Dummy (DC Comics)

Last updated

Dummy is the name of several characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

Contents

Publication history

The original Dummy first appears in Leading Comics #1 and was created by Mort Weisinger and Mort Meskin. He is not to be confused with Scarface, the ventriloquist dummy/alter-ego operated by Arnold Wesker . In addition to his Leading Comics appearances, the Dummy fought the Vigilante in six Golden Age stories: Action Comics #58 (March 1943), #63 (August 1943), #69 (February 1944), #75 (August 1944), #87 (August 1945) and #96 (May 1946); although the Vigilante remained a regular Action Comics feature until issue #198 (November 1954), issue #96 was the Dummy's final appearance for many years.

The second, known as Danny the Dummy, first appears in Batman #134 (September 1960) and was created by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff. [1]

Fictional character biographies

Original Dummy

Dummy
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Leading Comics #1 (December 1941)
Created by Mort Weisinger (writer)
Mort Meskin (artist)
In-story information
Team affiliations Monster Society of Evil
Injustice Unlimited
AbilitiesSkilled inventor

The Dummy is an archenemy of the Golden Age era Vigilante, and a skilled inventor of weapons. As the leader of a criminal gang, the Dummy pretends to be a ventriloquist dummy through whom the gang's supposed "true" leader conveys instructions, the gang never suspecting that the Dummy himself is their leader. The Dummy's secret identity is never revealed, and it is never made clear whether he is a human or living dummy. [2]

The Dummy later joins Mister Mind's Monster Society of Evil and Injustice Unlimited. [3] [4] In the Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity reboot, he is killed in battle with Vigilante. [5]

In DC Rebirth , the Dummy is reimagined as a Victorian man who was magically transformed into a living dummy. [6] [7]

Danny the Dummy

Dummy
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Batman #134 (September 1960)
Created by Bill Finger (writer)
Sheldon Moldoff (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoDanny the Dummy

Danny the Dummy, a pint-sized ventriloquist in a top hat and suit, has a hit act in which he plays the dummy to a normal-sized "ventriloquist" named Matt (who is revealed as the real dummy at the end of each show). But the fact that people invariably refer to Danny as "the Dummy" infuriates him, and inspires him to use dummies for crime to make dummies out of the law. [8]

Powers and abilities

The original Dummy is a skilled inventor. He wields a cane in battle that can fire powerful force beams.

In other media

Television

The first incarnation of the Dummy makes minor non-speaking appearances in Justice League Unlimited as a member of Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society.

Film

Miscellaneous

The first incarnation of the Dummy appears in a flashback depicted in issue #4 of the Arrowverse tie-in comic miniseries Earth-Prime, in which he joins several supervillains in fighting Pat Dugan and the Star-Spangled Kid. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyborg (DC Comics)</span> Comic book superhero

Cyborg is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, and first appeared in an insert preview in DC Comics Presents #26. Originally known as a member of the Teen Titans, Cyborg was established as a founding member of the Justice League in DC's 2011 reboot of its comic book titles, replacing Martian Manhunter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solomon Grundy (character)</span> Fictional DC Comics supervillain

Solomon Grundy is a supervillain and occasional antihero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He was originally depicted as a murder victim brought back to life as a corporeal revenant or zombie, though subsequent versions of the character have occasionally depicted a different origin. His name is taken from the 19th century nursery rhyme "Solomon Grundy".

Vigilante is the name used by several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Notable individuals to assume the alias include Greg Saunders and Adrian Chase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ventriloquist (character)</span> Comics character

The Ventriloquist is the name of multiple supervillains appearing in American comic books and other media published by DC Comics. All of the Ventriloquist's versions are enemies of Batman, belonging to the collective of adversaries that make up Batman's rogues gallery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carmine Falcone</span> Fictional DC Comics character

Carmine Falcone is a villain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, portrayed as a powerful mob boss, an enemy of Batman, and an acquaintance of the Wayne family. He has also been depicted in some versions as the illegitimate father of Catwoman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mister Mind</span> Fictional character from Fawcett and DC Comics

Mister Mind is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of Captain Marvel. Created by Otto Binder and C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics, the character made a cameo appearance in Captain Marvel Adventures #22 before making his full first appearance in Captain Marvel Adventures #26. Mister Mind is a two-inch alien caterpillar of high intelligence with telepathic powers who usually carries out his villainous plans through an organization called the Monster Society of Evil. The Society made its debut in Captain Marvel Adventures #22, and the resulting "Monster Society of Evil" story arc continued for two years in Captain Marvel Adventures, ending with issue #46.

