Dr. Weird (comics)
Encyclopedia
Dr. Weird is a Big Bang Comics
Big Bang Comics
Big Bang Comics first appeared in 1994, with five issue mini-series , published by Caliber Comics. Their second series was published by Image Comics. Currently their titles are self-published.-Publication history:...

 character who first appeared in Star-Studded Comics #1 (September 1963). Dr. Weird is a ghost who battles supernatural evil. He was created by Howard Keltner.

Publishing history

Originally published by the Texas Trio (Larry Herndon, Buddy Saunders and Howard Keltner) from 1963 to 1972, the fanzine Star-Studded Comics spanned 18 issues and featured such characters as Dr. Weird, The Eye, Xal-Kor the Human Cat, Powerman, the Blade, and White Dragon.

1970 saw Dr. Weird gain his own title with stories by George R.R. Martin and Jim Starlin
Jim Starlin
James P. "Jim" Starlin is an American comic book writer and artist. With a career dating back to the early 1970s, he is best known for "cosmic" tales and space opera; for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock; and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters...

 early in their careers.

In 1987, Howard Keltner approached publisher Gary Carlson with the idea of reprinting the Martin/Starlin stories. In 1993, Gary Carlson and Edward DeGeorge acquired all rights to Dr. Weird from Howard Keltner and folded him into the Big Bang universe, the only character with a genuine pedigree.

Fictional history

In the 24th Century, Dr. Rex Ward developed a means of travelling in time. Travelling back to 1940 (on Earth-A, the Silver Age
Silver age
A silver age is a name often given to a particular period within a history, typically as a lesser and later successor to a golden age, the metal silver generally being valuable, but less so than gold.-Greek myth:...

 Earth), he was killed, creating the paradox of a man who died before he was born. His spirit continues to fight the forces of evil as Dr. Weird until he catches up to his true time, when he can finally find peace..

The Crisscross Crisis

Dr. Weird was the first to notice the collision of Earths A (Silver Age
Silver age
A silver age is a name often given to a particular period within a history, typically as a lesser and later successor to a golden age, the metal silver generally being valuable, but less so than gold.-Greek myth:...

) and B (Golden Age
Golden Age
The term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology and legend and refers to the first in a sequence of four or five Ages of Man, in which the Golden Age is first, followed in sequence, by the Silver, Bronze, and Iron Ages, and then the present, a period of decline...

), and plugged the void between them with his ecto-physical self.

While the Roundtable of America on Earth-A and the Knights of Justice on Earth-B tried to track down the culprit, Dr. Weird was given the strength to plug the gap by the two equivalents of Ultiman
Ultiman
Ultiman is a fictional character published by Big Bang Comics. First appearing in Big Bang Comics #1 , he was created by Gary Carlson and drawn by his partner Chris Ecker, among others. There are two existing versions of Ultiman. Metafictionally, the first is from the Golden Age of comics on...

, the two Beacons and the two Blitzes, thus avoiding the threat of an interplanetary collision.

When Thunder Girl
Thunder Girl
Thunder Girl is a superheroine in Big Bang Comics who first appeared in Big Bang Comics #2 , she was created by Chris Ecker and Sheldon Moldoff...

 was left trapped on Earth-A after the Crisis was over, Dr. Weird stated that an attempt to re-open the void would mean total destruction of the two worlds, and gave her an image of Earth-B for her to treasure.

Modern Age

In the 1990s, Dr. Weird's muscle tone had expanded tenfold, and his eyes had changed from a lifeless white to a dark red. He was able to keep Ultiman
Ultiman
Ultiman is a fictional character published by Big Bang Comics. First appearing in Big Bang Comics #1 , he was created by Gary Carlson and drawn by his partner Chris Ecker, among others. There are two existing versions of Ultiman. Metafictionally, the first is from the Golden Age of comics on...

 in contact with the spirit of the Earth A Beacon after she was killed by The Sub-Human long enough to give them a clue.

Powers and abilities

Dr. Weird can pass through walls with ease, making himself immaterial and invisible at will. He has a sixth sense that alerts him to the presence of evil. He can teleport anywhere, and his glare can petrify anyone who sees it. He is abnormally strong and can fly. Dr. Weird seems to be able to send visions of himself to other places, and can make contact with any spiritual beings. In issue #12 of the Image Comics
Image Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...

 series, Dr. Weird used his scientific knowledge of time travel devices to aid the Savage Dragon.

Influences

Dr. Weird's name seems to be a tribute to Dr. Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....

 and his origins and powers resemble those of the Spectre
Spectre (comics)
The Spectre is a fictional character and superhero who has appeared in numerous comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in a next issue ad in More Fun Comics #51 and received his first story the following month, #52...

, but his creator Howard Keltner cites Mr. Justice, an MLJ Magazines hero from the Golden Age
Golden Age
The term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology and legend and refers to the first in a sequence of four or five Ages of Man, in which the Golden Age is first, followed in sequence, by the Silver, Bronze, and Iron Ages, and then the present, a period of decline...

as his inspiration.

Fanzines

  • Star-Studded Comics #1, 4-11, 15-16, 18
  • Comic Crusader Storybook (1977; one-shot)
  • Fantastic Exploits #16 (early 1970)
  • Dr. Weird #1 (Fall 1970)
  • Dr. Weird #2 (Fall 1971)

Caliber Press

  • Berzerker #3 (August 1993; back up story)
  • Dr. Weird Special (February 1994; reprints Martin/Starlin stories)
  • Big Bang Comics #0, 3-4
  • Doctor Weird #1-2

Image Comics

  • Big Bang Comics #1-2, 6, 9, 12, 15, 24, 27
  • Your Big Book of Big Bang Comics (March 1998)
  • Whiz Kids

Other

  • Megaton Explosion (June 1987; who's who entry)
  • Megaton Holiday Special #1 (late 1993)
  • Heroes vs. Hitler (Hamster Press; Summer 2000)
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK