 52
In the continuity of DC's 2011 reboot The New 52, Killer Croc is established to have fought Roy Harper in Hell's Kitchen in a flashback seen in Red Hood and the Outlaws.[15] He is then passingly referenced by Roy, as he is Roy's current sponsor for his alcoholism at the time when Roy was in a bar with Jason Todd. Roy is only drinking water, but knows that Waylon would disapprove.[16]
During the 2013–2014 "Forever Evil" storyline, Croc began ruling over Gotham's lower class. He murders a corrupt S.W.A.T. team that murdered one of the few people who were nice to him. When the Crime Syndicate invades Earth, Croc takes over Wayne Tower. He is confronted by the villain Bane, who injects Croc with Venom, turning Croc into a hulking giant, whom Bane then defeats.
While institutionalized in Arkham, Killer Croc meets Sybil Silverlock, a woman with dual-personality disorder. He bonds with her softer personality, and she shows him a picture of her daughter, Olive. Sybil has him promise to look after Olive if he ever gets out.[17] After the destruction of Arkham Asylum,[18] Killer Croc escapes and travels to Gotham Academy, where he watches over Olive, and tells her about her mother, who was rendered comatose by the asylum's destruction. After Batman confronts them, Olive and Killer Croc escape to a swamp. Before parting, he tells her that, if she is like her mother, to come and find him one day.[17]
He recently helped Harley Quinn and her friends fight a gang of other Batman villains in Coney Island.
DC Rebirth
In the pages of Suicide Squad, Killer Croc and the Squad go on a mission to retrieve a "cosmic item" from a Russian undersea prison, revealed to be a portal to the Phantom Zone, and come face-to-face with General Zod. He attacks the Squad and, when spotting Zod about to kill June Moone/Enchantress, Croc saves her just in time. After the mission, back in their cells, June Moone and Croc have a heartfelt conversation and embrace each other. Killer Croc and June Moone enjoy New York City and decide to explore their romance in the future. Croc encourages her to try, but later expresses fear and sheds tears that he will lose her if she is able to achieve her dream. Enchantress's rampage in New York City lasts until it is revealed that it is an editor from a magazine company who rejected June. After being convinced by Croc to reevaluate her, he decided to give her some freelance work. Moved by Waylon's actions, June reigns in the Enchantress and thanks her love for helping her. Wall escapes the battle after downloading the file. Two days later in the cell, Croc mourns, and breaks down in tears over June Moone's "death", as Rick told him that June Moone is the only one who did not see him as monstrous. He eventually leaves the Squad.
In Harley Quinn's series, Killer Croc joined the Penguin's plans to take over New York, but went off on his own to take Coney Island, revealing that he was on display there in a freak show as a kid driving out the other villains. After it was all torn down, Harley convinced him to join her side and help take it all back from the Penguin.
Killer Croc, now just going by Waylon has taken over Tusk's hotel in Monster Town, granting second chances to any monster in need.
In Joker War event tie-in Croc has enough after Joker and his goons made their way to Monstertown and tore it to pieces. He decided to create a new one in the sewers of Gotham, hoping that he and the others would be left alone. He also explained how his mutated friends came to be. Croc wants to bring others down to the sewers for protection from the war above. Batman attempts to warn Croc of the dangers of the chemicals in the water, but, unfortunately, Croc doesn’t believe him. He orders his team to kill Batman. After making a deal with batman, they fight and loses. Croc and his gang settled in their cells. He promises them the best of care, including a reversal of their conditions, if a cure can be found.
During event Joker war Walyon force back a muscle once again. Thomas Misell released him in Arkham ask him being him muscle and teach them how it done and Croc accept the offer with merch and suit At the reveal Walyon already a deal to mob setup at the end he got a payment exchange for a weapons then he leave.
Powers and abilities
Killer Croc's backstory explains that he was born with a condition resembling epidermolytic hyperkeratosis, a disfiguring skin disorder. However, it is actually a form of regressive atavism, meaning that he has inherited traits of ancestral species of the human race, such as reptiles. This condition has been augmented by the presence of a metagene. Consequently, he has several extraordinary physical abilities relating to his endurance, speed, and strength, making him able to lift up to two tons.
