# Firefly (DC Comics)
**Firefly** is a Batman villain in [DC Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-comics), originally the criminal identity of Garfield Lynns, a pyrotechnics and lighting-effects expert who turned to crime. He debuted in *Detective Comics* #184 (June 1952) as "The Human Firefly", created by writer France Herron and artist Dick Sprang[1](https://www.comics.org/issue/9730/) • [2](https://www.dcuguide.com/Firefly_%28Garfield_Lynns%29). Conceived as a light-based foe who used optical tricks, the character was later reimagined after *Crisis on Infinite Earths* as a fire-obsessed arsonist in a heat-insulated battlesuit with a jetpack and flamethrower, and he has since appeared in animated series, video games, and the television show *Gotham*, which introduced the first female Firefly[3](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly) • [4](https://www.dc.com/blog/2015/10/19/origin-story-of-first-ever-female-firefly-ignites-on-gotham-tonight-and-next-monday-october-26-on-fox).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appearance | *Detective Comics* #184, "The Human Firefly", June 1952 (on sale April 28, 1952)[1](https://www.comics.org/issue/9730/) |
| Creators | France Herron (writer) and Dick Sprang (artist)[1](https://www.comics.org/issue/9730/) • [2](https://www.dcuguide.com/Firefly_%28Garfield_Lynns%29) |
| Original concept | Garfield Lynns, a disgruntled special-effects and lighting-effects genius, used lighting tricks in his crimes; he did not use fire[1](https://www.comics.org/issue/9730/) |
| Modern incarnation | A pyromaniacal serial arsonist in a heat-insulated, fire-retardant battlesuit with a jetpack and incendiary weapons; affiliated with the Society[3](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly) |
| Other bearers of the name | Ted Carson (*Batman* #126) and, in television, Bridgit Pike of *Gotham*, the first female Firefly[5](https://www.dc.com/blog/2015/10/26/the-dctv-secrets-of-gotham-ep-2-6-by-fire) • [4](https://www.dc.com/blog/2015/10/19/origin-story-of-first-ever-female-firefly-ignites-on-gotham-tonight-and-next-monday-october-26-on-fox) |
| Notable media | First level boss in the NES game *Batman* (1989 film tie-in); recurring villain in *The Batman* (voiced by Jason Marsden)[3](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly) |
## The original Human Firefly
In his 1952 debut story, Garfield Lynns is described as the world's foremost lighting-effects genius. A disgruntled special-effects creator, he turns to crime and tries to rob the rich of [Gotham City](https://www.edgepedia.org/gotham-city) during a gala premiere. Batman and [Robin](https://www.edgepedia.org/robin-character) stop the robbery and pursue Lynns into the swamps, where a lowly firefly distracts the two heroes long enough for Lynns to escape; he then adopts the super-villain persona of Firefly and launches a series of spectacular crimes[1](https://www.comics.org/issue/9730/). In this story he stages crimes with light and optical-illusion themes and does not use fire, a trait that came only later in his career[1](https://www.comics.org/issue/9730/) • [6](https://www.dccontinuityproject.com/firefly.html).
The character's early design was flamboyant even by the standards of the era, and commentators have grouped him with the era's more outlandish Batman foes[6](https://www.dccontinuityproject.com/firefly.html). A second character later took the name: Ted Carson debuted as Firefly in *Batman* #126, making Firefly one of several Batman villain identities with more than one bearer[5](https://www.dc.com/blog/2015/10/26/the-dctv-secrets-of-gotham-ep-2-6-by-fire).
## The modern pyromaniac
After the 1985–1986 miniseries *Crisis on Infinite Earths*, the character's existence carried into the new continuity, and his depiction changed substantially[7](https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Garfield_Lynns_%28New_Earth%29). The modern Firefly is a pyromaniacal serial arsonist, originally a pyrotechnics expert who turned to crime by carrying out arson attacks and torching large parts of Gotham[3](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly). He is rarely seen without his signature equipment: a heat-insulated, fire-retardant battlesuit, a jetpack, and numerous incendiary weapons including a flamethrower[3](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly). He has been affiliated with the Society, the villain organization also known as the [Secret Society of Super Villains](https://www.edgepedia.org/secret-society-of-super-villains)[3](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly).
His comic-book appearances in this era include the *Knightfall*-period story in *Detective Comics* #661–662 (1993), in which he was broken out of Arkham by Bane as part of a plan to crush Batman; Batman ultimately defeated him while Robin dealt with the Riddler[8](https://www.writeups.org/firefly-batman-robin-dc-comics-lynns/) • [9](https://www.watchmojo.com/articles/comic-origins-dc-s-firefly). He later appeared in the Justice League of America story arc "Crisis of Conscience" (*JLA* #115–119), fighting Catwoman over a diamond before Batman intervened[3](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly).
## Firefly in other media
**Animation.** *Batman: The Animated Series* could not use the Firefly character at first during its [Fox Kids](https://www.edgepedia.org/fox-kids) run; the episode "Torch Song" later brought in a version of the character, blending his 1990s comic reimagining with his original Silver Age background, and writer Rich Fogel said he had intended a sequel[10](https://www.slashfilm.com/2096602/why-batman-the-animated-series-couldnt-use-dc-villain-firefly/). In the series *The Batman* (2004), Firefly is a recurring villain voiced by [Jason Marsden](https://www.edgepedia.org/jason-marsden), portrayed as a corporate saboteur for hire who flies on a jetpack[3](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly) • [11](https://aiptcomics.com/2011/11/06/what-the-batman-did-better-than-batman-the-animated-series/).
