| “ | This message is for members of the Gotham City Stock Exchange. Gentlemen, salvation is available. The Minstrel's Friendly Stock Broker's Protective Association will guarantee you immunity from a rrrrepetition of today's calamity. I'm sure you'll agree the fee is reasonable for the protection provided. $1000 per week per stock exchange member. Make your cheques payable to account number 007 and airmail them each week to the Brrrroccoli Bank of Geneva, Switzerland. I'll expect acknowledgement of your agreement to this in tomorrow's Gotham City Times. Let me emphasise that 100% participation is essential. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. | „ |
| ~ The Minstrel's demands. |
The Minstrel is a Minstrel-themed villain that serves as an enemy of the Batman and the titular main antagonist of the 1960s Batman television series two-part episode "The Minstrel's Shakedown/Barbecued Batman?"
He is played by the late Van Johnson.
Biography[]
Past[]
Almost nothing is known about the Minstrel as, like many other villains on the show, his real identity was never revealed. He is a very talented inventor and musician as both music and electronic energy are transmitted and measured in waves. Exactly how long the Minstrel was a criminal before coming into conflict with Batman and Robin is unclear but, seeing as neither heard of him before the incident, it is likely that either he only recently turned to a life of crime or stuck to smaller crimes before his stock market ploy. After inventing a machine capable of messing with the Gotham Stock Exchange, and hiring two thugs and a female accomplice named Octavia, he places a transmitter in the main server of the Stock Exchange that allows him to control stock prices.
Batman 66[]
One afternoon shortly after 2PM, the Minstrel uses a special invention of his to hack the stock market and either collapse markets or ridiculously inflate them. That evening, he hacks the Gotham City News and delivers his ultimatum; give him $1000 per week per member of the stock exchange million or he creates a stock market disaster. Due to his handsome appearance, many of Gotham City's women are swooned by his personality and warm, attractive singing voice with Harriet Cooper, the aunt of Bruce Wayne's youthful ward Dick Grayson, being one such woman. Later, he and his gang listen to Batman and Robin search for the transmitter on the new station's server. When Octavia remarks that Batman too has a warm, attractive voice, the Minstrel is incredulous. He cannot understand how Octavia could be fooled by what he calls Batman's "phoney mystique;" later calling the Bat-Duo "inefficient."
That night, the Minstrel confronts Batman and Robin who had been hiding in an office waiting for him to check the transmitter. Although they attempt to fight him, he blinds them with sparks and flees with it soon being revealed that he removed the transmitters. However, he was interrupted before he could remove them all so the Minstrel realises that he has to kill them to succeed. Correctly predicting that Batman will track them using their interference signal, they broadcast from their studio in the old Willow Street Warehouse which Batman tracks them to using a drone. Using Plan Low C, they manage to capture them using sticky paper and plan to cook them on a spit-roast but explosive darts outside draw out the crooks. Whilst they are gone, the two break free with breaking the spit pole loose and defeat his men although the Minstrel himself escapes through a back door.
When Octavia returns to their base though, the Minstrel realises that she must have been tracked after she tells him to cut a deal with him uncovering the tracker and announcing Plan High C before destroying it. He then reveals it at the Stock Exchange; pay the amount or he destroys the Stock Exchange by matching a subsonic note with its vibrational frequency using the vents. Once he tries to destroy the building at 6PM, Batman shuts down all power to the building but more is broadcast remotely. Before the governors can give in though, the Caped Crusaders uncovers the Minstrel who has been hiding among the Stock Exchange governors with the broadcast being a recording. Despite protesting, they reveal his undergarment so he summons his men from hiding and hides whilst they fight. Once they are defeated though, "the Melodic Fiend" attempts to use his spark device once again but the Particle Bat Accelerators make the Dynamic Duo immune. Out of tricks, the Minstrel is finally captured and goes peacefully into police custody. Before being taken to Gotham Penitentiary, he promises a jailbreak and revenge in a song composed for a television interview but remains behind bars.
Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders[]
After Batman assembles an army of Batman to defeat the [[Joker (Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders)]|Joker]], the Penguin and the Riddler, they sneak into the Gotham Penetentiary disguised as guards and spring an army of past villains to combat the Dynamic Army. The Minstrel is among the large ensemble but all of the villains are all easily beaten at the Gotham Palace set and taken back to prison.
Personality[]
| “ | And now this message. I am the Minstrel and a mastermind. I'm a modern genius crook. In electronics, I cannot be surpassed and that's why your building shook. | „ |
| ~ The Minstrel's ego. |
The Minstrel is a genius but also very egotistical and belittles his enemies whenever they confront him. For unknown reasons, he often rolls his R's However, although he appears to be in great physical shape, the Minstrel abhors physical violence and refuses to indulge in fisticuffs or brawling. When cornered, he did not put up a fight.
