Back when I started collecting comic books, one of my favorite series was Who’s Who: The Definite Directory of the DC Universe. Published between 1984 and 1987, it was a sort of companion to Crisis on Infinite Earths, the twelve issue maxiseries designed to streamline the DC Universe and eliminate any problems in continuity. The character biographies contained inside were my introduction to the DC Universe at large, and they proved useful as I began my scholarship of the DCAU.
While character bios of the characters from Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and other related shows exist, I found many of them to be lacking in depth, content, and quality. Therefore, I’ve taken it upon myself to create character bios for the characters of the DCAU based upon existing information from Series Bibles, the episodes themselves, material from the comic books, and information from the creative teams. Many of these began as bios written for my character profiles on The Justice League Watchtower. Also, the bios I’m writing are limited to characters that I consider key, so no bios for Commissioner Gordon, Angela Chen, or Max Gibson.
This time, it’s the Ds. Again, everyone noteworthy from that section of the dictionary will be included, along with voice actor information, the date and location of their first appearance, and accompanying images.
Darkseid
Voiced by Michael Ironside
First Appearance: Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 (December 1970)
To understand Darkseid, lord of Apokolips and dark god of the Fourth World pantheon, one must first understand Uxas, his prior incarnation. The son of Yuga Khan, original ruler of Apokolips, and his consort Queen Heggra, Prince Uxas plotted from his youth to conquer first his home world and then the universe by any means necessary. He was the opposite of his older brother Drax, who sought peace with New Genesis, and—recognizing that he was an obstacle—he slew his brother when he attempted to tap into the Omega Force from Apokolips’ Infinity Pit. Taking his brother’s birthright for himself, Uxas was transformed by the energies of the pit and, pleased with his new appearance, changed his name to Darkseid, a name from Apokoliptic lore.
With the elimination of his brother and the disappearance of his father—Yuga Khan became imprisoned within The Source while trying to learn its secrets—only his mother Heggra and his uncle Steppenwolf stood in his way. To eliminate his uncle, he suggested to him that he go to New Genesis and hunt the gods there for sport. Intrigued by the prospect of good hunting, he did so—murdering Avia, the wife of Izaya the Inheritor, which reignited the hostilities between Apokolips and New Genesis and led to war. It was at the beginning of this war that Steppenwolf was killed by Izaya in retribution for his initial attack, which eliminated him as a rival for the throne of Apokolips.
However, before he could eliminate his mother, his lust for power became tempered when he fell in love with Suli, a scientist with pacifistic tendencies. She believed that power should be used for the common good instead of for personal conquest, and Darkseid, captivated by the young woman, began to see truth in her words. He renounced his quest for power and married Suli, who bore him a son, Kalibak, but his change in personality did not go unnoticed by Heggra, who recognized the corrupting influence that Suli had on him. Seeking to turn him back towards warfare and aggression (she did not know his original plans), she had Desaad poison Suli and, afterwards, arranged a marriage for Darkseid to Tigra, a woman more in line with Heggra’s way of thinking. Infuriated by this attack, Darkseid took up his quest again, employing Desaad to poison his mother the same way that his wife was murdered and banishing Tigra and their son, Orion, to the ghettos of Apokolips. Finally, he claimed the throne he long desired, but at a price: after Suli’s death, Darkseid turned his back on emotion.
Now in command of the planet’s forces, Darkseid opened negotiations with Izaya, who was now known as Highfather after an encounter with The Source. Seeking to buy some time to build his base of power, a cease-fire was agreed upon, where Darkseid and Highfather would exchange their infant sons. To stop the bloodshed, Highfather reluctantly agreed, and he traded his own son for Darkseid’s neglected son Orion. With the throne of Apokolips his and a delicate truce between the two worlds, Darkseid was able to devote his full attention to the next phase of his master plan: universal conquest.
A force to be reckoned with, Darkseid rules his fascist empire with an iron fist, forcing his impoverished masses to labor ceaselessly in the construction of enormous edifices in his honor. In addition to breaking the will of his people, this slavery serves an additional purpose, as Darkseid psychically feeds upon the despair and anguish that he perpetuates. Recently he has turned his attentions to Earth—which he wishes to add to his empire despite its presence in a designated neutral zone—and to its champion, Superman, who Darkseid sees as a diversion and a means to an end—destroy Superman, destroy the will of the human race. However, he believes that his ultimate goal can only be achieved through the resolution of the Anti-Life Equation, a mathematical equation that, when solved, will grant him absolute control over the free will of every living being in the universe.
