| Doctor Druid | |
|---|---|
 Promotional image of Doctor Druid. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | As Dr. Droom:Amazing Adventures #1 (June 1961) As Dr. Druid:Weird Wonder Tales #19 (September 1976) |
| Created by | Stan Lee (writer) Jack Kirby (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Anthony Ludgate Druid |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Monster Hunters Avengers Legion of the Unliving Defenders |
| Notable aliases | Druid |
| Abilities | Limited telepathy Limited telekinesis Hypnosis Magic detection Mystic manipulation Scholar of magic |
Doctor Anthony Druid, also known asDoctor Droom andDruid, is a fictional mystic and asupernaturalmonster-hunter appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Co-created by writer-editorStan Lee andpencillerJack Kirby, he debuted asDr. Anthony Droom inAmazing Adventures #1, published in March 1961 (with a cover date of June 1961).[1] Kirby's art was inked by artistSteve Ditko. Dr. Droom appeared in four more issues ofAmazing Adventures before his stories discontinued. Over a year later, artistSteve Ditko approached Stan Lee with a new magic character called Mr. Strange.[2] Liking the idea, Stan Lee renamed the characterDoctor Strange and wrote an origin story similar to Droom's. Dr. Anthony Droom was finally reintroduced to comics in 1976 inWeird Wonder Tales #19 in a retelling of his origin story which renamed him Dr. Anthony Druid. This retelling included new writing byLarry Lieber, Stan Lee's brother.[3]
Through his knowledge, Doctor Druid has enhanced physical and mental abilities (such as hypnosis and the ability to sense magic) and knows how to counteract magic and protect against it (through rituals and special arrangement of symbols). According to the lore of Marvel Comics, this makes Druid a mystic but not a full sorcerer like Doctor Strange since he does not cast spells that alter the state of people or the environment around him and does not draw power from Earth's magical energy, extra-dimensional energy, or energy linked to magical entities.[4]
Considered a scholar of multiple fields, Anthony Druid is originally apsychiatrist who then becomes an author andphysician. After Druid undergoes a series of tests in Tibet, a dying lama and mystic mentally transmits to his mind secrets of how to enhance his own body and mind's power and control, as well as knowledge regarding magic and supernatural threats. Later, it is said Druid also taps into the knowledge of Celtic ancestors regarding magic. With the combined knowledge of both his Celtic ancestors and the Tibetan lama, Druid acts as a magic-based consultant and hero of Earth. Over the years, he has worked with the superhero team known as theAvengers, and it is later said he was part of a group known as theMonster Hunters.
Originally introduced as Dr. Anthony Droom, the character debuted inAmazing Adventures #1 in June 1961.[1] The origin story was written byStan Lee, penciled byJack Kirby, and inked bySteve Ditko. In the story, Anthony Droom is referred to as a psychiatrist, scholar, and physician and is independently wealthy. After undergoing a series of tests in Tibet, he is chosen by a dying lama to protect humanity from threats. In this version of the character's origin, he is imparted with all of the lama's knowledge and then is also transformed by magic from his Caucasian appearance to now having the appearance of Asian heritage. He is told that his appearance suits his new knowledge and role. In the subsequent stories ofAmazing Adventures, Droom continues to have an Asian appearance and is given a yellow skin tone.
After his origin in issue #1, Dr. Droom starred in stories inAmazing Adventures #2–4 and #6 (1961).[5] Dr. Droom did not appear in the series again afterward, which was retitled asAmazing Adult Fantasy starting with issue #7 (the same series that with its final issue,Amazing Fantasy #15, would introduced Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's creationSpider-Man).
According to Lee, the idea of Doctor Droom was essentially succeeded byDoctor Strange: "... I always liked [Doctor Droom], but I forgot about him. It was a one-shot thing. And one day while we were trying to think of some new heroes, I thought I'd like to bring back a magician".[6] Lee later clarified that the inciting incident to bring forth a magical character similar to Dr. Droom came when Steve Ditko brought him artwork for a character he called Mr. Strange.[2] Stan Lee changed the name to Doctor Strange and gave the character a new version of Dr. Droom's origin, making Stephen Strange a physician who loses the use of his hands and then seeks out help from a sorcerer in the Himalayas for help, only to then become the man's student and return to New York as a sorcerer himself.
In 1976, Marvel editorRoger Stern thought to bring Doctor Droom back for issue #19 ofWeird Wonder Tales, a series that reprinted previously published Marvel Comics stories, sometimes with new art. Issue #19 reprinted Dr. Droom's origin story but with some altered and added dialogue by Larry Lieber and with the protagonist now called Doctor Anthony Druid, new name conceived byLen Wein, presumably to avoid confusion with Marvel supervillainDoctor Doom. Druid sported a red outfit in his role as hero and the new version of his origin story removed the idea that the appearance of his racial heritage is altered by magic. Droom's second story was then reprinted inWeird Wonder Tales #20, again with new art work and with his name changed to Doctor Druid. The character then appeared in issues #21-22, but only as a host introducing fantasy stories to the reader.Weird Wonder Tales then ended with issue #23, which contained a reprint of another Droom story fromAmazing Adventures. The story was introduced by a new splash page drawn by artistJohn Byrne. In the story, Droom's drab grey clothing was painted over with Druid's new red uniform.
