Doll Man
Doll Man | |
---|---|
S.H.A.D.E. | |
Abilities | (Both)
(Dane)
(Colt)
|
Doll Man is a
The issue's December 1939
Quality Comics publication history
The secret identity of Doll Man, "The World's Mightiest Mite", is research chemist Darrel Dane, who invents a formula that enables him to shrink to the height of six inches while retaining the full strength of his normal size.[3] He was the first example of a shrinking superhero, and also one of the few that was unable to change to a height in between his minimum and maximum sizes (though artists would fail to keep his scale visually consistent). His first adventure in Feature Comics #27 involves the rescue of his fiancée, Martha Roberts, from a blackmailer.[4] He subsequently decides to fight crime and adopts a red and blue costume sewn by Martha.[5] Years later, somehow Martha's wish to be able to join him in his small size comes true, and now possessing the same shrinking powers, she becomes his partner known as Doll Girl in Doll Man #37.[6] He also has the aid of Elmo the Wonder Dog, a Great Dane who serves as his occasional steed and rescuer, and the "Dollplane", which was deceptively presented as a model airplane in his study when not in use.[7] In his adventures published during World War II, Doll Man was also frequently depicted riding a bald eagle.
The covers of Doll Man's comics frequently portrayed him tied in ropes or other bindings, in situations ranging from being tied crucifixion-style to a running sink faucet, to being hogtied to the trigger and barrel of a handgun. The persistence of this male bondage motif in Doll Man comics among others can be contrasted with other comic books which historically portrayed women in positions of vulnerability and submission.
Doll Man was the lead feature of the anthology series Feature Comics through #139 (October, 1949), with Eisner writing the early stories under the pen name William Erwin Maxwell, and art contributed first by Lou Fine, and later by Reed Crandall.[8] Doll Man's own self-titled series ran from 1941 until 1953, for forty-seven issues. After the cancellation of Doll Man, original stories involving the character were not published again for two decades.[9]
Doll Man in DC Comics
Darrel Dane
After Quality Comics went out of business in 1956, DC acquired their superhero characters. Doll Man and several other former Quality properties were re-launched in
Until the relaunch of the Freedom Fighters characters in 2006, Doll Man was little used by DC except for the retelling of his origin from Feature Comics #27 in Secret Origins #8 (November 1986). According to Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #5 (January 2007), Darrel Dane is currently alive and confined to an unnamed mental institution.
In Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters v2 #3 (November 2007) Dane (whose given name is given as "Darryl" or "Darrel") appears as the leader of a subersive group of doll-sized soldiers. He reveals that the years spent at compressed size have damaged his mind, leaving him mentally unstable.
Lester Colt
A new Doll Man, alias Lester Colt was introduced in Crisis Aftermath: The Battle for Blüdhaven, a mini-series published by DC in 2006.[1]
Lester Colt is a famous U.S. special operator, holding a B.A. in international politics and advanced degrees in the sciences. He is an "Operational Management and Strategic Adviser" to
Colt is a highly decorated "old soldier", and his personal decorations include the
Colt is romantically involved with scientist and former S.H.A.D.E. employee, Emma Glenn. Eager to contribute to his country, in something other than war, Lester agreed to an experiment created by Emma's father, which reduced him to his present height. A S.H.A.D.E. squad, masquerading as a terrorist group, killed Emma's father and destroyed the lab. Now stuck at a permanent height of six inches tall, Colt attempted to distance himself from Glenn, hoping to spare her the pain of a miniaturized boyfriend. Despite this, there are still strong feelings between the two and they are learning to cope with their new situation. This is aided by trips to The Heartland, the current Freedom Fighters' extradimensional home base, where colt is mystically restored to full height for brief periods.
In the new Freedom Fighters series (2007–08), Lester undergoes a procedure with several other shrunken people, including Darrel Dane, to be returned to normal size. The experiment goes horribly wrong, and the group are fused together into a human-sized monstrosity. Lester is eventually freed and returned to his normal size.
Powers and abilities
By willing himself, Doll Man can shrink to the height of six inches and a proportionate weight or return to his normal size.[11] At his six-inch height, Doll Man retained the strength and athletics of a full grown man. In recent years, he have developed psionic powers, enabling him to levitate objects or destroy them with a mental blast. He has apparently aged a little, but not at all for decades, perhaps due to the mystic presence of Uncle Sam. Dane wears a special costume that changes size as he does. As Doll Man, he possesses a brilliant mind, as well as unarmed combat skills.
The second Doll Man has similar powers and access to high-tech equipment.
Other versions
- A version of Doll Man and Doll Girl about whom little has been revealed briefly appeared in Titans Secret Files #2.
- DC has another unrelated character called Doll Man, a non-powered criminal who encounters Batgirl.
- In the final issue of 52, a new Multiverse is revealed, originally consisting of 52 identical realities. Among the parallel realities shown is one designated "Earth-10". As a result of Mister Mind "eating" aspects of this reality, it takes on visual aspects similar to the pre-Crisis Earth-X, including the Quality characters. The names of the characters and the team are not mentioned in the panel in which they appear, but a character visually similar to the Darrel Dane Doll Man appears.[12] Based on comments by Grant Morrison, this alternate universe is not the pre-Crisis Earth-X.
In other media
Television
- An unrelated Dollman inspired by the Puppeteer appears in The Adventures of Batman episode "Beware of Living Dolls".[citation needed]
- The Darrel Dane incarnation of Doll Man appears in the Jason C. Miller.
- An unidentified Doll Man makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Harley Quinn episode "Icons Only". This version is a Las Vegas performer who is killed by Starro during a fight with Rag Doll.[citation needed]
Miscellaneous
- An unidentified Doll Man appears in Justice League Unlimited #17.
- An alternate universe incarnation of Doll Man, spelled Dollman, appears in Earth-X.
References
- ^ OCLC 213309017
- ISBN 978-1605490373.
- ISBN 978-1-59474-763-2.
- ISBN 978-1893905375.
- ISBN 978-1605490892.
- ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ISBN 978-1-61318-023-5.
- ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ Markstein, Don. "Doll Man". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- OCLC 213309017
- ^ Steranko, Jim (1972). The Steranko History of Comics, vol 2. Supergraphics. p. 95.
- ^ 52, no. 52, p. 12/1 (May 2, 2007). DC Comics.