Preferring to spend his days working this cypher, Darkseid often chooses to operate through his subordinates, such as Desaad or the Female Furies, a team of professional warriors trained by Granny Goodness. However, this preference should never be mistaken for weakness, as Darkseid is, in fact, a physical threat on par with Superman. Although gifted with considerable strength, his main weapon is the Omega Effect—beams of destructive energy that, when unleashed from his eyes, can disintegrate, restore, or teleport anything or anyone that he chooses. In addition, once unleashed, these beams will follow their intended target until they make contact.
Although killed following the destruction of Brainiac’s central database, he was later unwittingly resurrected by Lex Luthor using a combination of technology and sorcery. While currently entombed in the Source Wall—as Luthor provided him the answer to the Anti-Life Equation, following his invasion of Earth—it is only a matter of time before he escapes. Like all gods, Darkseid is a slave to his destiny, and it has been prophesized that he will ultimately meet his true end in battle with his son Orion amid the fire-pits of Armagetto. However, until that fateful day, all those underneath his heel know that Darkseid is power. Darkseid is unforgiving. Darkseid Is.
Deadman
Voiced by Raphael Sbarge
First Appearance: Strange Adventures #205 (October 1967)
A circus trapeze artist, Boston Brand performed under the stage name of Deadman, complete with a red costume and white corpse makeup. However, one night during his performance, he was murdered by a man known only as Hook. Following his death, his spirit was summoned by Rama Kushna, a Hindu deity who permitted him to continue on the mortal plane as a ghost in order to bring his murderer to justice, thus balancing the scales of karma. Now capable of possessing any mortal being, having access to their memories, and being able to completely control their actions (and, in the case of metahumans, their powers), Brand was able to avenge his murder with the assistance of Batman. However, despite completing his mission, he remained on the mortal plane.
Wandering the Earth, he discovered Nanda Parbat, a mystical city in the Hindu Kush, and a sect of monks in service to Rama Kushna. There he met the Master, who informed him that his purpose was now to avenge his own death, which occurred when the Legion of Doom attacked the sanctuary to steal the Heart of Nanda Parbat, a mystical artifact that contained the souls of the monks. Needing assistance, he turned to the Justice League, and he successfully foiled their plans and returned the supernatural energies to Nanda Parbat, but—in a moment of desperation—he possessed Batman’s body to protect Wonder Woman, which resulted in the death of the villain Devil Ray. Informed that his actions upset the scales of karma, Deadman remains in the mortal realm to atone for his actions, much to his dismay.
Deadshot
Voiced by Michael Rosenbaum
Born into a wealthy—but loveless—family, Floyd Lawton found himself constantly compared to his older, more successful brother Edward by his parents. Still, he loved his brother, and he took solace in the fact that he excelled in marksmanship. However, this bond was tested the day when their mother, tired of years of infidelity and otherwise cruel treatment, asked her two sons to kill their father. Floyd refused, but Edward agreed to it, and he locked his brother in a boathouse before Floyd could warn him. Kicking down the boathouse door, Floyd grabbed a rifle and, finding himself locked out of the house, climbed a tree just in time to see Edward confront his father in the library. Not wanting to seriously hurt his brother, Floyd attempted to shoot Edward in the arm—to make him drop his gun—but the tree branch he was sitting on gave way, dropping Floyd and making his shot go bad. In the end, Edward succeeded in shooting his father through the spine, crippling him, but he was shot dead the next moment by his brother’s errant bullet. Not wanting to drag the Lawton name through the mud, the surviving family members used their influence to squelch the investigation, and the murder went unsolved. Still, the damage was done, as Floyd—tormented by his brother’s death and caught between two parents who hated each other—developed a powerful sense of self-loathing and the belief that life was just not worth living.
