Origin and 1st Appearance of Superheroes and Villains Beginning With D

Dansen Macabre

Dansen Macabre is a dancer and member of the cult of Kali.

Using her magic, Macabre hypnotized Spider-Man into battling the Shroud for her, but the Shroud was able to restore Spider-Man.

Later, the Shroud invites Macabre to join his team known as the Night Shift.

Daredevil (Golden Age)

Daredevil of the Golden Age has no relationship with the Silver Age Marvel hero Daredevil.

Rather, the original Daredevil was Bart Hill, who witnessed the murder of his father and was himself branded with a hot iron, which left a boomerang-shaped scar on his chest.

Bart grew up and like Batman, became a self-styled seeker of vigilante justice, albeit in a distinctive red and blue bodysuit, with a spiked belt.

He trained himself in the throwing of boomerangs, inspired by his scar, using them to stop ne'er-do-wells long before the Caped Crusader ever threw a Batarang.

By 1950, like most superheroes, Daredevil had gone the way of the hoop skirt and the high-button shoe, and is now in the Public Domain.

Daredevil (Silver Age)

Matt Murdock was an attorney who'd been blinded as a youngster after being hit by a truck carrying radioactive materials.

The incident took away his sight, but gave him a radar-like sense that allowed him to perceive the world with far greater depth and accuracy than sighted people, along with heightening his athletic abilities.

As an adult, he donned a yellow-and red costume (soon changed to simply red) with horned helmet, Daredevil battled evil in New York by night while Matt Murdock battled injustice in the courts by day.

Still active and viable today, after numerous reboots and retcons.

See Daredevil Marvel Comics values for more on how much individual issues are worth, and read why the Daredevil movie was one of the worst superhero movies of all time!

Darkhawk

Chris Powell is the teenage son of police officer Mike Powell and district attorney Grace Powell.

When he and his younger brothers follow his father into an abandoned amusement park, they witness their father taking a bribe from a mob boss.

They are discovered, and while running to escape, Chris finds an amulet that causes him to switch places with an autonomous suit of android armor which is stored in a sentient space ship, although his mind retains control of the armor.

As Darkhawk, he can shoot force blasts and create force shields, fly, and has enhanced strength and agility as well as limited invulnerability.

Darkseid

Darkseid is the ruler of Akropolis and one of the most evil and formidable foes in the entire DC Universe.

Darkseid rules with an iron fist and wants nothing more than to eliminate free will from the universe.

Darkseid is Superman's archenemy and his powers can match or even best Superman's.

Darkseid can fire energy from his eyes that can either kill, stun, transform, or resurrect the target. He can teleport himself or others through time and space.

Darkseid is invulnerable and has lived for several thousand years.

David Cain

David Cain was an elite assassin, who took a young Bruce Wayne under his wing before he became Batman.

However, the two differed in ideologies, and Cain and Wayne went their separate ways.

Cain aspired to create the perfect partner, and he trained is daughter Cassandra in the ways of violence from the time she was born. 

Later, Cassandra leaves her dad and throughout the years, the two are at odds with each other.

Dazzler

Dazzler was created as part of a cross-promotion with Casablanca Records, and was designed to be a disco-singing mutant.

When she finally appeared, Dazzler was Alison Blaire, whose mutant powers first showed up when she was performing in the form of a light show.

Her mutant abilities consist of being able to turn sound into light beams of varying color and intensity, to the extent of being able to not simply dazzle, but knock out the people she aimed them at.

She initially turned down a chance to join the X-Men, but later welcomed the chance.

After a lengthy run with the X-Men, Dazzler spent many years out of comics, but returned as part of Excalibur, and has remained visible since then.

Deacon Blackfire

Deacon Blackfire was a cult leader who forms an army in the sewers beneath Gotham City, which he used to take over the entire city. 

Blackfire captures and brainwashes Batman, temporarily making him a member of his cult.

Batman eventually breaks free and defeats Blackfire.

Later, Blackfire's army turns on him and kills him.

See our Batman villains price guide here.

Deadline

Deadline is a deadly assassin and member of the Killer Elite and the Suicide Squad. 

Among his many targets are Aquaman and Steel.

Deadpool

Deadpool is a mercenary and assassin, who is mentally unstable as a result of being disfigured.

