Edgar Heed AKA Egghead was a villain created for the 1960s Batman television series where he was played by horror-legend, Vincent Price. The character was identifiable by his pale bald head and white and yellow suit. He believed himself to be "the world's smartest criminal," and his crimes would usually have an egg-motif to them as well as including egg puns in his speech where appropriate such as "egg-zactly" and "egg-cellent." Additionally, he would use a wide assortment of egg-shaped weapons, such as laughing gas eggs and tear gas eggs (laid by chickens on a diet of onions).
Egghead was first referenced in the DC Universe by 1989's Secret Origins Special #1 and briefly appeared in Batman: Shadow of the Bat #3 (1992), a second cameo appearance in Gotham Academy #15 (2016), Harley Quinn Vol 3 #38 (2018) and mention in All-Star Batman #2 (2016). The character has also been the focus of at least one issue in the non-canon Batman '66 comic series.
History[]
New Earth[]
Background[]
Little is known of Egghead's background and origins, barring his former association with the Riddler and clique of other campy villains such as King Tut, the Bookworm, and Marsha, Queen of Diamonds. Egghead and these villains were enemies of Batman relatively early in his career.
When visited in his old age by a television crew inquiring about his origin story, the Riddler recalls Egghead with fondness and notes somewhat theatrically that he hasn't seen him in a while. Riddler also implied Egghead to not have actually hurt or killed people, though this claim was made dubious by the violent crimes of Bookworm and King Tut.
Arkham Asylum[]
Egghead's fate was unknown until the Shadow of the Bat story arc in 1992, which saw Arkham Asylum demolished and reconstructed by Jeremiah Arkham. When Arkham reopened its doors, Egghead was one of several inmates imprisoned in the new facility. Unknown to most of the asylum staff, Jeremiah was being secretly manipulated by serial killer Victor Zsasz. When Batman infiltrated Arkham in an attempt to prove Zsasz was escaping and committing crimes by night, Jeremiah trapped him there as part of an intense psychiatric study. Zsasz proposed that all Batman's hated enemies be unleashed to break him physically and mentally, insisting that Jeremiah would then have the respect of his patients.
Egghead and a number of other villains with known vendettas against Batman were later rounded up and allowed to observe the Dark Knight as he fought the hulking Amygdala. They were then released and urged to "settle their old scores". However, Batman defeated them with ease. Jeremiah later noted that the exercise was probably a mistake, since all Egghead and the other villains had going for them was psychosis.
Batman later deduced that unleashing Egghead and "the rest of those losers" to attack him was part of an elaborate ruse by Zsasz, who anticipated he would defend himself and beat them unconscious. After the incident, he would be moved to an isolation block where Zsasz could taunt him by tapping on the walls of the cell as he made his nightly escape. Egghead was presumably returned to his cell by the Arkham staff.
Prime Earth[]
Edgar Heed was a professor of the private-school Gotham Academy where he had a love for eggs and egg themed puns. Egghead went on to be a criminal active in New York City, leading a small-gang of criminals dressed in egg helmets. He frequently made egg themed puns in this criminal career.
When Batman attempted to, "Cure" Two-Face on a cross-country journey, Two-Face used blackmail acquired from Gotham's internet towers to place a bounty on the vigilante's head. Egghead was amongst the super-criminals who fought Batman for Two-Face, alongside Gentleman Ghost and Orca.
Alternate versions[]
Batman '66[]
Egghead has also been featured in Batman '66, a web-based comic inspired by the original television series.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold[]
Outside the mainstream Batman continuity, Egghead has appeared in the sixteenth issue of Batman: The Brave and the Bold, which is based on the animated series of the same title. This Egghead is deeply, incurably insane and far less lucid than his live television appearance as portrayed by Vincent Price. While working with Wonder Woman to thwart his bizarre scheme to bring Egg-Fu to Earth, Batman dismisses him as "a madman".
Old Lady Harley[]
In other media[]
Egghead originates from the 1966 Batman TV series.
Film[]
- The Lego Batman Movie: Egghead appears in this film as a member of Joker's gang. Egghead was subject to his own tie-in Lego set for this film, piloting a mech-suit with an egg shape, whisker-like arm, and egg cannon while accompanied by the Condiment King.
- Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold: Egghead appears as an inmate of Arkham Asylum.
Television[]
- Batman: The Brave and the Bold:
- Harley Quinn: Egghead's egg appears on display, next to a photograph of him.
Notes and trivia[]
- Egghead has been rarely featured in other Batman media outside the 1960s television series. After The Last Arkham story arc he remained in obscurity. The character is likely considered a goofier element of Batman's past that would not fit well with the darker portrayal of the character currently favoured by DC Comics, and may cause confusion with the similar Marvel character of the same name.
Gallery[]