Copperhead is the name of several supervillains appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, mostly as enemies of the superhero Batman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor Sivana</span> DC Comics character

Thaddeus Bodog Sivana is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bill Parker and C. C. Beck, the character is a recurring enemy of the superhero Captain Marvel, who first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 by Fawcett Comics. A mad scientist and inventor bent on world domination, Sivana was soon established as Captain Marvel's main archenemy during the Golden Age, appearing in over half of the Fawcett Captain Marvel stories published between 1939 and 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uncle Marvel</span> Comics character

Uncle Marvel is a fictional character appearing in American comic books formerly published by Fawcett Comics and today by DC Comics, who appears in stories about the Marvel Family team of superheroes.

Blockbuster is the name of four supervillains and a criminal organization appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first iteration was an adversary of Batman and Robin, while the second served as one of Nightwing's greatest enemies. The latest version first appeared in the pages of the series 52 wherein he is directed into battle against Lex Luthor's team of superheroes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lashina</span> Comics character

Lashina is a supervillain and Goddess warrior appearing in comics published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superman (franchise)</span> Portrayals of Superman outside of comic books

The American comic book character Superman, created in 1938, has appeared in many types of media since the 1940s. Superman has appeared in radio, television, movies, and video games each on multiple occasions, and his name, symbol, and image have appeared on products and merchandise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monster Society of Evil</span> Supervillain team

The Monster Society of Evil is a supervillain team created by Otto Binder and C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. It is led by Mister Mind against their mutual enemy Captain Marvel. The team is significant as one of the first supervillain teams in comics to contain villains that a superhero had fought previously; prior to this, supervillain teams were composed of villains created just for that storyline. In fact, the Monster Society consists of every major enemy Captain Marvel had ever faced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cavalier (character)</span> Comics character

Cavalier is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Saunders</span> American comic book character

Greg Saunders is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first DC character to bear the name Vigilante.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huntress (DC Comics)</span> Several fictional characters in the DC comics universe

The Huntress is the name of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. The two best-known women to bear the Huntress name are Helena Bertinelli and Helena Wayne, the latter being from an alternate universe. Although Helena Wayne and Helena Bertinelli are both superheroes, the Huntress of the Golden Age was a supervillain.

Black Canary is a DC Comics superhero who has appeared across a range of live-action and animated television shows, as well as in several video games. Originally the pseudo name of the character Dinah Drake, the mantle was later passed on to her daughter, Dinah Laurel Lance. Both characters have appeared in different comic continuations and in other media, but the character has also been known by other names. She is usually portrayed as a proficient fighter, using martial arts as well as her trademark sonic scream or "Canary Cry".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarecrow in other media</span> DC character Scarecrow in other media

The Scarecrow, a supervillain in DC Comics and an adversary of the superhero Batman, has been adapted in various forms of media, including films, television series, and video games. The character has been portrayed in film by Cillian Murphy in The Dark Knight Trilogy, and in television by Charlie Tahan and David W. Thompson in the Fox series Gotham, and Vincent Kartheiser in the HBO Max streaming series Titans. Henry Polic II, Jeffrey Combs, Dino Andrade, John Noble, Robert Englund, and others have provided the Scarecrow's voice in animation and video games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Two-Face in other media</span> Fictional character Two-Face in media

The character Two-Face was created by Bob Kane and first appeared in Detective Comics #66. However, he did not appear outside comics until half a century later in Batman: The Animated Series. Two-Face has since been substantially adapted from the comics into various forms of media, such as feature films, television series and video games. Two-Face has been voiced by Richard Moll in the DC Animated Universe, Troy Baker in the Batman: Arkham series, Billy Dee Williams in The Lego Batman Movie, and William Shatner in Batman vs. Two-Face. His live-action portrayals include Billy Dee Williams in Batman (1989), Tommy Lee Jones in Batman Forever, Aaron Eckhart in The Dark Knight, Harry Lawtey in Joker: Folie à Deux, and Nicholas D'Agosto in the television series Gotham. In 2009, Two-Face was ranked #12 on IGN's list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penguin in other media</span> Appearances of the DC villain outside comics

The supervillain the Penguin, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, made his first appearance in Detective Comics #58. Since then, he has been adapted into other forms of media, including feature films, television series, and video games.

References

  1. Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 105–106. ISBN   9780345501066.
    • Leading Comics #1 (December 1941). DC Comics.
    • Action Comics #58 (March 1943). DC Comics.
    • Action Comics #63 (August 1943). DC Comics.
    • Leading Comics #8 (September 1943). DC Comics.
    • Action Comics #69 (February 1944). DC Comics.
    • World's Finest #246. DC Comics.
  2. All-Star Squadron #51-54. DC Comics.
  3. Infinity Inc. #51-53. DC Comics.
  4. Vigilante: City Lights, Prairie Justice #4. DC Comics.
  5. Shazam (vol. 3) #10 (January 2020). DC Comics.
  6. Shazam (vol. 3) #11 (February 2020). DC Comics.
  7. Batman #134. DC Comics.
  8. "Dummy Voice - LEGO DC: Shazam! Magic and Monsters (Movie)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 2, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  9. Earth-Prime #4. DC Comics.