Wade Wilson is immune to all diseases and has a mutant ability to heal more quickly than even Wolverine does.

He has combat skills and superior strength and agility, is accomplished at martial arts, and is immune to telepathy. He has a teleportation device and one that allows him to project holographic images of himself.

Deadpool's history has been changed many times, with his origin always in doubt. Even Deadpool cannot remember his own life story.

Learn more about Deadpool comic values here.

Deadshot

Floyd Lawton, better known as Deadshot, is one of the most feared assassins in the DC Universe. His accuracy with a gun is unmatched. 

Originally masquerading as a vigilante crime fighter like Batman, it is quickly revealed that Deadshot's ultimate goal is to become lord of Gotham's underworld.

Over the years, Deadshot becomes a member of several organizations, including the Secret Six and the Suicide Squad.

See more Batman comics prices here.

Deathbird

Deathbird, also known as Cal'syee Neramani, is of the Shi'ar race and sister of the Shi'ar empress Lilandra Neramani. 

Deathbird was exiled from her home planet and came to Earth, joining up with AIM and MODOK, becoming an enemy of the X-Men.

Eventually, Deathbird allies with the X-Men, and she and Bishop have a long-lasting romantic relationship, until she betrays him.

Deathbolt

Jake Simmons was a fugitive running from the police when he was discovered by Ultra-Humanite, Superman's first enemy. 

Expermenting on Jake, Ultra-Humanite turns him into a powerful super villain, capable of manipulating electricity and shooting devastating lightning bolts, thus giving birth to his new alias, Deathbolt. 

Later, Deathbolt and Ultra-Humanite are defeated by the All-Star Squadron.

Deathstroke

Slade Wilson, better known as Deathstroke the Terminator, is a genius mercenary with superhuman strength, and the ability to heal almost any wound.

Wilson began as an enemy of the Teen Titans, but on many occasions, he has come to their aid, especially after starting a romantic relationship with Terra.

Later, Wilson joins Lex Luthor's Secret Society of Super Villains, and battles against Batman and Robin in the Infinite Crisis storyline.

Deep Six

Deep Six hails from the planet Apokolips and are under the control of Darkseid.

Deep Six was created for the sole purpose of violence and destruction on Earth, mainly against Aquaman.

Deep Six members are Gole, Jaffar, Kurin, Shaligo, Slig, and Trok, all of whom possess superhuman strength and the ability to breathe underwater. 

Orion, Darkseid's son, manages to kill all six members during battle.

The Defenders

The Defenders were Marvel's original team of misfits.

Originally, the lineup consisted of Dr. Strange, The Hulk, and Namor, with the Silver Surfer joining briefly.

The membership then went through almost constant rotation, including Valkyrie, Nighthawk, Hellcat, Beast, and Luke Cage (Power Man) among others.

The group was never very "official" in any way, and after many ups and downs, disbanded, reforming several times, always with different members.

DeSaad

DeSaad is Darkseid's master torturer, and member of the New Gods of Apokolips.

DeSaad is immortal and an evil genius, capable of creating terrifying and disturbing ways to torture his victims.

Despero

Despero is an alien and ruler of the planet Kalanor.

He is bent on universal domination and is constantly in battle with the Justice League.

Despero possesses genius level intellect and several abilities including mind control, telekinesis, and telepathy.

Despero is also empowered by the Flame of Py'tar that grants him superhuman strength and durability. 

Despero is one of the most formidable foes in the DC Universe and has defeated Captain Marvel and Superman on numerous occasions.

Read more about Justice League of America comic book values here.

Destiny

Destiny is one of the Endless Beings (which also includes Death, Dream, Destruction, Despair, Desire and Delirium) and the oldest being in existence.

Destiny appears as a blind man dressed in robes, carrying a large book in which past, present and future is written. 

Destiny endlessly walks in his maze-like garden in which other souls walk along as they go through their lives.

Destroyer

Keen Marlow was an American journalist who was captured in Nazi Germany during WWII.

While imprisoned, Marlow is given the Super-Soldier serum, and begins fighting against the oppression and evil of the Nazi regime. 

Later, in the 1970s, Destroyer's real name is changed to Brain Falsworth, who goes on to become Union Jack.

Deuce and Charger

Deuce and Charger are a super villain couple who join the Fearsome Five, in order to battle and (hopefully) destroy Superman.