Still, as he grew older, he tried to make the best of things—he married, had a son, and he used his wealth to become a fixture of Gotham City’s social scene—but these acts did nothing but perpetrate his boredom. He was inspired, however, by the stories of Batman and, seeking excitement and a way to hurt his parents, he left his wife and child to adopt the costumed identity of Deadshot. Dressed in a tuxedo, domino mask, and brandishing twin guns, Lawton passed himself off as a new crimefighter, whose quick work of local criminals was calculated to discredit the Dark Knight and to establish himself as the new champion of Gotham. However, through investigation, Batman discovered that Lawton’s true plan was to run Batman out of town and stage a takeover of the city’s underworld. His plot revealed to the police, Lawton was sent to Gotham State Penitentiary, where he spent his sentence plotting his next step.
Released from prison, Deadshot designed a new costume—complete with wrist-mounted magnums and a telescopic infrared sight built into his mask—and began to hire himself out as a professional assassin. One of the world’s best marksmen—easily the equal of Green Arrow or Batman himself—Deadshot will take any assignment no matter how dangerous, as years of torment over his past have led to his development of a death wish. While not truly suicidal—he won’t take his own life directly—Deadshot has still been known to take chances with his safety, such as opening fire in a pressurized aircraft cabin, arming his targets so that they may have a chance of killing their assassin, or taking on superhuman targets like the Justice League. In addition, he is also known for making his targets intentionally difficult; preferring to use elaborate ricochets and other trick shots to claim victims rather than with a simple strike. It doesn’t matter to him, however, as the life he continually risks is one devoid of meaning to him.
Eventually finding his way to death row, he was saved at the eleventh hour by Col. Rick Flagg, who recruited him for Task Force X, otherwise known as Suicide Squad, in exchange for a reduced sentence of five years. His first mission was infiltrating the Justice League Watchtower to retrieve the Annihilator armor on behalf of the Cadmus Project. It must be said that, on some level, Deadshot enjoyed it.
Hounded by personal demons, hampered by ennui, and awaiting the inevitable, Deadshot spends each day impatiently watching death creep a little closer. The suspense is killing him.
Deimos
Voiced by Douglas Dunning
First Appearance: 1st Issue Special #8 (November 1975)
The high priest of the city-state of Thera, Deimos used the secret knowledge of the legendary Scrolls of Blood to acquire powerful black magic. Seeking to rule all of Skartaris, he made a pact with Grodd for advanced weaponry from the surface in exchange for the “Great Stone,” a giant rock of kryptonite. However, his plot was discovered by Travis Morgan and the Justice League, and he appeared to fall to his death while engaged in a swordfight with Morgan.
Desaad
Voiced by Robert Morse (STAS), René Auberjonois (Justice League)
First Appearance: Forever People #2 (May 1971)
Darkseid’s right hand and chief torturer, the sadistic Desaad was once his friend as well. That friendship ended, however, when Desaad poisoned Suli, Darkseid’s beloved wife, under orders of his mother, Queen Heggra. Frequently obliterated by his Omega Beams, Darkseid keeps restoring Desaad to life in order to take advantage of his technological and tactical knowledge.
Unfortunately for Desaad, his lord killed him over an errant comment criticizing his attempt to break treaty with New Genesis and—as Darkseid died shortly thereafter—he was not brought back to life.
Despero
Voiced by Keith David
First Appearance: Justice League of America #1 (October 1960)
A native of the planet Kalanor, the man who would become known across the galaxy as Despero the Conqueror was shunned almost immediately from birth due to a genetic mutation—a third eye that rested upon his forehead. As a result, Despero was forced to grow up in a community that feared and hated him; a situation that took a toll upon his psyche, as a hatred for his tormentors began to fester within his subconscious. Eventually banished from his village, he wandered the desert wastelands of his world until, one day, he came into contact with the Py’tar—the very soul of his planet. Seeking to reassert its influence upon Kalanor, the Py’tar chose Despero to be its herald; charging him to deliver a message of hope to his people. Enveloping him within its flames, the Py’tar fused its essence into Despero—making him a conduit for its awesome power—but even the Py’tar could not have predicted what was to come, as the transformation triggered Despero’s latent telepathic abilities which, now amplified by the Py’tar’s energies, enabled him to take absolute control of its essence. With the Py’tar now at his command, Despero recalled the anguish dealt to him by the people he was charged with serving, and he began to think of ways to punish them for those transgressions.
