DocGold13

Full time doctor, part time artist. Comicbook/Sci-Fi superfan. Marvel, DC, Image, Valiant... Star Wars, Star Trek, Dr. Who... and just about anything/everything in between Follow Back 100% Feel free to drop me an 'ask' All original art is for sale

[docgold13]

365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

Batwoman

There have been a pair of heroines who have operated as The Batwoman.  The first Batwoman appeared in the Silver Age and was a socialite named Katherine Kane.  She took on the guise of Batwoman for fun and to attract the attention of Batman.  She would go on to have a number of adventures alongside Batman and Robin yet was written out of history following the Crisis on Multiple Earths event.   

The second Batwoman is Katherine Rebecca "Kate" Kane.  Kate and her twin sister Elizabeth were raised by her parents both of whom were high-ranking officers in the United States Army.  A group of criminals kidnapped Kate, her sister and mother in the hopes of trading their lives for military secrets.  

Kate’s father attempted a rescue and tragically Kate’s mother was killed in the ensuing violence.  It also appeared as though her sister was additionally killed (although years later it would be revealed that her sister had survived the ordeal).

A deeply traumatized Kate turned to honing her skills as a combatant and strategist so that she may never feel victimized again.  She ended up enrolled in a prestigious military school and proved an exceptional cadet.  She entered into a brief romantic affair with her roommate which was against the school’s honor code.  She was offered the option to remain with the academy but only were she to deny being a lesbian.  Doing so went against Kate’s own sense of honor and integrity and she refused, resulting in her being expelled.  

Although it likely ruined a potentially successful career int he armed services, Kate’s father lauded her for standing by her values.  Kate then went to college in Gotham City and began to lose focus, descending into a life of partying and one-night stands.  One night, Kate was attacked by a would-be mugger.  With the skills she had developed over the years, Kate had little difficulty taking her attacker down.  At that moment, The Batman arrived not realizing that the young woman did not require his assistance.  It proved a fateful encounter and Kate was fascinated by the power and intimidation the symbol of the bat had become in Gotham.  

She decided to create a bat-themed costume of her own and outfitted herself with all manner of specialized weapons both created on her own and bought through the black market.  Kate’s father, perhaps still feeling guilty over the death of Kate’s mother and apparent death of her sister, reluctantly assisted Kate, using his lifetime of skills and contacts to help set his daughter up as a costumed hero.  

Dubbing herself ‘Batwoman’ Kate proved a highly effective crimefighter, quickly becoming a bane to the city’s criminal underworld.  An early nemesis for Batwoman was the mysterious Religion of Crime, a criminal syndicate run by an individual known only as Alice.  After numerous battles, Kate discovered that Alice is actually her twin sister Elizabeth who had been abducted by these villains years ago and indoctrinated into their belief system.   

Batwoman has continued to battle tirelessly to take down the Religion of Crime whilst desperately trying to devise some means of saving her psychological damaged sister.   

Kate has had a longstanding romance with police sergeant Maggie Sawyer.  At one point the two almost got married, yet the nuptials were called off.  In her ongoing adventures, Batwoman has become a member of Batman Inc., The Birds of Prey and The Justice League.  

Actresses Ruby Rose, Wallis Day and Javicia Leslie have each portrayed live action versions of Batwoman.  A number of different versions of Batwoman have featured in animated projects.  Herein the heroine has been voiced by actresses Yvonne Strahovski, Stephanie Beatriz, Tara Strong, Vanessa Marshall, Kyra Sedgwick, Kelly Rippa and Elisa Gabrielli.  

The Silver Age Batwoman first appeared in Detective Comics #233 (1956); whereas Kate Kane first appeared in the pages of 52 #7 (2006).

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There's also currently another Jon running around. When he became Tomorrowman, Jon ended up yanking his younger self off of Earth-3 effectively creating a variant of himself. However the book is laying it on thick that there's something not right with Younger!Jon, so who knows how this'll end, just praying it's not another bait and switch (Deaging Jon is to DC what A Married Spider-man is to Marvel at this point).

I see. That sounds like one too many Superboys. Having really enjoyed Super Sons, I was bummed out by the narrative decision to age him up to his late teens. But I agree reversing course at this point to undo it or create a variant duplicate who’s still a kid would make for cheap, uninspired storytelling.

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365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

The Pied Piper

Hartley Rathaway was born into a wealthy family.  Early in his toddlerhood, Hartley’s parents discovered that he was deaf.  They spared no expense in their efforts to help their son hear, including experimental treatments.  They financed and ultimately developed highly sophisticated hearing implants that were designed by the cybernetic progeny William Magnus.  These implants proved successful and young Hartley was able to hear.

Later in his adolescence, Hartley discovered that the implants not only allowed for normal hearing but could also be enhanced so that he could hear all manner of sounds, frequencies outside of the range of human hearing.  

