Amygdala (character): Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Revision as of 15:27, 9 May 2020 edit Toughpigs (talk \| contribs) Extended confirmed users 72,258 edits add reference ← Previous edit		Latest revision as of 02:52, 16 February 2024 edit undo 2600:1006:a020:6cf:14d3:8649:90fb:22c0 (talk) No edit summary
(46 intermediate revisions by 25 users not shown)
Line 1: {{Short description\|DC Comics character}} ~~{{more citations needed\|date=May 2015}}~~ {{Infobox comics character \|image = Detec Comics Amygdala cover.png \|image_size = 250 \|caption = Cover to ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #659, featuring Amygdala and [[Batman]] fighting during the ''[[Batman: Knightfall\|Knightfall]]'' saga. \|character_name = Amygdala \|real_name = Aaron Helzinger \|publisher = [[DC Comics]] \|debut = ''[[Batman: Shadow of the Bat]]'' #3 (~~Aug.~~August 1992) \|creators = [[Alan Grant (writer)\|Alan Grant]] (writer)<br />[[Norm Breyfogle]] (artist) \|species = [[Metahuman]] \|alliances = [[Secret Society of Super Villains]] \|aliases = \|powers = Near superhuman strength and endurance<br />Mental instability and explosive rage that further enhances his strength }} '''Amygdala''' is the alias of [[DC Comics]] [[fictional character\|character]] '''Aaron Helzinger''', who is a sometime opponent of [[Batman]]. He has reduced mental capacity, near superhuman strength and endurance, and is prone to outbursts of violence due to medical experimentation on his brain, chiefly the removal of his [[amygdala]]. '''Amygdala''' ('''Aaron Helzinger''') is a [[supervillain]] appearing in American comic books published by [[DC Comics]], who is an opponent of [[Batman]]. He has reduced mental capacity, near superhuman strength and endurance, and is prone to outbursts of violence due to medical experimentation on his brain, chiefly the removal of his [[amygdala]]. Amygdala is briefly referenced in an article by [[Joseph LeDoux]],<ref>{{cite journal \| last= LeDoux \| first= JJoseph \| author-link=Joseph LeDoux \| title= Fear and the Brain: Where Have We Been, and Where Are We Going? \| journal= Biological Psychiatry \| publisher=[[Elsevier]] \| location=Jacksonville, Florida \| volume= 44 \| number= 12 \|~~page~~ date= ~~1229~~December 15, 1998 \| ~~year~~pages= ~~1998~~1229–1238 \| doi=10.1016/s0006-3223(98)00282-0 \| pmid= 9861466 \| s2cid= 2328768 \| doi-access= free}}</ref> a neuroscientist and expert in the role of the anatomical amygdala in fear processing, as testament to popular interest in the brain area.▼ Aaron Helzinger appeared on the second season of ''[[Gotham (TV series)\|Gotham]]'', portrayed by [[Stink Fisher]], and ''[[Batwoman (TV series)\|Batwoman]]'', portrayed by [[R. J. Fetherstonhaugh]]. ==Publication history== Line 19 ⟶ 23: ==Fictional character biography== Anatomically, the [[amygdala]] refers to the bundle of nerve cells in the [[brain]] that control emotional associations of many kinds. Aaron Helzinger's amygdala cluster was removed in an attempt to cure him of his homicidal rage. This procedure resulted in Amygdala becoming exceedingly angry and was the opposite of what the surgery was intended to achieve. Easily led due to his childlike nature, Amygdala has been the pawn of a number of [[Enemies of Batman\|Batman villains]], but when properly medicated, he can be peaceful. Amygdala first appeared in ''[[Batman: Shadow of the Bat\|Shadow of the Bat]]'' #3 in 1992 during the story arc ''[[Batman: The Last Arkham]]''. In the issue, Amygdala was forced to attack Batman by the maddened [[Jeremiah Arkham]]. Batman subdued Amygdala, but was then forced to face more inmates.<ref name="Shadow of the Bat">''[[Batman: Shadow of the Bat\|Shadow of the Bat]]'' #3</ref> Line 25 ⟶ 29: Amygdala later appeared in Part 2 of the year-long story arc ''[[Batman: Knightfall]]'', which also saw other characters introduced in ''Batman: The Last Arkham'' return to the comic book universe, most notably [[Zsasz]] and Jeremiah Arkham.