Doctor Druid
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Doctor Druid, also known as Doctor Droom and Druid, is a fictional character, a supernatural monster-hunter in the Marvel Comics universe.
Co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and penciller Jack Kirby, he starred in his own continuing feature that debuted in Amazing Adventures #1 (June 1961) — predating Lee & Kirby's milestone creation The Fantastic Four #1 (Nov. 1961) and establishing him as Marvel's first superhero of the mid-1950s and 1960s period known as the Silver Age of Comic Books.
Publication history
In his earliest five appearances, in Amazing Adventures #1-4 & #6 (June-Sept. & Nov. 1961), the character was called Doctor Droom. The first strip was drawn by Jack Kirby and inked by Steve Ditko, two of Marvel's most prominent artists. More a monster-story appendage than a serious attempt at creating a three-dimensional character in the manner of Ditko's upcoming Spider-Man or Kirby's Fantastic Four, Doctor Droom vanished into obscurity for years after the series was re-titled and reformatted as Amazing Adult Fantasy with #7 (eventually the magazine was retitled Amazing Spider-Man). He resurfaced in the 1970s as a guest character in The Incredible Hulk, where he was re-titled Doctor Druid to avoid confusion with the far more recognizable Doctor Doom.
He starred in the miniseries Druid #1-4 (May-Aug. 1995), by writer Warren Ellis and artist Leonardo Manco, and co-starred with Ulysses Bloodstone and others in the flashback title Marvel Universe #4-7 (Sept.-Dec. 1998). There he was retconned as a member of the group the Monster Hunters, whose adventures took place at the crux between the "Age of Monsters" and "Age of Heroes"
Character biography
Doctor Druid's real name is Dr. Anthony Ludgate Druid, although he usually refers to himself as Dr. Anthony Druid for effect. He is a psychiatrist and explorer, as well as a minor telepath and magician, specializing mostly in hypnosis and other feats of mesmerism. He has minor magical abilities that have varied over the years. He is also an expert on the occult, having been trained by a Tibetan lama who had come to the U.S. for medical attention (later retconned as the Ancient One,*Avengers Spotlight #37 (Oct. 1990)* the same sorcerer who trained Doctor Strange). Ludgate was later revealed to be a distant descendant of the real-life Amergin the Druid of the 10th century.
Doctor Druid remained on the sidelines for years. He eventually appeared again, and teamed with the Hulk against the Maha Yogi.*Incredible Hulk #209-211* With the Avengers, he encountered the Fomor and his ancestor Amergin.*The Avengers #225-226 (Nov.-Dec. 1982)*
Doctor Druid some time later aided the Avengers in thwarting Baron Zemo and the fourth Masters of Evil's takeover of Avengers Mansion.*Avengers #276 (Feb. 1987)* He joined the ranks of the Avengers shortly after helping to defend from this attack.*The Avengers #278 (April 1987)* He battled a Dracula doppelganger in the realm of Death.*West Coast Avengers Annual #2 (1987); Avengers Annual #16 (1987)*
His membership was tainted when he was mind controlled by supervillainess the Terminatrix (at the time impersonating the space pirate Nebula) into manipulating the team on her behalf. When "Nebula" was cast into Limbo, Druid followed, as he was still under her thrall. He eventually regained control of his own mind and returned to Earth, where, after learning his true origin, banished "Nebula" and became younger by magic.
Due to his actions as the villain's thrall, Druid was disgraced. He was briefly reunited with his former teammates while working with Doctor Strange during the Infinity War, and later became leader of the Secret Defenders.
After the team disbanded, he abandoned his spandex costume and became even more of a real, traditional druid, a fact reflected by his taking on the simple name of "Druid", and the new nature of his nature powers, but he let his feelings of rage and power lust take him over, went insane, was betrayed by his allies, and was finally killed by Hellstorm.*Druid #4 (Aug. 1995)* Druid's ghost appeared later alongside the spirits of other dead ex-Avengers, confirming that Druid had in fact died this time. The Avengers later placed a memorial statue of him in the garden of Avengers Mansion.
Doctor Druid's son is introduced as one of Nick Fury's new recruits to fight against the Secret Invasion.*Mighty Avengers #13 (July 2008)* Secret Invasion #4 reveals that he is operating under the name "Druid".
