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Doctor Destiny

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Doctor Destiny
Doctor Destiny as depicted on the cover of Justice League of America #176 (March 1980).
Art by Dick Giordano and Dick Dillin.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceJustice League of America #5 (June 1961)
Created by
In-story information
Alter egoJohn Dee
SpeciesDemon
Team affiliationsSecret Society of Super Villains
Notable aliasesJohnny Boy
Dream Boy
Dr. John Dee
Lex Joker
Abilities
  • Dream manipulation
  • High intelligence

Doctor Destiny (John Dee) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.[1]

Jeremy Davies played the character in his live-action debut on the Arrowverse crossover "Elseworlds". David Thewlis plays a version of the character in the television series The Sandman.[2][3]

Publication history

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Doctor Destiny first appeared in Justice League of America #5 (June 1961), and was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky.[4]

Fictional character biography

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Doctor Destiny is a petty criminal scientist who uses his genius to create devices for crime. After encountering the Justice League, Destiny creates the Materioptikon, a device that enables him to manipulate dreams and manifest them into reality.[5][6] The Sandman reveals that the Materioptikon is powered by Morpheus' Dreamstone.[4]

The League members hypnotize Destiny and prevent him from using the Materioptikon, causing him to go insane. He is subsequently imprisoned in Arkham Asylum.[4][7]

In The Sandman, the Dreamstone is destroyed, depriving Destiny of his powers. However, his continued use of the Materioptikon gives him its powers innately.[4]

In Justice Society of America (vol. 3), part of The Lightning Saga, Destiny captures Dream Girl and imprisons her in Arkham. However, Starman frees her and nullifies Destiny's abilities using the code word "Lightning Lad".[8]

In the Superman/Batman storyline '"Mash-Up", Doctor Destiny creates a dream world consisting of combinations of people from the real world, hoping to replace the waking world with his fabricated realm. Superman and Batman escape being fused and defeat Destiny, rendering him comatose.[9]

The New 52

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In The New 52 continuity reboot, Doctor Destiny is a centuries-old magic user and the son of Madame Xanadu.[10][11][12] He later joins the Secret Society of Super Villains in Forever Evil and is killed by Insomnia in Knight Terrors.[13][14][15]

Powers and abilities

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John Dee has the ability to enter and manipulate dreams. He also possesses extensive knowledge of medical science.[16]

Other versions

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Doctor Destiny makes a minor appearance in Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth.[17] This version is weak and wheelchair-bound.[18]

In other media

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Television

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Dr. Destiny as he appears in the Justice League animated series
Jeremy Davies as John Deegan in the Arrowverse television crossover "Elseworlds"
  • John Dee / Doctor Destiny appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), voiced by William Atherton.[19]
  • Dr. John Deegan appears in the Arrowverse crossover "Elseworlds", portrayed by Jeremy Davies.[22] This version is an Arkham Asylum psychiatrist who believes in augmenting patients to help them achieve their peak potential, though his colleagues consider him mad and his methods extreme. The multiverse-traveling Monitor approaches Deegan, commends him on his "vision", and gives him the Book of Destiny to rewrite reality as he sees fit. Deegan attempts to make himself a superhero, but inadvertently switches Barry Allen and Oliver Queen's lives instead. After the heroes convince their respective teams of the changes and learn of Deegan, they travel to Arkham to confront him. While they manage to secure the Book of Destiny, Deegan escapes. Following this, the Monitor retrieves the book and returns it to Deegan, who successfully alters reality and transforms himself into a black-suited Superman (portrayed by Tyler Hoechlin). Despite having been turned into powerless criminals, Allen and Queen recruit allies from Earth-38 to help them stop Deegan. With the Monitor's help, Queen separates Deegan from the Book of Destiny and undoes his changes, after which he is imprisoned in Arkham.
  • John Dee appears in The Sandman, portrayed by David Thewlis.[23] Like his initial Sandman appearances, this version is the son of Ethel Cripps and Roderick Burgess who escapes prison after his mother gives her protection amulet, which grants immortality, to him. While searching for the Dreamstone, Dee meets a Samaritan named Rosemary, who he gives his amulet to. Eventually, Dream defeats Dee, takes him back to prison, and puts him into an endless sleep.

Film

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Video games

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Doctor Destiny appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[25]

Miscellaneous

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References

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  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 92. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (May 26, 2021). "'The Sandman': Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mason Alexander Park & Donna Preston Among 12 Added To Netflix Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Bui, Hoai-Tran (May 26, 2021). "'The Sandman' Netflix Series Expands With 12 More Actors, Including Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death". /Film. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Wallace, Dan (2008), "Doctor Destiny", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 102, ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1, OCLC 213309017
  5. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. p. 90. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
  6. ^ Justice League of America #19 (1963)
  7. ^ Justice League of America Annual #1 (1983)
  8. ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #5 (June 2007). DC Comics.
  9. ^ Superman/Batman #60-61
  10. ^ Jeff Lemire, Ray Fawkes (w), Mikel Janín, Vincente Cifuentes (a). "Horror City Part 1: The House of Mystery" Justice League Dark, no. 19 (June 2013). DC Comics.
  11. ^ Jeff Lemire (w), Mikel Janin (a). "The Black Room" Justice League Dark, no. 9 (July 2012). DC Comics.
  12. ^ Ray Fawkes, Jeff Lemire (w), Mikel Janin, Vincente Cifuentes (a). "Horror City Part 2: The Nightmare Gospel" Justice League Dark, no. 20 (July 2013). DC Comics.
  13. ^ Forever Evil #1
  14. ^ Nightwing (vol. 4) #9
  15. ^ Knight Terrors (2023) #1
  16. ^ Justice League of America Vol 1 #154 (May 1978)
  17. ^ Morrison, Grant, and Dave McKean. Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth. New York, N.Y.: DC Comics, 2004. 146. Print.
  18. ^ Morrison, Grant, and Dave McKean. Arkham Asylum. Lonson: Titan, 1989. Print.
  19. ^ a b "Doctor Destiny Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 12, 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.
  20. ^ "Backstage - Unused Villains Database - Dr. Destiny". The World's Finest. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  21. ^ "Penny Voice - Justice League (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 12, 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.
  22. ^ Boucher, Geoff (September 20, 2018). "'Arkham Asylum's New Face: Jeremy Davies Cast As Dr. Deegan In Arrowverse Crossover". Deadline. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  23. ^ "THE SANDMAN Casts Death, Desire, Despair, and Many More". Nerdist. May 26, 2021.
  24. ^ Morpheus (June 25, 2017). Sandman: 24 Hour Diner. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  25. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  26. ^ "Justice League Unlimited #25 - The Devil May Care (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  27. ^ All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold #12
  28. ^ Chhibber, Mini Anthikad (31 December 2022). "Dirk Maggs: 'Audio is a visual medium'". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  29. ^ Burdge, Anthony; Burke, Jessica; Larsen, Kristine, eds. (2012). The Mythological Dimensions of Neil Gaiman. Crawfordville, Florida: Kitsune Books. ISBN 978-0-9827409-7-2.
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