Condiment King
Encyclopedia
The Condiment King is a fictional DC Comics villain created by Bruce Timm
and Paul Dini
for the Batman: The Animated Series
. He makes use of various condiments, sometimes capable of causing Anaphylactic shock, as his weapons. He is generally used as comic relief within the series.
episode 'Make Em Laugh', voiced by Stuart Pankin
. The character was a throwback to the 1966 Adam West Batman series
in that he was whimsical and made many condiment-based puns, for example: "The big bad Bat-guy. I knew you'd ketchup
to me sooner or later. How I relish
ed this meeting. You, the dynamic Dark Knight, versus me, the conceptual Condiment King! Come, Batman. Let's see if you can cut the mustard
." He attacked the Crown Restaurant only to end up fighting Batman. When he was accidentally knocked off the balcony and fell onto a passing police car, Renee Montoya
and Harvey Bullock
identified him to be stand-up comedian Buddy Standler (who was brainwashed by the Joker
using the Mad Hatter's
devices). With Buddy in the hospital with no memory of the events, his agent told Summer Gleason that he doesn't know why Buddy did it and that the studio cancelled his show when the restaurant sued Buddy for $1,000,000 worth of damage. It was revealed that he (alongside Lisa Lorraine and Harry Loomis) had unwittingly spurned the Joker (in the disguise of Shecky Rimshot) the previous year and he planned revenge by mind-controlling them to be his supervillain pawns. After Joker was arrested and his plans exposed, it can be assumed that Buddy alongside Harry and Lisa were cleared of all charges.
, as written by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty. This version is a man named Mitchell Mayo. Much like his animated counterpart, he is a comic relief villain that is easily taken down by Robin
and Batgirl
. He also appears in Birds of Prey #37, where he is defeated by Black Canary
, the new Robin
, and Blue Beetle
.
In Robin #171 (April 2008), Robin defeats the Condiment King again. Robin observes that the villain is potentially dangerous (only because his condiment guns could cause anaphylactic shock), but his ludicrous nature prevents the justice department taking him seriously.
Condiment King reappears in Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #2 (Aug 2009), in which he is one of a number of obscure or second-string villains working for General Immortus
and inducts the Human Flame
into the group. It is stated that all the villains in Immortus's employ have had their powers improved by Professor Milo, but the full details of Condiment King's upgrade, save for the addition of powerful corrosives to his arsenal, have not been revealed. He is beaten to the point of death by Human Flame, who then finishes the job by choking Condiment King with a bottle of ketchup.
Bruce Timm
Bruce Walter Timm is an American character designer, animator and producer. He is also a writer and artist working in comics, and is known for his contributions building the modern DC Comics animated franchise, the DC animated universe.-Animation:Timm's early career in animation was varied; he...
and Paul Dini
Paul Dini
Paul Dini is an American writer and producer who works in the television and comic book industries. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics animated series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated...
for the Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated...
. He makes use of various condiments, sometimes capable of causing Anaphylactic shock, as his weapons. He is generally used as comic relief within the series.
Television
The Condiment King first appeared in the Batman: The Animated SeriesBatman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated...
episode 'Make Em Laugh', voiced by Stuart Pankin
Stuart Pankin
Stuart Pankin is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Pankin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Dickinson College, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Columbia University.-Career:...
. The character was a throwback to the 1966 Adam West Batman series
Batman (TV series)
Batman is an American television series, based on the DC comic book character of the same name. It stars Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin — two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City. It aired on the American Broadcasting Company network for three seasons from January 12, 1966 to...
in that he was whimsical and made many condiment-based puns, for example: "The big bad Bat-guy. I knew you'd ketchup
Ketchup
Ketchup is a sweet-and-tangy condiment typically made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar or high-fructose corn syrup and an assortment of...
to me sooner or later. How I relish
Relish
A relish is a cooked, pickled, or chopped vegetable or fruit food item which is typically used as a condiment.In North America, relish commonly alludes to sweet pickle relish-like sauce that often condiments hot dogs, hamburgers and other types of fast food.-Description and ingredients:The item...
ed this meeting. You, the dynamic Dark Knight, versus me, the conceptual Condiment King! Come, Batman. Let's see if you can cut the mustard
Mustard (condiment)
Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant...
