Hannibal Bates, nicknamed Everyman by Caitlin Snow, is a meta-human. After the S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator accident, Hannibal Bates gained the ability to shape-shift into any person he has contact with. He is also an individual on The List.
Biography
Particle accelerator explosion
Hannibal Bates was one of the many people given powers by the particle accelerator explosion and given the ability to shape shift into anyone he touched (later keeping that person's identity in case he needed to turn into anyone on the fly). He used this ability to frame a number of people for crimes they did not commit.
Facing off against the Flash
He was found in his grandmother's home (posing as his grandmother) by Eddie Thawne and Barry Allen, and escaped by turning into Thawne and shooting two cops, framing Thawne and putting him under surveillance. As Thawne, he later went to Barry's house and took his identity, knocking him out and putting him in a closet. Caitlin Snow arrived and told him (mistaking him for Barry) that they've possibly found a cure for "Everyman", and he went with her to S.T.A.R. labs. While there, he kissed Caitlin as Iris West arrived and told Caitlin that whoever shot the cops was left-handed, while Eddie is right-handed. Before he took out his gun and attacked the two women, he was electrocuted by Harrison Wells. Iris and Caitlin tried to drive him to the police and clear Eddie, but he turned into a little girl that pretended she was being kidnapped, causing a construction worker to open the door and release him. Barry was then woken up by Caitlin and they track Hannibal's signal at the airport, where Barry identified him through an x-ray machine. The Flash then fought Hannibal, who turned into Caitlin, Iris, Eddie, and the Flash himself during the encounter. However, he did not get the Flash's speed from the shapeshift, and Flash used it to his advantage as he administered the cure, temporarily leaving Bates in his Iris form. Using footage from the fight Barry was able to clear Eddie's name and gave the district attorney files of all the people Bates framed. The team imprisoned Bates in the Pipeline and asked him to show his true form, but Bates had shape-shifted into so many people he couldn't even remember what he looked like.[1]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Shapeshifting: Hannibal is able to shape-shift into any person he has contact with.
Appearances
Arrow
Season 1
- "Pilot" (mentioned)
The Flash
Season 1
Trivia
- In the DC comics, Hannibal Bates is a meta-human who can transform himself in to anyone by eating a part of them (a reference to one of his namesakes, Hannibal Lecter). He was first known as Everyman, then later as Dark Arrow when he teamed up against Green Arrow.
- Bates is the first individual on The List to appear in The Flash.