He became a master of sound and experimented with sonic vibrations that could affect the thoughts, moods and actions of those around him. He devised specialized melodies that could effectively hypnotize others and other vibrations that could break apart solid matter.  

Now a young man, Hartley found himself quite bored and he decided to try his hand at being a super villain, seeing as a fun lark.  He crafted up a costume along with a specialized flute and dubbed himself ‘The Pied Piper.’  This flute could hypnotize people and, at its highest frequency, deliver a sonic blast that could break through concrete.  With this flute, The Piper set about a crime spree in Keystone City and it was not long before he ran afoul of the city’s speedster protectors, The Flash (Barry Allen).

Following a number of defeats at the hands of The Flash, The Pied Piper threw in with team of supervillains known as the Rogues (composed of The Flash’s most persistent of foes).  Hartley continued to operate as the Pied Piper simply for the sport of it, because it was fun.  This changed in the wake of the Crisis on Multiple Earths event wherein the Flash valiantly sacrificed his life.  Hartley was moved by the hero’s selfless action and he decided to reform and discontinue his villainous ways. 

Hartley rededicated himself to prosocial causes and, when Wally Wets took up the mantle as the new Flash, Hartley became an alley to him as well as a friend to Wally and his girlfriend Linda Park.  Around this time, Hartley also came out as gay (this was one of the first main characters in a DC comic book to be openly queer).  

Following further misadventures, Hartley completely retired from his role as the Pied Piper and ultimately became the conductor of the Central City Philharmonic Orchestra.  Although he continued to have ties with The Flash and has been in a longterm relationship with David Singh, the director of the crime lab at the Central City Police Department.    

Actors  Andy Mientus and Martin Mull have each portrayed live-action versions of The Pied Piper.  The former villain first appeared in the pages of The Flash Vol 1 #106 (1959).  

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New History of the DCU also seems to place Jon's birth during the events of 52 (the weekly not The New 52) back when Clark was depowered for a full year. Makes the most sense to place it there but gets murky with Damian's age (although They do acknowledge all the multiversal resets to justify how he still ended up as an 11 year old while Damian was perpetually 12 years old by the time he debut as Superboy).

I want a cosmic crisis to reset my age and make me 25 again.

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EX-boyfriend. Jon and Jay broke up in the pages of Secret Six after Jay went full mask-off and wanted Jon to destroy America for The Government's part in Amanda Waller steamrolling Gomorra and killing his mom (The President of the Island). Jon ultimately didn't want to probably out of reflection of his exposure from Injustice!Superman going through similar things (which was probably the better takeaway from that encounter that what originally happened), leading Jay to leave since he "doesn't believe in him anymore" (I.E. manipulate and gaslight him for his own agenda).

Good riddance I say, Maybe now Jon can get a less creep partner if we're content to keep Teen Jon around. Least The Tomorrowman stuff has been some of the better "Post-Bendis" Jon stuff.

they broke up because Jay wanted Jon to destroy America, you say? wow …that teenage romance for you. Always so much drama!

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365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

Superboy / Jonathan Kent

Jonathan Samuel ‘Jon’ Kent is the son of Superman (Clark Kent) and Lois Lane.  His birth was facilitated by the machinations of Brainiac during The Convergence story-arc.  In this tale, Brainiac had gained access to the ‘Vanishing Point,’ allowing him to view the various histories of the Multiverse.  Brainiac then collected various cities and inhabitants from different timelines, trapping them in domes on a planet outside of time and space.  Versions of both Lois and Clark were among those collected and deposited in a domed Gotham City.  Removed from Earth’s yellow sun, Clark’s powers as Superman quickly abated.  

The two were trapped in this city for many months and during this time, Lois became pregnant and gave birth to their child.  They name their son Jonathan Samuel after both of their fathers.  

Following the Convergence Event, the Kent family arrived at the beginning of the New 52 era. Superman and his family lived in secrecy for many years, moving to California and adopting new identities.  Lois became a celebrated, anonymous author, while Clark continued his superhero duties quietly and behind the scenes.  Young Jon grew up with a relatively normal life unaware of his nor his parents’ real identities.  In his early adolescence, Jon developed superpowers similar to those of his father.  

In the DC Rebirth continuity, the Post-Crisis Superman has been re-conceptualized as the main Superman, along with his wife, Lois and their son Jon.  The family resided on a farm in Hamilton County.  Jon’s powers continue to emerge and he joins his father on an adventure that pits the two against The Eradicator.  

Now going by the name ‘Superboy,’ Jon enters into a partnership with Robin (Damian Wayne).  At first, these two ‘Super Sons’ did not get along very well; with Damian seeing Jon as naive and undeserving of his great powers and Jon seeing Damian as rude and egotistical.  Throughout their adventures together, however, the two would become great friends, fostering an alliance very similar to that maintained by their fathers.  

