The Rag Doll (also interchangeably known as Ragdoll) is a colorful supervillain in the DC Comics universe. He was first introduced as an adversary for the Golden age Flash, in a story published in Flash Comics #36 (December 1942).1 In more recent times, James Robinson has revived him as an enemy for Jack Knight, the millennial Starman. DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... In comic books, first appearance refers to the date or issue of a characters first appearance. ... The Golden Age Flash as created by Gardner Fox & Harry Lampert The Flash is a DC Comics superhero possessing super-speed. ... Gardner Francis Fox (May 20, 1911, Brooklyn, New York – December 24, 1986) was an American writer best known for writing comic books and co-creating numerous comics characters, especially for DC Comics. ... The Injustice Society (also called the Injustice Society of the World) is a group of fictional supervillains in the DC Comics universe. ... The Secret Society of Super Villains (SSoSV) is a group of comic book villains that exist in the DC Universe. ... Doctor Doom, one of the most archetypal supervillains and his arch-enemies The Fantastic Four (in background). ... DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... Cover to the History of the DC Universe trade paperback. ... Barry Allen as the Flash. ... The Golden Age Flash as created by Gardner Fox & Harry Lampert The Flash is a DC Comics superhero possessing super-speed. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... James Dale Robinson, usually referred to as just James Robinson, is a British writer of comic books and screenplays and known for his interest in old collectibles and memorabilia. ... Starman VII is Jack Knight, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe, and a member of the Justice Society of America. ...

A third Rag Doll, the son of the original, is an active member of the Secret Six.

Peter Merkel

Golden Age

Peter Merkel, a native of the Midwestern United States, was born with a unique condition: "Triple-jointedness". Like the more common "double-jointedness', Merkel's condition was characterized by extremely distensible ligaments and tendons, though to a significantly extended degree. The son of a side-show barker, Merkel found work in a small local carnival as a contortionist and eccentric dancer. In the early 1940's, the carnival fell on hard times and Merkel found himself out of work. Wandering the streets, Merkel despaired of having money. Seeing large boxes of toys being loaded into a department store, Merkel hit on the idea of hiding himself in one of the large rag dolls and then robbing the store after closing. Going unnoticed among the toys, Merkel carried his idea one step further: He would rob while still hidden in the Rag Doll suit. In these earliest days of costumed villains, the idea seemed novel and Merkel decided that no one would believe that a Rag Doll could commit crime.

In time, the legend of the Rag Doll grew far and wide. Petty crooks began to seek out the Rag Doll, to take advantage of his criminal success. In 1943, The Rag Doll moved his operation to Keystone City. There he had his thugs deliver him as a gift to a young heiress named Geralda Cummins. The young girl was holding a much-touted party for her circle of socialites and the Rag Doll aimed to take advantage of the situation. To coordinate the event, Cummins had selected Joan Williams who had recently began a party and festival business. It was decided that each of the wealthy guests would donate $10,000 in defense bonds to serve as a prize in a treasure hunt. Whoever solved the hunt first, won the prize. Unknown to Joan, the doll Geralda has received as gift was listening and planning a much different outcome. Keystone City is a fictional city featured in stories of the Flash published by DC Comics. ...

The next evening, the guests gathered to hear the reading of the first clue. As the guests departed, the Rag Doll signaled his thugs to follow them to the museum while he stayed to interrogate Joan Williams. His ploy was delayed however, by the untimely arrival of William's beau, The Flash. While the Rag Doll remained in hiding, Williams and the Flash departed for the museum to provide the next clue. On their arrival, they were waylaid by the Rag Doll's thugs. While the Flash made short work of the henchmen, the Rag Doll himself drugged Joan with chloroform and stole the remaining clue. With these, he could find the treasure himself. Jay Garrick is a fictional character in the DC Comics Universe and the first Flash. ...