His skin is hardened to the degree that it is nearly impenetrable to ordinary forms of abrasion, including high caliber weapons fired from a distance. He also possesses an extraordinary amount of super-strength; for example, he was able to tear a bank vault door off of its hinges with minimal effort. He has demonstrated regenerative powers, allowing him to heal and restore lost limbs and teeth. He possesses superhuman reflexes and speed, especially while he is moving underwater. Killer Croc also has an enhanced sense of smell. Once he has become familiar with a person's scent, he can track them from miles away. As his appearance and personality has grown more and more bestial, his misanthropy has increased dramatically. He is jealous and hateful of "normal" people and often lashes out violently without provocation. As a result of these feelings of jealousy, Croc will often entertain himself by grabbing hold of small, pointy objects as a source of comfort.
Croc's main weakness is consistently portrayed in most adaptations, aside from The Batman series, as being his low intellect. He typically resorts to brute force to solve most problems, allowing Batman to outmaneuver him in combat by thinking his way through the problems he faces in defeating the powerful Croc. Batman regularly describes his foe as an animal rather than a man. He acts almost solely on instinct and hardly ever takes the time to plan or rationalize his actions. This is a departure from his initial portrayal, where he was shown to be a ruthless and intelligent criminal who was able plot his ascent from henchman to The Squid to perhaps the most powerful force in Gotham organized crime before being defeated by the Batman.
Character redesign
In recent years, Killer Croc has been portrayed as being much more reptilian than in past incarnations. An action figure made by Kenner in 1998 featured a tail and dinosaur-like feet. When Mattel got the license to make DC products in the early 2000s, they released their own version of Killer Croc, sculpted by Four Horsemen Studios. This version also featured a tail and dinosaur feet. In late 2005, a re-release of this figure was modified so that the tail, along with his shirt, was removed. This version also sports a more "human" head.
The 2002-2003 Batman storyline Hush featured a more bestial Croc who had been mutated against his will to appear more reptilian. This version of the character was drawn by artist Jim Lee.
In The New 52, he is shown to have a crocodile-like head, though how this came to be has not yet been revealed. Such a design had previously appeared in Red Hood and the Outlaws, drawn by Kenneth Rocafort.
Other versions
Joker
In the non-canon graphic novel, Joker, written by Brian Azzarello and artist Lee Bermejo, Croc is portrayed as a large, muscular black man with a scaly skin condition. Of all his previous designs, this is the most human, without a snout, tail, or claws. The book hints that Croc enjoys feeding on human flesh, with the story's narrator, Jonny Frost, remarking that Croc "has a certain... eccentric way with evidence". Croc is shown leading a gang of thugs, and later becomes a high-level member of Joker's newly formed gang. This vision of the character is not unlike the one from Azzarello's previous work on Batman, Broken City.[19]
Batman Beyond
In the Batman Beyond comic, Killer Croc is mentioned as being a prisoner in a Cadmus Labs facility; his cell is briefly attacked by the new Hush, a clone of Dick Grayson, when Hush escapes the facility before he decides to simply leave. Another Cadmus official later contemplates releasing Croc to lure Hush out, but Amanda Waller dismisses the idea, due to the potential for collateral damage.[20]
Batman/Aliens
In the crossover Batman/Aliens 2, Killer Croc is part of an experiment by the twisted black ops officer Doctor Fortune to create hybrid soldiers using DNA from the Xenomorphs and the DNA of some of Batman's villains, hoping to harness the villains' genetic traits for survival without their psychological trauma. However, her use of Croc proves to be her undoing, as Batman notes that Croc turned to villainy because he was naturally ruthless, rather than being subject to any sort of trauma, resulting in the Croc/Xenomorph hybrid tearing Fortune's head off before Batman manages to drown it after destroying her offshore base.