Later, Jon’s grandfather Jor-El visited the Kent family and offered to take Jon on a trip to better educate him about the known universe.  His parents were reluctant to let him go, but ultimately allowed it.  It proved a fateful decision in that Jon ended up trapped in a black hole and marooned on Earth 3 were he had to contend with Ultraman and the Crime Syndicate.  He was eventually able to escape and return to Earth Prime.  Due to the time dilation of Jon’s encounter with the black hole, however, what was a years-long journey for him had only been a couple of weeks for his parents; and Lois and Clark were shocked to be reunited by their now older, teenage son.  

Jon would go on to have adventures alongside the Legion of Superheroes, the Secret Six and The Justice League.  He took on the moniker of ‘Superman’ although most continued to refer to him as Superboy.  Following the DC K.O. event, Jon began operating under the new codename of ‘Tomorrow Man.’  Jon’s boyfriend is Jay Nakamura, a young journalist who runs the ‘Truth’ online news site.  

Actors Jordan Elsass and Michael Bishop have each portrayed live-action versions of Jon Kent.  The hero has also featured in animated projects, voiced by actors Jack Dylan Grazer, Grey DeLisle and Yuri Lowenthal.  Jon Kent first appeared in the pages of Convergence: Superman #2 (2015).

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365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

The Pied Piper

Hartley Rathaway was born into a wealthy family.  Early in his toddlerhood, Hartley’s parents discovered that he was deaf.  They spared no expense in their efforts to help their son hear, including experimental treatments.  They financed and ultimately developed highly sophisticated hearing implants that were designed by the cybernetic progeny William Magnus.  These implants proved successful and young Hartley was able to hear.

Later in his adolescence, Hartley discovered that the implants not only allowed for normal hearing but could also be enhanced so that he could hear all manner of sounds, frequencies outside of the range of human hearing.  

He became a master of sound and experimented with sonic vibrations that could affect the thoughts, moods and actions of those around him. He devised specialized melodies that could effectively hypnotize others and other vibrations that could break apart solid matter.  

Now a young man, Hartley found himself quite bored and he decided to try his hand at being a super villain, seeing as a fun lark.  He crafted up a costume along with a specialized flute and dubbed himself ‘The Pied Piper.’  This flute could hypnotize people and, at its highest frequency, deliver a sonic blast that could break through concrete.  With this flute, The Piper set about a crime spree in Keystone City and it was not long before he ran afoul of the city’s speedster protectors, The Flash (Barry Allen).

Following a number of defeats at the hands of The Flash, The Pied Piper threw in with team of supervillains known as the Rogues (composed of The Flash’s most persistent of foes).  Hartley continued to operate as the Pied Piper simply for the sport of it, because it was fun.  This changed in the wake of the Crisis on Multiple Earths event wherein the Flash valiantly sacrificed his life.  Hartley was moved by the hero’s selfless action and he decided to reform and discontinue his villainous ways. 

Hartley rededicated himself to prosocial causes and, when Wally Wets took up the mantle as the new Flash, Hartley became an alley to him as well as a friend to Wally and his girlfriend Linda Park.  Around this time, Hartley also came out as gay (this was one of the first main characters in a DC comic book to be openly queer).  

Following further misadventures, Hartley completely retired from his role as the Pied Piper and ultimately became the conductor of the Central City Philharmonic Orchestra.  Although he continued to have ties with The Flash and has been in a longterm relationship with David Singh, the director of the crime lab at the Central City Police Department.    

Actors  Andy Mientus and Martin Mull have each portrayed live-action versions of The Pied Piper.  The former villain first appeared in the pages of The Flash Vol 1 #106 (1959).  

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365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

The Human Bomb

There have been three heroes who have operated under the moniker of The Human Bomb.  The first was Roy Lincoln, a scientist who worked alongside his father toward developing a special explosive compound which they called ’formula 27-QRX.’  The two worked on the explosive in the United States in the months prior to the country’s entry into the Second World War.  Spies working for the Axis Forces attempted to steal the formula, hoping it could prove a powerful weapon for the Third Reich.  These spies broke into the Lincoln’s lab and shot and killed the elder scientist.  

In a desperate effort to keep 27-QRX from being stolen, Lincoln took the only existing sample and drank it.  Amazingly, this resulted in his now possessing the ability to make anything explode by simply touching it.  He used these powers to save himself from the spies and decided to honor his father’s memory by becoming a super hero, hence becoming ‘The Human Bomb.’

Although vastly powerful, Lincoln’s new abilities came at a great cost and he would spend the rest of his life isolated from human contact.  His touching any substance would cause it to explode; only an experimental fibro-wax proved an effective insulant.  Hence, to ensure the safety of those around him, Lincoln lived inside of a specialized suite composed of fibro-wax.  He could remove his gloves to unleash his powers, but was otherwise forever trapped within his suit.  It made for a solitary existence that Lincoln endured with a quite stoicism.

