Doctor Bedlam is a

DC Comics DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...

supervillain A supervillain, supervillainess or supercriminal is a major antagonist and variant of the villainous stock character who possesses Superpower (ability), superpowers. The character type is sometimes found in comic books and is often the primary ...

created by

Jack Kirby Jack Kirby (; born Jacob Kurtzberg; August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994) was an American comics artist, comic book artist, widely regarded as one of the medium's major innovators and one of its most prolific and influential creators. He grew ...

as part of his Fourth World comic series of the 1970s. He is part of

Darkseid's Elite This is a list of teams and organizations that appear in various DC Comics publications. Note: Please check :DC Comics superhero teams before adding any redundant entries for superhero teams to the page. 0-9 100 1,000 2000 Committee A A ...

on the planet

Apokolips Apokolips is a fictional planet that appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The planet is ruled by Darkseid, established in Jack Kirby's Fourth World series, and is integral to many stories in the DC Universe. Apokolips is co ...

. His name comes from the

Bethlem Royal Hospital Bethlem Royal Hospital, also known as St Mary Bethlehem, Bethlehem Hospital and Bedlam, is a psychiatric hospital in Bromley, London. Its famous history has inspired several horror books, films, and television series, most notably ''Bedlam (194 ...

insane asylum, and is a reference to his madness-inducing "paranoid pill".

Publication history

Doctor Bedlam first appeared in ''

Mister Miracle Mister Miracle is the name of three fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first and third are humans Thaddeus Brown and Shilo Norman, while the second is New God Scott Free. The Scott Free incarnat ...

'' #3 (July–August 1971) and was created by

Fictional character biography

Doctor Bedlam's early life is unknown, save that he once possessed a physical body that was transformed into psychic energy. His primary foe is

, whom he has never defeated. Following the destruction of Apokolips and

New Genesis The New Gods are a fictional extraterrestrial race appearing in the eponymous comic book series published by DC Comics, as well as selected other DC titles. Created and designed by Jack Kirby, they first appeared in February 1971 in ''New Gods'' ...

, Bedlam relocates to Earth, where he attracts the second

's attention by becoming an escape artist under the name Baron Bedlam. Bedlam is featured in the ''

Underworld Unleashed ''Underworld Unleashed'' was a multi-title American comic book crossover event released by DC Comics in 1995. The main theme of ''Underworld Unleashed'' involved the new ruler of Hell, a demon-lord named Neron, offering first many of the DC Un ...

'' tie-in one-shot ''Apokolips - Dark Uprising'', where

Granny Goodness Granny Goodness is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She is a New God from Apokolips and a servant of Darkseid who trains others to serve him. Goodness has appeared in various media outside comics, primar ...

attempts to kill him. Doctor Bedlam makes a minor appearance in ''

Death of the New Gods ''Death of the New Gods'' is an eight-issue comic book limited series published in 2007 and 2008 by DC Comics. It was written and pencilled by Jim Starlin. The series follows the final days of the New Gods as they are stalked by a mysteriou ...

'', where

Infinity-Man Infinity-Man is the name of several characters appearing in DC Comics, in the '' Fourth World'' storyline. Both are alien heroes associated with the New Gods, with the second, Drax, being Darkseid's brother and an ally of the Forever People. Inf ...

damages one of his Animates while hunting the

New Gods The New Gods are a fictional extraterrestrial race appearing in the eponymous comic book series published by DC Comics, as well as selected other DC titles. Created and designed by Jack Kirby, they first appeared in February 1971 in ''New Gods'' ...

. In ''

The New 52 The New 52 was the 2011 revamp and relaunch by DC Comics of its entire Line (comics), line of ongoing monthly superhero American comic books, comic books. Following the conclusion of the "Flashpoint (comics), Flashpoint" Fictional crossover, cros ...

'', Doctor Bedlam joins Steppenwolf's Hunger Dogs.

Powers and abilities

Doctor Bedlam exists as a being of psychic energy and commands powerful constructs that he can project into. Furthermore, he is a skilled scientist who specializes in inducing terror via mental manipulation.

In other media

* A Halloween costume of Doctor Bedlam appears in the ''

Justice League The Justice League, or Justice League of America (JLA), is a group of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The team first appeared in ''The Brave and the Bold'' #28 (March 1960). Writer Gardner Fox conceived the ...

'' episode "A Knight of Shadows". * Doctor Bedlam and his Animates appear as character summons in '' Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure''. * Doctor Bedlam appears in ''All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold'' #15.''All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold'' #15

References

External links

Doctor Bedlam at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe
{{Jack Kirby Comics characters introduced in 1971 Characters created by Jack Kirby DC Comics aliens DC Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability DC Comics deities DC Comics demons DC Comics immortals DC Comics psychics DC Comics scientists DC Comics telepaths Fictional characters who can turn invisible Fictional escapologists New Gods of Apokolips