Skills and Abilities[]
- Genius Intellect: The Minstrel is a genius in technology, being able to build a device capable of manipulating and controlling the stock market. He understood that music and technology both relied on different types of waves and possessed a "degree of electronic sophistication far beyond that of anyone else in this world."
- Miniaturisation: The Minstrel is skilled at miniaturising normally giant technology such as tiny Headtradyning Counter Ocellators to be able to fit on the News transmitter.
- Skilled Musician: Befitting his name, the Minstrel is a very skilled minstrel and good at playing a lute.
- Signal Hijacking: The Minstrel and his men were able to hack the Gotham City News broardcast and supplant it instead.
Weaknesses[]
- Pacifism: Due to being a pacifist, the Minstrel refused to fight and gave up with a fight when his men were defeated.
Arsenal[]
- Flash Flask: The Minstrel used an alcoholic flask-like device that could spray red and orange sparks capable of flashing an entire corridor and blinding Batman and Robin.
Quotes[]
| “ | *strums lute* Good afternoon, my friends. *singing* A helpful minstrel I when I see folks in trouble. Then I come on the double with council both soothing and wise. With council both soothing and wise. For fair remuneration, I'll wide the tears from your eyes. I'll wipe the tears from your eyes.♫ | „ |
| ~ The Minstrel's first words after hacking the Gotham City News broadcast. |
| “ | Minstrel: I told ya he wouldn't get it, Octavia. Octavia: He does have a warm attractive voice, doesn't he? Minstrel: So what? He's still a second rate genius. You're just like all the women, Octavia. Taken in by phoney mistake and his... 'warm attractive voice.' Octavia: Don't complain. I'm taken in by your warm attractive voice as well, you know. Minstrel: Awwww, that's better. |
„ |
| ~ The Minstrel as Batman and Robin searched for his transmitter. |
| “ | Good evening, gentlemen. Ha ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha. *Singing* Goodnight Batman, goodnight Robin. Goodnight, Batman. I'm going to leave you now. Ah ha ha ha! | „ |
| ~ The Minstrel when confronting Batman and Robin. |
| “ | Minstrel: He exhibits a degree of electronic sophistication far beyond that of anyone else in this world today. Except me of course. If, as I suspect, he's spotted the Counter Ocellators by now, he knows the place was bugged. Octavia: Smarter than you thought he was, hmmm? Minstrel: You're absolutely right, my dear. He must be eliminated after all. We can count on him to come to us. All we have to do is be certain we're ready. Base: How do you know we can count on him? Minstrel: He's waiting for me to go on the air again, Base. Use our signal to lead him to us so we'll work from the studio and not here. See that it's ready, Trebble. Trebble: But how can he use our signal? Minstrel: Unless he's a bird. The beam is so narrow, he can't even pick it up on the ground. He'll work it out some way, you can bet on that. |
„ |
| ~ The Minstrel realising that he had to kill Batman and Robin to succeed. |
| “ | I've offered the brokers a fair way out but, as yet, they haven't accepted that plan. Instead, as they're driven to mistrust and doubt, they've turned for help to Robin and Batman. But I foiled the Dauntless Duo before with nothing more startling than a spark and a flash and, though violence I so strongly abhor, I warn them that next time, they'll land with a crash. | „ |
| ~ The Minstrel's second threatening broadcast which allowed Batman to track him down. |
| “ | I was regretting the necessity of doing away with you, Batman. A kindred genius, ya know. But if there's anything I can't abide, it's a performer. Activate the turn-spit motor. In just a few minutes, gentlemen, we'll be prepared to serve barbecued crusader if we ever call for it. You see, we've installed just beneath you super units of a radar type grill. As you revolve, it can turn you from rare, to medium to well done depending on the preference. Throw the switch. | „ |
| ~ The Minstrel's deadly trap. |
| “ | A wandering minstrel I and now's the time to wander. To give me time to ponder for my men have gotten their lumps. I don't indulge in fisticuffs or vulgar brawling. I hear far places calling. I'll come back when I hold all the trumps. I'll come back when I hold all the trumps. | „ |
| ~ The Minstrel when Batman and Robin broke free. |
| “ | Just a minute. This is ridiculous. But I'm not the Minstrel! Alright Batman, you asked for it. Bass, Treble, all the rest of you. | „ |
| ~ The Minstrel after being discovered. |
| “ | Why yes, as a matter of fact, I have. *singing* Wait... 'till the jail break, Batman. You've not seen the last of me. I'll clobber you and Robin, wait and see. You'll vibrate both together. I'll shake off your heads. Oh, just you wait 'till the jailbreak Batman. You'll... be... dead. | „ |
| ~ The Minstrel after being incarcerated. |
Trivia[]
- The Minstrel is notable for being the only villain in the series that Batman had never heard of. Any other villains in the series were ones that he had either fought or (in the case of The Archer and Louie the Lilac), he had at least heard of them.
- Fittingly, Van Johnson had a distinguished career in musicals in which he did his own singing.
