VENTRILOQUIST [Arnold Wesker/Scarface]

PERSONAL DATA Real Name: Arnold Wesker/Scarface Aliases: Quakesmaster II First Appearance: Detective Comics #583 (February 1988)

  Incarcerated, Arnold Wesker found that a ventriloquist's dummy began to talk to him, teaching the art of ventriloquism and ultimately helping him to escape. This dummy, calling himself Scarface then became a major force in the Gotham City crime scene, particularly in drug-dealing. Wesker became the mild-mannered Ventriloquist, who seems to act at all times under Scarface's influence; it is unclear whether Wesker is evil, insane or genuinely driven by the dummy; similarly it is unclear whether Scarface is in fact, a 'real' entity. The two have encountered Batman many times, though of course, Scarface refers to him as 'Gatman' as ventriloquists can rarely pronounce the letter 'B'. Perhaps his most diabolical scheme was when Wesker disguised himself as 'the Quakemaster', claiming to have caused an earthquake which devastated Gotham and demanding millions in cash to prevent aftershocks. As ever, he was apprehended by Batman.