Dabney Donovan
Encyclopedia
Dabney Donovan is a fictional character from the DC Comics
Universe
. He is primarily a Superboy
and Superman
villain.
#142, Donovan was the eccentric scientist and former head and co-founder of the Cadmus Project. Believing that there should be no limits in experimenting with the human gene, Donovan has given birth to countless genetic experiments. Donovan’s first experiments, the Hairies, were a group of mentally enhanced hippies who developed a unique habitat that blended super-science with lush greenery. Among Donovan’s most notable creations is the DNAliens, which are genetically-altered beings that look alien in appearance and have extreme paranormal abilities, like Dubbilex
.
Another of Donovan's experiments was the creation of the miniature planet Transilvane
which he filled with microscopic creatures duplicating classic monsters based on Donovan’s favorite horror films. The inhabitants of Transilvane were led by Count Dragorin.
One of Donovan’s gifts was in cloning. Donovan used his cloning expertise in aiding Intergang
, creating young bodies for the 1940s gangsters who founded the organisation.
He once helped the ailing Lex Luthor
clone himself a new body, in the guise of Lex Luthor II, when he was dying of a kryptonite
-induced cancer. Lex Luthor tried to kill Donovan to protect his secret, but Donovan of course used his talents to create multiple clones of himself. However, Donovan would later get his revenge by helping Luthor's ex-wife Contessa Del Portenza and sending a Bizarro
after Luthor. Donovan caused trouble with a clone plague that would cause clones to deteriorate and die. Luthor, still within his cloned body, sent his forces to battle Cadmus for the cure. Donovan eventually had to kill Cadmus’ director Paul Westfield
in order to keep his agenda hidden. However, the cure was eventually found through the DNA of Guardian and given to those who needed it, beginning with Superboy
.
When the original directors left the Project, and Mickey Cannon was put in charge, Donovan was reinstated as an imprisoned "advisor". Despite the security safeguards in place he did succeed in causing trouble, including briefly taking control of the place during the Evil Factory storyline.
Donovan’s current status is unknown as he has continued to defy death with his clones. Donovan Prime always finds a way to escape death, but his genetic monsters continue to plague Metropolis
and Cadmus, who has made it their mission to protect people against these monsters.
story The Superman Monster, a Frankenstein
pastiche. In this story he is, ironically, part of the University board that decries Viktor Luthor's experiments as blasphemous and unholy. (The other members of the board are Cadmus Director Westfield and Professor Hamilton
.)
Another alternate Donovan appears in the Amalgam
Comic one-shot Spider-Boy. Unlike most characters in the Amalgam books, he was not merged with a similar character from Marvel Comics
. He is a staffer at the Project, a version of Cadmus located inside Fantastic Mountain (which merges Challenger Mountain from Challengers of the Unknown
with the various headquarters used by the Fantastic Four
. Donovan at the time had been feeding Project head Reed Richards a form of "evil DNA" in an attempt to take what he felt was his rightful place. The plot was discovered and Richards was cured before the second round of Amalgam Comics were released, allowing him to lead the Challengers of the Fantastic against Galactiac.
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. He is primarily a Superboy
Superboy (Kon-El)
Superboy is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. A modern update of the original Superboy, who is a younger version of Superman, the character first appeared in Adventures of Superman #500 , and was created by writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett.Originally...
and Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
villain.
Fictional character biography
First appearing in Superman's Pal Jimmy OlsenSuperman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (comic)
Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from October 1954 until March 1974, spanning a total of 163 issues...
#142, Donovan was the eccentric scientist and former head and co-founder of the Cadmus Project. Believing that there should be no limits in experimenting with the human gene, Donovan has given birth to countless genetic experiments. Donovan’s first experiments, the Hairies, were a group of mentally enhanced hippies who developed a unique habitat that blended super-science with lush greenery. Among Donovan’s most notable creations is the DNAliens, which are genetically-altered beings that look alien in appearance and have extreme paranormal abilities, like Dubbilex
Dubbilex
Dubbilex is a fictional comic book character published by DC Comics. He debuted in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #136, , and was created by Jack Kirby. His name is a play on the XX chromosome. -Pre-Crisis:...
.
Another of Donovan's experiments was the creation of the miniature planet Transilvane
Transilvane
Transilvane is a fictional small artificial planet with two horn-like protuberances in the . It was created by Jack Kirby in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #142 and #143 by the mad scientist Dabney Donovan....
which he filled with microscopic creatures duplicating classic monsters based on Donovan’s favorite horror films. The inhabitants of Transilvane were led by Count Dragorin.
