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{{Character
 
{{Character
 
|name= Hannibal Bates
 
|name= Hannibal Bates
|image=
+
|image=
|image=<gallery>
+
<gallery>
  +
Hannibal Bates.png|Current appearance
Hannibal_Bates_true_appearence.png|Hannibal Bates
 
Hannibal Bates.png|Everyman
+
Hannibal Bates's true appearance.png|True appearance
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  +
|species= Meta-human
|occupation= Criminal <small>(formerly)</small>
 
  +
|status= Alive
|status= Unknown <small>(as of the New Timeline)</small>
 
 
|occupation= Criminal
|family= [[Mrs. Bates]] <small>(grandmother)</small>
+
|family= {{F|Mrs. Bates|(grandmother)}}
|actor= [[Atlin Vera Mitchell]] <small>(as [[Nina]])</small><br/>[[Chris Webb]] <small>(as Jewel Thief)</small><br/>[[Barbara Wallace]] <small>(as [[Mrs. Bates]])</small><br/>[[Rick Cosnett]] <small>(as [[Eddie Thawne]])</small><br/>[[Grant Gustin]] <small>(as [[Barry Allen|Barry Allen/The Flash]])</small><br/>[[Laiken Laverock]] <small>(as Little Girl)</small><br/>[[Maxine Miller]] <small>(as Old Woman)</small><br/>[[Marshall Virtue]] <small>(as TSA Agent)</small><br/>[[Danielle Panabaker]] <small>(as [[Caitlin Snow]])</small><br/>[[Candice Patton]] <small>(as [[Iris West]])</small><br/>[[Tom Cavanagh]] <small>(as [[Eobard Thawne|Eobard Thawne]] as [[Harrison Wells (Earth One)|Harrison Wells]])</small><br/>[[Martin Novotny]]<br/>
 
  +
|homeuniverse= Earth-1
  +
|currentuniverse= Earth-Prime
 
|alterego= Everyman
 
|alterego= Everyman
  +
|actor=
|show= The Flash
 
  +
{{Scroll|
 
{{F|Martin Novotny}}<br>{{F|Atlin Mitchell|(as [[Nina]])}}<br>{{F|Chris Webb|(as Jewel Thief)}}<br>{{F|Barbara Wallace|(as [[Mrs. Bates]])}}<br>{{F|Rick Cosnett|(as [[Eddie Thawne]])}}<br>{{F|Grant Gustin|(as [[Barry Allen (Earth-1)|Barry Allen/The Flash]])}}<br>{{F|Laiken Laverock|(as a little girl)}}<br>{{F|Maxine Miller|(as Old Woman)}}<br>{{F|Marshall Virtue|(as a TSA agent)}}<br>{{F|Danielle Panabaker|(as [[Caitlin Snow]])}}<br>{{F|Candice Patton|(as [[Iris West-Allen|Iris West]])}}<br>{{F|Tom Cavanagh|(as [[Eobard Thawne]], who was disguised as [[Harrison Wells (Earth-1)|Harrison Wells]])}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
|show= The Flash (The CW)
{{Quote|I, uh...I can't remember. I can't remember.|Hannibal after failing to remember what he looked like|Who is Harrison Wells?}}
 
  +
}}
'''Hannibal Bates''', nicknamed '''Everyman''' by [[Caitlin Snow]], was a [[meta-human]]. After the [[S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator]] accident, Hannibal gained the ability to shape-shift into any person he has contact with.
 
 
{{Quote|I, uh... I can't remember. I can't remember.|Hannibal after failing to recollect what he looked like|Who is Harrison Wells?}}
 
'''Hannibal Bates''', nicknamed '''Everyman''' by [[Caitlin Snow]], is a [[meta-human]]. After the [[S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator]] accident, he gained the ability to shape-shift into any person he has come into physical contact with. For unknown reasons, his name is on "[[The List]]".
   