Following many adventures, The Human Bomb would go on to serve in the All-Star Squadron as well as Uncle Sam’s Freedom Fighters.  After the Allied Forces won the war, Lincoln and the rest of the Freedom Fighter’s traveled to Earth X (a parallel world where the Axis Powers had won the war) so to continue the fight against the villainy of nazism. 

The Freedom Fighters ultimately prevailed on Earth X and the heroes finally returned to Earth Prime.  Sadly, Lincoln and his comrades perished in battle soon there after, falling victim to a brutal attack by the new Secret Society of Super Villains in the early stages of the Infinite Crisis event. 

Doctor Andy Franklin became the second Human Bomb after he was caught in the explosion created by the villain known as Chemo was dropped onto the Gotham City borough, Blüdhaven.  His body was experimented upon by agents of the shadowing organization SHADE.  They found that Franklin had absorbed mysterious properties that caused his body to secrete a highly explosive compound.  He was placed in a specialized containment suit to prevent unintentional detonations and was soon thereafter recruited by Uncle Sam and his new Freedom Fighters.  

Acting as the new Human Bomb, Franklin joined this contemporary iteration of The Freedom Fighters in their ongoing confrontations with SHADE. Franklin’s explosive properties are much more extreme than those possessed by the original Human Bomb.  

The third hero to possess these powers is young Gloria James.  Gloria is the daughter of a chemist who had worked alongside Roy Lincoln in the past.  After her father was killed by criminals, Gloria attempted to recreate the 27-QRX formula so to gain powers similar to those possessed by The human Bomb.  She succeeded top an extent, obtaining a slightly less powerful iteration of these abilities.  

Gloria had a hard time learning to use this power and Roy Lincoln came to her aid, providing her a specialized suit similar to his own as well as guidance in learning to master her new abilities.  Gloria would go on to name herself ‘Cherry Bomb’ and acted as the Human Bomb’s teen sidekick for a number of adventures.  

As was the case with many young sidekicks, Gloria was abducted by the Time Masters and ostensively erased from continuity.  She and the other sidekicks were eventually rescued by Stargirl and then returned to the present era by Hourman.  

The Roy Lincoln version of the character first appeared in the pages of Police Comics #1 (1941); the Andy Franklin version first appeared in Crisis Aftermath: The Battle For Blüdhaven #1 (2006); while Gloria James/Cherry Bomb debuted in the pages of The New Golden Age #1 (2023).  

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365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

Rag Doll

Two dangerous villains have operated under the moniker of the Rag Doll.  The original was a former carnival performer named Peter Merkel.  Possessing triple-jointed limbs, Merkel was a greatly accomplished contortionist, able to twist and manipulate his body in an uncanny, sometimes grotesque fashion.  

Greedy and unscrupulous, Merkel decided to use his skills to commit crime.  He created a costume similar to a stuffed rag doll and, with his lithe frame and contortionist abilities, many assumed him to be  merely a child’s toy.  This allowed him to go unnoticed and sneaked into secure locations.  To this end, Merkel engaged in a rash of heists and burglaries.  His crime scree was finally put a stop to by the heroic Flash (Jay Garrick).  

The Rag Doll broke out of prison and resumed his criminal ways, running afoul of heroes including Black Canary, Batman, The Justice Society and Justice League.  He has been a member of the Injustice League, The Secret Society of Super Villains and the Injustice Society. 

Years of twisting his body in different directions took its toll on Merkel and, in his later years, he was plagued by terrible arthritis.  This contributed to his angry, nihilistic attitudes and he became involved in a satanic doomsday cult situated in Opal City.  This led to multiple confrontations with the then new Starman, Jack Knight.  

The villain appeared to perish in battle with Starman, but he would later reemerge having been regenerated and his youth restored by way of a Faustian bargain with the demonic Neron.  

After being once more defeated by Starman, the Rag Doll next showed up as a member of Johnny Sorrow’s iteration of the Injustice Society.  Fearing his duplicitous nature, The Wizard and The Gentleman Ghost framed Rag Doll, making it appear as though he was going to double cross Johnny Sorrow.  Angered by the apparent betrayal, Sorrow murdered Rag Doll.  To date this has proven to be a permanent death.  

Merkel fathered three children in hi younger years.  His eldest son,  Peter Merkel Junior was desperate to emulate his father and win his approval.  In his efforts to do so, Peter Jr. endured dozens of drastic experimental surgeries.  He had bones removed, cybernetic joints implanted, skin grafts and even had his genitalia removed… all in order to replicate his father's multi-jointed physique and uncanny contortionistic abilities. It all left Peter Jr. terribly disfigured and in chronic pain; he additionally required regular doses of an emollient lubricate to prevent his bones from pricing through his skin.  