<ref>{{cite book \|editor1-last=Booker \|editor1-first=M. Keith \|title=Comics Through Time: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas \|date=2014 \|publisher=ABC-CLIO \|isbn=9780313397516 \|page=909}}</ref> In ''Knightfall'', Amygdala was freed from [[Arkham Asylum]] by [[Bane (comics)\|Bane]] along with numerous other inmates and was soon under the control of the [[Ventriloquist (comics)\|Ventriloquist]]. Batman intercepted Ventriloquist, but was promptly attacked by Amygdala. As Ventriloquist escaped, Batman subdued Amygdala once more and the villain did not appear again in ''Knightfall''.<ref name="Detective comics">''[[Detective Comics]]'' #659</ref> He has been released into the community on numerous occasions, where he has been an ally and friend of [[Dick Grayson]] ([[Nightwing]], the former [[Robin (comics)\|Robin]]). He lived in the hero's apartment building and worked as a [[Prison warden\|warden]] in Lockhaven Prison. When [[Blockbuster (DC Comics)\|Blockbuster]] was in the process of breaking Nightwing down both physically and emotionally, Blockbuster destroyed Grayson's apartment complex while Amygdala was inside. Amygdala survived, but he was heavily traumatized by the death of his friends. In the ''[[Infinite Crisis]]'' storyline, Amygdala was among the villains that joined [[Alexander Luthor, Jr.]]'s [[Secret Society of Super Villains]]. He also appeared in the 2008 mini-series ''[[Gotham Underground]]'', drinking in the [[Penguin (character)\|Penguin]]'s [[Iceberg Lounge]]. <ref>''Gotham Underground'' #5</ref> ~~<!--~~===The New 52=== As a part of the ''[[The New 52\|New 52]]'' reboot, Aaron first appears in ''Resurrection Man'' vol. 2 #6 as a hulking menace when he tries to kill Mitch Shelley aka [[Resurrection Man (character)\|The Resurrection Man]] in Arkham Asylum, but is knocked hard on the head with Fletcher's nightstick.<ref>''Resurrection Man'' vol. 2 #6</ref> He later appears during the "[[Batman: Zero Year\|Zero Year]]" storyline. When the power went out in Gotham, Aaron was in surgery at Gotham General Hospital. He woke up in a monstrous rage, smashing through a window. The surgeons had been operating on his amygdala when they were interrupted. After jumping out the window Aaron encountered and attacked a young [[Dick Grayson]], who was out with his friends, away from visiting Haly's Circus. He chases them, while Dick makes a plan to stop him and save his friends. Luring Helzinger onto a rooftop, Dick jumped to the next one over, and unable to make it across the gap, Helzinger fells, unable to get back up. Earning the nickname Amygdala, Aaron spent much of his time incarcerated at Arkham Asylum, and later at Arkham Manor, when the asylum was destroyed. ~~{{expand section\|date=January 2017}}~~ ===DC Rebirth===~~-->~~ In ~~the~~ ''[[DC Rebirth]] ~~reboot universe~~'', Amygdala appears as one of the many villains attempting to kill Batman to stop [[Two-Face]] from leaking secret information. Alongside [[Killer Croc]] and [[King Shark]], Amygdala attacks Batman on a train.<ref>''All-Star Batman'' #2</ref> Later, when Arkham is rebuilt, he becomes partner with [[Solomon Grundy (character)\|Solomon Grundy]]. Both of them attempted to fight [[Bane (DC Comics)\|Bane]] when [[Psycho Pirate]] is kept in Arkham after they were all set free by Batman. They are soon beaten by Bane, in turn by Batman. They are later freed once again when Bane takes over Gotham City. Amygdala and Grundy make alliance with [[Two-Face]] and kill [[Doctor Double X]], Bane's loyalist. They are then attacked by [[Gotham Girl\|Gotham Girl (Claire Clover)]] and the new Batman ([[Thomas Wayne]] from the [[Flashpoint (comics)\|Flashpoint]] timeline), the former of which uses heat vision to sear off Amygdala's arm.<ref>''Batman'' vol. 3 #75</ref> ==Powers and abilities== Line 41 ⟶ 45: ==Other versions== InAmygdala makes a cameo appearance in the [[Elseworlds]] ~~tale~~title ''[[Batman: Crimson Mist~~]]''—the third part of the trilogy that began with ''[[Batman & Dracula: Red Rain~~]]'', in which ~~Batman~~he ~~becomes~~was apreviously ~~[[vampire]]—Amygdala~~imprisoned ~~makes a [[cameo appearance\|cameo]] during Batman's assault on~~in Arkham Asylum. ~~Amygdala~~before he is killed ~~and then beheaded~~ by ~~the~~a ~~vampire~~vampiric Batman.