 
==Biography==
 
==Biography==
  +
===Original multiverse===
Due to unspecified reasons, Hannibal's name was on "[[The List]]".<ref>{{Ep|Pilot|page=Pilot (Arrow)}}</ref>
+
Due to unspecified reasons, Hannibal's name ended up on [[the List]].<ref>{{Ep|Pilot (Arrow)}}</ref>
   
===Gaining shapeshifting powers===
+
====Gaining shapeshifting powers====
After the explosion of the [[S.T.A.R. Labs]] [[S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator|particle accelerator]], Bates gained the ability to shapeshift in to anyone he touched (later keeping their identity in case of needing to change on the fly).
+
After the explosion of the [[S.T.A.R. Labs (Earth-1)|S.T.A.R. Labs]] [[S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator|particle accelerator]], Bates gained the ability to shapeshift into anyone he had touched at least once (later keeping their identity in case of needing to change on the fly).<ref name="Who is Harrison Wells?">{{Ep|Who is Harrison Wells?}}</ref>
   
===Crime spree through Central City===
+
====Crime spree through Central City====
A month after the explosion, Bates framed his friend [[Jacob Fisher]] for robbery at a bank in [[Central City]]. Over the next year, he began to continue framing a plenitude of people. One such individual was [[Nina]], whose key he used to enter their bank's vaults and empty the contents. He continued on, taking the identity of a man and stole some jewels. He took the jewels to a buyer, but the buyer identified them as stolen and called the cops. He left before they could arrive and was intercepted by [[Eddie Thawne]]. Eddie was knocked down, but [[Barry Allen|the Flash]] tried to intervene. However, Hannibal took the identity of a woman and escaped through a crowd of people.<ref name="Who is Harrison Wells?">{{Ep|Who is Harrison Wells?}}</ref>
+
A month after the explosion, Bates framed his own friend for robbery at a bank in [[Central City (Earth-1)|Central City]]. Over the next year, he began to continue framing a plenitude of people. One such [[Nina|individual]] whose key he used to enter their bank's vaults and empty the contents. He continued on, taking the identity of a man and stole some jewels. He took the jewels to a buyer, but the buyer identified them as stolen and called the cops. He left before they could arrive and was intercepted by [[Eddie Thawne]]. Eddie was knocked down, but [[Barry Allen (Earth-1)|the Flash]] tried to intervene. However, Hannibal took the identity of a woman and escaped through a crowd of people.<ref name="Who is Harrison Wells?" />
   
Following this, he left to his grandmother's house. However, having found out his identity, Eddie and [[Barry Allen|Barry]] arrived, looking for the grandmother. Bates posed as the grandmother momentarily, before escaping on foot. Eddie almost caught up, but Hannibal was able to steal his identity. He ran on ahead, intercepting two cops that he'd called for backup. He shot them both dead, before shooting out the police camera. The following day he headed to the [[West House]] to find Barry, who was incredibly surprised to see him free of police custody. He was promptly knocked out, before Hannibal shapeshifted in to him. [[Caitlin Snow]] arrived soon after, and the two headed to [[S.T.A.R. Labs]]. While there, Caitlin revealed the plan to him, believing him to be Barry. [[Iris West]] arrived, believing she had some leads, but before he could kill either of the women, [[Eobard Thawne|Dr. Wells]] tasered him, identifying him as Hannibal Bates due to his not being right-handed like Barry. Iris and Caitlin decided to drive him to the police station to clear Eddie, but he turned into a little girl and screamed for help, pretending to be kidnapped. As they were stuck in traffic by a construction site, one of the workers helped release him, only for him run away. He headed to [[Central City Airport]], but was caught by Barry, who identified him through an X-ray machine. He ran as fast as he could, but was caught by the Flash. They fought as he transformed in to Caitlin, Iris and Eddie, before finally shapeshifting in to the Flash himself. However, he did not gain the Flash's speed, and before long was administered a temporary cure, causing Bates to shift between all his recent disguises before ceasing in Iris' form and fell unconscious. Following that, he was imprisoned in [[S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator|The Pipeline]]. In Iris' form, he kicked at the door, demanding to be released, before turning into Caitlin and attempted to flirt his way out. The team asked to see his true form, but he couldn't remember, only being able to display a blank body.<ref name="Who is Harrison Wells?" />
+
Following this, he left to his grandmother's house. However, having found out his identity, Eddie and [[Barry Allen (Earth-1)|Barry Allen]] arrived, looking for his grandmother. Bates posed as his grandmother momentarily, before escaping on foot. Eddie almost caught up, but Hannibal was able to steal Eddie's identity. He ran on ahead, intercepting two cops that he'd called for backup. He shot them both dead, before shooting out the police camera. The following day he headed to the [[West house]] to find Barry, who was incredibly surprised to see him free of police custody. Barry was promptly knocked out, before Hannibal shapeshifted into Barry. [[Caitlin Snow]] arrived soon after, and the two headed to [[S.T.A.R. Labs (Earth-1)|S.T.A.R. Labs]]. While there, Caitlin revealed the plan to him, believing him to be Barry. In an attempt to distract her from creating a serum to disrupt his shapeshifting, as well as being personally attracted to her, "Barry" kissed Caitlin, causing her to be confused and to pull away. When she began to talk and express her confusion, he kissed her again this time with her mutually kissing back, though they stopped when they saw that [[Iris West-Allen|Iris West]] had arrived. Iris came in to show them some leads, but before he could kill either of the women, Dr. Wells tasered him, identifying him as Bates due to his not being right-handed like Barry.
   