As terrible as it all was, Peter Jr. actions allowed him to twist and contort his body in extreme ways, becoming an even more extreme contortionist than his father.  Furthermore, he cultivated a special fighting strategy that utilized his inhuman physical abilities.  Indeed Peter Jr. made himself a far more formidable threat than his father had ever been.  And yet the elder Merkel rejected his son as a poor imitation and an unworthy heir to the Rag Doll mantle.  

Still desperate to prove himself, Peter Jr. donned a garish costume and became the new Rag Doll.  Following activities as a hired assassin, Peter Jr. was recruited into The Secret Six and would end up a member of the team across multiple iterations.  Following the Secret Six’s ultimate dissolution, Ragdoll was brief incarcerated at Arkham Asylum.  He later broke free out and battled Batgirl.  He was defeated by Batgirl and his current status and whereabout remain as yet unrevealed.

A version of the second Ragdoll has featured in the Flash television series portrayed by contortionist Troy James and voiced by actor Phil LaMarr.  The villain additionally appeared in the 2004 animated series, The Batman, voiced by actor Jeff Bennett.  The original Rag Doll first appeared in Flash Comics #36 (1942); whereas the second Rag Doll debuted in the pages of Villains United #1 (2005).    

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365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

The Wizard

William Asmodeus Zard had been a petty thief and gangster who traveled to a remote region of Tibet ins search of some means of enhancing his craft.  He met a mysterious lama who tutored Zard in the mystical arts of illusion, hypnosis and astral projection.  Zard proved a very apt pupil and he soon mastered the ability to cast powerful and convincing illusions.  

Returning to the States, Zard renamed himself ‘The Wizard’ and set about an effort to announce himself as the supreme criminal kingpin by destroying the much-renown Justice Society.  The heroes were initially caught off guard by the Wizard’s illusions and the villain’s scheme almost succeeded.   He was undone by failing to realize his powers would not work on the blind hero Dr. Mid-Nite.  

The Wizard would later return, helping to form the first iteration of the Injustice Society, a confederacy of villains pooling their efforts to take down the Justice Society.  The two teams battled on many occasions with the heroes always triumphing.  

The Wizard would later obtain the magical items known as the Wand of Glastonbury as well as the Key to the Ghost Zone, which significantly augmented his powers.  He embarked on schemes on both Earth I and Earth II, battling both the Justice Society as well as the Justice League.  

Later, The Wizard formed a new team of villains called Injustice Unlimited and battled the young heroes of Infinity Inc.  The heroes again prevailed and The Wizard was seemingly killed in the ensuing battle.

It was later reveled that The Wizard had survived and return under the guise of a demonic threat known as Legacy.  Once more he form the Injustice Society to do battle against both the JSA and JLA.  And once ore The Wizard seemed to perish, this time in confrontation against The Specter.  The villain was later shown as inexplicably revived some time later, joining the ranks of yet another iteration of the Society.  

A version of the Wizard featured in the 1949 Batman and Robin theatrical serial, portrayed by actor Carter Hammill ; while actor William Zarick portrayed another version of the character in the television series Stargirl.  The villain has additionally featured in the animated series Justice League, voiced by actor Jeffery Jones.   The Wizard first appeared in the pages of All Star Comics #34 (1947).  

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365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

Captain Atom

The hero known as Captain Atom was originally an astronomic engineer named Allan Adam who was accidentally trapped within an experimental rocket that atomized in the upper atmosphere.  Somehow, the experimental nature of the rocket resulted in Adam’s consciousness remaining and he was able to reconstitute his body and now possessed a host of nuclear-based super powers (including flight, energy projection and the capacity to absorb and modulate radiation).  Taking on the alias of Captain Atom, he went on to use these powers as a superhero and had numerous adventures.  

Following The Crisis of Infinite Earths event, the hero was folded into the main DC Universe and his civilian identity and back story was re-conceptualized.  In the new telling, Captain Atom was a veteran Air Force officer named Nathaniel Adam who was wrongfully convicted of a high crime in the military court.  Facing a death sentence, Adam opted to participate in a highly dangerous experiment.  The experiment involved Adam being inside of a crashed alien ship when its hull was blasted by an atomic weapon.  

Both Adam and the ship were seemingly disintegrated.   Some twenty years later, Adam suddenly reappeared with the alien metal of the spacecraft, now bonded around his body.  This secondary skin bestowed him the aforementioned super powers (explained by the alloy’s capacity to tap into the ‘quantum field’).  

Once more assuming the alias of Captain Atom, the hero would go on to serve as a member of The Justice League as well as League’s European division and the special operations team called Extreme Justice.    

Versions of Captain Atom have existed in numerous realities and different continuities.  Iterations of the hero have included Dr. Manhattan from the Watchmen Universe as well as the tragic figure known as Breach. 