." He attacked the Crown Restaurant only to end up fighting Batman. When he was accidentally knocked off the balcony and fell onto a passing police car, Renee Montoya
Renee Montoya
Renee Montoya is a fictional comic book character published by DC Comics. The character was initially created for Batman: The Animated Series, and was preemptively introduced into mainstream comics before the airing of her animated debut in 1992....
and Harvey Bullock
Harvey Bullock (comics)
Harvey Bullock is a fictional character from DC Comics' Batman titles.-Fictional character biography:Prior to the 1984-85 DC maxi-series Crisis on Infinite Earths, Bullock is a crooked police detective under instructions from Gotham City's Mayor Hamilton Hill to sabotage Commissioner Gordon's career...
identified him to be stand-up comedian Buddy Standler (who was brainwashed by the Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
using the Mad Hatter's
Mad Hatter (comics)
The Mad Hatter is a fictional supervillain and enemy of Batman in the DC Universe. He is modeled after the Hatter from Lewis Carroll's novel, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a character often called the "Mad Hatter" in adaptations of Carroll. He made his first appearance in Batman #49 in October...
devices). With Buddy in the hospital with no memory of the events, his agent told Summer Gleason that he doesn't know why Buddy did it and that the studio cancelled his show when the restaurant sued Buddy for $1,000,000 worth of damage. It was revealed that he (alongside Lisa Lorraine and Harry Loomis) had unwittingly spurned the Joker (in the disguise of Shecky Rimshot) the previous year and he planned revenge by mind-controlling them to be his supervillain pawns. After Joker was arrested and his plans exposed, it can be assumed that Buddy alongside Harry and Lisa were cleared of all charges.
Comics
Chronologically, The Condiment King first appeared in Batgirl: Year OneBatgirl: Year One
Batgirl: Year One is a comic book mini-series published by DC Comics in nine parts, from February to October 2003, and then compiled into trade paperback form...
, as written by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty. This version is a man named Mitchell Mayo. Much like his animated counterpart, he is a comic relief villain that is easily taken down by Robin
Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940....
and Batgirl
Batgirl
Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman...
. He also appears in Birds of Prey #37, where he is defeated by Black Canary
Black Canary
Black Canary is the name of two fictional characters, DC Comics superheroines created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino. The first Black Canary debuted appeared in Flash Comics #86 . The first Black Canary was the alter-ego of Dinah Drake, who took part in Golden Age adventures...
, the new Robin
Tim Drake
Timothy "Tim" Drake is a superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics and in related media. The character was created by Marv Wolfman and Pat Broderick. From 1989 to 2009, he was known as Robin in the Batman comics, becoming the third character to take up the identity...
, and Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle is the name of three fictional superheroes that appear in American comic books published by a variety of companies since 1939.-Publication history:...
.
In Robin #171 (April 2008), Robin defeats the Condiment King again. Robin observes that the villain is potentially dangerous (only because his condiment guns could cause anaphylactic shock), but his ludicrous nature prevents the justice department taking him seriously.
Condiment King reappears in Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #2 (Aug 2009), in which he is one of a number of obscure or second-string villains working for General Immortus
General Immortus
General Immortus is a fictional character, a DC Comics supervillain. He first appeared in My Greatest Adventure #80, the first story in the Doom Patrol series, though they all can be seen in artwork used in a "Next Issue" ad in #79...
and inducts the Human Flame
Human Flame
The Human Flame is a comic book character, a supervillain in DC Comics' main shared universe. He first appeared in Detective Comics #274 , and was created by Jack Miller and Joe Certa.-Publication history:...
into the group. It is stated that all the villains in Immortus's employ have had their powers improved by Professor Milo, but the full details of Condiment King's upgrade, save for the addition of powerful corrosives to his arsenal, have not been revealed. He is beaten to the point of death by Human Flame, who then finishes the job by choking Condiment King with a bottle of ketchup.