Druid appeared next inThe Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #210-211 by writerLen Wein, andGhost Rider (vol. 2) #26 by writerJim Shooter. During Roger Stern's work as writer ofAvengers in the 1980s, Druid frequently appeared as an associate of the team.
Druid appeared in theminiseriesDruid #1–4 (May–Aug. 1995) by writerWarren Ellis and artistLeonardo Manco.[7] InMarvel Universe #4–7 (Sept.–Dec. 1998), his backstory was expanded andretconned, now revealing he had been a member of theMonster Hunters, whose adventures took place between the "Age of Monsters" and the "Age of Heroes" (the latter era beginning when theFantastic Four gain their powers and are soon followed by a wave of new public superheroes). Druid appeared as a Monster Hunter again in issue #2 ofMarvel: The Lost Generation.
Doctor Druid was one of the featured characters in the 2011 three-issue limited seriesChaos War: Dead Avengers.
Doctor Druid's real name is Dr. Anthony Ludgate Druid, although he usually refers to himself as Dr. Anthony Druid. He is apsychiatrist and explorer as well as a minortelepath andmagician, specializing mostly inhypnosis and other feats ofmesmerism. He has minor magical abilities that have varied over the years. He is also an expert on theoccult, having been trained by aTibetanlama who had come to the United States for medical attention. Many years later, Druid discovered that the lama was theAncient One, who selected him as a back-up forDoctor Strange.[8]
Doctor Druid remains on the sidelines for years. He eventually appears again and teams with theHulk against theMaha Yogi.[9] With theAvengers, he encounters the Fomor and his ancestor Amergin.[10]
Sometime later, Druid aids the Avengers in thwartingBaron Helmut Zemo and the fourthMasters of Evil's takeover ofAvengers Mansion, making contact with the mentally damagedBlackout and helping him resist Zemo's control while also prompting him to bring Avengers Mansion back to Earth after banishing it into his Darkforce Dimension.[11] He joins the ranks of the Avengers shortly after helping to defend from this attack.[12] He also battles aDraculadoppelganger in the realm of Death.[13]
His membership is tainted when he is mind-controlled bysupervillainessTerminatrix (at the time impersonating thespace pirateNebula) into manipulating the team on her behalf. While in this state, he assumes chairmanship of the team for a very short period.[14] When "Nebula" is cast intoLimbo, Druid follows, still under her thrall.[15] He eventually regains control of his own mind and returned to Earth, where, after learning his true origin, he banishes "Nebula" and uses magic to make himself younger.[16]
Due to his actions while in the villain's thrall, Druid is now disgraced. He is briefly reunited with his former teammates while working withDoctor Strange during theInfinity War, and later becomes the leader of theSecret Defenders.[17] In that role, he is once again victimized by a villain's mind control, this time by the demon Slorioth. Druid and the demon are defeated, Druid fakes his own death, and the team disbands.[18]
He then abandons his spandex costume and becomes more of a traditional druid, now reflected by his new use of the simple moniker "Druid", and the new nature of his elemental powers,[19] but he soon lets his feelings of rage and power lust take over, goes insane, is betrayed by his allies, and is finally killed byDaimon Hellstrom.[20] Druid is later resurrected in theChaos War storyline (2010).[21]
As part of theAll-New, All-Different Marvel, Druid resurfaces onWeirdworld.Nighthawk of Earth-31916, Blur of Earth-148611 and Tyndall were captured by Druid's minions and taken to his castle. He reveals to his captives that his soul took on a corporeal form when it found Weirdworld, where he remained in order to preserve his life. He also reveals that Ogeode built a massive crystal on top of Druid’s castle to amplify Druid’s mind-control abilities; this brought anyone in his part of Weirdworld under his thrall. For some reason,Thundra and Tyndall are immune to his effects.[22]
He later resurfaces on Earth and attempts to live a normal life, but does help Doctor Strange with a magical investigation.[23]
During the "Stark-Roxxon War" arc, Druid is at A.I.M.'s facility in Caspen, Colorado whileA.I.M. andRoxxon Energy Corporation are planning a merger withStark Unlimited. As a scienceless act on Monica Rappaccini's orders, Doctor Druid subjectsIron Man to illusions of Howard Stark, Captain America, and Emma Frost calling Iron Man a failure.[24] Druid accompanies Monica to the meeting with Stark Unlimited's Board of Directors where only Iron Man andMelinda May oppose the merger. WhenJustine Hammer'sIron Monger begins to best Iron Man, Druid breaks up the fight and takes them and the board members to meet A.I.M. and Roxxon's silent partner, who turns out to beBelasco. As they meet with the demon lord in Limbo, it is also revealed that Druid is enthralled by him, and Belasco now wants to claim the souls of the board members. Thanks to a withdrawal of votes from the board members, Belasco's plans to control the companies falls through. After transporting Tony Stark and Justine Hammer back to Stark Tower, Doctor Druid offers to help Iron Man at a later point. Stark tells Druid to teleport the board members back to their home; Druid takes his leave to do so.[25]