With the henchmen wrapped up, The Flash returned to find Joan amnesiac from the chloroform and with no recollection as to the location of the bonds. Taking the first clue, the Flash then began to solve the puzzle at super-speed and intercepted the Rag Doll on the 4th clue, at a local aquarium. The Rag Doll got the jump on Garrick with a swift blow to the skull and dumped the hero into an aquarium containing a giant octopus. He then raced quickly back to the Cummins estate to solve the treasure hunt with the 5th clue. Meanwhile, the Flash came to and after a tussle with the octopus, hotly pursued the criminal. He arrived just in time to see the Rag Doll pull the defense bonds out of their hiding place in the Cummins' grand piano. Quickly, and literally, tying the villain in knots, the Flash returned the gift and carted the outlandish criminal off to the Keystone City Jail (Flash Comics #36).

Silver Age

Flash is reported to have had several other encounters with the Rag Doll over the years but none have been recorded. In the mid 1970's, the Rag Doll became a pawn in a rather bizarre series of robberies. After encounter with the Thinker, the Rag Doll became brainwashed to commits crimes based on dolls. When the Flash intercepted the criminal, mundane "accidents" befell the elder speedster, undermining his self confidence. The Thinker's plan was to destroy the Flash's self esteem to the point that the hero would be too ineffectual to stop his grander plans. The Thinker was undone however, by a surprise visit from the Silver Age Flash, Barry Allen who quickly captured the former carnival worker. Allen also noticed a bizarre aura around the heads of Garrick and Merkel, suggesting that each was being manipulated in some way. At Merkel's interrogation, the Rag Doll swore that he had no recollection of any crimes, convincing Allen that there was a greater force at work. Quickly switching Merkel for a real rag doll, he convinced Garrick and the Keystone police that a bizarre transmorgification had occurred and that Merkel was somehow dead. He then departed, only to return and hide in the evidence room when the Thinker himself paid a visit to confirm the demise of his agent. Caught red-handed, the Thinker was quickly apprehended by the two Flashes and both the Thinker and the Rag Doll were returned to prison (The Flash #229). The Thinker is the name of four DC Comics supervillains. ... Barry Allen is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics Universe and the second Flash. ...

Ragdoll on in his Golden Age costume from Who's Who.

In the early 1980's, the Rag Doll was contacted by the Ultra-Humanite, a long-standing foe of the Justice Society. Along with other elder villains as well as new younger recruits, the Rag Doll became a founding member of the second generation of the Secret Society of Super Villains. The Ultra-Humanite had devised a machine that, for the sacrifice of ten heroes from the Justice Society and Justice League to be held in stasis, (five from each team), all the heroes on would disappear. Each villain then was assigned a target and the Rag Doll took the Flash. After delivering a false tip to the Flash, the Rag Doll ambushed the hero on a freight ship in Keystone Harbor. After luring him into the hold, the Flash learned too late that all he would find there was a bomb, the explosion of which dropped the unconscious hero at the feet of his bizarre adversary. Image File history File links RagDollWW.jpg‎ Summary http://www. ... Image File history File links RagDollWW.jpg‎ Summary http://www. ... The Ultra-Humanite is a fictional supervillain appearing in stories published by DC Comics. ... The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a team of fictional superheroes whose adventures have been published by DC Comics. ... The Secret Society of Super Villains (SSoSV) is a group of comic book villains that exist in the DC Universe. ... The Justice League, sometimes called the Justice League of America or JLA for short, is a fictional DC Universe superhero team. ...

As the other members of the Secret Society completed their task, the heroes were dispatched to Limbo, clearing Earth of costumed heroes. Unfortunately, the Ultra-Humanite had deceived the Justice League into helping and while the Rag Doll and his colleague waged a massive crime wave, the villains rescued the captured heroes in Limbo. In short order, the Secret Society of Super-Villains were consigned to Limbo and the balance of heroes on was restored (Justice League of America #195-197).

Limbo would not prove a prison for the Rag Doll for long. While trapped there, the Ultra-Humanite made contact with himself in the past, when he occupied the body of Dolores Winters in 1942. Through the contact of advanced information, the Ultra-Humanite taught himself a way to open a portal to Limbo in the 1940's. On doing so, the Rag Doll and other members of the Secret Society escaped to assist the young Humanite defeat the All-Star Squadron. After a romp across the landscape of their youth, the aging villains proved no match for the large numbers of heroes and were beaten back to Limbo (All-Star Squadron #24-26, Annual #1).

