Brutale (DC Comics)

Brutale (Guillermo Barrera) is a DC Comics supervillain. He first appeared in Nightwing #22 and was created by Chuck Dixon and Scott McDaniel.

Brutale
Brutale
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Nightwing #22 (July 1998)
Created by	Chuck Dixon Scott McDaniel
In-story information
Alter ego	Guillermo Barrera
Team affiliations	Secret Society of Super Villains
Abilities	Expert knife thrower

Fictional character biography

Brutale was a top-level interrogator/torturer for the secret police in the fictional Latin American country of Hasaragua, until a revolution forced him to flee. In Hasaragua, Guillermo Barrera served the secret police of his government as a savage interrogator, extracting confessions efficiently with blades and tools used for surgery. When the Marxist regime of Hasaragua fell, Barrera escaped the country to America, fleeing execution for the atrocities he committed.[1]

Adopting the name Brutale, Barrera put his 'Surgical Skills' to use as a hired assassin. He eventually began working for Blockbuster in Blüdhaven while donning a costume that resembles a gargoyle. He battled against Nightwing on several occasions.

In the Infinite Crisis storyline, Brutale was among the villains that joined Alexander Luthor, Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains.

In the Salvation Run storyline, Brutale was among the supervillains exiled to another planet. When the Parademons under Desaad's command attacked the camp, Brutale was stabbed by one of them.[2] However, he was seen alive in the new Secret Six mini-series.

Brutale is featured in one issue of the Red Robin series. He is listed as one of the targets of Tim Drake-Wayne/Red Robin for his "Hit List". Red Robin catches him at a bar, attempting to terrorize the owners into paying fees due to a gang boss. He is accompanied by what Red Robin assumes is his 'girlfriend', who manages to escape as Red Robin takes Brutale down using his Escrima sticks.

In September 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, Brutale is reintroduced in the first issue of Blue Beetle where he appears to be working for La Dama's group who are attempting to steal the scarab.[3]

Powers and abilities

Brutale has no superhuman powers; however, he is an expert with all forms of knives and blades, being able to both fight superbly and inflict horrible pain on his victims. He has a variety of scalpels, throwing knives and other razor keen blades that he utilizes.[1]

In other media

• Guillermo Barrera appears in 16th episode of Arrow's first season, entitled "Dead to Rights", portrayed by George Tchortov. He is hired by China White to assassinate Malcolm Merlyn, despite having been involved with Merlyn's planned "Undertaking". Oliver Queen intercepts him as he arrives in Starling City and after a brief struggle, stabs Barrera in the chest with an arrow, and takes his phone. Guillermo does not wear a costume and the name Brutale is never mentioned, but he is an expert knifethrower. In the companion book named "Arrow - Oliver Queen's Dossier" (released in September 2016), it is mentioned that he was enemies with Nightwing, although, the latter one didn't appear in the show.
• Brutale appears in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. Brutale is among the super villains trying to collect the bounty on Superman and Batman's head.
• Brutale is mentioned in the video game Batman: Arkham Knight. He is mentioned by a thug who claims to have worked with him in torturing someone.

References

1. Jimenez, Phil (2008), "Brutale", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, London: Dorling Kindersley, p. 62, ISBN 0-7566-4119-5
2. Salvation Run #7 (July 2008)
3. Blue Beetle (vol. 3) #1 (November 2011)

External links

• Brutale's Bio