Captain Atom has featured in numerous animated projects.  Herein the hero has been voiced by actors George Eads, Chris Cox, Brian Bloom, lex lang, Xander Berkeley, Michael T. Weiss, Fred Tatasciore, Jeff Bennett and Brett Dalton.  Captain Atom debuted in the pages of Space Adventures #33 (1960).  

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Ragdoll seems to be back to doing Secret Six stuff since the last I saw the contortionist was when they became Ralph and Sue's wacky neighbor along with the rest of the Simone era Sinister Six cast (barring Bane, Deadshot, & King Shark). The most recent appearance for them was in a 2025 Holiday special with the Secret Six where they're now confirmed to be Non-Binary.

Wild!

[docgold13]

365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

Rag Doll

Two dangerous villains have operated under the moniker of the Rag Doll.  The original was a former carnival performer named Peter Merkel.  Possessing triple-jointed limbs, Merkel was a greatly accomplished contortionist, able to twist and manipulate his body in an uncanny, sometimes grotesque fashion.  

Greedy and unscrupulous, Merkel decided to use his skills to commit crime.  He created a costume similar to a stuffed rag doll and, with his lithe frame and contortionist abilities, many assumed him to be  merely a child’s toy.  This allowed him to go unnoticed and sneaked into secure locations.  To this end, Merkel engaged in a rash of heists and burglaries.  His crime scree was finally put a stop to by the heroic Flash (Jay Garrick).  

The Rag Doll broke out of prison and resumed his criminal ways, running afoul of heroes including Black Canary, Batman, The Justice Society and Justice League.  He has been a member of the Injustice League, The Secret Society of Super Villains and the Injustice Society. 

Years of twisting his body in different directions took its toll on Merkel and, in his later years, he was plagued by terrible arthritis.  This contributed to his angry, nihilistic attitudes and he became involved in a satanic doomsday cult situated in Opal City.  This led to multiple confrontations with the then new Starman, Jack Knight.  

The villain appeared to perish in battle with Starman, but he would later reemerge having been regenerated and his youth restored by way of a Faustian bargain with the demonic Neron.  

After being once more defeated by Starman, the Rag Doll next showed up as a member of Johnny Sorrow’s iteration of the Injustice Society.  Fearing his duplicitous nature, The Wizard and The Gentleman Ghost framed Rag Doll, making it appear as though he was going to double cross Johnny Sorrow.  Angered by the apparent betrayal, Sorrow murdered Rag Doll.  To date this has proven to be a permanent death.  

Merkel fathered three children in hi younger years.  His eldest son,  Peter Merkel Junior was desperate to emulate his father and win his approval.  In his efforts to do so, Peter Jr. endured dozens of drastic experimental surgeries.  He had bones removed, cybernetic joints implanted, skin grafts and even had his genitalia removed… all in order to replicate his father's multi-jointed physique and uncanny contortionistic abilities. It all left Peter Jr. terribly disfigured and in chronic pain; he additionally required regular doses of an emollient lubricate to prevent his bones from pricing through his skin.  

As terrible as it all was, Peter Jr. actions allowed him to twist and contort his body in extreme ways, becoming an even more extreme contortionist than his father.  Furthermore, he cultivated a special fighting strategy that utilized his inhuman physical abilities.  Indeed Peter Jr. made himself a far more formidable threat than his father had ever been.  And yet the elder Merkel rejected his son as a poor imitation and an unworthy heir to the Rag Doll mantle.  

Still desperate to prove himself, Peter Jr. donned a garish costume and became the new Rag Doll.  Following activities as a hired assassin, Peter Jr. was recruited into The Secret Six and would end up a member of the team across multiple iterations.  Following the Secret Six’s ultimate dissolution, Ragdoll was brief incarcerated at Arkham Asylum.  He later broke free out and battled Batgirl.  He was defeated by Batgirl and his current status and whereabout remain as yet unrevealed.

A version of the second Ragdoll has featured in the Flash television series portrayed by contortionist Troy James and voiced by actor Phil LaMarr.  The villain additionally appeared in the 2004 animated series, The Batman, voiced by actor Jeff Bennett.  The original Rag Doll first appeared in Flash Comics #36 (1942); whereas the second Rag Doll debuted in the pages of Villains United #1 (2005).    

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365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

Jimmy Olsen

Cub reporter and ace photographer James Bartholomew ‘Jimmy’ Olsen has crammed more action, hi jinx and adventure into his young life than most superheroes could in several lifetimes.  Starting off as a clerk at The Daily Planet, Jimmy’s skill with a camera earned him the position of Lois Lane’s official photographer; and he accompanied the intrepid reporter on many of her daring escapades.  This would ultimately lead to Jimmy’s meeting Superman.  

After Jimmy and the Man of Steel shared an adventure, Superman offered him a special signal watch.  This watch can emit a super-high frequency beacon that only Superman can hear; a beacon Jimmy could use if ever he found himself in serious trouble.  