Batman: Crimson Mist
In Batman: Crimson Mist, Killer Croc begins as a rumored serial killer stalking Gotham's sewers, later joining Two-Face's gang as the muscle. Faced with the threat of the vampire Batman stalking and killing his opponents, Killer Croc and Two-Face form an alliance with Commissioner Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth to trap Batman in the Batcave and expose him to the sunlight (although Croc briefly contemplated just physically tearing Batman apart himself before the others pointed out that he was too fast for Croc, the vampire Batman proving more than a match for him physically when they did engage in close-quarter combat, despite his withered physical condition). Although Croc and Two-Face attempt to kill Gordon and Alfred when Batman is believed dead, Alfred is able to help his old master recover by sacrificing his life and blood to give Batman the strength to stop Gotham's last criminals. With Alfred's sacrifice, Batman impales Croc with a stalactite, commenting that Croc can keep his cold blood, thanks to Alfred's sacrifice having sated his appetite for the moment.[21]
Flashpoint
In the alternate timeline of the 2011 "Flashpoint" storyline, Killer Croc kidnapped the people of Gotham and imprisoned them in the sewer. Batman then arrived and attacked Killer Croc. Killer Croc was about to strike back at Batman, but Batman stabbed him in the head with his own machete. Batman rescued the people that Killer Croc had imprisoned.[22]
Batman: Earth One
In the second volume of Batman: Earth One series, in contrast with the mainstream continuity's version, Waylon Jones appears benign and is not a cannibal, and is dubbed "Killer Croc" by the media due to his ichthyosis condition. His mother sold him to Haly's Circus when he was a child, and he was forced to perform there until he escapes. Jones hides in Gotham's sewer system out of fear of the society's discriminations over his genetic disorder. He helps Batman locate the Riddler's underground hideout, and later aids his fight against the villain. Batman offers Jones a place in Wayne Manor, in addition to help him find a cure for his condition, and asking his help in finding a location to establish his own hideout after his experience at the Riddler's.
Injustice: Gods Among Us
Killer Croc appears in the Injustice: Gods Among Us prequel comic, he observes the argument between the heroes in silence until Cyborg angrily attacks Batman after discovering the virus he had uploaded into him during their first meeting, with Croc commenting that as "pretty evil". When Harley Quinn releases all the inmates to attack the heroes, Croc goes straight for Batman, preventing the Dark Knight from coming to his son Robin's aid as he's dragged underground by Solomon Grundy. Croc is next seen holding Batman down while the Riddler prepares to crush his skull with a large rock. Riddler is knocked out by Green Arrow and Croc is dispatched with a headbutt from Batman. In the prequel to Injustice 2, Croc is now a member of the Suicide Squad. When the Squad is taken over by Ra's, he and Orca are used as his heavy hitters for his global conquest. He later marries Orca after she becomes pregnant with his child.
Batman '66
Batman '66 features a version of Killer Croc in the reality of the 1966 television series. This version of Waylon Jones was a henchman of King Tut and drank an elixir that transformed him into the reptilian monster Killer Croc. He uses his newfound strength to commit various crimes in Gotham. Batman and Robin interrogate his girlfriend Eva and find out she is in on his plan to become Gotham's biggest crime lord. They chase him down into the sewer, where they defeat Killer Croc and hand him over to the police.[23]
Tiny Titans
Killer Croc was a recurring character in the children's series Tiny Titans renamed "Kroc". He was often depicted causing trouble showing up, and his rude and messy actions were often compared to the cleanliness and tidiness of Alfred.
DC Bombshells
In the DC Bombshells continuity, Killer Croc resides in the Belle Reeve Manor House in the bayous of Louisiana with the Coven (Batgirl, Enchantress, and Ravager), all of which he used to date at one point. The four occasionally helps others in nearby towns, using potions and poisons for those who have been harmed by men. When Francine Charles comes with an offer from Amanda Waller, he agrees to help her convince the Coven to take Waller up on her offer. The four of them and Francine eventually form Waller's Suicide Squad. This version was formerly a handsome young man who was transformed into a crocodile monster from the Enchantress' magic.[24]
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Killer Croc appears trying to steal the Batmobile to make a profit, but goes through the sewers where the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles attack and defeat him after he unknowingly invades their lair.
Batman: White Knight
Killer Croc appears in the 2017 series Batman: White Knight paired up with Baby Doll. The two of them, along with several other Batman villains, are tricked by Jack Napier (who in this reality was a Joker who had been force fed an overdose of pills by Batman, which temporarily cured him of his insanity) into drinking drinks that had been laced with particles from Clayface's body. This was done so that Napier, who was using Mad Hatter's technology to control Clayface, could control them by way of Clayface's ability to control parts of his body that had been separated from him. Croc and the other villains are then used to attack a library, which Napier himself was instrumental in building in one of Gotham's poorer districts.
