Professor Pyg as he appears on the cover of Batman #62 (January 2019). Art by Mitch Gerads.
Publication information
Publisher
DC Comics
First appearance
Corpse: Batman #666 (July 2007) Full appearance: Batman and Robin #1 (August 2009)
Created by
Grant Morrison
Andy Kubert
Frank Quitely
In-story information
Alter ego
Lazlo Valentin
Species
Human
Team affiliations
Circus of Strange Spyral
Abilities
Genius-level intellect Skilled surgeon
Professor Pyg is a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman. Pyg was created by Grant Morrison, Andy Kubert, and Frank Quitely and debuted as a corpse in the alternate reality story Batman #666 (July 2007) before being introduced as a recurring character in the mainstream DC Universe two years later in Batman and Robin #1 (August 2009).[1] Professor Pyg was re-introduced following DC's The New 52 comics relaunch in 2011, appearing throughout the continuity and the subsequent DC Rebirth relaunch that began in 2016.
The character's in-universe real name is Lazlo Valentin, a scientist who suffered a schizophrenic breakdown that led him to become a supervillain who wears a pig mask. Morrison intended Pyg to seem disconnected from reality, believing him to be one of the "weirdest, most insane" characters in Batman comic books. Pyg is an obsessive perfectionist who sees human beings as broken individuals; he commonly kidnaps people and uses surgery and chemicals to permanently change them into mind-controlled automatons known as Dollotrons, and sometimes into human–animal hybrids.
Morrison took the name "Professor Pig" from the song "Pygmalism" by Momus and Kahimi Karie; the name "Pyg" is also shorthand for "Pygmalion", referring to both the mythical sculptor who fell in love with his own creation and the 1913 stage play, both of which serve as parallels for Lazlo Valentin and his love for his Dollotron creations. The character's origin story alludes to real-life animal testing carried out in the mid-twentieth century. He has a makeshift mother made of nails and boards, from which he associates auditory hallucinations commanding him to constantly improve his surgical work.
Pyg began making substantial appearances in other media in 2013 with the animated series Beware the Batman and has since appeared in video games, television, and film. The character has been positively received by entertainment journalists as a strange and disturbing addition to Batman's rogues gallery.
^Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 238. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
ProfessorPyg is a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman. Pyg was created by...
Charlie Clark Josh Blacker as Virgil Getty Rob Nagle as Lazlo Valentin / ProfessorPyg David Ramsey as John Diggle Alex Morf as Victor Zsasz Judy Reyes as...
Freeze Marina Benedict as Cherry Michael Cerveris as Lazlo Valentin / ProfessorPyg Camila Perez and Michelle Veintimilla as Bridgit Pike / Firefly Christopher...
led by Anarky, Magpie, Ra's al Ghul, Tobias Whale, Phosphorus Rex, ProfessorPyg, Mister Toad, Lady Shiva, Key, Killer Croc and Humpty Dumpty. In particular...
and Frank Quitely. The Circus of Strange is a criminal group led by ProfessorPyg which first became known to Batman and Robin when they had captured...
with Barbara, Tim, Jason, and Stephanie to discuss Batman's behavior. ProfessorPyg holds a meeting with Mad Hatter, Scarecrow, Firefly, Two-Face, Black...
Brother Warth. He also appeared in Beware the Batman as the villain ProfessorPyg, and in Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time as Sly's ancestor, Salim Al-Kupar...
broadcast on November 2, 2017. In the episode, Gordon and Bullock go after ProfessorPyg after he kidnaps three police officers. They manage to locate two but...
boy to start a war against him. Also, she is revealed to have hired ProfessorPyg, a serial killer who targets cops working for Cobblepot, and to have...
Mother's a Size Queen" 2020–present Harley Quinn Alfred Pennyworth, Professor Pyg, Toyman Voice; 12 episodes 2021 A Tale Dark & Grimm Moon Voice; 3 episodes...
James Castro on The Good Wife, Ramses IV on The Tick, Lazlo Valentin/ProfessorPyg on Gotham, and September/The Observer on Fringe. Cerveris also appeared...
truth about what happened during his childhood following the attack by ProfessorPyg. Jada has been working on ways to cure her son of this sociopathic personality...
"Stressed Western" Supergirl Episode: "Blind Spots" Batwoman Episode: "A Lesson from ProfessorPyg" 2023 All American Episode: "Stand Up for Something"...
12 Moments From Grant Morrison's Batman Run". IGN. August 7, 2013. "ProfessorPyg Returns in New Video from "Beware the Batman," "Teen Titans Go!"". Comic...
crime-fighting style. Dick and Damian soon encounter a villain called ProfessorPyg, who has created an army called Dollotrons. Dick and Damian take the...
New 52" rebooted the DC Comics universe. Professor Milo is seen at Arkham Asylum where he leads ProfessorPyg to an unpleasant fate. After Maggie Sawyer...
Day/Calendar Man Julie Madison Kirk Langstrom/Man-Bat Lazlo Valentin/ProfessorPyg Lonnie Machin/Anarky Lucius Fox Mario Falcone Martha Wayne Maxie Zeus...
portrayed), and Mariah Carey. In the Gotham episode "Let Them Eat Pie," ProfessorPyg does his rendition of the song called the "Meat Pie Tango" at Sofia...
larger role, but felt that his side mission was too similar to that of ProfessorPyg and wanted to focus on a new character from Batman's rogues' gallery...
Donahue on the Apple TV+ series For All Mankind. In 2020, Urbaniak played Professor Anthony in the film Tesla, opposite Ethan Hawke. Also in 2020, he played...
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