Warning: The following feature contains SPOILERS for Doom Patrol season 2, episode 7, "Dumb Patrol."
The latest episode of Doom Patrol confirmed that Kite Man, one of Batman's most ridiculous enemies, exists in the reality of Earth-21. More, the episode suggested that he is apparently influential and famous enough that a major book publisher sought him out so that he could write a blurb for an advertisement.
For the most part, Doom Patrol has been content to stay in its own corner, making reference to other parts of the DC Comics' universe but never making contact with it. Previous episodes confirmed that the Justice League, in some form, exists in the same reality, though Cyborg isn't a member like in the Justice League movie. References have also been made to The Flash and Aquaman being popular heroes in Doom Patrol's world. "Dumb Patrol," however, is the first episode to make a direct reference to one of Batman's enemies.
The Easter egg was one of several hidden in the billboard which Cliff Steele fell through upon his return to Earth in "Dumb Patrol," having been released into the vacuum of space by Dr. Niles Caulder in the previous episode, "Space Patrol." The billboard was advertising an autobiography titled My Side, written by Denise — the dinosaur half of the Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man, who has appeared throughout the series as a nod to one of the Doom Patrol's longest-running enemies in the comics. The billboard featured testimonials from several people, including Kite Man, whose "Hell Yeah!" catch-phrase is quoted along with positive words from Gerard Way and Jeremy Lambert; the writer and artist on Doom Patrol: Weight Of The Worlds.
First appearing in Batman #133 in August 1960, Kite Man has long been recognized as the silliest supervillain in Batman's rogues gallery. Having no powers or skills beyond an affinity for building kites, Charles "Chuck" Brown (who was named after Charlie Brown from Peanuts as an homage to his battles with the kite-eating tree) entered into an ill-advised criminal career based around using man-sized kites as escape vehicles or otherwise finding ways to incorporate kites into his crimes. Languishing in obscurity for decades, Kite Man was thrust into the spotlight in recent years, becoming a reoccurring character on DC Universe's Harley Quinn, where he was Poison Ivy's boyfriend/fiancee for a time.
Kite Man also had a supporting role in Tom King's run on the Batman Rebirth comic, in which his continued failures and "Hell Yeah!" catch-phrase became a running gag. He was also given a new gritty origin, revealing that he was once an engineer turned pretty criminal who assumed the Kite Man identity to seek revenge on The Riddler after Edward Nygma poisoned his kite-loving son. This led Kite Man to join The Joker's team during the epic Gotham City gang war that became known as The War of Jokes and Riddles.
Despite being one of Batman's weirder enemies, it seems unlikely that Kite Man will face the Doom Patrol. While pulling aerial heists with a kite is strange, it is not quite up to the level of weird, reality-breaking menace that usually requires the Doom Patrol's attention. Fans of Kite Man hoping for more high-flying action are advised to keep pushing for his return in Harley Quinn season 3.