During the "One World Under Doom" storyline, Druid and Belasco crash a fight between Iron Man and Vishte Taru; they bring them, Melinda May, and Black Widow to Belasco's lair. When Iron Man defeats Taru throughout Limbo, Belasco has Druid bind Taru with his magic as Belasco states that Iron Man has cost him a second business partner. As Iron Man, May, and Black Widow are sent back to Earth, Black Widow tries to get Druid to break free from Belasco's control, to no avail.[26]
Doctor Druid's latent mystical abilities were activated by theAncient One.[8] He has a variety ofpsionic abilities includingtelepathy which enables him to scan or project his thoughts to any mind on Earth, the ability to mesmerize minds less adept than his own, and the ability to perform masshypnosis. Doctor Druid's hypnotic abilities enable him to achieve numerous illusory effects, including invisibility, altering the appearance of himself and others, and the projection of illusionary objects or beings. He haspsychokinetic powers enabling him to levitate himself or other people and objects. Doctor Druid has limitedprecognitive abilities and can sense the presence of recent uses of magic and trace them to their sources.
Doctor Druid's druidic powers have a special vulnerability to iron, as did the powers of his ancestors. Iron tends to act as a lightning rod for the magical forces he employs, sometimes disrupting their effects.
Doctor Druid employs the mystical knowledge and skills of the ancientdruids. Through magic rituals that may involve chants, runes, candles, potions, mystic symbols, and other such preparations, Doctor Druid can achieve various magical feats. These rituals tap the inherent mystical energies in natural objects and materials. Doctor Druid possesses variousCeltic mystical artifacts as well. At one time, Druid even had access to the Moebius Stone,[volume & issue needed] which was a mystic item created by Agamotto that had a limited ability to manipulate time. The stone was able to raise the dead, absorb the life-force of another, and accelerate or reverse the passage of time within a confined area, though sometimes random time-related side effects occurred. Doctor Druid eventually destroyed the artifact because he felt it was too powerful to fall into the wrong hands.[volume & issue needed] Doctor Druid can also call upon the Celtic war goddessesMorrigan,Macha, andBadb for mystical assistance. Doctor Druid also possesses variousyogic abilities, including control over involuntary functions of his body such as his heartbeat, respiration, bleeding, and reaction to pain.
In his latest and final incarnation, when he was called only "Druid", he has been seen manipulating fire,[volume & issue needed] and making a tree instantaneously grow in a person's stomach from the seeds of an eaten apple.[volume & issue needed] These powers were nature-based (elements, plants, etc.) as the druids of old worshipped nature.
Druid has earned an M.D. fromHarvard, completed a residency inpsychiatry, and has extensive knowledge of occult lore, especially Celtic lore.
Amazing Adventures
All reprinted inAmazing Fantasy Omnibus (2007). The previous reprints below were edited to reflect name-change to "Doctor Druid" plus otherretcons:
In an alternate future, detailed in theKillraven series, Martians had come to Earth and wiped out much of humanity. Doctor Druid is one of the few survivors of the North American battles and leads a resistance movement based in Ireland. He also works to make sure the Martian battle is recorded in theBook of Kells.[27]
An alternate universe version of Doctor Druid appears in the 2008miniseriesMarvel Apes #2–4 (Nov.–Dec. 2008). Druid plays a key role in issue #3 (Dec. 2008) in which he uses his staff, the Monkey's Paw, to control the realm created byDoctor Strange.
An alternate universe version of Doctor Druid appears in the 2007miniseriesMarvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness. Infected with thezombie virus, he visitsDoctor Strange seeking help to stop from turning. With Strange having left to join the resistance, a ravenous Druid reluctantly consumes Strange's assistant,Wong. Despite pleading for mercy and understanding fromAsh Williams,Dazzler, and theScarlet Witch, Ash surprises Druid and blows his head off with his shotgun.[28]
During theSecret Wars storyline, a variant of Doctor Druid appears in theBattleworld domain of Technopolis. He acts as aforensics scientist at the city morgue and helpsGrand Marshall Rhodes investigate the murder of Spyder-Man (the superhero alias ofBen Urich's nephew Peter Urich).[29]
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Newsarama ranked Doctor Druid as the fourth worstAvengers member describing him as "most notably responsible for becoming the leader of the Avengers only to betray them after being mocked by Daimon Hellstrom, presumably for looking likeRip Torn in a cloak".[30]The Slings and Arrows Comic Guide found him to be "always a third-stringer", and when he received his own miniseries, it was found to be a "total yawner".[31]
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