  +
Iris and Caitlin decided to drive him to the police station to clear Eddie, but Hannibal turned into a little girl and screamed for help, pretending to be kidnapped. As they were stuck in traffic by a construction site, one of the workers helped release him, only for him run away. He headed to [[Central City Airport]], but was caught by Barry, who identified him through an X-ray machine. He ran as fast as he could, but was caught by the Flash. They fought as he transformed into Caitlin, Iris and Eddie, before finally shapeshifting into the Flash himself. However, he did not gain the Flash's speed, and before long was administered a temporary cure, causing Bates to shift between all his recent disguises before ending up in Iris' form and falling unconscious. Following that, he was imprisoned in [[S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator|The Pipeline]]. In Iris' form, he kicked at the door, demanding to be released, before turning into Caitlin and attempted to flirt his way out. The team asked to see his true form, but he couldn't remember, only being able to display a blank body.<ref name="Who is Harrison Wells?" />
===Time in the Pipeline===
 
In an attempt to get Bates to remember what he originally looked like, [[Cisco Ramon]] and his brother [[Dante Ramon|Dante]] redecorated his cell to look like a bedroom, filling it with childhood knick-knacks and pictures. However, Bates was unhappy and closed his eyes, preferring to remain in the form he was in and forgetting who he really was.<ref>[http://chroniclesofcisco.tumblr.com/post/117547331700/everyman The Chronicles of Cisco - Tumblr]</ref>
 
   
===Death===
+
====Time in the Pipeline====
 
In an attempt to get Bates to remember what he originally looked like, [[Cisco Ramon]] and his [[Dante Ramon|brother]] redecorated his cell to look like a bedroom, filling it with childhood knickknacks and pictures. However, Bates was unhappy and closed his eyes, preferring to remain in the form he was in and forget who he really was.<ref>[http://chroniclesofcisco.tumblr.com/post/117547331700/everyman The Chronicles of Cisco - Tumblr]</ref>
After [[Eobard Thawne]] decided to make a move on his team, who had discovered his true identity and motives, he had Hannibal act as him. Before he could harm [[Cisco Ramon]], [[Joe West]] shot and killed him, revealing his original form.<ref>{{Ep|The Trap}}</ref>
 
  +
  +
====Death====
  +
[[File:Hannibal Bates (Harrison Wells).png|thumb|left|250px|Hannibal messing with [[Cisco Ramon|Cisco]].]]
  +
When [[Eobard Thawne]] realized [[Team Flash]] was onto him, he decided to make a move, which involved Hannibal acting in Eobard's place. It's likely Eobard told Hannibal what to say to Cisco, as Hannibal acted quite similarly to how the real Eobard did in an [[Out of Time (The Flash)|erased timeline]]. Before Hannibal could harm Cisco, [[Joe West]] shot and killed him, revealing his original form.<ref>{{Ep|The Trap}}</ref>
  +
  +
===New multiverse===
  +
Following the [[Anti-Monitor Crisis]], Bates was still alive.<ref>{{Ep|Liberation}}</ref>
   
