| Doctor Alchemy | |
|---|---|
.png) Albert Desmond as Doctor Alchemy, as he appeared on a splash page ofThe Flash # 764 (October 2020)Art by Will Conrad | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | (Albert Desmond) Showcase #13 (April 1958) (as Mr. Element) Showcase #14 (June 1958) (as Dr. Alchemy) (Curtis Engstrom) The Flash (vol. 2) #71 (Feb. 1992) (Alexander Petrov) The Flash (vol. 2) #202 (Nov. 2003) |
| Created by | (Albert Desmond) John Broome Carmine Infantino |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Albert Desmond Dr. Curtis Engstrom Alexander Petrov |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Notable aliases | (Albert Desmond andAlexander Petrov) Mr. Element (Curtis Engstrom) Alchemist |
| Abilities | Transmute any substance into any other substance Transform the molecular structure of the human body |
Doctor Alchemy is a name used by three differentsupervillains appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics. The most notable wasAlbert Desmond,Dr. Curtis Engstrom andAlexander Petrov.
The character appeared as a recurring cast member onThe CW television seriesthird season ofThe Flash played byTom Felton. The character makes his cinematic debut in theDC Extended Universe filmThe Flash, played byRudy Mancuso.
The character of Albert Desmond, created byJohn Broome andCarmine Infantino, first appeared inShowcase #13 (April 1958) as Mister Element.[1] His second, and more frequently used, identity of Doctor Alchemy first appeared inShowcase #14 (June 1958).[2]: 92 The Alchemist made his first appearance inThe Flash (vol. 2) #71 (Feb. 1992) and was created by writerMark Waid and artistGreg LaRocque.
The character of Alexander Petrov made his first appearance inThe Flash (vol. 2) #202 (Nov. 2003) and was created byGeoff Johns and Alberto Dose.
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Albert Desmond is a lowly chemist who suffers fromdissociative identity disorder. Desmond has two distinct personalities: one major driving personality and another criminally inclined one.[3] Under his darker personality, he applies his knowledge of chemistry to create the identity ofMister Element. He creates elemental weapons such as bulletproof silicon to shield his cars, and discovers a new element, Elemento, a magnetic light with which he sentthe Flash into space.[2]: 92
After being sent to jail as a result of his first encounter with the Flash, he learns of thePhilosopher's Stone from his cellmate. He escapes jail, finds the Philosopher's Stone, and uses its power to transmute elements to restart his criminal career as Doctor Alchemy. His good personality eventually resurfaces, causing him to quit crime and hide the Philosopher's Stone. Shortly after, a new version of Doctor Alchemy seemingly appears and is revealed to be his astral twin"Alvin" Desmond, with whom he shares a psychic link. It was later revealed that "Alvin" was a construct of the Philosopher's Stone created by Albert's criminal personality. When Albert confronts and defeats Alvin, he resumes the identity of Doctor Alchemy.[4] While he was incarcerated, both of his costumed identities were used by others: Curtis Engstrom using the Philosopher's Stone as the Alchemist and Alexander Petrov using the Mister Element identity.[2]: 92
Curtis Engstrom is an advisor on aS.T.A.R. Labs project that involved using the Philosopher's Stone to power a medical computer.[5] He stole the computer with the help of small-time crook Moe "Mouthpiece" Miglian, but he was later arrested. After escaping from prison, Engstrom donned his own Doctor Alchemy costume and set out to retrieve the microchip that had been taken from him by Miglian, calling himself theAlchemist. After being defeated, Engstrom and Miglian were both arrested.
Alexander Petrov is acriminologist working for theKeystone City Police Department who used an ice-based weapon created by Mister Element to commit crimes and further his career. His plan comes undone when profilerAshley Zolomon enters his office as he is putting on his mask.The Flash stops him from killing Zolomon, butCaptain Cold interrupts them before the Flash can take him into custody and kills Petrov for breaking one of the rules of theRogues' code of "ethics" – not framing other Rogues for crimes.[6]
As Mister Element, Albert Desmond dons a suit equipped with anoxygen mask and selects the model ofcarbon as his suit emblem.
Doctor Alchemy possesses the Philosopher's Stone which once belonged toMerlin. By pressing the stone in various points, he has the ability to transmute any substance into any other substance (e.g., steel into rubber, or oxygen into carbon monoxide) and also possesses the power to transform the molecular structure of the human body, having once turned the Flash into a being of water vapor.[2][4] Desmond can also control the Philosopher's Stone from a distance via telekinesis.
Albert Desmond appears inThe Flash (2023), portrayed byRudy Mancuso.[9] This version is a member of the Central City Police Department and co-worker ofBarry Allen andPatty Spivot. Additionally, an alternate reality variant of Desmond who became Allen and Spivot's roommate makes a minor appearance.
Doctor Alchemy appears as a character summon inScribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[10]
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