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Gearhead (DC Comics)

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This article is about the comic book characters. For other uses, see Gearhead (DC Comics) (disambiguation).

Gearhead is the name of two DC Comics supervillains.

Fictional character biographies

Unrevealed

Gearhead
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceSteel #14 (April 1995)

The first Gearhead appeared as a henchman of the supervillain called White Rabbit.

Nathan Finch

Gearhead
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceDetective Comics #712 (August 1997)
Created byChuck Dixon, Graham Nolan, Bob McLeod
In-story information
Full nameNathan Finch
Notable aliasesMetal Head
AbilitiesGenius-level intellect

The second Gearhead is Nathan Finch, a former engineer at General Robotics. While he was kidnapping and holding Gloria Osteen, his boss' daughter, for ransom, he runs afoul of Batman who rescues her. Unfortunately, he was not able to save Nathan from falling to an icy death. Nathan Finch's body was discovered by two down-and-out people who take him to an underworld doctor named Dr. Bascomb. It turned out that Nathan was not dead and the doctor wanted his knowledge of cybernetics. Due to ravages of frostbite, Dr. Bascomb removed his arms and legs and replaced them with cybernetic arms and legs. Following a training with his cybernetic limbs, Nathan becomes Gearhead and develops his own cybernetic arsenal of removable body parts as well as a goal to exterminate Batman, whom he refers to as the "vermin".

He played a part in the Robin section of the No Man's Land crossover, in which he is one of a number of villains competing for control of Gotham City's sewers. Without the use of his cybernetic arms and legs, he is forced into partnership with the thuggish Tommy Mangles, who carries around Finch's torso. The duo are iced by Mr. Freeze, a fate particularly frightening for Gearhead, given his origin.

He put in an appearance in the comic mini-series Rush City, where he is physically attached to his car.

In Infinite Crisis, Gearhead became a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains.

Powers and Abilities

The Nathan Finch version of Gearhead has genius-level intellect. He also can design gadgets that would be of use to him.

In other media

Television

Gearhead in The Batman
  • Gearhead first appeared in the The Batman episode "RPM" voiced by Will Friedle. In this version, Gearhead (Nathan Finch) is a criminal car racer, who operates with advanced forms of nanotechnology. Like in the comics he is a cyborg, as the Batman says, "He doesn't control nanotechnology; he is nanotechnology". His right arm has cords that transmit some kind of nanotechnological virus which infects the vehicle and alters it into a more hi-tech form with advanced features and his signature yellow and black colour scheme. His fingertips can extend to form claws when he is engaged in combat. His right arm bears certain shells of the nanotechnological virus, which he can fire at other vehicles and control them remotely. Also, he has a robotic right eye that can automatically guide and maneuver his vehicle through traffic and other obstructions for him. Gearhead first shows up in a yellow race car during a charity race that Bruce Wayne is also competing in. Gearhead wins the race and steals all the charity money and rides off, leaving all the contestants baffled. Soon after, he ends up getting chased by the Batman in his Batmobile. However, Gearhead appears to be too fast for the Batman, and later the Batman eventually loses control of the Batmobile and falls off a cliff. He manages to jump in time, but the Batmobile is destroyed. Later, at the Batcave, Wayne builds a new Batmobile with upgraded parts from other prototypes in his possession, from Wayne Industries technology and even from the nanotechnological shell that he recovered from a vehicle that Gearhead was controlling. With a bigger and better vehicle, the Batman, along with the Batgirl, outraces Gearhead and defeats him. When he tries to steal the new Batmobile by injecting his cords into it, he is electrocuted, as the Batman tells that he reversed the effects of the virus so that it can't infect his vehicle. Gearhead is then sent to jail. Gearhead is later seen in "Rumors" as one of the villains captured by Rumor. Aside from his bionics, Gearhead's appearance is altered, donning a yellow racing outfit (albeit with a visorless helmet), a black stripe down the middle of each part and grey, and metal fingers on his left glove (his right arm is sleeveless and the hand on that arm is bare-handed).

Toys

  • Two action figures of Gearhead were made for the The Batman toyline. One for EXP line, and one for the Shadowtek line. However, Mattel renamed him "Metal Head" due to legal reasons.

Miscellaneous

  • Gearhead appears in The Batman Strikes!. In issue #36, it is revealed he used to be Nathan Finch, a big celebrity in underground racing. A car accident severely crippled him, making him lose the use of his arms and legs, and destroyed his career. Finch, lusting for power and glory, gained cybernetic parts and nanotechnology from an unknown benefactor becoming Gearhead and wreaked havoc in Gotham City. Gearhead later makes a cameo alongside many rogues in Arkham Asylum in issue #39 who take revenge against recently imprisoned Black Mask.

See also

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