In other media
Television
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- Killer Croc appears in several television series in the DCAU:
- The character first appears in Batman: The Animated Series, voiced by Aron Kincaid. "Killer Croc" Morgan is a former pro wrestler who turned to crime. In this series, he is given lumpy gray skin, as opposed to the normal green. He first appears in "Vendetta", where he tries to exact his revenge on the ones responsible for his imprisonment, including Detective Harvey Bullock. However, he is ultimately stopped by Batman. Croc later appears in "Sideshow", where he escapes a train prison transport and ventures into the mountains. There, he stumbles upon a group of former sideshow attractions, who take him in due to Croc being a "freak show" as well. But Batman follows his trail and tracks him down, eventually apprehending him once again. In "Almost Got 'Im", Killer Croc is revealed to be a member of the villains' poker game, consisting of Poison Ivy, the Penguin, Two-Face and the Joker. He tells a story of throwing a rock at Batman as his closest scheme to killing Batman, defending the scheme with "it was a big rock". This Croc is revealed ultimately to be Batman in disguise. In "Trial", the villains at Arkham Asylum arrange their own trial for Batman's "crimes" against them, and Killer Croc was assigned to guard Batman, although the latter still managed to escape. In "Bane", Croc and his gang pull a heist, but are confronted by Batman and Robin. As Croc makes his getaway in the sewers, however, he is ambushed and subdued by the supervillain Bane, before being brought back to prison.
- Killer Croc returns in The New Batman Adventures, now voiced by Brooks Gardner. He, along with the other characters, has been revamped, now featuring a bulkier build with green scales and skin, claws, three toes, and four fingers, making him look even more reptilian. In the episode "Love is a Croc", he breaks out of a Gotham courthouse after his trial for first-degree murder, and attempts to escape, until he is confronted and subdued by Batman. The criminal Baby Doll later breaks him out of a prison escort, and the two subsequently form an alliance and retreat to Croc's hideout in the sewers. They then start committing crimes together, coming to be known as Gotham's "Bonnie and Clyde". But even though Baby Doll falls in love with him, she overhears Croc boasting about manipulating her to achieve his own ends. Enraged, she tricks him into thinking that they planned to hold the city ransom by threatening to blow up a nuclear power plant. In reality, Baby Doll's goal was to overload the reactor and kill herself, Croc, and all of Gotham. However, Batman and Batgirl arrive, and they manage to prevent the reactor from reaching critical mass. Croc then pursues Baby Doll and prepares to kill her, only to be stopped by the Dark Knight. As Croc and Batman fight, the villain is injured and knocked out when he reached for hot water pipes. He makes his final appearance in the episode "Judgment Day" where he is seen trying to get the Penguin to fence stolen jewels, only to be cheated out of his rightful pay. Later, Killer Croc is attacked by a vigilante known as the Judge, while Croc robs an armored truck. Croc is severely beaten by the Judge, who then throws him off a bridge. Fortunately for Killer Croc, Batman is able to rescue him in the nick of time.
- In the Batman Beyond episode "Terry's Friend Dates a Robot", an android replica of Killer Croc battles the new Batman in a simulation. Writer San Berkowitz originally had plans to bring back Croc for the show, as reptiles have long-life spans, implying that Croc could still be active after 50 years, but the idea was dropped for some reason.[25] Although the character does not physically appear in the series, when asked about Croc's fate, show's creator Paul Dini stated that Croc was stuffed and mounted on exhibition in the reptile wing of the American Museum of Natural History.[26]
- In Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker a mannequin of Croc is seen being used as target practice for batarangs by Bruce.
- Killer Croc appears in The Batman, voiced by Ron Perlman. In this version, Croc is even more reptilian and crocodile-like than past versions; he has a Cajun accent and a tail, although he also demonstrates a greater intellect and is much more sane and non-cannibalistic than traditional interpretations of the character, due to his plan to steal money by flooding downtown Gotham by reversing pumps designed to drain the Gotham canals in times of flooding. He appears to be much stronger than Batman, and much like a crocodile, he is able to stay underwater for long periods of time. His origins are mostly unknown, with Croc providing little evidence about his past beyond his Cajun accent, although one of his henchmen tells Batman that there are different rumors: that he is a genetic experiment gone awry who then turned mercenary, that he deals with the wrong kind of voodoo magic in the swamps, or that he is simply a circus freak (it is never explained which, if any, story is true). He recruits three criminals (two of whom are referred to in the credits as Vic and Freddy) as henchmen to help him flood Gotham City. He has two pet crocodiles that he can command. Batman later deprived him of his air supply enough to be taken down and left for the police to arrest him and his henchman (remarking that "Crocs may like water, but they're no fish"). In "Team Penguin", Killer Croc returns as part of the Penguin's Team Penguin (which also consisted of the Firefly, Killer Moth, and the Ragdoll). Killer Croc is defeated when Batman freezes the water he was in. In "Rumors", Killer Croc and his henchmen later appear as one of the captive victims of Rumor after he ambushed him and his henchmen in their hideout. In "The End of the Batman", Killer Croc, the Penguin, the Ventriloquist, and the Joker team up to commit a crime spree, now that they are under the protection of the vigilante the Wrath.