Jimmy would go on to use (and misuse) this signal watch on many occasions as he embarked on adventures that ranged from the perilous to the outright bizarre.  Throughout these misadventures, Jimmy frequently found himself transformed into strange creatures (such as changing into a rampaging turtle-creature or having his consciousness transferred into the body of a giant gorilla) or imbued with temporary super powers (including the ability to stretch his limbs as Elastic Lad or move at super sonic speeds as Speed Demon).  

The lad just has a knack for being at the wrong place at the right time… resulting in the strangest of things happening to him.  Fortunately, his good luck, quick thinking and reliance on Superman has resulted in his always coming through these ordeals unscathed.  

Being known as ‘Superman’s Pal’ has been both a blessing and a curse for Jimmy.  It’s earned him a degree of celebrity in Metropolis, but has also put him in regular peril.  And yet Jimmy has not always required Superman’s aide in getting out of binds… there have even been a couple of occasions where it has been Jimmy who saved Superman.   For a short while Jimmy was bestowed Kyrptonian powers and acted as Flamebird, the protector of the bottled Kryptonian city of Kandor.  He later investigated the DNAliens and Project Cadmus.  Here he was named an honorary member of the new Newsboy Legion.  Jimmy was one of the first humans to encounter The New Gods of Apocalypse and New Genesis.  He later found out that he is distantly related to Lex Luthor.  

JImmy’s boyish features and lithe frame notwithstanding, the guy has proven quite the lady’s man and he has had a procession of girlfriends each greatly impressive not only in they beauty but also their ability and accomplishments.  Said love interests have included Lois Lane’s younger sister Lucy, Barbara Bench, Chloe Sullivan, Isabel Glenn, the 5th dimensional imp called Maggie Mxyzptlk, the Kryptonian Kara Zor El, super thief Jixelle Mantel and the reformed villain Siobhan ‘Silver Banshee’ Smythe.  

Jimmy has appeared in dozens of movies, serials and television programs.  Actors who have portrayed live-action versions of the character include Tommy Bond, Jack Larson, Marc McClure, Michael Landes, Justin Whalin, Sam Huntington, Aaron Ashmore, Ryan Harder, Phill Morris, Michael Cassidy, Mehcad Brooks and Skyler Gisondo.  Jimmy has also featured in many animated projects, voiced by actors Jack Grimes, David Kaufman, Mark L. Taylor, Jack DeSena, Alexander Polinsky, Dee Bradley Baker, Elisha Yaffe, Max Mittelman, Ben Giroux, Kimberly Brooks, Drew Massey and Ishmael Sahid.

Jimmy Olsen first appeared in the pages of Action Comics #8 (1938).    

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365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

Captain Atom

The hero known as Captain Atom was originally an astronomic engineer named Allan Adam who was accidentally trapped within an experimental rocket that atomized in the upper atmosphere.  Somehow, the experimental nature of the rocket resulted in Adam’s consciousness remaining and he was able to reconstitute his body and now possessed a host of nuclear-based super powers (including flight, energy projection and the capacity to absorb and modulate radiation).  Taking on the alias of Captain Atom, he went on to use these powers as a superhero and had numerous adventures.  

Following The Crisis of Infinite Earths event, the hero was folded into the main DC Universe and his civilian identity and back story was re-conceptualized.  In the new telling, Captain Atom was a veteran Air Force officer named Nathaniel Adam who was wrongfully convicted of a high crime in the military court.  Facing a death sentence, Adam opted to participate in a highly dangerous experiment.  The experiment involved Adam being inside of a crashed alien ship when its hull was blasted by an atomic weapon.  

Both Adam and the ship were seemingly disintegrated.   Some twenty years later, Adam suddenly reappeared with the alien metal of the spacecraft, now bonded around his body.  This secondary skin bestowed him the aforementioned super powers (explained by the alloy’s capacity to tap into the ‘quantum field’).  

Once more assuming the alias of Captain Atom, the hero would go on to serve as a member of The Justice League as well as League’s European division and the special operations team called Extreme Justice.    

Versions of Captain Atom have existed in numerous realities and different continuities.  Iterations of the hero have included Dr. Manhattan from the Watchmen Universe as well as the tragic figure known as Breach. 

Captain Atom has featured in numerous animated projects.  Herein the hero has been voiced by actors George Eads, Chris Cox, Brian Bloom, lex lang, Xander Berkeley, Michael T. Weiss, Fred Tatasciore, Jeff Bennett and Brett Dalton.  Captain Atom debuted in the pages of Space Adventures #33 (1960).  

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365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

The Silver Banshee

Siobhan McDougal was the first-born child of Garrett McDougal, the patriarch of an old Gaelic clan that has occupied an island off the Scottish coast for countless generations.  As the first born, it was her responsibility at the time of her father’s death to perform a ritual involving the summoning of dark magics to protect the clan.  She was interrupted in this by her uncle Seamus who believed that only a man could lead their clan.  The interruption proved disastrous and Siobhan was banished to the Dark Realms and transformed into a Banshee.  