Returning from the desert under the guise of a holy man, Despero used his mental manipulation and his silver tongue to convert the population of his home world, prophesizing a future where Kalanor would become a paradise. With the people under his sway, Despero imposed a militant theocracy upon his people—keeping them in constant fear—and turned his attention to the heavens. Seeking to expand his base of power, he infused his soldiers with the power of the Py’tar and sent them into space with the mission of “converting” the people of other worlds, an action that brought him to the attention of policing organizations such as the Green Lantern Corps and the Justice League. Joining forces, the League and the Corps allied themselves with the local resistance and succeeded in freeing the Py’tar from Despero’s influence. No longer subverted by the mad tyrant’s hatred, the Py’tar reasserted its power upon Kalanor and succeeded in showing its former prophet the error of his ways before reclaiming Despero’s essence into itself.
Devil Ray
Voiced by Michael Beach
First Appearance: Aquaman #35 (Black Manta, September 1967), “I Am Legion” (September 17, 2005), Black Manta #1 (November 2021)
A member of Grodd’s Legion of Doom, Devil Ray was a supervillain capable of fighting on land, sea, and air. Wearing a power suit designed for respiration and withstanding deep sea pressures, he was able to navigate underwater with ease. In addition, his costume—augmented by Lex Luthor—also afforded him a jet pack, strength and durability enhancement, and wrist-mounted guns capable of firing poison-tipped stingers capable of affecting someone as powerful as Wonder Woman. These attributes, along with his private submarine and crew, made him a formidable opponent.
An accomplice favored by the super intelligent ape, he first directed him to steal the frozen corpse of the Viking Prince, which was discovered in a Scandinavian glacier, a heist that was prevented by the Justice League. Later, he accompanied Grodd during his assault on Nanda Parbat and, later, Gorilla City, where he met his demise when Deadman, possessing the body of Batman, used a gun to shoot him when he attempted to kill Wonder Woman. The shot knocked Devil Ray back into an exposed electrical panel, killing him.
El Diablo
Voiced by Nestor Carbonell
First Appearance: All-Star Western #2 (October 1970)
Originally a bank teller who was attacked by a gang of thieves and put into a coma, Lazarus Lane was revived by a shaman named Wise Owl, and—upon rising—he adopted the guise of the vigilante El Diablo to seek justice. But while El Diablo has done many good works as a costumed adventurer, there are still many questions about this dark figure, and rumors persist that his body is a vessel for a minor demon who acts as a spirit of vengeance that drives his actions.
Doctor Alchemy
A chemist who initially wore the costumed identity of Mister Element, Albert Desmond became a master of the medieval practice of alchemy, allowing him to transmute the very elements into anything he chooses.
Doctor Cuvier
Voiced by Ian Buchanan
First Appearance: “Splicers” (September 17, 1999), Harley Quinn: Harley Loves Joker #1 (July 2018)
While the science of using genetic animal augmentation to enhance human appearance and attributes—thus creating hybrids that are part human, part animal—has been around for decades, it was Dr. Abel Cuvier who gave it a name. Originally a protégé of Dr. Emile Dorian—the mad scientist responsible for briefly transforming Selina Kyle into a literal cat woman—Cuvier aided him in transforming aspiring geneticist Gabriela Matias into the Grison. However, following his mentor’s arrest at the hands of the first Batman, Cuvier presumably went underground to continue their research.
Decades later, a modified Dr. Cuvier resurfaced in Neo Gotham, presumably still youthful through genetic augmentation. In the years since working for Emile Dorian, their chosen field of science had evolved, with many successful human / animal hybrids joining the burgeoning world of metahumans, including Copperhead, the Man-Bat, and fellow geneticist Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva, who transformed herself into the Cheetah. Seeking to change this fringe science into a mainstream lifestyle choice, he founded the Chimera Institute and coined the terms “splicing” to refer to the process. Aided by fellow splicers Tigress, King Cobra, and Ramrod, he began offering splicing services to Gotham youth, much to the chagrin of District Attorney Sam Young, who sought to ban splicing, citing a study that splicing recipients exhibited increased aggressive behavior. Eager to fight for his way of life, Cuvier and his hench people plotted to kill the district attorney, but ran afoul of the second Batman, who was investigating the institute.