 
==Powers and abilities==
 
==Powers and abilities==
 
===Powers===
 
===Powers===
  +
*'''[[Meta-humans|Meta-human]] physiology:''' After Hannibal Bates was struck by the energy of the [[S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator|particle accelerator]] explosion, this altered his DNA and cells, allowing him to access his powers.
*'''[[List of powers|Shapeshifting]]:''' Hannibal is able to shapeshift into any person he has physical contact with, even copying the clothing they were wearing and their voice.<ref name="Who is Harrison Wells?" /> This power allows him to instantly change the color and texture of his body, allowing him to replicate clothing and other materials on his own body more affectively. He also appears that he can switch between the form he already taken (as seen during his fight with the Flash, when he switch between the appearence of Caitlin, Iris and Eddie).
+
**'''{{Power link|Shapeshifting}}:''' Hannibal was able to shapeshift into any person he had physical contact with, even copying the clothing they were wearing and their voice. This power allows him to instantly change the color and texture of his body, allowing him to replicate clothing and other materials on his own body more effectively. Hannibal can even quickly switch between the forms he already taken, as seen during his fight with [[Barry Allen (Earth-1)|the Flash]] when he switched between the appearance of [[Caitlin Snow]], [[Iris West-Allen|Iris West]], and [[Eddie Thawne]].<ref name="Who is Harrison Wells?"/>
   
 
===Abilities===
 
===Abilities===
*'''Peak of human physical condition:''' Hannibal is shown to be very quick in battle. During his skirmish against the Flash, he was able to block a number of the speedster's strikes and slightly overpower him until the Flash began moving much quicker and used his enhanced physical force and momentum to weaken him.
+
*'''Peak of human physical condition:''' Hannibal was very quick in battle. During his skirmish against [[Barry Allen (Earth-1)|the Flash]], he was able to block a number of the speedster's strikes and slightly overpower until the Flash began moving much quicker and used his own enhanced physical force and momentum to weaken him.
* '''Expert hand-to-hand combatant:''' Hannibal is a potent fighter, able to quickly defeat Eddie Thawne who is himself a trained fighter. He was also known to sneak up on people and use surprise attacks, as he did when appearing as Eddie in front of Barry and knocking Barry unconscious by striking the back of his head with a handgun when Barry's back was turned. During his skirmish against the Flash, he was able to land multiple solid hits, albeit he repeatedly caught his opponent off by shapeshifting into people close to the Flash and having the strength to repeatedly overpower him.
+
*'''Expert hand-to-hand combatant:''' Hannibal was a proficient unarmed combatant, able to quickly defeat Eddie, a trained police detective. He was also known to sneak up on people and use surprise attacks, as he did when appearing as Eddie in front of Barry and knocking Barry unconscious by striking the back of Barry's head with a handgun when Barry's back was turned. During his skirmish against the Flash, Hannibal was able to land multiple solid hits, though only by repeatedly catching his opponent off-guard by shapeshifting into people close to the Flash and having the strength to repeatedly overpower him.
* '''[[Marksmanship|Skilled Marksman:]] '''While imitating Eddie Thawne, Hannibal successfully use his gun against two cops, shooting them dead.
+
**'''[[Marksmanship|Skilled marksman]]:''' While imitating Eddie, Hannibal successfully used his gun against two cops, killing them.
* '''Skillful Actor:''' As a criminal who takes the place of other peoples, Hannibal possess some skills in acting, like when he successfully pretend to be both Eddie and Barry, in front of their relatives without any of them suspected anything, except Eobard, who quickly find out the truth and managed to neutralise him with a taser. When impersonating Eobard, he did it so good that Cisco didn't even notice the difference with the time when he was killed by the real Eobard (in the erased timeline).
+
*'''Expert of deception/Manipulator:''' As a criminal who takes the place of other peoples, Hannibal possess some skills in acting, like when he successfully pretend to be both Eddie and Barry, in front of their relatives without any of them suspected anything. When impersonating [[Eobard Thawne]], he did it so well that [[Cisco Ramon]] didn't even notice the difference with the time when Cisco was killed by Eobard (in the erased timeline).
   