Deuce has the telepathic ability to enter other people's minds, and Charger has the ability to absorb and channel electricity.

Deviants

The Deviants are a superhuman race, created by the alien group The Celestials.

The Deviants are enemies with the Eternals, another superhuman race.

While the Eternals possess godlike powers and are physically beautiful, the Deviants are hideous, with each member possessing some random physical and/or cosmetic mutation.

Devilance

Devilance was a New God of Apokolips and loyal follower of Darkseid.

Darkseid tasked Devilance to track down the Forever People, which he does, but is defeated by Infinity Man.

Later, Devilance is decapitated by the alien bounty hunter Lobo.

Diablo

Esteban Corazón de Ablo, known as Diablo, was a chemist in the 9th century who sold his soul to Mephisto in exchange for extended life.

Years later in Transylvania, he is buried alive by villagers who are afraid of him.

One night, while the Fantastic Four are vacationing in Transylvania (as you do! Ed), Diablo telepathically communicates with The Thing to dig him up from his tomb, which he does.

Since then, Diablo has been battling against heroes and villains, including Doctor Doom and Spider-Man.

Doc Frankenstein

This comic book tells the story of the monster created in Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein.

Surviving the events of the novel, the monster takes on the name of his maker, Frankenstein, and begins an eventful life.

His adventures include being a cowboy in the Wild West and a soldier during WWII.

Doctor Achilles Milo

Achilles Milo is a brilliant chemist, capable of creating potions or drugs that are capable of producing nearly any effect he desires. 

Instead of using his inventions for good, he uses them to serve Gotham City's criminal underworld in an attempt to kill Batman.

Doctor Alchemy

Albert Desmond is a genius chemist who suffers from a multiple personality disorder.

Sometimes, he is a normal citizen, and other times, he is an evil criminal obsessed with power and destruction. 

Somehow, Desmond was able to find the Philosopher's Stone, which has the ability to change anything into something else.

However, Desmond is always defeated by the Flash before he can use the stone to its full potential.

Later, Alvin Desmond, Albert's twin, takes over the role of Doctor Alchemy.

Doctor Bedlam

Doctor Bedlam is a member of Darkseid's Elite, who specializes in making his victims insane.

Doctor Bedlam is essentially just pure energy, but he is able to appear as a physical being. His archenemy is Mister Miracle.

Doctor Demonicus

Douglas Birely was researching radioactive-induced mutations when he discovers the Lifestone, giving him the ability to mutate any animal into a monster.

Using the Lifestone and assuming the alias Doctor Demonicus, Birely begins creating huge abominable monsters to commit crimes on his behalf.

The Doctor's creations are almost always defeated by Godzilla.

Doctor Destiny

John Dee was a genius scientist who created numerous astounding devices to aid him and his colleagues in crime.

Taking on the persona Doctor Destiny, Dee has been embattled with the Justice League of America since the start.

Dee has created an anti-gravity device, and a gadget which allowed him to create reality from dreams.

Doctor Doom

Victor von Doom was born into a band of gypsies, to a mother who was a secret witch.

From the start, Doom's life was in turmoil, first with the death of his mother at the hands of Mephisto, then with the death of his father.

Leaving his gypsy life behind, Doom begins studying at Empire State University where he meets his rival, Reed Richard (Mr. Fantastic).

Later, when a machine Doom was working on explodes, he is badly disfigured, and begins wearing a mask. He blames Richard and the rest of the Fantastic Four for the event, cementing his hatred of most super heroes.

As a genius inventor and sorcerer, Doom is able to combine magic and technology into powerful and reality-altering devices, such as a time machine.

His armor grants him flight, superhuman strength, and the ability to shoot energy blasts. 

Doctor Double X

Dr. Simon Ecks was a brilliant scientist who created a duplicate of himself named Double X.

Over time, Ecks' mental status deteriorated, causing him to lose his mind to his evil clone.

Double X has the power of flight, energy blasts, and superhuman strength.

At times, Batman has had a hard time defeating him.

See our Detective Comics price guide here.

Doctor Fate

Dr. Fate began as Kent Nelson, son of archaeologist Sven Nelson.

On a dig in the valley of Ur, the elder Nelson was killed by a gaseous emanation upon opening the tomb of the ancient Egyptian wizard Nabu.