Modern Age

By the late 1980's, the Rag Doll was well into his sixties. His hyper-elastic ligaments had begun to collapse and over-extend, causing the villain great pain. He was no longer able to even effect the lifestyle of the minor criminal. So the Rag Doll began to speak and talk and ramble as old men often do. As he did, he saw the lost, the homeless and the disenfranchised gravitated toward him, soaking up his words and in time, became a cult of followers blind to his every indulgence and desire. And after a life of defeat and despair, what the Rag Doll desired was revenge.

He rallied around him a cult that took over the streets of Opal City. That summer, Opal burned and the streets ran red with blood. Ted "Starman" Knight was unable to stop the madman, so Justice Society of America members Green Lantern, Flash, Hourman and Dr. Mid-Nite joined the hunt. Eventually, the heroes thwarted Ragdoll's plans and captured the villain. Restrained, Ragdoll taunted the heroes, telling him that he would command his horde from prison. He threatened the lives of Jay, Alan and Ted's families. While the JSA listened to the Rag Doll's discourse, the villain strained his limbs to slip free of his bonds and as the heroes seemed lulled, made a quick break for the door. The aftermath was never officially recorded but in an explosion of cosmic energy, the Rag Doll was found blasted to a painful death. It has since been largely concluded that Starman, fearing for the safety of his sons, had slain the villain, a fact disputed by witnesses Flash and Green Lantern The next afternoon, Ragdoll's body disappeared from the morgue (Starman #9, 11 and Starman 80-Page Giant #1). Opal City is a fictional city set in the DC Universe. ... Starman is Ted Knight, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe, and a member of the Justice Society of America. ... The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. ... Alan Scott is a fictional hero from the DC Comics universe and the first superhero to bear the name Green Lantern. ... Jay Garrick is a fictional character in the DC Comics Universe and the first Flash. ... Hourman (spelled Hour-Man in his earliest appearances) is the name of three different fictional DC Comics superheroes the first of whom was created by Ken Fitch and Bernard Bailey in Adventure Comics #48 (April 1940), during the Golden Age of Comic Books. ... Cover to JSA: All-Stars #3. ...

Exactly how the Rag Doll survived is unknown. His body was retrieved by his followers however. Some years later, Rag Doll was approached by Neron. In exchange for Rag Doll's soul, Neron gave the villain youth. He also instructed Rag Doll to remain hidden until approached by a man named Simon Culp. Years later, Culp did come looking for Rag Doll's help. Trapped in the form of The Shade, Culp explained that he had a very profitable plan to launch against Opal City and the Shade. Rag Doll agreed to help (Starman #68). Neron is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. ... The Shade is a DC Comics character, a villain created in the 1940s who would fight against two generations of superheroes, most notably the Golden Age and Silver Age Flashes. ...

Rag Doll helped Culp's gang subdue Mikaal Tomas when the alien attempted to make contact with Ted Knight (Starman #64). Rag Doll watched as Culp cast a spell on the Black Pirate, causing Opal City to become encased in a shadow-dome (Starman #63). Rag Doll and his gang then helped Culp seize control of the entire city. The villains then paraded their prisoners, baiting Jack Knight into a confrontation. Jack held his own until, cut off from the stars, his cosmic rod failed. As Rag Doll and the villains beat Jack down, the Shade fell to the ground as Culp emerged from within his shadow form (Starman #65). Several incarnations of Starman. ...

Just as Culp was about to slit Knight's throat, Adam Strange and Black Condor attacked. Their distraction enabled Knight to fight his way free. The three heroes freed Culp's prisoners, and escaped. Culp and his gang remained in custody of the Shade however, and withdrew to prepare for the final rite (Starman #67). While Culp prepared, he sent Mist, Solomon Grundy, Rag Doll and Crusher to search for the escaped heroes (Starman #69). Adam Strange is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. ... Black Condor is the name of three DC Comics superheroes who have all been members of the Freedom Fighters. ... The Mist is the name of two DC Comics supervillains, archenemies of the original and 1990s Starman Categories: DC Comics stubs | DC Comics supervillains ... Solomon Grundy is a DC Comics character, a large, strong zombie supervillain. ...

