Anatoli Knyazev

KGBeast (Anatoli Knyazev) is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo, the character first appeared as an adversary of Batman.

KGBeast has appeared in numerous series and films. Anatoli appeared in his first live adaptation as a recurring cast member on The CW Arrowverse television series ''Arrow'' played by David Nykl. Anatoli also appeared as a secondary antagonist and a henchman for Lex Luthor in the DC Extended Universe film '' Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'' played by Callan Mulvey.

Publication history

KGBeast first appeared in ''Batman'' #417 (March 1988) and was created by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo.

Fictional character biography

Backstory

Anatoli Knyazev (, ), code-named "The Beast", and known to the CIA as the "KGBeast" is trained as an assassin by "The Hammer", a top secret cell of the KGB. In addition to being the master of several martial arts, his strength is cybernetically enhanced, and he also masters the use of every known deadly weapon. At the time of his first appearance, he is rumored to have killed at least 200 people.

First appearance

The Beast made his first appearance in the storyline, "Ten Nights of The Beast" ''Batman'' #417 (March 1988), which was later reprinted as a trade paperback of the same name. It was written by Jim Starlin and drawn by Jim Aparo and Mike DeCarlo.

The Hammer's general, angry that the Soviet government is working to better relations with the United States, sends Knyazev on a mission to kill 10 high-ranking U.S. officials in an attempt to cripple the Strategic Defense Initiative program. These include scientists, civilian administrators, military figures, and politicians, the last of whom being then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan, scheduled to visit Gotham City.

Despite Batman's best efforts, the Beast eliminates nearly all of his targets. In particular, he showcases his ruthlessness by poisoning an entire banquet, killing over 100 people, just to ensure that his target dies.

When Batman finally faces the Beast in hand-to-hand combat, the Beast quickly gains the upper hand, at the time, proves himself better than Batman in both tactical planning and engagement. However, failing to realize that he had advantages over Batman in abilities, the Beast flees because he thinks Batman has contingencies based on the hero's reputation, loses his opportunity to kill Batman as the Dark Knight later improved his skills since then.

During the rematch between the two, Batman snares the Beast's left wrist with the Batrope. Rather than be captured, the Beast grabs a nearby axe and chops off the restrained hand. The Beast quickly has the limb replaced with a cybernetic gun, made by one of Gotham's top weapons dealers.

Before the final confrontation between Batman and the Beast, CIA Agent Ralph Bundy reminds Batman that, if the Beast is captured alive, he will have to be handed over to the Soviets, and likely escape justice. Knowing this, Batman, after thwarting the Beast's assassination attempt on Reagan, destroys the Beast's gun-arm, lures him into the sewers, and then corners him in an underground room. The Beast invites Batman to fight him to the death, but instead Batman locks the room, effectively burying the assassin alive.

In the later story, '' Batman: Year Three'', Batman notes that he then contacted the police to pick up the subdued villain.

Later appearances

However, the Beast escapes and goes into hiding, from where he sees the Soviet Union dissolve. His protégé, the NKVDemon, surfaces in Russia, but is killed by Batman's ally, Soviet police detective Nikita Krakov. The Beast becomes a traditional supervillain, engaging in a counterfeiting scheme and having additional cybernetic implants inserted into his body. He fights Robin and the Huntress, but is ultimately defeated by King Snake. He later acquires a small nuclear bomb that he uses to threaten Gotham City. He is defeated by Robin and imprisoned in Blackgate Penitentiary.

In '' No Man's Land'', the Beast appears as a henchman of Lock-Up during the latter's tenure as the unofficial warden of Blackgate.

''One Year Later''

In ''One Year Later'', KGBeast is killed by Tally Man as part of the Great White Shark's plot to discredit Two-Face. However, his body is recovered by a mysterious group who intend to resurrect him.

''Blackest Night''

In ''Blackest Night'', KGBeast is temporarily resurrected as a Black Lantern.

Post-Flashpoint

As part of the ''New 52'', the character gets a new backstory on the ''New Suicide Squad'' #2 (October 2014). KGBeast/Commander Anatoli Knyazev is a citizen of the USSR until it dissolves. He is trained by Boris Ulyanov/Hammer, as well as others like Kanto, and masters several forms of martial arts. In addition, he gains cybernetic abilities which increase his strength. He fights against the Suicide Squad as a Russian military soldier. After losing many times, he becomes a member of Suicide Squad.

DC Rebirth

In ''DC Rebirth'' KGBeast is now simply The Beast. He is described as one of the world's best contract killers, who formerly worked for the U.S. government and typically is exclusive to Washington D.C. His logo is a 666 symbol. He has his own private island constructed to take his captured enemies there and hunt them to the death, free from national jurisdiction. He is hired by the Penguin, Black Mask, and Great White Shark to kill Batman and Two-Face after the latter threatens to release his collection of blackmail data to the world. Anatoli is last seen when, to stop him killing a group of rioting civilians, Batman lunges into him and over a cliff. Only Batman is saved by Duke Thomas, leaving Beast's fate uncertain.

Bane later hires KGBeast to break Batman by assassinating his protege Nightwing. Nightwing survives, but the head trauma combined with manipulation from the Court of Owls causes him to become amnesiac and take on the identity of Ric Grayson. KGBeast is tracked by Batman for one last encounter that leaves KGBeast in the snow with a broken neck, but it is later reported that KGBeast is saved from death by other agents.

Other versions

An alternate universe variant of KGBeast appears in '' Flashpoint'' as an inmate of the military Doom prison.

In other media

Television

* KGBeast makes minor non-speaking appearances in ''Justice League Unlimited'' as a member of Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society before being killed by Darkseid. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
* Anatoly Knyazev appears in ''Arrow'', portrayed by David Nykl. This version is an ally of Oliver Queen who met him on the island of Lian Yu years prior, an informant for A.R.G.U.S., and a temporary member of Cayden James's cabal.
* KGBeast appears in ''Harley Quinn'', voiced by Matt Oberg. This version is a member of the Legion of Doom.

Film

* KGBeast appears in '' Batman: Assault on Arkham'', voiced by Nolan North. This version is a member of the Suicide Squad before being killed by Amanda Waller.
* Anatoly Knyazev appears in '' Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'', portrayed by Callan Mulvey. This version is a mercenary, terrorist, and weapons trafficker who works for Lex Luthor.

Video games

* KGBeast appears as an NPC in the NES version of '' Batman: The Video Game''. This version is a ninja who wields a sword and shuriken.
* KGBeast appears as a character summon in '' Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure''.

See also

* List of Batman family enemies

References

External links

* KGBeast at DC Comics Wiki

KGBeast
at Comic Vine

{{Jim Starlin
Action film villains
Characters created by Jim Aparo
Characters created by Jim Starlin
Cold War in popular culture
Comics characters introduced in 1988
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DC Comics martial artists
DC Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds
DC Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability
DC Comics characters with superhuman strength
DC Comics cyborgs
Fictional amputees
Fictional assassins in comics
Fictional gunfighters in comics
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Fictional KGB agents
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