DETECTIVE RADMULLER

Real Name: Aaron Radmuller

Class: Human magic-user

Occupation: Detective, serial killer

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: Philip Radmuller (father, deceased), unnamed mother (deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Gotham County

First Appearance: Batman: Gotham County Line #1 (October, 2005)

Powers: Radmuller was a zombie able to control his fellow undead.

History:  (Batman: Gotham County Line #3 (fb)) - Aaron was a psychopathic child who killed his parents, enjoying their death throes. He told the police robbers had killed his parents, and because of his tender age they believed him.

(Batman: Gotham County Line #1) - Detective Radmuller investigated a series of robberies, and caught the man responsible, a junkie named Charles Parsons. He saw to it that Parsons was released on a technicality, and forced the criminal to duplicate the sleeping agent he used to make sure his victims were unconscious when he robbed them. Radmuller carried out a series of copycat crimes, but killed the families he targeted, using their blood to paint ritual symbols and cutting out the eyes of the father. Batman was called in to investigate, sao Radmuller chose to stage another massacre that night. He knocked out Batman, and injected him with drugs. When Batman recovered he interviewed Parsons, but Radmuller was close behind, and shot him with a sniper rifle. Batman pursued him, and he dropped his ID, so the hero went to Radmuller's apartment, and when he opened the door he released a knot leading to a rope around Radmuller's neck. He fell from the makeshift scaffold, snapping his neck. Batman was displeased with the resolution of the case, but considered the crimes solved. On his way to the morgue Radmuller was raised from the dead, and the ambulance crashed, killing the other riders, who were raised up as zombies under his control.

(Batman: Gotham County Line #2, 3) - Batman had nightmares about being pursued by zombies, and his parents blaming him for being caught between life and death. He awoke, but his hallucinations continued. He returned to Gotham County, and witnessed Detective Keith being killed by a zombie. The dead rose in the county, and they all blamed Batman for their state, and for his part Batman thought he was losing his mind. Deadman arrived, and explained that Radmuller's death had created a fold in time that made Gotham county a unique time and space between the living and the dead. Deadman said he'd help Batman sort out the mess, and admitted he liked having someone living to keep him company. They went to Radmuller's apartment, and found Batman just as he was about to enter the day before. Deadman told Batman to take a leap of faith and change events, saying his sense of faith was holding him back. Batman moved past his past self and entered the apartment, but he and Deadman were swarmed by zombies, who overwhelmed them. Batman woke in the city streets, surrounded by Radmuller and his army of zombies. Batman fought the undead, but they were relentless, and Radmuller told him they were the dead that he failed to save, and they all hated him, wondering where the hero of Gotham was when they died. The undead Jason Todd appeared, and helped Batman fend them long enough for him to flee. Batman found himself in Radmuller's basement with his dead parents, and learned his deepest secret, he'd killed his parents and blamed it on robbers, but had come to believe his lie. Deadman reappeared with the Phantom Stranger, and were pleased that Batman finally realized he was being used by Radmuller to sustain his hellish realm. The spirits of Thomas and Marta Wayne appeared to Batman, and told him he hadn't failed them, but asked him to stop remembering them only as murder victims. By remembering the good times they'd have an easier go in the afterlife. Batman turned Radmuller's undead against him, and returned to Radmuller's apartment, merging with his past self. He stopped Radmuller from committing suicide by breaking his noose with a batarang, and Gotham County returned to normal, even though both Batman and Radmuller remembered the experience. Batman handed him over to Detectives Greer and Keith, and Radmuller begged Batman to tell them that he was powerful, not a pathetic man who'd killed his parents.

Comments: Created by Steve Niles & Scott Hampton.

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