The Condiment King, created by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini for the Batman: The Animated Series, is a DC Comics villain who makes use of various condiments, sometimes capable of causing anaphylactic shock, as his weapons. He is generally used as comic relief within the series.

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History

Batman: The Animated Series

The Condiment King first appeared in the episode 'Make Em Laugh', voiced by Stuart Pankin. The character was a throwback to the 1966 Adam West Batman series in that he was whimsical and made many condiment-based puns, for example: "The big bad Bat-guy. I knew you'd ketchup to me sooner or later. How I relished this meeting. You, the dynamic Dark Knight , versus me, the conceptual Condiment King! Come, Batman. Let's see if you can cut the mustard." Chased by Batman to the roof of the restaurant he robbed, he slipped on ketchup and fell down, nearly to his death. He was later revealed to be a stand-up comedian who was brainwashed by the Joker (using the Mad Hatter 's devices), whom he, along with several other comedians, had unwittingly spurned the previous year.

Comics

Chronologically, The Condiment King first appeared in Batgirl: Year One, as written by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty. Much like his animated counterpart, he is a comic relief villain that is easily taken down by Robin and Batgirl. He also appears in Birds of Prey #37, where is defeated by Black Canary, the third Robin, and Blue Beetle.

In Robin #171 (April 2008), Robin defeats the Condiment King again. Robin observes that the villain is potentially dangerous (if only because his condiment guns could cause anaphylactic shock), but his ludicrous nature prevents the justice department taking him seriously.

Later, the Condiment King is seemingly killed after being betrayed and bludgeoned by the Human Flame with his own ketchup and mustard guns in the miniseries Final Crisis Aftermath: Run.

Trivia