After a devastating initial encounter, where Cuvier injected the Tomorrow Knight with vampire bat DNA—thus temporarily creating a Man-Bat Beyond—the mad doctor augmented himself for their rematch with the genetics of several animals, thus transforming himself into a beast reminiscent of the mythical chimera. However, Batman fought back by injecting him with several more strains of animal DNA, which distorted him into a beast of Lovecraftian proportions. Nearly mindless and in great pain, their fight ignited an explosion in his laboratory, with Cuvier presumably dying in the flames.
An expert geneticist with the assets of the entire animal kingdom at his command, it is possible that Cuvier survived the destruction of the Chimera Institute and was able to return to “normal,” regardless of what he would consider normal to be. However, with or without his continued presence, the science of splicing would continue to evolve.
Doctor Cyber
First Appearance: Wonder Woman #179 (November / December 1968)
Originally a woman of stunning beauty, Dr. Cylvia Cyber found herself hideously disfigured in China during a confrontation with Wonder Woman when a dying Tong gunman hurled a brazier of hot coals into her face. Vowing vengeance against the Amazing Amazon, Dr. Cyber has now dedicated her genius and her network of secret criminal operatives to bringing about her destruction … although a covetous Cyber would prefer to use her genius to transplant her brain into her opponent’s flawless body.
Although she sided with Grodd during the mutiny, Doctor Cyber was not singled out for punishment by Luthor. However, it appears that she died in the Hall of Doom’s destruction in deep space.
Doctor Destiny
Voiced by William Atherton
First Appearance: Justice League of America #5 (June 1961)
A low-level LexCorp employee, John Dee was nonetheless convinced that he was someday destined for greatness. This belief inevitably got him involved with Lex Luthor’s criminal activities, and he was arrested when he was found guarding a cache of smuggled weapons in one of Luthor’s warehouses during a search initiated by the Justice League. Sent to Stryker’s Island prison, Dee became obsessed with the League, whom he blamed for callously ruining his life without a second thought. This obsession, coupled with the long prison hours, led to his development of a rich fantasy life, where he imagined he was a supervillain who defeated the League and found acceptance amongst their Rogues’ Gallery. However, actually fulfilling this desire would require super powers, so he signed up for a medical research program that would attempt to give him ESP through a device called the Materioptikon. It gradually enhanced his abilities but, when he was denied parole and discovered that his wife had left him, he decided to step up the process, taking advantage of a prison riot to give himself an extended, full dose of the Materioptikon’s energies. Granted the mental powers that he sought, Dee developed the identity of Doctor Destiny and went out in search of his revenge.
After confronting his wife, whom he imprisoned in a nightmarish delusional state that eventually killed her, Dee attacked the Justice League in their dreams, taking advantage of their uncertainties and fears to trap them in a series of unending nightmares. It was through the intervention of J’onn J’onzz, who telepathically entered their minds, that they were able to confront Destiny and free themselves of his influence. Meanwhile, Batman tracked down John Dee and, following a struggle, managed to knock him out using a sedative. Returned to Stryker’s Island, Dee was confined to the prison infirmary, as his prolonged exposure to the Materioptikon caused significant damage to his brain. Dee remained there until he was rescued by the Legion of Doom, which he joined after Grodd presumably repaired his mind.
Through his exposure to the Materioptikon, John Dee now possesses phenomenal psionic abilities, the limits of which are currently undetermined. Even at great distances, Doctor Destiny can telepathically enter a victim’s mind, exploiting their thoughts to confront them with what they fear the most. In close proximity, however, he is an even more dangerous opponent, as his mental powers can manipulate one’s senses even when they’re awake. His status currently unknown following the destruction of the Legion of Doom’s headquarters, it is possible that John Dee could attack the League again, as he sees it is his destiny to destroy them. This, coupled with the fact that such a powerful villain has access to them when they are at their most vulnerable, must give them little reason to sleep easy.