The spirit of Nabu takes pity on young Kent, and gave him his mystical amulet, cloak, and helmet, along with training him as a wizard.

Nabu merged his soul with the helmet so that he could possess Kent when Kent allowed.

Young Nelson returned to the States to fight crime and evil magic, and helped to found the Justice Society of America.

He eventually died when the magic spell he had used to keep himself and his wife Inza young wore off.

Others eventually picked up the mantle (and the helmet) of Dr. Fate.

Doctor Light

Dr. Arthur Light was a genius scientist who could manipulate light rays for his evil deeds.

In his first battle with the Justice League, he succeeds in capturing the entire JLA team, and sends them to different planets based on their weaknesses. 

Dr. Light was killed by the Spectre in the Final Crisis storyline. 

Dr. Light could bend the light around him to become invisible, generate blasts of energy, create force fields, and fly.

By mentally repulsing photons, Light could also create areas of complete darkness.

Doctor Moon

Doctor Moon was a brain surgeon who decided his skills could be put to better use in a life of crime.

Over the span of his career, he teamed up with the Joker and the Suicide Squad, and used his surgical knowledge to a torturer and to enhance and modify villains.

Dr. Moon is later killed by Kate Spencer.

Doctor Occult

Dr. Occult was a supernatural detective, much in the mold of the hard-boiled gumshoe of the 1930s, but with a supernatural twist.

Richard Occult could create illusions and perform astral projection, his spirit form seeking out evil-doers. He was also telepathic and telekinetic, and was a master hypnotist.

He wore no costume, but was usually depicted like any serious detective of his time: in a suit and tie with an overcoat and fedora.

He proved popular when revived for the All-Star Squadron in the 1980s, and has been a popular character ever since.

And Doctor Occult was created for comic books rather than for a newspaper strip or other medium, making him a strong contender for the title of first comic book superhero.

This is a seriously rare comic book.

Doctor Octopus

Otto Gunther Octavius, better known as Doctor Octopus, is a brilliant but evil genius bent on destroying Spider-Man.

Since his beginning, Doctor Octopus has been Spider-Man's most enduring and formidable enemy.

Octavius' life was hard from the beginning - he never had any friends, and his relationship with his parents was unhealthy and unloving.

Over time, he became more bitter and hateful, eventually leading him to a life of crime and evil.

Octavius invented four mechanical limbs that could be controlled by his brain. However, during exposure to atomic radiation, these limbs became grafted to his body, giving him psychokinetic control over the tentacle arms.

These arms are capable of lifting several tons, are extremely precise, allow Octavius to move rapidly, and give him the ability to fight multiple opponents.

Doctor Phosphorus

Doctor Alexander Sartorius was working on a nuclear reactor, when an accident caused millions of particles of phosphorus to be absorbed by his body. 

As a result of the accident, Sartorius' body can emit radiation and his skin is constantly on fire.

After selling his soul to Neron, Sartorius can control his powers more effectively.

Doctor Polaris

Neal Emerson was a medical student who developed an obsession with magnets and his ability to draw energy from them.

To help spread his word about the power of magnets, Emerson creates the alter ego Doctor Polaris.

Soon, the Doctor Polaris personality begins taking over Emerson, and before long, Doctor Polaris is in full control, leading to a life of crime and embattlement with the Justice League of America.

Doctor Sivana

Doctor Sivana is a brilliant but evil scientist and nemesis of Captain Marvel.

He is bent on world domination, and creates many inventions and gadgets to help him gain the upper hand. 

One of Doctor Sivana's inventions was responsible for reviving Black Adam.

He is also partly responsible for the events in the "Infinite Crisis" storyline.

Doctor Spectrum

Little is known about Kenji Obatu, AKA Doctor Spectrum, before he joined the Squadron Sinister.

However, he hasn't been seen since his defeat after a series of battles with Iron Man. 

Using the Power Prism, an alien artifact, Doctor Spectrum has the ability of flight, energy projection, and the ability to become intangible.

The Power Prism's main weakness is ultra-violet light.

Doc Strange

The Golden Age Doc Strange was no relation to the Marvel Dr. Strange of the Silver Age and beyond. (See below.)

This Doctor was named Thomas Hugo Strange, and was a scientist who developed a serum called "Alosun," which was supposedly derived from the atoms of the sun.

