Doctor Bedlam
Comics character
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Doctor Bedlam is a DC Comics supervillain created by Jack Kirby as part of his Fourth World comic series of the 1970s. He is part of Darkseid's Elite on the planet Apokolips.[1]
| Doctor Bedlam | |
|---|---|
Doctor Bedlam as depicted in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #6 (August 1985). Art by Jack Kirby and Mike Machlan. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Mister Miracle #2 (May–June 1971) |
| Created by | Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Doctor Bedlam |
| Species | New God |
| Team affiliations | Darkseid's Elite |
| Notable aliases | Baron Bedlam, Macro-Man |
| Abilities |
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His name comes from the Bethlem Royal Hospital insane asylum, and is a reference to his madness-inducing "paranoid pill".
Publication history
Doctor Bedlam first appeared in Mister Miracle #3 (July–August 1971) and was created by Jack Kirby.[2]
Fictional character biography
Doctor Bedlam's early life is unknown, save that he once possessed a physical body that was transformed into psychic energy. His primary foe is Mister Miracle, whom he has never defeated.[2]
Following the destruction of Apokolips and New Genesis, Bedlam relocates to Earth, where he attracts Mister Miracle's attention by becoming an escape artist under the name Baron Bedlam. He is not a skilled escape artist, but does not need to be; one android body is destroyed by the traps, and he relocates to another one, which then appears from backstage.
Bedlam is a featured character in Underworld Unleashed: Apokolips - Dark Uprising #1 (1995). With Darkseid missing, the various factions of Apokolips form plans; Granny Goodness sends several of her students to kill Bedlam. They seemingly succeed but again, he has transferred his mind to another body just in time.
In the series Seven Soldiers, Grant Morrison revamped Baron Bedlam as a rival escape-artist stealing Shilo Norman's fame. His popularity grows to a point that he has a cult following of Plastic People.
Doctor Bedlam appears in the first issue of the Death of the New Gods limited series. When New Gods are being hunted down across the galaxy, one of Bedlam's android forms is found damaged. Bedlam's consciousness cannot be located and he is presumed dead.[2]
Doctor Bedlam is reintroduced following the DC Rebirth relaunch.[3]
Powers and abilities
Doctor Bedlam exists as a being of psychic energy and commands androids called Animates that he can project his consciousness into. The Animates have superhuman strength, are able to break steel with their hands, and possess incredible durability. Bedlam is a master scientist who specializes in devising means of inducing terror in the minds of his victims through his powers of mental manipulation and paranoia. One of his most infamous tools is a "paranoid pill", which releases a gas that drives anyone exposed to it temporarily insane with fear and hatred.
In other media
- Doctor Bedlam and his Animates appear as character summons in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[4]
- Doctor Bedlam appears in All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold #15.[5]