Doctor Fate
Voiced by George Del Hoyo (STAS), Oded Fehr (Justice League)
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940)
Kent Nelson was born in 1928, the child of Celestine Babcock Nelson, a spiritualist, and Sven Nelson, an archeologist, but following her untimely death it soon fell to Sven Nelson to raise the boy. As a result, young Kent often travelled with his father on his expeditions. On one such voyage—a dig in the Valley of Ur in Mesopotamia—Kent followed his father into a nearby temple; one that was shunned by the natives for fear of a terrible curse. While exploring the ruins, Kent discovered the tomb of the ancient Egyptian sorcerer Nabu the Wise, who was not dead, but kept in a state of suspended animation. Compelled by forces he couldn’t comprehend, the boy pulled a lever he found near the tomb, which released a gas from the crypt that revived the sorcerer but flooded the temple and killed his father.
Perhaps feeling compassion for the now-orphaned Kent, Nabu the Wise removed all knowledge of his father’s death with a wave of his hand and raised the child as his own, teaching him the ways of sorcery. Over time, Kent Nelson came to master these magical skills and, upon reaching adulthood, Nabu decided that his time was over and requested that his pupil unleash his full power against his master. At first, Kent declined but, with a wave of his hand, Nabu returned the memory of his father’s death to the young man. Overcome with grief and rage, Kent fired upon the sorcerer, destroying his physical body, but was surprised to discover that Nabu’s spirit remained. In his final moments, Nabu the Wise revealed his secret to Kent: he was a being of pure energy known as a Lord of Order, who was dedicated to maintaining the balance between the forces of Order and Chaos. As a final gift to his young student, he presented Kent with a golden helmet and an amulet to aid him in his mission, and—with that completed—vanished from this plane of existence.
As an agent of the mystical Lords of Order, it is Kent Nelson’s job to safeguard this reality from the destructive forces of Chaos, but he possesses reservations regarding the role that has been thrust upon him. He resents the fact that he has been a pawn of the Lords of Order since birth, and this resentment almost led to destruction when he chose not to act after the demon Karkull was released from his ancient prison; only the intervention of Superman gave him the drive to resume his role and imprison the demon once again. Also, he is wary of the Helmet of Nabu, as it channels the consciousness of his old mentor into his mind whenever he dons it. Nevertheless, Kent realizes that there is a need for the role he serves, and he reluctantly continues to do so to this day.
Living in a mystic tower near Salem, Massachusetts with his wife Inza, Kent Nelson safeguards this reality from whatever magical threats may dare to enter it. Although not a full-time superhero, Kent Nelson is prepared to don his golden helmet and the role of Doctor Fate should the need arise.
Doctor Hugo Strange
Voiced by Ray Buktenica
First Appearance: Detective Comics #36 (February 1940)
A brilliant psychiatrist and scientist turned career criminal, Dr. Hugo Strange used his considerable skill set to blackmail his patients. One such caper, involving a machine that could read and record the thoughts of others, brought him into contact with Batman, who was investigating a case involving the blackmailing of Gotham Judge Maria Vargas. During their encounter, Strange discovered Batman’s secret identity, and he would have succeeded in selling the secret to a collection of his greatest rivals but was double-crossed when Batman switched tapes on him. In the end, Strange was arrested, his criminal activities revealed, and his discovery thrown into question by a timely visit by a disguised Dick Grayson.
Years later, Strange was approached by Amanda Waller, either in prison or following his release, who asked him to join the Cadmus Project. He agreed and presumably served as an expert in psychiatry and mind control. Based on his resume, it is likely that he was responsible for the Ultimen’s false memories and the manufacturing of Doomsday’s lasting, burning hatred of Superman.
Doctor Light
Voiced by Lauren Tom
First Appearance: Crisis on Infinite Earths #4 (July 1985)
During an observation of Vega, a giant red dwarf star in our galaxy, Japanese astronomer Kimiyo Hoshi was shocked to see a bolt of energy erupt from the star, and she watched transfixed as it shot across space, through a wormhole, and struck her in her laboratory. Transformed by the accident, Hoshi now has the ability to manipulate light in all of its wavelengths, allowing her the ability to utilize it in any form, such as simple illumination, hard light constructs, and focused energy beams.
Doctor Mid-Nite
First Appearance: All-American Comics #25 (April 1941)
His eyes damaged in an accident, physician Dr. Charles McNider soon discovered that, while blinded by light, he was now able to see in total darkness. Adopting the identity of Doctor Mid-Nite, McNider used his blackout bombs (smoke bombs that released a pitch-black smoke that only he could see through) and infrared goggles—that allowed him to see in daylight—to fight crime.