A very much changed Siobhan was finally able to escape this realm many years later, and went in search of her family’s tome which had ended up in the collection of occult literature located in the city of Metropolis.  Now known as The Silver Banshee and endowed with flight, enhanced strength and the capacity to emit a powerful sonic scream, her efforts to obtain this book brought her into conflict with Superman.  

Following a number of battles with Superman, Batman was able to locate the McDougal text and he and Superman used an ancient spell to return The Silver Banshee to the Dark Realms.  Her imprisonment proved brief and the villainess returned on several occasions to battle Superman and Supergirl.  She was additionally recruited into Lex Luthor’s iteration of The Secret Society of Super Villains.  

A new version of The Silver Banshee has been introduced in the updated DC Comics continuity.  This new version is named Siobhan Smythe and is an alley of Supergirl, aiding her in the battle against her uncle, The Black Banshee.   More recently, Siobhan began a romantic relationship with Jimmy Olsen.  

Actresses Odessa Rae and Italia Ricci have portrayed live-action versions of the Silver Banshee in the television shows Smallville and Supergirl respectively.  The villainess has additionally featured in animated projects, voiced by actresses Kim Mai Guest, Catherine Taber and Cristina Milizia.

The original Silver Banshee first appeared in the pages of Action Comics #595 (1987).  The second version debuted in the pages of Supergirl vol. 6 #7 (2011).  

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365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

Jimmy Olsen

Cub reporter and ace photographer James Bartholomew ‘Jimmy’ Olsen has crammed more action, hi jinx and adventure into his young life than most superheroes could in several lifetimes.  Starting off as a clerk at The Daily Planet, Jimmy’s skill with a camera earned him the position of Lois Lane’s official photographer; and he accompanied the intrepid reporter on many of her daring escapades.  This would ultimately lead to Jimmy’s meeting Superman.  

After Jimmy and the Man of Steel shared an adventure, Superman offered him a special signal watch.  This watch can emit a super-high frequency beacon that only Superman can hear; a beacon Jimmy could use if ever he found himself in serious trouble.  

Jimmy would go on to use (and misuse) this signal watch on many occasions as he embarked on adventures that ranged from the perilous to the outright bizarre.  Throughout these misadventures, Jimmy frequently found himself transformed into strange creatures (such as changing into a rampaging turtle-creature or having his consciousness transferred into the body of a giant gorilla) or imbued with temporary super powers (including the ability to stretch his limbs as Elastic Lad or move at super sonic speeds as Speed Demon).  

The lad just has a knack for being at the wrong place at the right time… resulting in the strangest of things happening to him.  Fortunately, his good luck, quick thinking and reliance on Superman has resulted in his always coming through these ordeals unscathed.  

Being known as ‘Superman’s Pal’ has been both a blessing and a curse for Jimmy.  It’s earned him a degree of celebrity in Metropolis, but has also put him in regular peril.  And yet Jimmy has not always required Superman’s aide in getting out of binds… there have even been a couple of occasions where it has been Jimmy who saved Superman.   For a short while Jimmy was bestowed Kyrptonian powers and acted as Flamebird, the protector of the bottled Kryptonian city of Kandor.  He later investigated the DNAliens and Project Cadmus.  Here he was named an honorary member of the new Newsboy Legion.  Jimmy was one of the first humans to encounter The New Gods of Apocalypse and New Genesis.  He later found out that he is distantly related to Lex Luthor.  

JImmy’s boyish features and lithe frame notwithstanding, the guy has proven quite the lady’s man and he has had a procession of girlfriends each greatly impressive not only in they beauty but also their ability and accomplishments.  Said love interests have included Lois Lane’s younger sister Lucy, Barbara Bench, Chloe Sullivan, Isabel Glenn, the 5th dimensional imp called Maggie Mxyzptlk, the Kryptonian Kara Zor El, super thief Jixelle Mantel and the reformed villain Siobhan ‘Silver Banshee’ Smythe.  

Jimmy has appeared in dozens of movies, serials and television programs.  Actors who have portrayed live-action versions of the character include Tommy Bond, Jack Larson, Marc McClure, Michael Landes, Justin Whalin, Sam Huntington, Aaron Ashmore, Ryan Harder, Phill Morris, Michael Cassidy, Mehcad Brooks and Skyler Gisondo.  Jimmy has also featured in many animated projects, voiced by actors Jack Grimes, David Kaufman, Mark L. Taylor, Jack DeSena, Alexander Polinsky, Dee Bradley Baker, Elisha Yaffe, Max Mittelman, Ben Giroux, Kimberly Brooks, Drew Massey and Ishmael Sahid.

Jimmy Olsen first appeared in the pages of Action Comics #8 (1938).