Doctor Phosphorus (Alexander James Sartorius) is a supervillain who has appeared in various comic book series published by DC Comics. Primarily an enemy of Batman, the villain exists in DC's main shared universe, known as the DC Universe.[1]
Alexander Sartorius was a member of the Tobacconists' Club who wanted to build a nuclear power plant in Gotham City with help from chairman Rupert Thorne.[4] However, he was forced to build elsewhere following public opposition and was transformed into a metahuman during a meltdown at the plant, gaining transparent, burning skin and the ability to generate harmful radiation.[5] He then battled Batman before falling into a nuclear reactor and being presumed dead.[6][7]
During the Underworld Unleashed storyline, Phosphorus sells his soul to the demon Neron to gain increased control over his powers.[3]
In James Robinson's series Starman, Phosphorus battles Starman and douses him with radiation that will soon kill him. In response, Starman uses his cosmic rod to bury Phosphorus deep underground, apparently killing him.[3]
Phosphorus returns in Detective Comics #825, where he is being held in Cadmus Research laboratories. Cadmus scientists discover that he is no longer human and has had his organs replaced by energy.[8] He eventually escapes before being defeated by Batman and imprisoned in Arkham Asylum.[3]
Doctor Phosphorus has the ability to manipulate radiation for various effects, such as burning skin and toxic fume emissions. His body's major organs are not present, but he produces an endless source of energy for himself.[17] When he sold his soul to Neron, Sartorius was granted greater powers, as well as temperature control.[18]
Other versions
An alternate universe variant of Doctor Phosphorus appears in Flashpoint.[19][20]
Doctor Phosphorus was used as inspiration for The Batman's incarnation of Firefly (voiced by Jason Marsden). In the episode "White Heat", Firefly and his girlfriend, Dr. Jane Blazedale attempts to steal a phosphorus isotope so he can upgrade his arsenal. However, an accident occurs that turns Firefly into Phosphorus, granting him volcanic physiology, fiery skin, and a burning touch. As he slowly goes insane, he attempts to destroy Gotham in retaliation for no one being able to remember his name, only to be defeated by Batman.
Alexander "Alex" Sartorius / Doctor Phosphorus appears in Creature Commandos,[22][23] voiced by Alan Tudyk.[24] This version is an inmate of Belle Reve Penitentiary's Non-Human Interment Division, former scientist turned crime boss, widower to an immigrant woman named Parvin, and member of the eponymous group. In flashbacks, Alex sought out Rupert Thorne's help in funding research to cure cancer via nuclear fusion while secretly giving Thorne falsified data due to the latter's involvement with the fascist nation of Bialya. Upon discovering this, Thorne had Parvin and the Sartoriuses' son killed, framed Alex for it, and attempted to kill him with his nuclear equipment. Following his transformation, Alex killed Thorne and his family and took over his criminal empire until he was defeated by Batman and sent to Belle Reve.
Dr. Alex Sartorius appears in Batman: Arkham Knight via Simon Stagg's audiotapes. This version was raised as a Catholic, but chose science over faith and became an employee at Stagg Industries. He later discovers that Stagg is collaborating with the Scarecrow to develop the Cloudburst technology and is exposed to the latter's fear toxin, causing him to develop pyrophobia.
^Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 94. ISBN978-1-4654-5357-0.
