Doctor Bong
Doctor Bong | |
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bell-shaped helmet that can be struck to create a number of effects |
Doctor Bong (Lester Verde) is a
Publication history
Doctor Bong first appeared in Howard the Duck #15 (August 1977), and was created by Steve Gerber and Marie Severin.[3] The character's personality was loosely based on journalist Bob Greene.[4]
The character subsequently appears in Howard the Duck #16–20 (Sept. 1977–Jan. 1978), #24–25 (May–June 1978), #27 (Sept. 1978), #30–31 (March, May 1979), The Sensational She-Hulk #5 (Sept. 1989), Deadpool #26–27 (March–April 1999), Howard the Duck #1–3 (March–May 2002), Daughters of the Dragon #3 (May 2006), and The Amazing Spider-Man #552 (April 2008).
Doctor Bong received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 #2.
Fictional character biography
As a child, Lester Verde was severely bullied. When complaining about it to his mother, she noted his creative use of insults against his tormentors and sparked his desire to use his creativity to become a writer.[5]
Originally a journalism student whose yellow journalism got his professor fired, his hand is severed by a miniature guillotine when performing with the punk band Mildred Horowitz. This is a big factor in his becoming the villain Doctor Bong. How he developed his paraphernalia was never explained.[5]
It is revealed that he was also a skilled scientist, using his knowledge of chemistry and physics to create several devices and creatures to do his bidding, particularly Fifi the Duck, who was the closest thing Bong had to a henchwoman.[5] He lives in a castle on a remote island, and can stun or kill by ringing his bell-shaped head.[6]
He had a longtime crush on Beverly Switzler, whom he eventually married.[7] Before he was removed from the book, Steve Gerber had intended their marriage to last and for her to no longer be a main character in the Howard the Duck series. After Gerber left, Bill Mantlo brought Beverly, now single again, back to the book.
John Byrne later pitted Bong against She-Hulk, trying to uncensor sanitized violent television so that his genetically-engineered quintuplets would be raised not finding violence at all attractive. She-Hulk, using her abilities to break the fourth wall, manages to defeat him.[8]
It is later revealed in his initial appearance that he had given up supervillainy to obtain a
Bong later appears as one of the many villains in a bar that Colleen Wing and Misty Knight enter in search for information. They defeat all the villains, with Bong himself accidentally taking out the Jester. At sword point, Bong reveals all the information he knows about current power struggles.[10]
He appeared in Brand New Day as one of the villains in the Bar with No Name.[11]
Doctor Bong is one of the many villains kidnapped into a roller derby staged by the cosmic game-obsessed entity called the Grandmaster. The bullet proof nature of Bong's helmet is a vital part of the hero's winning plan.[12]
Doctor Bong created imperfect clones of
Doctor Bong later attended a support group called Supervillains Anonymous that was held at a church and also attended by
After hiring the
Powers and abilities
Doctor Bong is a genius scientist with advanced knowledge of genetic engineering. His main weapon is his bell-shaped helmet which creates a number of effects when struck. These effects can consist of concussive blasts powerful enough to bend metal and the ability to teleport Doctor Bong to a different place.
References
- ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.[1]
- ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
- ^ Field, Tom (2005). Secrets in the Shadows: The Art & Life of Gene Colan. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 116.
- ^ Field, Tom (2005). Secrets in the Shadows: The Art & Life of Gene Colan. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 122.
- ^ a b c Howard the Duck #17
- ISBN 978-1594749322.
- ISBN 978-1465455505.
- ^ "The Doctor Is In!" The Sensational She-Hulk, vol. 2, no. 5 (Sept. 1989). Marvel.
- ^ Deadpool #27
- ^ Daughters of the Dragon #3.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #562
- ^ X-Men: To Serve and Protect #4 (Feb. 2011)
- ^ Deadpool #28
- ^ Deadpool #29
- ^ The Superior Foes of Spider-Man #3
- ^ Jai Nitz (w), Ron Salas (p), Ron Salas (i). "The Quiet Room" The Amazing Spider-Man Annual, vol. 3, no. 1 (10 December 2014). United States: Marvel Comics.