The Getaway Genius

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The Getaway Genius
Real name:	Roy Reynolds
First Appearance:	Batman #170 (March 1965)
Created by:	Gardner Fox, Sheldon Moldoff
Affiliations:	The Gangland Guardians
Abilities:	Criminal mastermind
Portrayed by:	None

Roy Reynolds, a.k.a. "the Getaway Genius", is a criminal and getaway mastermind who encounters the Batman several times. He first appeared in Batman #170 (March, 1965): "Genius of the Getaway Gimmicks!"

[edit] Character History

Reasoning that Batman and Robin were undefeatable, criminal Roy Reynolds focused instead on devising foolproof escape routes for each crime that he prepared, quickly garnering a reputation as the Getaway Mastermind. He devised heists that use various gimmicks in order to stall Batman and Robin long enough for the his thugs to get away. After a series of robberies which are pulled off with the aid of the gimmicks, Reynolds tried his most ambitious yet, gimmicking the Bat-Signal to turn the emblems of Batman and Robin's costumes to expand and change into straight jackets so that they might be easier targets. Though Reynolds managed to stay out of the Dynamic Duo's grasp, his henchmen were more gullible and Batman and Robin managed to convince them that they had been brought down by a non-existent villain known as the Hexer. Capturing the crooks when they tried to kill the "helpless" heroes, the duo quickly got information on Reynold's whereabouts, arresting him.

Six months later, Reynolds was broken out of jail by the Big Game Hunter, who held the Getaway Genius hostage in exchange for tips on capturing Batman. Though convinced that such a goal could not be achieved, Reynolds had no choice but to cooperate and happily turned himself over to Batman's custody after the Dark Knight defeated Hunter in Batman #174. In 1968, Reynolds returned the favor when, as part of the plan devised by The Joker, the Penguin, Catwoman, the Mad Hatter, the Cluemaster, and Johnny Witts to quell an incursion of a west coast crime syndicate, he saved Batman from a gangland execution by rigging a trap door.

The Getaway Genius returned for another foray in Gotham in Batman # 254 (1973), where he sported a more stylish pair of tinted glasses and muttonchop sideburns to go with his mustache. Determining that Reynolds was behind a series of robberies, Batman directed his attention at finding his getaway vehicles. Unfortunately, he missed Reynolds' back-up, a helicopter that took him out of reach of the Dark Knight. Elsewhere, Kirk Langstrom had finally synthesized a serum that would enable him to control his Man-Bat identity and, for his trial run, he forced the Genius' copter back to Earth and Reynolds himself into the waiting fists of Batman.

The Getaway Genius resurfaces briefly ten years later in Detective Comics #526. He is part of a large gathering of villains assembled by the Joker to kill Batman before the new criminal Killer Croc, who has vowed to kill Batman in twenty-four hours, can do the deed. The Getaway Genius, along with Catman, Mr. Freeze, and Captain Stingaree, attempted to seize Talia Al Ghul when the Joker ordered her killed due to her refusal to be a part in the plan. Dodging a blow from Catman and using Captain Stingaree as a shield, Talia evaded the villains and escaped. The Getaway Genius soon concocted a plan with Catman, Tweedledee, and Tweedledum to ambush Batman in an abandoned factory and kill him. Killer Croc, however, learned of the plan from the Joker, and left the Getaway Genius and his two partners in the plan beaten half to death, leaving Batman, Catwoman, and Talia to stumble upon the fallen villains later. Reynold's ultimate fate remains unknown.

[edit] Powers and Abilities

The Getaway Genius was a brilliant criminal mastermind and an expert in all forms of traps and devices that may be useful in thwarting Batman and Robin long enough for a proper getaway to be made. The Getaway Genius had no special powers or physical abilities, being a poor hand-to hand combatant when facing Batman in physical combat.