=== Weaknesses ===
+
===Weaknesses===
 
*'''Anti-shapeshifting serum:''' Caitlin managed to concoct a serum that was able to temporarily neutralize Hannibal's powers.
* '''Limited Replication:''' When Hannibal shape shifts into a person, his form is purely cosmetic. While perfectly copying the person's physical appearance in every aspect, he cannot replicate any of the person's acquired abilities; including memories, skills, or special powers. He is also unable to mimic the person's character, forcing him to rely on natural acting. This also leads him to retain some of his natural aspects, such as remaining left-handed when his impersonated target is right-handed, allowing for perceptive people to see through the deception.
+
*'''Limited replication:''' When Hannibal shape-shifts into a person, his form is purely cosmetic. While perfectly copying the person's physical appearance in every aspect, he cannot replicate any of the person's acquired abilities; including memories, skills, or special powers. He is also unable to mimic the person's character, forcing him to rely on natural acting. This also leads him to retain some of his natural aspects, such as remaining left-handed when his impersonated target is right-handed, allowing for perceptive people to see through the deception. Hannibal also seems to be unable to recall his natural appearance.<ref name="Who is Harrison Wells?" />
* '''Anti-shapeshifting serum:''' The serum made by Caitlin was able to temporarily neutralize the powers of Hannibal.
 
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
 
===''Arrow''===
 
===''Arrow''===
 
====Season 1====
 
====Season 1====
*{{Ep|Pilot|page=Pilot (Arrow)|(mentioned)}}
+
*{{Ep|Pilot (Arrow)|m}}
*{{Ep|Honor Thy Father|page=Honor Thy Father|(mentioned)}}
+
*{{Ep|Honor Thy Father|m}}
   
 
===''The Flash''===
 
===''The Flash''===
Line 57: Line 71:
 
*{{Ep|Who is Harrison Wells?}}
 
*{{Ep|Who is Harrison Wells?}}
 
*{{Ep|The Trap}}
 
*{{Ep|The Trap}}
  +
  +
====Season 5====
  +
*{{Ep|Gone Rogue|(video footage; as Wells)}}
  +
  +
====Season 6====
  +
*{{Ep|Liberation|m}}
  +
  +
===''The Chronicles of Cisco''===
  +
*{{TCOC|post=9|(pictured and mentioned)}}
   
 
==Trivia==
 
==Trivia==
 
[[File:Hannibal Bates's true appearance.png|thumb|109px|Hannibal's true appearance.]]
*In the DC comics, [[Wikipedia:Everyman (DC Comics)|Hannibal Bates]] is a meta-human who can transform himself in to anyone by eating a part of them. He was first known as Everyman, then later as Dark Arrow when he teamed up against Green Arrow.
 
 
*A glimpse of Hannibal's natural appearance is seen in a photo in [[Mrs. Bates|his grandmother]]'s house.<ref name="Who is Harrison Wells?" />
*His complete name is a reference to two serial killers from fiction: Hannibal Lecter (from the novel and the movie "The Silence of the Lambs"), for the first name, and Norman Bates (from the movie "Psycho") for the surname.
 
  +
*Hannibal was left-handed.<ref name="Who is Harrison Wells?" />
*Bates is notably the first, and as of yet only, person on "[[The List]]" to appear in ''[[The Flash]]''.
 
  +
*He has expressed a fondness for [[Caitlin Snow]].<ref name="Who is Harrison Wells?" />
*Bates has been portrayed by the most actors throughout the series.[[File:Hannibal Bates true appearence.png|thumb|109px|Hannibal's true appearance]]
 
  +
*Hannibal is one of the few people on [[The List]] to not be a one-percenter.
*A glimpse of the real appearance of Hannibal is seen on the photo in his grandmother's house.
 
  +
*Despite Hannibal's default form not having visible eyes, in {{S|The Chronicles of Cisco}} {{TCOC|post=9}} Cisco mentions Hannibal "closed his egghead eyes" when he saw his cell decorated to remind him of his childhood.
*As Hannibal uses the appearance of Barry's relatives to weakened him, he '''may''' have discovered his true identity as the Flash.
 
**This theory is supported by the fact that Hannibal took both the appearance of Barry and The Flash, and may have felt the resemblance.
 
