Baron Bedlam
Baron Bedlam is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Batman and the Outsiders #1.
Fictional character biography
Baron Bedlam was originally Frederick DeLamb. DeLamb's father, a minor government official in the kingdom of Markovia, was installed as a puppet ruler by the Nazis during World War II. At the end of the war, American forces helped the Markov family reclaim the throne. Even though Frederick managed to flee the country, his father was hanged by the mob.Years later, Frederick DeLamb, taking the name Baron Bedlam, gains the support of the Soviet army and the mysterious political manipulator Bad Samaritan. Bedlam murders Markovian king Viktor and seizes the throne, inciting a conflict between Markovia and the Soviet Union.
Markovia's crown prince, Brion Markov, with the aid of scientist Helga Jace, gives himself superpowers to stop the invasion. With the aid of other superheroes, a grouping under Batman's leadership that would soon call themselves the Outsiders, they infiltrate the country. Having heard of Jace's work in metahuman research, Bedlam undergoes a similar process to Brion and gains similar earth-manipulating abilities. In the final confrontation between Bedlam's forces and Markovia's army, the Outsiders intervene, turning the tide of the battle.
Soon after, the Outsiders confront another aspect of Bedlam's forces, the Masters of Disaster. The two groups engage in a prolonged battle. In the meantime, the Bad Samaritan also discovers Bedlam's plan to clone Adolf Hitler. However, Hitler's clone is greatly distressed by the actions of at what his 'father' has done and has no wish to continue the madness. The Hitler clone later commits suicide, his body being found by the Outsiders. Shortly afterward, Geo-Force kills Bedlam by decapitating him with a Nazi shield.
Following his death, Bedlam is impersonated by Psycho-Pirate. He manipulates Wilhelm Vittings, who is running to become prime minister of Markovia, in an attempt to gain power and overthrow the royal family of Markovia. The real Bedlam later appears alive as one of several villains recruited by Sonar to battle Justice League Europe.