Batman eventually breaks his conditioning, but its aftereffects make it difficult for him to capture Blackfire. Blackfire captures and brainwashes Batman, temporarily making the Caped Crusader a member of Blackfire's cult, during which Batman breaks his cardinal rule of not killing. Blackfire uses this army to begin a violent war on crime, which escalates into him taking over the entire city, resulting in it being isolated from the rest of the country. He forms an army in the sewers beneath Gotham City, largely composed of the homeless. Fictional character biography ĭeacon Joseph Blackfire is the main antagonist in the four-issue miniseries, Batman: The Cult, to which Blackfire is a con man and cult leader who may be over 100 years old. He first appeared in Batman: The Cult #1 (1988) and was created by Jim Starlin and Bernie Wrightson. Blackfire claimed to be a Native American shaman who was entombed alive after being found guilty of killing a tribal chief and committing heresy. Blackfire is stated as being over 100 years old, and is often portrayed as a power-crazed charismatic con artist and cult leader skilled in manipulation and brainwashing.
Deacon Blackfire in 'Batman: The Cult' #1.
