History: (Detective Comics #351) - Arthur Brown was once the host of a popular daytime game show, but his career came to an end when his show was pre-empted by old cartoon reruns. He blamed people with trivial minds for his failure and entered a new criminal career as the Cluemaster. Cluemaster's first public appearance was in Gotham City, committing a series of crimes to attract the attention of Batman II. Cluemaster's plan was to distract Batman while his hired thugs sought clues to Batman's true identity. Cluemaster reasoned that striking at Batman as a civilian would be more successful than fighting him on his own turf. Batman quickly caught on to Cluemaster's plot, and used a series of red herrings to catch the evildoer.

(Batman I #336) - With Batman gone for weeks during his overseas adventure the rumors circulated that he was dead, emboldening the Gotham underworld. Commissioner Gordon had a full blown crime spree on his hands, and was frustrated that the GCPD couldn’t contain it. The Monarch of Menace had informants that told him Batman was seen in Asia, and wasn’t likely to be back in Gotham City anytime soon. The Monarch gathered a group of costumed crooks including Bouncer, Cluemaster and Spellbinder, claiming he’d captured Batman and would keep him imprisoned as long as they all gave him a cut from their take. Some of the crooks were skeptical, but the Monarch was persuasive, and they agreed to give him his due. Bouncer robbed a jewelry store and spellbinder knocked off a Wells Fargo armored truck, casting an illusion of a gigantic dragon to frighten the security guards. Alfred Pennyworth returned from his stay in Europe, and started to worry about the rumors of Batman’s death until the Caped Crusader surprised him in the Batcave. Cluemaster sent the GCPD map coordinates, daring them to catch him. Batman realized the coordinates were the location of the sunken Titanic, and figured out that Cluemaster and his gang were set to rob the Titanic Appliance Center. Batman made quick work of them and Cluemaster was angry that he’d fallen for the Monarch’s ruse. Batman busted a group of costumed criminals trying to break into a bank, and one of their number escape. He called out the Monarch on his scam, asking for hush money, and the Monarch shocked him unconscious with his electrified scepter. Gordon went on a ride along with the GCPD, hoping to give the public confidence in his police force. They responded to Spellbinder robbing a fur store, and he disoriented them with illusory giant rats. Batman made the scene, and when Spellbinder tried to cast an op art illusion Batman threw strips of aluminum foil at him, reflecting the visual spell at Spellbinder. Monarch called another meeting of Gotham’s underworld, saying he was leaving Gotham City, and promising to kill his “prisoner” if the crooks all paid him a substantial fee. Batman was present, disguised as spellbinder, and revealed himself, proving the Monarch to be a fraud. Batman pursued the Monarch and beat him in hand-to-hand combat. Batman met with Gordon, who asked him to give him a heads up the next time he skipped town.

(Batman #400) - Cluemaster joined forces with an army of criminals in an attempt to smother Gotham City in a record-breaking crimewave. He was once again defeated and returned to jail.

(Justice League International I #23) - Cluemaster joined up with a group of other second-string villains to form the Injustice League.

(Justice League America Annual #4) - Cluemaster and the Injustice League briefly reformed and became an official branch of Justice League International---Justice League Antarctica. They disbanded after their headquarters were destroyed by rampaging mutant penguins.

(Detective Comics I #647) - A prison psychiatrist at Blackgate cured Cluemaster of his compulsion to leave behind clues at crime scenes. He joined Wiley Cutter's gang, and acted as the brains behind heists in exchange for ten percent of the take. After the gang's first job he usurped command by killing Wiley. His daughter, in the identity of Spoiler, began sending the police clues about the Cluemaster's future crimes.

(Detective Comics #648) - Cluemaster put Wiley's body in his apartment and rigged it with explosives, hoping to convince the public that he had died. Batman deduced the truth with the help of Spoiler.

(Detective Comics #648) - Clluemaster hit the Castleland Mall, which was hosting the Gotham Charities Telethon. Batman broke up the robbery, and Spoiler nearly strangled her father with a chain before Batman talked her out of it.

(Batman: Blackgate #1) - Cluemaster orchestrated a jailbreak from Blackgate Prison, but his plan was foiled by Batman.

(Batman: Blackgate: Isle of Men #1) - An earthquake allowed Cluemaster and numerous other prisoners to escape from Blackgate

(Batman: Huntress / Spoiler: Blunt Trauma) -

(Suicide Squad II #1) - Cluemaster and his teammates from the Injustice League volunteered to join the Suicide Squad. Cluemaster asked that if he died his daughter would be informed that her father died a hero, but his request was denied. Their first mission was rescuing Preston Paddington Bayer from Eve, a cloned metahuman. Cluemaster died during the course of the mission.

Comments: Created by Carmine Infantino & Gardner Fox

Cluemaster received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #5. He received a profile in Who's Who in the DC Universe #14 under the Injustice League entry.

All characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © DC Comics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please visit The Official DC Comics Site at: http://www.batman.com

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