Doctor Milo
Voiced by Treat Williams (BTAS), Armin Shimerman (JLU)
First Appearance: Detective Comics #247 (September 1957)
A criminal scientist operating out of Gotham City, Dr. Achilles Milo served as more of a work-for-hire criminal, rather than as a mastermind in his own right. Previous plots included a plan to infect Gotham City’s stray animal population with a custom-made disease, which his partner, Roland Daggett, would “cure” by selling the antidote at an inflated price; and the sale of a chemical cocktail designed to help Olympic contender Anthony Romulus win the Autumn Games. It was this second activity that brought him to the attention of the Cadmus Project, as the serum—which contained steroids and timber wolf estrogen—transformed Romulus into a genuine werewolf.
Approached later by Amanda Waller, Dr. Milo became their expert in animal / human hybridization. However, following a lack of results from his activities, Milo was removed from his station and demoted to a lesser capacity within the Cadmus organization. Enraged, he freed Doomsday from his imprisonment, under the condition that he kill Waller and Emil Hamilton for him. Instead, Doomsday promptly killed Milo and escaped, ending the life of a small-time criminal who spent his career trying desperately to compete in the big leagues.
Doctor Moon
Voiced by Jeffrey Combs (Uncredited)
A criminal scientist and neurosurgeon, Dr. Moon utilized his torture skills to interrogate the Question when he was captured by Lex Luthor.
Doctor Polaris
Voiced by Michael Rosenbaum (Uncredited)
First Appearance: Green Lantern #21 (June 1963)
A physician studying ways of healing patients using magnetism, Dr. Neal Emerson unfortunately developed a dissociative identity disorder due to his continued experiments with magnetic polarity. Developing a secondary personality, which manifests itself as the villainous Doctor Polaris and periodically gains dominance over Emerson’s mind, leads to him using his apparently latent magnetic powers to engage in criminal activity. These frequent crime waves inevitably result in encounters with Green Lantern and the Justice League, who must find a way to stop the one without seriously harming the other.
A challenger to Lex Luthor’s leadership following Grodd’s deposing, Doctor Polaris attempted to assume control, but he was defeated when Luthor used his technology to negate his superpowers, using the metal shards Polaris pulled off the walls to bind him. As Luthor let him live, it is likely that Doctor Polaris left the Legion shortly thereafter, and thus survived the headquarters’ destruction.
Doctor Spectro
First Appearance: Captain Atom #79 (February 1966)
A frequent opponent of Captain Atom, Tom Emery utilizes a prism generator capable of producing holograms, as well as colorful beams of light that can cause hallucinations. Calling himself Doctor Spectro, he gained access to these technologies as a lab assistant to Dr. Bivolo, whose equipment also started the criminal career of his son, the Rainbow Raider.
As he was unseen during the Hall of Doom’s launch into space, it is possible that Doctor Spectro survived the headquarters’ destruction.
Doomsday
Voiced by Michael Jai White
First Appearance: Superman: The Man of Steel #17 (November 1992)
Created by Cadmus Project head Amanda Waller and genetics expert Professor Emil Hamilton, the creature who would come to be known as “Doomsday” was the result of the organization’s further attempts to use Kryptonian DNA to produce weapons. However, unlike subjects such as Galatea, who was trained to become a field agent, Doomsday was conceived by his architects as a weapon of last resort—a fail-safe should Superman ever become a threat to national security or to the world-at-large. Engineered from a sample of Superman’s genetic material, his DNA was altered by Cadmus scientists to make him superior to the Man of Steel. Their experiments bore fruit—producing a hulking, gray monstrosity with unimaginable levels of physical might. After his creation, he was mentally conditioned (presumably by Cadmus agent Dr. Hugo Strange) to hate Superman, using a combination of brainwashing and physical torment. In the end, they created what they intended to, but their creation, with its incredible strength and violent tendencies, proved to be uncontrollable. Thus, it was decided that he needed to be disposed of, and he was loaded onto a rocket and launched into space. However, Doomsday broke free of his restraints and began destroying the ship’s onboard systems, throwing the rocket off-course and sending it plummeting back to Earth. Emerging from the wreckage, the creature followed his programming and travelled to where he knew Superman would most likely be found: Metropolis.
