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Psycho-Pirate

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Psycho-Pirate
The Roger Hayden incarnation of Psycho-Pirate as depicted in Detective Comics #1051 (February 2022).
Art by Fernando Blanco.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceCharles Halstead:
All-Star Comics #23 (December 1944)

Roger Hayden:
Showcase #56 (June 1965)
Created byCharles Halstead:
Gardner Fox
Joe Gallagher

Roger Hayden:
Gardner Fox
Murphy Anderson
In-story information
Alter ego- Charles Halstead
- Roger Hayden
Team affiliationsRoger Hayden:
Secret Society of Super Villains
Black Lantern Corps
AbilitiesRoger Hayden:
  • Emotional psychic vampirism
  • Control over emotions through use of the Medusa Mask
  • Ability to create life-like duplicates
  • Regeneration through the Medusa Mask

The Psycho-Pirate is the name of two supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

Bob Frazer portrayed the character for his live action debut during The CW's 2018 Arrowverse crossover "Elseworlds".

Publication history

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The Charles Halstead version of Psycho-Pirate first appears in All-Star Comics #23 and was created by Gardner Fox and Joe Gallagher.[1]

The Roger Hayden version of Psycho-Pirate first appears in Showcase #56 and was created by Fox and Murphy Anderson.[2]

Fictional character biography

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Charles Halstead

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Charles Halstead is a minor character who first appears in All-Star Comics #23, created by Gardner Fox and Joe Gallagher. He is a linotyper for the Daily Courier who is jealous of his boss's success and becomes the criminal mastermind Psycho-Pirate. He plans crimes based on emotions, hoping to ruin his boss.

Halstead later shoots the Atom, who works with the Justice Society to expose him. He is sentenced to a lengthy prison term and eventually dies in the 1960s.

Roger Hayden

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The first appearance of the second Psycho-Pirate as he is confronted by Doctor Fate and Hourman. Cover to Showcase #56. Art by Murphy Anderson.

Roger Hayden first appeared as the second Psycho-Pirate in Showcase #56, and was created by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson.

Hayden is a gangster and cellmate to Halstead on Earth-Two who obtains the Medusa Mask, which enables him to manipulate emotions.[3][4] Ultra-Humanite later recruits him into the Secret Society of Super Villains before the group is imprisoned in Limbo.

In Crisis on Infinite Earths, Psycho-Pirate is kidnapped by the Anti-Monitor and becomes his accomplice. After the multiverse is destroyed, Psycho-Pirate is among the only beings who remember it.[5]

In Underworld Unleashed, Psycho-Pirate sells his soul to the demon Neron to gain enhanced power. He battles Manhunter before being defeated and arrested.

In Joker: Last Laugh, Psycho-Pirate appears as an inmate of the Slab prison.

Psycho-Pirate's death at the hands of Black Adam. Art by Phil Jimenez.

In JSA Classified, Psycho-Pirate and Power Girl are revealed to be refugees from Earth-Two. He is later killed by Black Adam, after which Raven destroys the Medusa Mask.

In Blackest Night, Psycho-Pirate is resurrected as a Black Lantern before Superboy kills him.[6][7][8][9]

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Psycho-Pirate gains his psychic abilities from a virus created by Brainiac.[10][11] In DC Rebirth, he joins Amanda Waller's Task Force X.[12][13]

Powers and abilities

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The Charles Halstead incarnation of Psycho-Pirate has no superhuman powers; however, he is a brilliant criminal mind knowledgeable in psychology and emotions.

The Roger Hayden incarnation of Psycho-Pirate can manipulate, drain, and amplify the emotions of others using the Medusa Mask. Furthermore, he can fly and create psychic constructs and illusions.

Other versions

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In other media

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Television

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Film

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The Charles Halstead incarnation of Psycho-Pirate appears in the Tomorrowverse, voiced by Geoffrey Arend.[17] An alternate universe incarnation of Halstead named the Advisor appears in Justice Society: World War II, while the main universe incarnation appears in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths.[21][22]

Video games

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Miscellaneous

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References

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  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. p. 280. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
  3. ^ Earth-Two was established as a parallel world that served as the home of the Justice Society of America, as well as other DC Comics characters introduced during the Golden Age of Comic Books. The Flash #123 (September 1961).
  4. ^ Showcase #56. DC Comics.
  5. ^ Suicide Squad #27 (1989). DC Comics.
  6. ^ Blackest Night #1 (July 2009). DC Comics.
  7. ^ Blackest Night #3 (September 2009). DC Comics.
  8. ^ Blackest Night: Superman #2 (2009). DC Comics.
  9. ^ Blackest Night: Superman #3 (2009). DC Comics.
  10. ^ Action Comics (vol. 2) #24. DC Comics.
  11. ^ Superboy (vol. 6) #23-24. DC Comics.
  12. ^ Batman (vol. 3) #1-3. DC Comics.
  13. ^ Batman (vol. 3) #20-21 and The Flash (vol. 5) #20-21. DC Comics.
  14. ^ Flashpoint Beyond #2. DC Comics.
  15. ^ Flashpoint Beyond #5. DC Comics.
  16. ^ JSA: The Golden Age #4. DC Comics.
  17. ^ a b "Psycho Pirate Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved August 3, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  18. ^ Agard, Chancellor (November 2, 2018). "Arrowverse 'Elseworlds' crossover to feature DC villain Psycho-Pirate". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 2, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  19. ^ Behbakht, Andy (June 16, 2021). "Why The Flash Revived An Abandoned Crisis On Infinite Earths Character". Retrieved June 16, 2021. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  20. ^ Damore, Meagan (June 21, 2021). "The Flash: Danielle Nicolet on Cecile's Mental Health Journey". Retrieved June 21, 2021. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  21. ^ Harvey, James (December 5, 2023). "Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths, Part One Arrives January 2024, Press Details". The World's Finest. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  22. ^ Couch, Aaron (January 7, 2021). "DC's Justice Society: World War II Sets Voice Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  23. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  24. ^ "Justice League Adventures #20 - Emotional Baggage (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
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