- Killer Croc appears in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Night of the Batmen!", voiced by Stephen Root. He, Bane, the Blockbuster and Solomon Grundy try to steal a gigantic gold statue, only to be stopped by Captain Marvel dressed as Batman.
- Killer Croc appears in Beware The Batman, voiced by Wade Williams and again having a Cajun accent. Croc here is implied to be a cannibal like his comic book counterpart, proclaiming Batman “tastes like chicken” after biting him and threatening to eat Barbara Gordon. In "Animal", Killer Croc is depicted as the kingpin inside Blackgate Penitentiary. When he hears that the Key is imprisoned with the data of a powerful computer code worth billions and Batman himself is imprisoned alongside him, he orders his men to create a riot inside Blackgate to deal with the two of them himself. Killer Croc challenges Batman to a fight in an underground arena, brutally beating him in the process. Batman snaps and attacks the softer skin underneath Killer Croc, nearly beating him to death before Katana stops him. Batman, Katana, and the Key escape when the police break up the riot. Killer Croc is shown escaping Blackgate into the sewers, declaring them as his new home. In "Choices", Killer Croc lays a trap for Batman and Katana, trapping them in concrete in the middle of a subway track, and patrolling the area to prevent any rescue. Barbara Gordon arrives at the subway station to help them hack into the computers, as Oracle and re-direct the train routes to stall them until Alfred Pennyworth could rescue them. Killer Croc catches Barbara and nearly eats her before Batman and Katana break free. Batman defeats Killer Croc by pushing him near an oncoming train, which launches Croc near a wall and knocks him out.
- Killer Croc appears on DC Super Hero Girls, voiced by Fred Tatasciore.
- Killer Croc appears in the DC Universe Harley Quinn animated series voiced by Matt Oberg. Debuting in "Til Death Do Us Part", he is seen as an inmate in Arkham Asylum who is beaten up by the title character for suggesting that Joker abandoned her. In the episode, "L.O.D.R.S.V.P.," Killer Croc appears as a member of the Legion of Doom. In the episode "There's No Place to Go But Down", he is seen as an inmate at Bane's rehabilitation center, the Pit. He is also shown to have a softer side, enjoying the center's art class. In the season two finale "The Runaway Bridesmaid", Killer Croc attends Poison Ivy and Kite Man's wedding and takes part in a battle alongside other attending supervillains against the GCPD.
Film
- Killer Croc appears in the Batman: Gotham Knight segment "In Darkness Dwells". During the segment, it is mentioned by James Gordon that this version is afraid of bats. In this version, Waylon Jones is a cannibalistic serial killer. The urban legend in the segment goes that he was an infant born with the disfiguring skin disorder epidermolytic hyperkeratosis and that his mother abandoned him in the sewers of Gotham City. As an adult, he files his front teeth into points to complement the reptilian appearance of his skin and becomes a circus sideshow performer. Later, now called Killer Croc, he goes on a killing spree that eventually lands him in Arkham Asylum. There, his homicidal impulses intensify during treatment by Dr. Jonathan Crane as he experimented on Killer Croc in his fear aversion therapy program. Croc escapes from Arkham and flees to the sewers along with Crane (now known as the Scarecrow) and a handful of escaped Arkham inmates. There, Scarecrow performed another experiment on Croc by injecting his fear toxin into parts of his body. When Scarecrow orchestrates the kidnapping of Cardinal O'Fallon, Croc infiltrates the church and carries him down into the sewers. Batman comes to investigate, but Croc ambushes him, biting and infecting Batman with the fear toxin that is coursing through Croc's own body. After a lengthy battle, Batman fends off Croc by shoving a grenade in his mouth. Croc is not seen since.