<ref>''Batman: Crimson Mist''</ref> ~~==In science==~~ ▲Amygdala is briefly referenced in an article by [[Joseph LeDoux]],<ref>{{cite journal\| last= LeDoux\| first= J\| title= Fear and the Brain: Where Have We Been, and Where Are We Going?\| journal= Biological Psychiatry\| volume= 44\| number= 12 \|page= 1229\| year= 1998\| doi=10.1016/s0006-3223(98)00282-0}}</ref> a neuroscientist and expert in the role of the anatomical amygdala in fear processing, as testament to popular interest in the brain area. ==In other media== * Aaron Helzinger appears in the [[Gotham (season 2)\|second season]] of ''[[Gotham (TV series)\|Gotham]]'', portrayed by [[Stink Fisher]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.fox.com/content/clone-of-gotham-091815-8pm-0 \|title=GOTHAM 09/21/15 8pm \| FOX Broadcasting Company \|website=www.fox.com \|access-date=12 January 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828020325/http://www.fox.com/content/clone-of-gotham-091815-8pm-0 \|archive-date=28 August 2017 \|url-status=dead}}</ref> This version is an inmate of [[Arkham Asylum]]. [[Stink Fisher]] portrays Amygdala in the second season of ''[[Gotham (TV series)\|Gotham]]''. <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20170828020325/http://www.fox.com/content/clone-of-gotham-091815-8pm-0</ref> According to [[Edward Nygma]], Helzinger can't stand criticism because of his overbearing mother and wants love and approval (he becomes angry when he doesn't get it). At an unknown point in time, Aaron killed his entire family with his bare hands. An inmate at [[Arkham Asylum]], Aaron was seduced by [[Barbara Kean]], with the latter asking whether he wanted to be friends with her or not, which he agreed to, also swearing to protect her if anyone tried to hurt her. Aaron was later rendered unconscious by the knock out gas that came out of Zaardon, and abducted by [[Tabitha Galavan]]. He and five other inmates were later offered the chance to become a team that would make [[Gotham City]] tremble, by [[Theo Galavan]]. While the remaining Maniax attacked the [[Gotham City Police Department]], [[James Gordon (comics)\|James Gordon]] followed Barbara Kean into an alley where Aaron badly beat him up. Barbara kept Aaron from finishing Gordon off and they both left. At some point, Aaron was recaptured and re-incarcerated at Arkham Asylum. When [[Hugo Strange]] puts [[Oswald Cobblepot]] through the "Ice Cream Therapy" in Arkham Asylum's cafeteria, Aaron attacked Oswald out of anger that nobody else was offered ice cream. Upon not seeing Oswald fight back, Hugo sent the guards in to break it up. Oswald was later thrown in the same room with a chained-up Aaron so that Hugo can see if Oswald would kill him. Hugo sees that he didn't kill Aaron and declares that Oswald is sane. Edward Nygma later broke up Aaron Helzinger's attack on Rudy by stating that the "Lucy" that talks to Rudy is a ghost. Upon overhearing Hugo Strange and Ethel Peabody, Edward Nygma offers to help Hugo as he tells him about the motives behind the conditions of Aaron Helzinger, Sharon, and Norton. Ethel Peabody later retrieves Aaron Helzinger. When brought to where a revived Theo Galavan is, Aaron remembered him. Hugo then tells Theo that Aaron is a demon as Theo knocks him out with the chest that contains the recently-forged Sword of Sin. * Aaron Helzinger appears in the ''[[Batwoman (TV series)\|Batwoman]]'' episode "Do Not Resuscitate", portrayed by [[R. J. Fetherstonhaugh]]. This version is a mentally-unstable patient of Hamilton Dynamics who personally nicknamed himself "Amygdala". ==See also== * [[List of Batman ~~Family~~family ~~adversaries~~enemies]] ==Footnotes== Line 56 ⟶ 58: ==References== * Breyfogle, N. & Grant, A. (1996). ''Batman: The Last Arkham''. DC comics. {{ISBN\|1-56389-190-5}}. <!--Footers--> Line 67 ⟶ 69: [[Category:Characters created by Norm Breyfogle]] [[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1992]] [[Category:DC Comics male supervillains]] [[Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman strength]] [[Category:DC Comics television characters]] [[Category:Fictional prisoners and detainees]] [[Category:Fictional henchmen]] [[Category:DC Comics metahumans]]