Until the 2009 Batman: R.I.P. storyline, Dr Hurt was all but lost to the tombs of Batman back-issues. Having made his first appearance in Batman #156 (June 1963), Dr Simon Hurt was a NASA scientist who performed zero-gravity experiments on Batman. Although Batman willingly volunteered for what he assumed would be benign experiments, Dr Hurt took advantage of Batmans hallucinogenic state during the procedure. Having full access to Bruce Waynes mind, Dr Hurt implanted a trigger phrase in Batmans head that would cause a mental breakdown. While the character was revealed to be Doctor Simon Hurt, his true identity has remained a mystery. It has been implied that Dr Hurt could be Thomas Wayne, an immortal bat-demon named Barbados, the devil incarnate, a minion of Darkseid or even Darseid incarnate. Dr Hurts end game is the complete and utter destruction of Batmans identity. Serving as one of the main villains in Grant Morrisons run, Dr Hurt enigmatic identity casts doubt on the validity of Bruce Waynes crusade for justice. If Dr Hurt really is Thomas Wayne, then Bruce looses his purpose: the whole persona of Batman would be built on a lie Dr Hurt attacks not only Batman but also the entire Batman mythos, as he forces Bruce Wayne to face the existential horror of potential meaninglessness.