Origin
The younger brother of drug lord Jack “The Candyman” Monteleone, Joey spurned the family business for petty crime. Imprisoned in Iron Heights for fifteen years for armed robbery, he discovered that he could astrally project himself into inanimate objects and animate them. He took several objects for joyrides before projecting himself into asphalt and becoming stuck. His real body remained in Iron Heights in a coma.
Creation
Tar Pit was created by Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins. He made his first appearance in The Flash #174.
Major Story Arcs
Tar Pit
He attacks a hockey game in an attempt to steal the Stanley Cup, but is defeated when he rips open a hose containing a tar-dissolving solvent in a misguided attempt to stop the Flash from using it to save people from being suffocated or burned. He sporadically causes trouble for the Flash, occasionally in conjunction with the Rogues.
Rogue War
Tar Pit is hypnotized by the Top into joining his new Rogues team to fight against the original Rogues. He fights Flash, Captain Cold, and Heat Wave before the battle is stopped by Professor Zoom. Mirror Master later helps him escape the scene.
Salvation
He becomes a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains, and later is among the villains sent to the planet Salvation. He joins Team Joker, and is part of the effort to capture Martian Manhunter. He escapes the planet through Lex Luthor’s teleporter.
Blackest Night
Trying to get in with the Rogues, Tar Pit joins Owen Mercer in visiting the Rogue graveyard in the hopes of finding the recently risen Captain Boomerang. They part ways after witnessing Eobard Thawne rising from the dead.
Forever Evil
Tar Pit is among the villains invited to join the new Secret Society by the Crime Syndicate. When he is returned to Central City, he, Chroma, and Girder approach the newly-arrived Gorilla Grodd in an effort to negotiate territory. Grodd refuses to negotiate and attacks them, and Tar Pit flees. Later, he is sent by the Crime Syndicate to kill the Rogues, who have refused to join. He is imprisoned in a mirror and shattered. His fate is unknown.
Alternate Versions
Flashpoint
In the Flashpoint alternate reality, Tar Pit is imprisoned in Iron Heights. He escapes to seek revenge against Citizen Cold, who took his family’s money. He is killed by Cold.
Powers and Abilities
Tar Pit was previously capable of astrally projecting himself into inanimate objects. Presently his consciousness is trapped in a body made of asphalt. His asphalt body is superhumanly strong and functionally invulnerable, as he is able to draw himself back together even if his body parts have been separated. He can heat his body to about 900 degrees, and can fling flaming chunks of tar, as well as trap people in his body. He also exudes toxic chemicals that can injure or incapacitate people who are too close to him.
Other Media
Television
The Flash
Tar Pit appears as an antagonist in the episode “Fast Lane.” He is portrayed by Marco Grazzini.