FIREBUG I (Joseph Rigger)	BIOGRAPHY
Created by Len Wein and Irv Novick

PERSONAL DATA

Real Name: Joseph Rigger
Occupation: Arsonist, former Army Demolitions Expert
Citizenship: American
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Unnamed mother, father and sister (all deceased)
Base of Operation: Gotham City
Gender: Male
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 172 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
First Appearance: Batman Vol. 1 #318 (December 1979)
Creators: Len Wein and Irv Novick

HISTORY

Joe Rigger was a soldier and demolitions expert who returned to Gotham City when his family had been killed in three separate building-related accidents. His sanity slipping, Rigger vowed that those buildings would not kill again. Using his military training and a costume containing tanks of napalm, he became the Firebug and set out to burn all three buildings to the ground. He was defeated by the Batman atop the towering Gotham State Building, and believed dead after his tank exploded. Firebug reappeared some time later, taking on a mission from the Calculator to invade Hero Hotline's HQ, but was disarmed and defeated by the Hotline members. Still later, Firebug escaped Blackgate Prison and applied for membership in Black Mask's gang, but was beaten by his rival arsonist, the Firefly.

More recently, Gotham's Major Crimes Unit looked into a rash of arson attacks of which they believed the Firebug responsible. Upon investigating, they found Joseph Rigger alive but retired, while a thrill-seeker used his suit and weapons (also having killed a teenage girl who discovered this secret). Another Firebug has recently surfaced, having purchased his gear from an internet auction site.

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of Firebug in chronological order click here

PROFILE REFERENCES

Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #8 (October 1985)