- Killer Croc appears in Son of Batman, voiced by Fred Tatasciore. In this version, he was using a genetic mutagen, that he referred to as steroids, to increase his already fearsome abilities which included extra muscle mass and a crocodile-like tail. He gains the upper hand at one point, but is subdued thanks to Talia al Ghul and is taken to Arkham Asylum, where withdrawal from the mutagen is causing his body to slowly fall apart. Regardless, Arkham's staff refuse to treat him because of the personal risk to their health. Batman agrees to save Killer Croc if he gives up the location of his mutagen supplier Kirk Langstrom. Killer Croc at first refuses to talk, but changes his mind when Batman singlehandedly rips off his damaged tail.
- Killer Croc appears in the animated film Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts, voiced by John DiMaggio. He appears as a member of the Penguin's Animalitia, where he is sporting a metal lower jaw.
- Killer Croc appears in Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants with DiMaggio reprising his role. Sometime prior to the film, Killer Croc ratted Bane out to the GPD, causing the two to develop a rivalry. Killer Croc, Clayface, Bane, and Chemo are freed from Arkham Asylum by Mr. Freeze and the Penguin. Killer Croc winds up the test subject to a serum which turns him into a Godzilla-esque monster. Killer Croc is eventually defeated by Batman and returned to his original size.
- Killer Croc appears in The Lego Batman Movie, voiced by the film's editor Matt Villa, who was uncredited for the role. He is among the villains that assist the Joker in attacking Gotham City. Killer Croc starts the Joker's bomb and jokingly states that "he did something" (this comment was due to doing nothing relative to the plot in Suicide Squad).
- Killer Croc appears in the film Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash, voiced by Nolan North. He is shown to have captured Jimmy Olsen with a machine for taking his picture of his "bad side" until Superman and Plastic Man show up to save him. Plastic Man turns into a buzzsaw to stop Croc, but Superman gets his cape caught on the saw, sending him flying into the machine and getting stuck in it. But then, Reverse-Flash comes to defeat Croc—trapping him in his own machine and rescuing Olsen, making Croc the second of the many villains that Reverse-Flash captures to win the hearts of the citizens. Croc later appears toward the end of the film when Reverse-Flash is taken to jail, where he walks up behind Reverse-Flash and threatens him. He looks nothing like his Lego Batman design.
![](../I/Killer_Croc_(Adewale_Akinnuoye-Agbaje).jpg.webp)
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje portrayed Killer Croc in the 2016 feature film Suicide Squad, making it Killer Croc's first live-action appearance.[27] It is mentioned that he once lived in Gotham and fought against Batman until he departed to find somewhere to belong, eventually being driven to cannibalism by the abuse he suffered at the hands of Gotham's citizens. When he is recruited to Task Force X, he is initially as reluctant as the others, but eventually decides to work with Colonel Rick Flag even after Flag gives them a chance to leave, accompanying a SEAL scuba team to recover a bomb that was lost in a flooded tunnel to destroy the Enchantress. At the film's conclusion, Croc remains in jail, but has ten years shaved off his sentence and is provided with drinks and a television set with BET in his cell, as he requested.
Lego Batman
- Killer Croc appears in Lego Batman: The Videogame as a playable character with vocal effects provided by Steven Blum.[28] This incarnation of the character is in the employ of the Penguin and possesses superstrength, an immunity to toxins and is able to dive underwater. He is the third boss of Chapter 2 "Power-Crazed Penguin". In the villain story, he and the Penguin ride around Gotham Docks and the two of them head into the sewers to rescue Catwoman. Batman and Robin encounter him and the fight begins. He has 14 hit points, the most of all the bosses. However, this is one of the easier boss fights, since the player just has to attack him until his hit points run out. On the 5th, 7th, and 11th hits, he walks into the toxins to throw heavy things at Batman and Robin. When he is defeated, he drops a brochure of Gotham Zoo providing the clue that Batman and Robin need and then cell bars move over him, locking him in. In the ending cutscene, he is seen in Arkham Asylum chewing on his cell bars.
- Killer Croc appears in Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, voiced by Fred Tatasciore. He appears as a cameo in the level "Asylum Assignment" where he is seen in a cage. If the player activates a machine that drops roast turkey into his cage, he will eat it. Nothing really happens when the player attacks him in free-play mode. He also appears as a boss fight at the water works and is an unlockable character. Here, he is shown to speak in the third person, as before his boss fight he says, "Croc hungry."