   
  +
==Behind the scenes==
==References==
 
 
*In the DC comics, [[Wikipedia:Everyman (DC Comics)|Hannibal Bates]] is a meta-human who can transform himself into anyone by eating a part of them. He was first known as Everyman, then later as Dark Arrow when he teamed up against Green Arrow.
<references />
 
 
*His complete name is a reference to two serial killers from fiction: Hannibal Lecter (from the novel and the movie "The Silence of the Lambs") for the first name, and Norman Bates (from the movie "Psycho") for the surname.
 
*Bates is notably the first, and as of yet only, person on "[[The List]]" to appear in {{S|The Flash (The CW)}}.
  +
*Bates has been portrayed by the most actors throughout the series.
   
 
==References==
  +
{{Reflist}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bates, Hannibal}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bates, Hannibal}}
  +
[[de:Everyman (Hannibal Bates)]][[es:Hannibal Bates]][[fr:Hannibal Bates]]
 
  +
[[es:Hannibal Bates]]
[[Category:Meta-humans]]
 
  +
[[fr:Hannibal Bates]]
 
[[Category:Villains]]
 
[[Category:Villains]]
 
[[Category:The List]]
 
[[Category:The List]]
[[Category:Characters from the comics]]
+
[[Category:Allusions to the comics]]
[[Category:Deceased]]
 

Revision as of 13:24, 15 June 2020


"I, uh... I can't remember. I can't remember."
—Hannibal after failing to recollect what he looked like[src]

Hannibal Bates, nicknamed Everyman by Caitlin Snow, is a meta-human. After the S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator accident, he gained the ability to shape-shift into any person he has come into physical contact with. For unknown reasons, his name is on "The List".

Biography

Original multiverse

Due to unspecified reasons, Hannibal's name ended up on the List.[1]

Gaining shapeshifting powers

After the explosion of the S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator, Bates gained the ability to shapeshift into anyone he had touched at least once (later keeping their identity in case of needing to change on the fly).[2]

Crime spree through Central City

A month after the explosion, Bates framed his own friend for robbery at a bank in Central City. Over the next year, he began to continue framing a plenitude of people. One such individual whose key he used to enter their bank's vaults and empty the contents. He continued on, taking the identity of a man and stole some jewels. He took the jewels to a buyer, but the buyer identified them as stolen and called the cops. He left before they could arrive and was intercepted by Eddie Thawne. Eddie was knocked down, but the Flash tried to intervene. However, Hannibal took the identity of a woman and escaped through a crowd of people.[2]

Following this, he left to his grandmother's house. However, having found out his identity, Eddie and Barry Allen arrived, looking for his grandmother. Bates posed as his grandmother momentarily, before escaping on foot. Eddie almost caught up, but Hannibal was able to steal Eddie's identity. He ran on ahead, intercepting two cops that he'd called for backup. He shot them both dead, before shooting out the police camera. The following day he headed to the West house to find Barry, who was incredibly surprised to see him free of police custody. Barry was promptly knocked out, before Hannibal shapeshifted into Barry. Caitlin Snow arrived soon after, and the two headed to S.T.A.R. Labs. While there, Caitlin revealed the plan to him, believing him to be Barry. In an attempt to distract her from creating a serum to disrupt his shapeshifting, as well as being personally attracted to her, "Barry" kissed Caitlin, causing her to be confused and to pull away. When she began to talk and express her confusion, he kissed her again this time with her mutually kissing back, though they stopped when they saw that Iris West had arrived. Iris came in to show them some leads, but before he could kill either of the women, Dr. Wells tasered him, identifying him as Bates due to his not being right-handed like Barry.

Iris and Caitlin decided to drive him to the police station to clear Eddie, but Hannibal turned into a little girl and screamed for help, pretending to be kidnapped. As they were stuck in traffic by a construction site, one of the workers helped release him, only for him run away. He headed to Central City Airport, but was caught by Barry, who identified him through an X-ray machine. He ran as fast as he could, but was caught by the Flash. They fought as he transformed into Caitlin, Iris and Eddie, before finally shapeshifting into the Flash himself. However, he did not gain the Flash's speed, and before long was administered a temporary cure, causing Bates to shift between all his recent disguises before ending up in Iris' form and falling unconscious. Following that, he was imprisoned in The Pipeline. In Iris' form, he kicked at the door, demanding to be released, before turning into Caitlin and attempted to flirt his way out. The team asked to see his true form, but he couldn't remember, only being able to display a blank body.[2]

Time in the Pipeline

In an attempt to get Bates to remember what he originally looked like, Cisco Ramon and his brother redecorated his cell to look like a bedroom, filling it with childhood knickknacks and pictures. However, Bates was unhappy and closed his eyes, preferring to remain in the form he was in and forget who he really was.[3]

Death

Hannibal Bates (Harrison Wells)

Hannibal messing with Cisco.