However, this confrontation was not meant to be, as his appearance in Metropolis coincided with the Justice League’s encounter with their other-dimensional counterparts, the Justice Lords, who imprisoned them in their dimension and took their place on the League’s Earth. Emerging from the dimensional portal to find Doomsday destroying the city, the Lords confronted the creature, engaging in a battle that shattered windows and destroyed several more city blocks. However, one by one, the Justice Lords fell before Doomsday’s might, leaving only Superman to face off against the beast. Doomsday came close to achieving his intended goal, but this Superman, thinking fast, used his heat vision to lobotomize his opponent. Rendered brain-dead by this act, Doomsday was taken away by the authorities and, eventually, found his way back into the hands of Cadmus.
Imprisoned in their secret compound, Doomsday remained dormant for many months; showing no measurable neurological activity, even after the damaged portions of his frontal lobes healed themselves. Unsure as to the creature’s mental state, the doctors at Cadmus kept a wary eye on him, until the day that Dr. Achilles Milo, taking a gamble, confronted Doomsday directly. Doomsday’s eyes opened, confirming Milo’s suspicions—he had been faking his inert status. Milo, who had recently been demoted within the ranks of Cadmus by Waller, hatched a plan to send Doomsday to pay back both Waller and Hamilton, whom he saw as being responsible for the indignity dealt to him. However, Doomsday killed Milo, commandeered an escape pod, and resumed the hunt for his original target.
Landing on the island of San Baquero, Doomsday confronted Superman in the heart of an active volcano, resulting in a savage battle that brought the Man of Steel to the brink of death. Superman endured, however, knocking Doomsday out and throwing him into the volcano’s primary vent, causing an eruption that destroyed the island. The Justice League later retrieved Doomsday, who was now encased in volcanic rock, and attempted to question him about his connection to Cadmus. Doomsday proved unresponsive to the interrogation and to the mental probes of J’onn J’onzz, only stating that he would find a way to break free and kill Superman. Seeing no other alternative, Superman beamed Doomsday into the Phantom Zone, where he would exist in bodiless limbo forever. However, it should be noted that there are ways to escape the Phantom Zone, and there is always the possibility that Doomsday might find a way to break free and accomplish the goal that he was created to perform—the death of Superman.
Draaga
Voiced by William Smith
First Appearance: Adventures of Superman #454 (May 1989)
The greatest gladiatorial champion of War World, a planet ruled by the despot Mongul, Draaga was a man of honor who recognized that the regime he lived under was unworkable, but he continued to do so to protect his home world from the tyrant. Grizzled and heavily scarred, there was no opponent he could not defeat … until Superman. Kidnapped in deep space and forced to compete in Mongul’s gladiatorial games, he initially attempted to avoid conflict with Draaga, but—after several attacks—he knocked the warrior out. Standing tall against a crowd calling for Draaga’s blood, Superman refused to kill him, which angered the gladiator, as—in his mind—defeat required an honorable death on the battlefield. Returned to the dungeons, Superman arranged for Draaga to be taken off-world, but with his honor stolen, he vowed to avenge himself against the Kryptonian, and—to remind him of his vow—he burned an “S” into his own chest using heated metal.
Later encountering Green Lantern and Hawkgirl, he offered to help them find War World in exchange for transportation. Disappearing upon arrival, he returned to the battlefield, where Superman promised to lose to Mongul to spare Draaga’s home world. Upon discovering Mongul’s plan, he fought the tyrant instead, soundly defeating him in combat. Initially offering Superman the crown of War World, the Man of Steel suggested he should rule, and that the test of honor is in one’s deeds and actions, not in one’s death. The gladiator stood there, considering his words, as Superman and the Justice League departed.
The Dummy
First Appearance: Leading Comics #1 (December 1941)
A criminal mastermind who physically resembles a ventriloquist’s dummy, the Dummy often finds himself at odds with the superhero Vigilante. As he was unseen during the Hall of Doom’s launch into space, it is possible that the Dummy survived the headquarters’ destruction.
Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, and DC Comics.
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