- Killer Croc appears as a playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, with Fred Tatasciore reprising his role now in a Cajun accent, and he no longer speaks in the third person. He appears as the first boss, where he steals a map of the sewers in order for the Legion of Doom to get into the watchtower. He is the fourth member of the Legion of Doom that fought in the watchtower. When the Justice League comes to stop them, he goes with Solomon Grundy to battle Robin and Cyborg, but Cyborg latter activates his giant suit to defeat them both. When Brainiac appears, he helps them grapple on to his ship. He then stays behind with Firefly. In the ending, he serves as Lex Luthor's security when he becomes President, but he and the rest of the villains are taken to Arkham Asylum. In comparison to the previous two games where he was a mini-figure, Croc is redesigned as one of the big figures of the game (which is comically noted by Robin, who notes that he is bigger than before).
- Killer Croc appear in Lego DC Super-Villains, with Fred Tatasciore reprising his role.[29]
Batman Arkham
Killer Croc appears in the Batman: Arkham series where he has been voiced by Steven Blum[30] in Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, and Arkham Knight and VR, and by Khary Payton in Arkham Origins.
- In the continuity of Batman: Arkham Asylum, Croc is portrayed as physically larger than most of his comic book counterparts, standing at a colossal 11 feet. He is interred at Arkham Asylum as a cannibalistic murderer, although his many other crimes include racketeering and the smuggling of illegal drugs. The asylum staff, who hate and fear the aptly dubbed "monster", only feed Killer Croc with animal carcasses once a week and confine him to an unused sewer, with an electrifying shock collar to discourage troublemaking. This solitary confinement has only succeeded in magnifying Croc's intense hatred of humanity; a psychiatrist believes he now views people as nothing more than potential food. In addition to hating Batman, Croc holds a grudge with Aaron Cash, having tried to eat the guard during a breakout attempt, but only managing to devour Cash's left hand. This resulted in a constant craving to eat the rest of Cash. He appears early on in the game, when he is taken to the sewers and passes Batman escorting a recently captured Joker. He vows to kill and devour Batman before he receives a shock and is taken away. Later in the story, Batman infiltrates Arkham's old sewer network in search of rare Venom roots for an antidote for the Titan drug that the Joker has created, only to find the Scarecrow threatening to unleash his fear gas into Gotham's water supply by dumping it into the sewers. Killer Croc emerges from the water and attacks the Scarecrow, then falls back when Batman activates his shock collar via Batarang, taking Scarecrow with him. While searching Croc's lair for the roots, Killer Croc ambushes the player repeatedly, only to be easily stunned into retreat each time by hitting his shock collar with batarangs. He is defeated for the final time while charging over an unstable floor, which Batman destroys with explosives, sending Croc plunging down. After Batman leaves his lair, Croc shouts that he will find him. Killer Croc's hand is one of those that will appear at the end of the game (sometimes it is his hand or Bane's hand or Scarecrow's hand) grabbing the Titan box out in the bay.
- In a cameo appearance in Batman: Arkham City, after surviving the incidents of Batman: Arkham Asylum, he is now imprisoned in the new walled-off incarceration districts known as Arkham City. It is revealed in his profile that guards tried to lure him back to the sewers of Arkham Asylum by using pieces of dead inmates. However, he managed to escape the Asylum sewers during this and his whereabouts were unknown after. During the game, Killer Croc has taken refuge in Gotham's maze-like sewer network, killing other inmates who wander into his domain. He is presented as notably slimmer here than his previous incarnation, likely due to an inconsistent food supply. The player can encounter Killer Croc in a time-sensitive Easter egg after Batman has encountered Ra's al Ghul in 'Wonder City' for the first time but before Batman leaves the sewers. Upon using the remote-controlled Batarang to hit a button, Killer Croc bursts through the wall, telling Batman that he is not welcome. Killer Croc then smells "death" on Batman (as a result of the Joker infecting Batman with his own life-threatening illness) and decides not to bother trying to kill him. Killer Croc then retreats into the water, promising to come after his corpse later. Killer Croc can also be spotted in the Iceberg Lounge combat challenge map, through the use of a remote-controlled Batarang. He sits at a table with the Penguin, smoking a cigar and having a drink, but he does not speak or join in the fighting.
