The Suicide Squad: Who is Ratcatcher and why was the role genderbent?

The Ratcatcher will be featured in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, but who is this character?

It was recently reported that the character of Ratcatcher is joining the cast of The Suicide Squad. Taking up this role in James Gunn’s new film is Portuguese actress Daniela Melchior. There are many questions circling this development. Who is this Ratcatcher? What approach are they taking with this character? Finally, why is an actress taking up the role of a male character?

Who is Ratcatcher?

Ratcatcher debuted in Detective Comics No. 585 in April 1988. He came from the collaborative efforts of Alan Grant, John Wagner and Norm Breyfogle. Ratcatcher or Otis Flannegan began his life as an actual pest control worker, catching rats. Eventually, he fell into a life of crime, committing acts of robbery, kidnapping and assault. He became a regular in Black Gate Penitentiary. Otis also ha the unique ability of communicating with rats and used a gas gun. Besides this odd rat thing, Otis was hardly the psychiatric type like the Joker or Two-Face. If anything, Otis Flannegan is more of petty criminal.

Unfortunately Ratcatcher died in Infinite Crisis, but he made his return in DC’s The New 52 reboot for a small role in Batman Eternal. Ratcatcher is currently a reformed homeless person in the ongoing Mother Panic series. The character also appears in the Batman: Arkham comic series and, to make a long story short, he dies near the end of its run.

Why Use Ratcatcher and How?

Due to Ratcatcher’s short history, this probably gives James Gunn a lot of creative control and experimentation. This is not a long, established character with a huge fan following like Harley Quinn. It’s safe to say whatever approach and changes James Gunn makes, the lower the chance of a possible fan outcry. The character has yet to exist outside of the comics in any form. There are some Ratcatcher Easter eggs throughout the Batman: Arkham series video- ames, but no actual appearance. At least Polka-Dot Man shows in video games and had a minor role in The LEGO Batman Movie. In fact, you can find a toy set from The LEGO Batman Movie including Polka-Dot Man. Where are the Ratcatcher toys and collectibles? Exactly! Nowhere to be found.

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Pest Control is certainly something of a working class job, not billionaire CEO like Bruce Wayne. Rats are normally seen as vermin and pests to society, looked down upon. Perhaps this character will represent something of a sympathetic figure for the audience. Believe it or not, rats are becoming popular as pets. Go to your big pet store, and you can find that they sell them. What represents a downtrodden, down on their luck villain more than a working class American with pet rats? Younger people today are not having families until later. In return, they fall back on their pet(s) as their family and or children. Think something of a villain who turns to a life of crime for their own existence, not just because they are evil and greedy.

Why is Daniela Melchior The Ratcatcher?

Luckily, no one is complaining about this… yet. Changing up the role of a character can create controversy. Imagine if a white actor were to play Black Panther? Everyone can agree this is a terrible idea. On other occasions, it can go fine, such was the case with Laurence Fishburne as Perry White. Who cares if Perry White is an African-American man? Laurence Fishburne is a terrific actor, and that is all that matters. Without much knowledge of Daniela Melchior’s work, one can hope James Gunn is taking the same approach.

One reason for her casting is as mentioned above. This is a character with little history and exposure outside of the comics, hence casting Daniela Melchior will not ruffle too many feathers. We live in a time now of increasing diversity. David Ayer’s Suicide Squad is already pretty diverse. We have the increase in female-led superhero movies like Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel. The times they are a changing, and an actress like Daniela Melchior can definitely bring increased diversity, as both a woman and a Portuguese actress. How many Portuguese actresses or actors do you know of? A Portuguese woman in the role of a working class pest control with pet rats can certainly help deliver more sympathy than your traditional white male.