One of Donovan’s gifts was in cloning. Donovan used his cloning expertise in aiding Intergang
Intergang
Intergang is a fictional organized crime group in Superman and other DC comics. Armed with technology supplied by the villainous New Gods of the planet Apokolips, it is a potent foe who can seriously challenge the most powerful superheroes...
, creating young bodies for the 1940s gangsters who founded the organisation.
He once helped the ailing Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
clone himself a new body, in the guise of Lex Luthor II, when he was dying of a kryptonite
Kryptonite
Kryptonite is a fictional material from the Superman mythos —the ore form of a radioactive element from Superman's home planet of Krypton. It is famous for being the ultimate physical weakness of Superman, and the word kryptonite has since become synonymous with an Achilles' heel —the one weakness...
-induced cancer. Lex Luthor tried to kill Donovan to protect his secret, but Donovan of course used his talents to create multiple clones of himself. However, Donovan would later get his revenge by helping Luthor's ex-wife Contessa Del Portenza and sending a Bizarro
Bizarro
Bizarro is a fictional character that appears in publications published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Otto Binder and artist George Papp as a "mirror image" of Superman and first appeared in Superboy #68...
after Luthor. Donovan caused trouble with a clone plague that would cause clones to deteriorate and die. Luthor, still within his cloned body, sent his forces to battle Cadmus for the cure. Donovan eventually had to kill Cadmus’ director Paul Westfield
Paul Westfield
Paul Westfield is a fictional DC Comics character. He first appeared in Superman Vol. 2, #58 and was created by Dan Jurgens.-Publication history:...
in order to keep his agenda hidden. However, the cure was eventually found through the DNA of Guardian and given to those who needed it, beginning with Superboy
Superboy
Superboy is the name of several fictional characters that have been published by DC Comics, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. These characters have also been the main characters of four ongoing Superboy comic book series published by DC....
.
When the original directors left the Project, and Mickey Cannon was put in charge, Donovan was reinstated as an imprisoned "advisor". Despite the security safeguards in place he did succeed in causing trouble, including briefly taking control of the place during the Evil Factory storyline.
Donovan’s current status is unknown as he has continued to defy death with his clones. Donovan Prime always finds a way to escape death, but his genetic monsters continue to plague Metropolis
Metropolis (comics)
Metropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. Metropolis first appeared by name in Action Comics #16 ....
and Cadmus, who has made it their mission to protect people against these monsters.
Other versions
An alternate Donovan appears in the ElseworldsElseworlds
Elseworlds is the publication imprint for a group of comic books produced by DC Comics that take place outside the company's canon. According to its tagline: "In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places — some that have existed, and others...
story The Superman Monster, a Frankenstein
Frankenstein
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel about a failed experiment that produced a monster, written by Mary Shelley, with inserts of poems by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Shelley started writing the story when she was eighteen, and the novel was published when she was twenty-one. The first...
pastiche. In this story he is, ironically, part of the University board that decries Viktor Luthor's experiments as blasphemous and unholy. (The other members of the board are Cadmus Director Westfield and Professor Hamilton
Professor Hamilton
Professor Emil Hamilton is a fictional character in DC Comics' Superman titles. He is generally portrayed as a stereotypical absent-minded professor, with a gray beard and thick glasses and, at times, a "Mr. Wizard" type character...
.)
Another alternate Donovan appears in the Amalgam
Amalgam Comics
Amalgam Comics was a publishing imprint shared by DC Comics and Marvel Comics, in which the two comic book publishers merged their characters into new ones . These characters first appeared in a series of twelve comic books which were published in 1996, between issues 3 and 4 of the Marvel vs...
Comic one-shot Spider-Boy. Unlike most characters in the Amalgam books, he was not merged with a similar character from Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. He is a staffer at the Project, a version of Cadmus located inside Fantastic Mountain (which merges Challenger Mountain from Challengers of the Unknown
Challengers of the Unknown
The Challengers of the Unknown is a group of fictional characters in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, or co-created with Dave Wood , this quartet of adventurers explored science fictional and apparent paranormal occurrences and faced fantastic menaces.Scripts for the first...
with the various headquarters used by the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
. Donovan at the time had been feeding Project head Reed Richards a form of "evil DNA" in an attempt to take what he felt was his rightful place. The plot was discovered and Richards was cured before the second round of Amalgam Comics were released, allowing him to lead the Challengers of the Fantastic against Galactiac.