- In the prequel Batman: Arkham Origins, he appears as one of the assassins hired by the Joker (posing as Black Mask). He first appears at Blackgate Penitentiary, helping the crime lord break out his imprisoned men and murder Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb. While escaping, he is confronted by Batman and the two fight on the rooftops of the prison. Batman defeats Killer Croc and interrogates him, learning about the other assassins sent to kill him. He later runs into Batman during the second attack on the prison, only to flee at the arrival of the GCPD and be taken back into custody. This younger Croc is significantly smaller than his portrayal in the other games, and more or less resembles a human (an uncertain Batman even refers to him as a "human-shaped crocodile"). His desire for the fame and fortune of being Batman's killer imply his mutation has not yet spread to the point where he is more monster than man.
- Killer Croc appears in Batman: Arkham Knight. In his cameo, his design was also updated with a larger body, spikes, and a tail. Killer Croc appears while Batman is under the effects of Scarecrow's fear toxin and hallucinating that he is the Joker. Killer Croc is shown standing in the midst of the Penguin, the Riddler, and Two-Face. Killer Croc is knocked out by a speeding Joker-Batmobile. It is also mentioned in recorded dialogue for random thugs that the Scarecrow's new hideous physical appearance is because his face was severely damaged by his encounter with Killer Croc in Arkham Asylum. Killer Croc also appears in the December "Season of Infamy" DLC pack in the side mission "Beneath the Surface". After the events of Arkham City, he is captured by staff working for Iron Heights Penitentiary and experimented on in the penitentiary's airship above Gotham Bay by Warden Ranken. It is discovered that he has regenerative capabilities thanks to his mutation, even being able to regrow lost limbs, but at the cost of further mutation. During the events of the game, he breaks out of his cell and destroys the airship, causing it to crash near the memorial bridge. Killer Croc then breaks out the prisoners and kidnaps Warden Ranken, demanding that he reverse the mutation that has occurred. He is defeated by Batman and Nightwing, and is taken to the GCPD Headquarters, along with the surviving members of Iron Heights' staff and the fellow prisoners aboard the airship. Ranken is imprisoned in an adjacent cell, with Batman vowing to have Warden Ranken face justice. Killer Croc's severed arm is later placed in the GCPD's Evidence Room with Cash remarking that, while he pities Killer Croc for the torture he endured aboard the airship, he still cannot forgive him for eating his own hand.
- Killer Croc appears as a playable character in the mobile game Batman: Arkham Underworld in his Arkham Asylum incarnation (but voiced by Khary Payton in the same style as his Arkham Origins incarnation, strangely). The tank-like Croc is unlocked after the player defeats him in response to him encroaching on their turf, after which he becomes playable, using his incredible strength and armor-like hide to dominate the battlefield.
- Killer Croc makes a brief appearance in Batman: Arkham VR. He kills Robin after the Boy Wonder is imprisoned in the sewers. It turns out that the events of the game are part of a dream or hallucination that Batman has which is caused by Joker's blood still being in him.
Other games
- Killer Croc makes an appearance in the negatively received video game Batman: Dark Tomorrow, voiced by Richardo Ferrone.
- Killer Croc appears in DC Universe Online on several occasions, such as at the Cape Carmine Lighthouse, where heroic players can defeat him and Deathstroke before being permitted to proceed. Croc may also forge alliances with villainous players.
- Killer Croc makes a non-playable cameo appearance in Injustice: Gods Among Us and a playable appearance in the mobile version. In the latter, he is voiced by Steve Blum.
- Killer Croc makes a cameo appearance in Injustice 2.
- In Mortal Kombat 11, Killer Croc was used as a DLC skin for the character Baraka in the DC Elseworld Pack.
Books
In the novel Batman: Knightfall and Beyond, based largely on the comics storyline, Killer Croc is said to have suffered from "a raging skin cancer" that turned the outer layers of his flesh into a hardened covering when he was younger. He escapes from Arkham Asylum when Bane and his men destroy it, freeing most of Batman's major foes in the process as part of a plan by Bane to wear him down before Bane himself "breaks" him. Batman later defeats Croc in a one-on-one fight in the sewers, crushing a cylinder of knock-out gas against the underside of his nose to disable him. Croc is then arrested and held in Blackgate Prison with the other Arkham escapees until the asylum can be rebuilt.
See also
- List of Batman Family enemies
References
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- Game Informer features a two-page gallery of the many heroes and villains who appear in the game with a picture for each character and a descriptive paragraph. See "LEGO Batman: Character Gallery", Game Informer 186 (October 2008): 93.
- "Twitter / blumspew: @pmagill536 I was all over". Twitter.com. 2012-09-29. Retrieved 2014-05-13.