Dr. Abel Cuvier was a villainous character from the animated series Batman Beyond. Appearing in the episode "Splicers", he was a genetic scientist who introduced "splicing" as a fashion trend to the youth of Gotham City, though he intended to change the world with this controversial new trend. He was voiced by Ian Buchanan.
History[]
Cuvier was the head of the Chimera Institute, a gene therapy clinic that specialized in splicing: the introduction of animal traits into human biology as a form of cosmetic alteration. Splicing became a fad that quickly swept Gotham's youth, who saw it as a fashion statement and a way of self-expression. However, this opinion was not shared by parents and politicians, who condemned the use of animal genetic augmentation, calling it a crime against nature. In rebuttal, Cuvier was interviewed by Gotham reporters, where he extolled the world's advancements due to genetic engineering. Claiming to be the first test subject, he used himself as an example to guarantee its safety and reversibility, although the latter was a rather subjective issue.
When the process was established to instigate aggressive behaviour, D.A. Sam Young took to himself the task of outlawing splicing. Determined to lead a splicing revolution, Cuvier wanted to kill Young, and declared war on the "norms". Right when he was in the middle of preparations, Batman was caught trespassing. Cuvier apprehended Batman and injected him with an overdose of vampire-bat serum that he had saved specially for him. Batman managed to cut loose, and before he could break out, Cuvier attacked him with his own bare claws.
After his henchmen — Ramrod, King Cobra, and Tigress — failed to do away with Young, Cuvier was forced to go into hiding in Carmine's Taxidermy Studio, which turned out to be his chemical lab for making his mutagens. However, he was tracked down by Bruce Wayne's dog Ace, who had picked up his scent in the broken talon Cuvier had inadvertently left embedded in Batman's suit. In order to confront the Batman, Cuvier exposed himself to heavy dosage of serums and became a sort of "chimera" himself, taking on the traits of a hawk, a tiger and a snake.
Fate[]
During his fight with the mutated Cuvier, Batman grabbed several vials containing mutagens that Cuvier had developed. As Cuvier attacked him, Batman injected the mutated scientist with all of the vials. The compounds caused Cuvier to mutate even further, transforming him into a monstrous abomination.
Cuvier grabbed Batman with a large crab-like pincer and was prepared to eat the hero. However, Ace then got in the way and attacked the monster, causing Cuvier to drop Batman. Nevertheless, the dog was no match for the mutant, but he nearly died when he knocked into a pipe. Batman stopped Cuvier in time and used his own stinger against him, causing him to swing out of control, starting a fire that engulfed the building in flames. Batman picked up Ace and got out of the building just before it exploded. Since Cuvier is never seen again after this episode, it is safe to assume that he died in the explosion.