When he consumed Alosun, Doc Strange gained super-strength, the power of flight, and became nearly invulnerable.

Doc Strange wore no costume, usually favoring a very tight red T-shirt, riding boots, and blue jodhpurs.

Doc Strange made it through the war, but was a done deal by 1950. Alan Moore brought him back in the 1990s as Tom Strong.

Dr. Strange

Dr. Stephen Strange, master of the mystic arts, first appears in Strange Tales #110, but his origin would not be revealed until much later.

He was a former surgeon who had lost his nerve after losing fine motor control in his hands after an automobile accident.

He was trained in the mystic arts by The Ancient One, who taught him magic and gave him a cloak of levitation and concealment, as well as a mystical amulet.

Dr. Strange is still active today, and still generally combatting mystical or magical enemies. A Dr. Strange movie is on the way, and has driven up prices on this book rapidly in recent months.

Doll Man

Doll Man was, and is, a very odd sort of hero.

Darrell Dane, a chemist, developed a formula that allowed him to shrink down from his normal stature to the height of six inches.

Will Eisner gets the credit for creating the first superhero who could shrink, long before the Silver Age Atom and Ant-Man did so.

Eventually, he brings his fiancée, Martha, into the act by giving her the formula and calling her Doll Girl.

After Quality went belly up, Doll Man wasn't seen again until DC acquired and rebooted him in the Bronze Age.

Dominus

Dominus was an alien priest who lived a false life of peace, until he turned to black magic to help him fuel his jealous and wicked ways. 

Later, coming to Earth, Dominus fought Superman and somehow stole his identity, imprisoning the real Superman.

Disguised as Superman, Dominus used Superman Robots to take over the world. 

Eventually, Lois Lane and Lex Luthor learn the truth and free the real Superman, who goes on to defeat Dominus.

Doom Patrol

The doom patrol was a team of superhero misfits who were shunned by society.

Their adventures were chronicled in their own series, but they had two cross overs. Several people have noted similarities between the Doom Patrol and the X-Men.

The series is noted for its strange villains, including Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man and The Brain. 

The serious ended dramatically with the death of the entire Doom Patrol. However, the Doom Patrol name was resurrected in later comics.

Doomsday

On the planet Krypton, an evil alien scientist was conducting a disturbing experiment, accelerating the rate of evolution and survival of a baby humanoid creature.

Finally, after several years of cloning and rebirths, the horrible creature known as Doomsday was born.

After escaping Krypton, Doomsday went on a galactic rampage, but was eventually defeated and imprisoned in a vessel. The vessel was shot out into space, but landed on Earth.

Thousands of years later, Doomsday awoke.

Doomsday is the most powerful and formidable foe ever fought by any character in the DC Universe. He is a mindless, soulless killing machine who lives only to destroy.

During an epic battle, Doomsday kills Superman.

Dormammu

Dormammu is an amazingly powerful mystic and ruler of the Dark Dimension.

He is Dr. Strange's archenemy and considered his most terrible foe.

Dormammu's power is enhanced when he is in his own dimension and can draw on the power of his followers.

Dormammu can also command the Mindless Ones, monstrous, powerful beings who have no thoughts or will power.

Double Down

One night, compulsive gambler Jeremy Tell loses all of his money in a bet.

Enraged, Tell kills the winner of game but suffers a serious consequence - the cursed deck of cards owned by the man he murdered attacks him and bonds to his skin.

Tell finds that he can mentally control the cards, and can use them to attack or imprison his victims.

Dragon Man

Dragon Man is an android built by Professor Gregson Gilbert.

Lacking an important part needed to activate his android, Gilbert turned to the evil alchemist Diablo, who imbues the android with magic, bringing him to life.

Dragon Man has very limited intelligence, but is quite strong and durable, and can also fly.

Although he is an enemy of the Fantastic Four, Dragon Man is only bad because of Diablo's magic influence.

Duela Dent

Duela Dent, sometimes known as Harlequin, is a delusional and mental unstable acrobat.

She sometimes is a friend and member of the Teen Titans, but has been a villain several times as well.

Duela Dent is a woman of many names and claims, calling herself Catgirl, Harlequin, the Joker's Daughter, the Riddler's Daugther, and Scarcrone.

At one time, she claimed to be Two-Face's daughter, but it`s finally made certain that Jokester is her biological father.