**Video games.** Firefly appears as the first level boss in the NES video game *Batman*, based on the 1989 film, and features as an unlockable character bio in *Batman: Arkham Asylum* with mentions in *Batman: Arkham City*[3](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly). In *Batman: Arkham Origins* he confronts Batman on the Gotham Pioneers Bridge, and by the time of the game's second-year setting he has accumulated 178 counts of arson, 52 of which resulted in deaths, 4 counts of first-degree murder, and 10 counts of robbery[12](https://arkhamcity.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly).
**Gotham.** The Fox television series *Gotham* introduced Bridgit Pike, the first-ever female version of Firefly, played by Michelle Veintimilla in a two-night event in October 2015[4](https://www.dc.com/blog/2015/10/19/origin-story-of-first-ever-female-firefly-ignites-on-gotham-tonight-and-next-monday-october-26-on-fox). In the show, Bridgit is enslaved by her brothers, a notorious gang of arsonists, and forced into the family business; after teaming with Selina Kyle and a deadly encounter with the Pike brothers, she is transformed into a vengeful super-villain[4](https://www.dc.com/blog/2015/10/19/origin-story-of-first-ever-female-firefly-ignites-on-gotham-tonight-and-next-monday-october-26-on-fox). Show creator [Bruno Heller](https://www.edgepedia.org/bruno-heller) said the character is driven not by aggression but by "a burning sense of injustice"[4](https://www.dc.com/blog/2015/10/19/origin-story-of-first-ever-female-firefly-ignites-on-gotham-tonight-and-next-monday-october-26-on-fox). Veintimilla returned for the season 4 episode "Mandatory Brunch Meeting", with Camila Perez having played the role in seasons 3 and 4[13](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly_%28Gotham%29). In one episode, Gordon calls her Firebug while Captain Barnes calls her Firefly, names that both belong to fire-themed Gotham villains in the comics[5](https://www.dc.com/blog/2015/10/26/the-dctv-secrets-of-gotham-ep-2-6-by-fire).
## From light tricks to flames
Few long-running Batman villains have changed as much in conception as Firefly. The 1952 original was a lighting-effects showman whose crimes were essentially elaborate illusions, and his costume resembled an insect-themed show outfit rather than combat gear[1](https://www.comics.org/issue/9730/) • [6](https://www.dccontinuityproject.com/firefly.html). The post-*Crisis* Firefly is instead a genuinely dangerous pyromaniac whose battlesuit, jetpack, and flamethrower make him a physical threat, and commentators note that any story about him tends to end with Batman pursuing a flying arsonist on a grappling line[3](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly) • [6](https://www.dccontinuityproject.com/firefly.html). Within Batman's rogues gallery he is generally ranked as a mid- or lower-tier foe, but his visual equipment and arson theme have kept him in regular use across comics, animation, and games since the 1990s[6](https://www.dccontinuityproject.com/firefly.html) • [3](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly).
## References
1. [Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #184, Grand Comics Database](https://www.comics.org/issue/9730/)
2. [Firefly (Garfield Lynns), DCU Guide](https://www.dcuguide.com/Firefly_%28Garfield_Lynns%29)
3. [Firefly, Batman Wiki](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly)
4. [Origin Story of First-Ever Female Firefly Ignites on GOTHAM, DC.com (October 19, 2015)](https://www.dc.com/blog/2015/10/19/origin-story-of-first-ever-female-firefly-ignites-on-gotham-tonight-and-next-monday-october-26-on-fox)
5. [The #DCTV Secrets of GOTHAM: Ep. 2.6 "By Fire", DC.com (October 26, 2015)](https://www.dc.com/blog/2015/10/26/the-dctv-secrets-of-gotham-ep-2-6-by-fire)
6. [Firefly, DC Continuity Project](https://www.dccontinuityproject.com/firefly.html)
7. [Garfield Lynns (New Earth), DC Database](https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Garfield_Lynns_%28New_Earth%29)
8. [Firefly – Batman/Robin enemy – Garfield Lynns, Writeups.org](https://www.writeups.org/firefly-batman-robin-dc-comics-lynns/)
9. [Comic Origins: DC's Firefly, WatchMojo](https://www.watchmojo.com/articles/comic-origins-dc-s-firefly)
10. [Why Batman: The Animated Series Couldn't Use The DC Villain Firefly At First, SlashFilm](https://www.slashfilm.com/2096602/why-batman-the-animated-series-couldnt-use-dc-villain-firefly/)
11. [What "The Batman" did better than "Batman: The Animated Series", AIPT](https://aiptcomics.com/2011/11/06/what-the-batman-did-better-than-batman-the-animated-series/)
12. [Firefly, Arkham Wiki](https://arkhamcity.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly)
13. [Firefly (Gotham), Batman Wiki](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Firefly_%28Gotham%29)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Film characters and fictional worlds › DC Comics characters › Batman characters and elements*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license