Dr. Benjamin Gruener was the first known incarnation of the Reaper. In his original appearance, he was a Nazi-hunting vigilante who sought revenge on those who'd escaped justice or defected to the US. Believed dead after a confrontation with Batman, Gruener would subsequently return after being revived by Jeremiah Arkham as part of his Ministy of Science.
History[]
Bronze Age[]
The Reaper in his first appearance
Dr. Benjamin Gruener was a member of a Jewish family from Germany. During World War II, they were captured by the Nazis and held in a concentration camp. Benjamin was the only member of the family to survive the Holocaust, which left lingering trauma for him. By his adulthood, he had moved to Vermont and become a medical Doctor. In secret, Gruener begun hunting Nazis who'd escaped justice for the Holocaust, specifically those who'd been responsible for his family's deaths.
The Reaper would eventually come into conflict with both Batman and Robin when he targeted Kurt Schloss, a colonel who lived in the area. During the skirmish, Gruener appeared to have lost his identity to "the Reaper". During their final battle atop the Vermont Dam, Gruener lost balance and fell to his apparent death.
Post-Crisis[]
When Jeremiah Arkham became the second Black Mask following Roman Sionis' death, he had Hugo Strange revive Gruener as part of his "Ministry of Science". The formula only allowed him to be revived for a certain amount of time, with him slowly degrading unless given a constant shot of Strange's serums. Gruener subsequently fought the second Batman (Dick Grayson) in his confrontations with Black Mask and the Ministry.
Powers and Abilities[]
- Scythe Wielding: Gruener wielded a two-handed scythe as a weapon. He was able to use the weapon to kill enemies very effectively.
- Medical PhD: Gruener was a qualified medical doctor, with him using his knowledge to treat Robin after he was brought for assistance.
Appearances[]
- Batman (Volume 1)
- Batman #237 (reprinted in various comics and collections)
- Batman #692
- Batman #694
- Batman #695
- Batman #697
- Batman #704
- Batman #706
- Detective Comics #865