Baron Bedlam

Baron Bedlam (Baron Frederick DeLamb) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Batman and the Outsiders #1 (August 1983).

Baron Bedlam
Baron Bedlam and the Bad Samaritan in Batman and the Outsiders.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Batman and the Outsiders #1 (August 1983)
Created by	Mike W. Barr (writer) Jim Aparo (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Baron Frederick DeLamb
Abilities	Superior fighter and tactician Formerly: Superhuman strength, endurance, and durability Flight Lava blasts Earth manipulation

Fictional character biography

Baron Bedlam was originally Baron Frederick DeLamb ("Bedlam" being an anagram of his last name). His father Gunther, a government official in Markovia, was installed as a puppet ruler by the Nazis during World War II. At the end of the war, American forces helped the Markov family reclaim the throne, during which Gunther was hanged by a mob.^[1]

Years later, Frederick DeLamb, taking the name Baron Bedlam, gains the support of the Soviet army and the Bad Samaritan. Bedlam murders King Viktor and seizes the throne.^[2]

Markovian prince Brion Markov, with the aid of scientist Helga Jace, gives himself superpowers to stop Bedlam's invasion.^[3][4] With the aid of other superheroes, a grouping under Batman's leadership that would soon call themselves the Outsiders, they infiltrate the country. Having heard of Jace's work in metahuman research, Bedlam subjects himself to the same process as Brion and gains similar earth-manipulating abilities.^[5] In the final confrontation between Bedlam's forces and Markovia's outmatched army, the Outsiders intervene, turning the tide of the battle. Geo-Force apparently kills Bedlam by dropping him into a raging mob. Bedlam survives this, however, and has returned many times to face the team.^[6][7]

Powers and abilities

Baron Bedlam is a skilled fighter and tactician, and possesses vast financial resources. He temporarily possessed earth-manipulating abilities similar to Geo-Force, but lost them due to not being Markovian royalty.^[6]

In other media

Baron Bedlam appears in Young Justice, voiced by Nolan North.^[8] This version is the maternal uncle of Princes Gregor and Brion Markov who runs a secret metahuman trafficking syndicate and is a metahuman with a durable stone-like body. He hires Jaculi to murder Markovia's royal family, but is defeated and killed by Brion.^[9][10]