When Eobard Thawne realized Team Flash was onto him, he decided to make a move, which involved Hannibal acting in Eobard's place. It's likely Eobard told Hannibal what to say to Cisco, as Hannibal acted quite similarly to how the real Eobard did in an erased timeline. Before Hannibal could harm Cisco, Joe West shot and killed him, revealing his original form.[4]

New multiverse

Following the Anti-Monitor Crisis, Bates was still alive.[5]

Powers and abilities

Powers

  • Meta-human physiology: After Hannibal Bates was struck by the energy of the particle accelerator explosion, this altered his DNA and cells, allowing him to access his powers.
    • Shapeshifting: Hannibal was able to shapeshift into any person he had physical contact with, even copying the clothing they were wearing and their voice. This power allows him to instantly change the color and texture of his body, allowing him to replicate clothing and other materials on his own body more effectively. Hannibal can even quickly switch between the forms he already taken, as seen during his fight with the Flash when he switched between the appearance of Caitlin Snow, Iris West, and Eddie Thawne.[2]

Abilities

  • Peak of human physical condition: Hannibal was very quick in battle. During his skirmish against the Flash, he was able to block a number of the speedster's strikes and slightly overpower until the Flash began moving much quicker and used his own enhanced physical force and momentum to weaken him.
  • Expert hand-to-hand combatant: Hannibal was a proficient unarmed combatant, able to quickly defeat Eddie, a trained police detective. He was also known to sneak up on people and use surprise attacks, as he did when appearing as Eddie in front of Barry and knocking Barry unconscious by striking the back of Barry's head with a handgun when Barry's back was turned. During his skirmish against the Flash, Hannibal was able to land multiple solid hits, though only by repeatedly catching his opponent off-guard by shapeshifting into people close to the Flash and having the strength to repeatedly overpower him.
    • Skilled marksman: While imitating Eddie, Hannibal successfully used his gun against two cops, killing them.
  • Expert of deception/Manipulator: As a criminal who takes the place of other peoples, Hannibal possess some skills in acting, like when he successfully pretend to be both Eddie and Barry, in front of their relatives without any of them suspected anything. When impersonating Eobard Thawne, he did it so well that Cisco Ramon didn't even notice the difference with the time when Cisco was killed by Eobard (in the erased timeline).

Weaknesses

  • Anti-shapeshifting serum: Caitlin managed to concoct a serum that was able to temporarily neutralize Hannibal's powers.
  • Limited replication: When Hannibal shape-shifts into a person, his form is purely cosmetic. While perfectly copying the person's physical appearance in every aspect, he cannot replicate any of the person's acquired abilities; including memories, skills, or special powers. He is also unable to mimic the person's character, forcing him to rely on natural acting. This also leads him to retain some of his natural aspects, such as remaining left-handed when his impersonated target is right-handed, allowing for perceptive people to see through the deception. Hannibal also seems to be unable to recall his natural appearance.[2]

Appearances

Arrow

Season 1

The Flash

Season 1

Season 5

Season 6

The Chronicles of Cisco

Trivia

Hannibal Bates's true appearance

Hannibal's true appearance.

Behind the scenes

  • In the DC comics, Hannibal Bates is a meta-human who can transform himself into anyone by eating a part of them. He was first known as Everyman, then later as Dark Arrow when he teamed up against Green Arrow.
  • His complete name is a reference to two serial killers from fiction: Hannibal Lecter (from the novel and the movie "The Silence of the Lambs") for the first name, and Norman Bates (from the movie "Psycho") for the surname.
  • Bates is notably the first, and as of yet only, person on "The List" to appear in The Flash.
  • Bates has been portrayed by the most actors throughout the series.

References