THE CLOWN (Lyle Corley)	BIOGRAPHY
Created by Cary Bates and Irv Novick

PERSONAL DATA

Real Name: Lyle Corley
Identity: Public
Occupation: circus performer
Status: Deceased
Gender: Male
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black (as the Clown reddish-blonde)
First Appearance: Flash #270 (February 1979): "A Fast Way to Die!"
Creators: Cary Bates and Irv Novick

HISTORY

Lyle Corley and his family were highwire performers in a small circus. One night while performing in Central City, a massive power failure plunged the city into darkness. Of the four on the highwire, only Lyle Corley survived, injuring his back and neck in the plunge from the highwire. Corley also lost the power of speech, but it is not known if this was physical or psychological.

One year later, Corley took on the costumed identity of the Clown. He blamed the mayor, governor and the president of Central City Power and Lighting for the blackout and the death of the family. As the Flash was supposed to attend the circus that fateful night, but didn't due to a JLA emergency, Corely blamed the hero for not rescuing his family. Armed with circus themed weaponry such as a jet powered pogo stick and laughing gas, the Clown set out to punish those he felt were responsible for his loss. Flash #270

Years later, the Clown was out of prison, and less stable than before. FBI profiler Hunter Zolomon led a team to capture the Clown, mistakenly believing the villain would not be armed. This mistake caused the death of Zolomon's father-in-law. The Clown was shot and killed by Hunter's wife, Ashley Zolomon. - Flash Vol. 2 #197

POWERS AND WEAPONS

The Clown possessed an arsenal of deadly circus-themed items including laughing gas, a rocket powered pogo stick, drugged cream pies, and a weaponized calliope with missiles and paralyzing sonic waves. How the Clown managed to acquire these weapons was never established.

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of The Clown in chronological order click here