| Shaggy Man | |
|---|---|
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Justice League of America #45 (June 1966) |
| Created by | Gardner Fox (scripts) Mike Sekowsky (pencils) |
| In-story information | |
| Abilities |
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Shaggy Man is the name of several fictional characters appearing incomic books published byDC Comics. Most of the Shaggy Men are depicted as artificial lifeforms with regenerating abilities and have been created by different people.
The Shaggy Man debuted inJustice League of America #45 (June 1966) and was created by writerGardner Fox and artistMike Sekowsky.[1] That story also introduced a second Shaggy Man created to combat the first. The original Shaggy Man returned inJustice League of America #104 (Feb. 1973). Its body returned inJLA #24 - 26 (Dec. 1998 - Feb. 1999) and was updated and rechristened "the General" afterGeneral Wade Eiling transplanted his mind into it. The General reappeared in the "World War III" storylineJLA #36 - 41 (Dec. 1999 - May 2000).
The second character reappeared in a one-shot story inJustice League of America #186 (Jan. 1981) and inCrisis on Infinite Earths #9-10 (Dec. 1985-Jan. 1986).
A Shaggy Man created byLex Luthor debuted inJustice League of America Wedding Special (Nov. 2007), the first chapter of a storyline that continued inJustice League of America #13-15 (Nov. 2007 - Jan. 2008).
A Shaggy Man created byProfessor Ivo debuted inJustice League of America Vol. 3 #4. He later returned as a tool ofBlack Manta and N.E.M.O. inAquaman: Rebirth #8-9 (2016).
WriterMike Conroy noted that the Shaggy Man was "a mountainous cross betweenFrankenstein's monster and theSasquatch".[2]
The Shaggy Man is the creation of Professor Andrew Zagarian, a scientist who invented "plastalloy", a synthetic human tissue substitute similar toplastic that can be used fororgan transplants. Zagarian built the Shaggy Man by splicing the plastalloy withsalamanderDNA. Following a power surge, the Shaggy Man is transformed into a hulking, hairy creature that can rapidly regenerate. Essentially mindless, the Shaggy Man attacks anything that moves. Justice League membersGreen Arrow andHawkman attempt to stop the creature, but the Shaggy Man holds them all off until theFlash suggests that Zagarian create a second creature to fight the first. The League sealed the two monsters inside a deep pit that Flash dug to also contain the Moon Creature the other Justice League members were fighting. Once the Shaggy Men defeated the Moon Creature, they could battle each other indefinitely.[3][4][5]
Shaggy Man is eventually freed by villainHector Hammond and transported to the JLA satellite;Green Lantern uses his power ring to shrink the monster to miniature size and imprison it.[6]
After Professor Zagarian was imprisoned for causing the original Shaggy Man incident in this untold story, Shaggy Man went on a rampage in Arizona. Zagarian was visited by Flash and informs him that Shaggy Man's powers are tied tophotosynthesis. As this came from Shaggy Man's fur, the Justice League shaved off Shaggy Man's fur and stranded Shaggy Man on thedark side of the Moon.[7]
At some point during the Post-Crisis, Shaggy Man returned to Earth and was found to have been imprisoned inAtlantis byAquaman duringGreen Lantern's visit to Atlantis. Shaggy Man's inert body is eventually recovered from the depths of the ocean byGeneral Wade Eiling and hisUltramarine Corps. Diagnosed with an inoperablebrain tumor, Eiling transfers his mind into the creature's body, shaves his hair, and refers to himself as the "General".[8]
At Flash's suggestion, Professor Andrew Zagarian created a second Shaggy Man to fight the first Shaggy Man. The Justice League sealed both Shaggy Men in a pit where they could fight each other. It was brought to life after it was placed in the pit. When the Shaggy Men defeated the moon creature that was sealed with it, they proceeded to fight each other.[4]
After getting free, Shaggy Man is later discovered to be rampaging across Russia and is finally tricked byBatman and, via a rocket, is sent into outer space.[9]
Shaggy Man returns during the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" storyline, where he is among the villains united underBrainiac. When on Earth-X, Shaggy Man foughtMento andChangeling. He is apparently destroyed byGreen Arrow of Earth-Two with an explosive arrow. Green Arrow observes that since Shaggy Man is not really alive, he has no problem using lethal methods.[10]
A new version of Shaggy Man appears as a member of theInjustice League.[11] Shaggy Man joinsGorilla Grodd in assaulting the heroGeo-Force. Lex Luthor revealed that he created this Shaggy Man and states that he does not usually let it out except for when it is time for some exercising.Wonder Woman fought Shaggy Man during the fight against the Injustice League.[12]
During the holiday season,Green Lantern andRed Arrow thwart Shaggy Man's rampage at a Christmas parade. Red Arrow shoots Shaggy Man with a tranquilizer arrow loaded with 1500CCs, leaving him in a docile state. Not wanting to hand Shaggy Man over toS.T.A.R. Labs, Green Lantern and Red Arrow take him to the Justice League's Christmas party. When Shaggy Man comes out of his daze, the Justice League appease him with a teddy bear.[13]
During the "Brightest Day" storyline,Simon Stagg performed an unknown experiment that enabledJava to transform into a Shaggy Man. He is later defeated by Stagg's former minion Freight Train, who had defected to theOutsiders.[14]
In 2011, "The New 52" rebooted the DC universe. A Shaggy Man appeared as a member of theSecret Society of Super Villains. Created byProfessor Ivo, this version is a creature wearing a furry humanoid costume over its robotic body.[15] After it was revealed thatCatwoman was actuallyMartian Manhunter in disguise, Shaggy Man fought the Justice League of America, only to be defeated byStargirl.[16]
In 2016, DC Comics implemented another relaunch of its books called "DC Rebirth" which restored its continuity to a form much as it was prior to "The New 52". This Shaggy Man reappears as a pawn of villainBlack Manta. After a brutal battle, Aquaman finally defeats the creature by attaching his Justice League membership card to the Shaggy Man and ordering the Justice League satellite to transport it beyond Earth's orbit.[17]
In a flashback, Shaggy Man's rampage inSt. Louis where it fought the Justice League led to an unnamed man getting paralyzed from the waist down. This led to the man becoming the obsessive supervillain Fan.[18]
Shaggy Man is later shown to be an inmate of Monster Rock alongside several other monsters. He is among the monsters who fell under the control of the sorceress Echidna.Damage andCongorilla defeat Echidna, freeing the monsters from her control.[19]
During the "Dark Crisis" storyline, Shaggy Man appears as a member ofDeathstroke's Secret Society of Super Villains and joins the group in a memorial for the presumed deceased Justice League members.[20] Shaggy Man is among the villains who are possessed by the Great Darkness and recruited intoPariah's Dark Army, with Shaggy Man battlingWonder Girl.[21]
The Shaggy Man possesses superhuman strength and durability, can regenerate rapidly, and does not need sustenance or rest.[4] Due to its synthetic physiology, it can adapt to harsh environments and does not age.[6]
Professor Ivo's Shaggy Man is a fur-coated robot who can adapt instantaneously to counter its opponents.
ABizarro World counterpart of Shaggy Man appears inDC Comics Presents #71.[22]
A Shaggy Man appears as a character summon inScribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[24]
Shaggy Man appears inDC Super Friends #20.[25]