Ted confronted Doctor Phosphorus in the streets of Opal and, no longer needing to be cautious of his health, fought the villain toe-to-toe. Ted defeated his radioactive foe, and as he was about to deliver a killing blow, he was ambushed by the Rag Doll (Starman #70). Dr. Phosphorus (real name Dr. Alex Sartorius) is fictional supervillain in the DC Universe. ...

Phosphorus quickly recovered and the two villains closed in on Knight. They revealed that they had been approached by a man named Neron years ago, who had bid them to wait for the coming of Culp and to aid the dwarf in his plans. As they moved in for the kill, Ted used his cosmic rod to tear the pavement from beneath Dr. Phosphorus and drive him into the earth, killing the villain. With that, the rod's charge was exhausted. Ted turned to face Rag Doll, challenging the villain to kill him, sparing him a suffering death from Phosphorus' radiation poisoning. Rag Doll then turned and left (Starman #71).

Rag Doll was then recruited to join a new version of the Injustice Society. He helped rescue the Icicle from incarceration, leading to a showdown with the JSA. In the ensuing battle, the Injustice Society used strange discs to teleport the elder JSAers away. Their mission accomplished, the Injustice Society disappeared (JSA All-Stars #1). The Injustice Society (also called the Injustice Society of the World) is a group of fictional supervillains in the DC Comics universe. ... Icicle is the name of 2 fictional DC Comics supervillains. ...

He then briefly rejoined a reformed version of the Secret Society. During an assault against the Secret Six, he battled his son (who had taken over the Rag Doll name and identity). Their battle was cut short by other attacking villains. (Villains United #5, 6)

Soon afterward, Merkel died while in mission with the reformed Injustice Society (JSA Classified #5-7). The team was attempting to retrieve the Cosmic Key (which would return Johnny Sorrow), but they were betrayed by The Society. Johnny Sorrow is a DC Comics supervillain and a recurring Justice Society of America foe. ... The Secret Society of Super Villains (SSoSV) is a group of comic book villains that exist in the DC Universe. ...

In the midst of the battle, it seemed that Ragdoll and the Gentleman Ghost betrayed their comrades, running away with the Key. However, Tigress witnessed the return of Johnny Sorrow, a happening which kills Ragdoll, though the ghost was prepared for it as he hands Sorrow his all-important mask. Sorrow then takes the rest of the Injustice Society to safety in the Crooked House, the former abode of Prometheus, and the Society must lick its wounds and curse the loss of the Key. It is revealed that Gentleman Ghost, Wizard and Icicle were expecting Ragdoll to turn on them, so they set him up to die. The Gentleman Ghost is a recurring nemesis of Hawkman and Hawkgirl. ... Tigress is the name of three different DC Comics supervillains. ... Johnny Sorrow is a DC Comics supervillain and a recurring Justice Society of America foe. ... Prometheus is the name of 2 fictional characters from DC Comics and supervillain. ... The Wizard is the name of a fictional DC Comics Golden Age supervillain. ...

Powers and Abilities

In his early years, the Rag Doll possessed hyper-elastic tendons and ligaments, allowing him to twist and contort in a variety of ways. This ability made him difficult to target and once captured, difficult to hold. It also facilitated the Rag Doll's unqiue brand of robbery, often by allowing him to stow away inplaces no ordinary human would fit. The Rag Doll's suit also had several advantages including insulation, ample storage space, and padded feet which allows him to move relatively silently.

In later years, the Rag Doll developed a hypnotic oratory that allowed him to organize and execute crimes with legions of followers. The nature of this ability remains unclear. Since Merkel's rejuvenation by Neron his powers were not well-defined.

Colby Zag

Jack Knight has also squared off against a mentally unbalanced impostor named Colby Zag (aka, Rag Doll II). (Starman 80-Page Giant #1)

During the time when the original Rag Doll was believed dead, Zag met band player Mr. Tyrell through the internet. Tyrell had bribed his former band-mates to keep quiet about his involvement in a drug related death. Eventually, his band-mates began extorting more money from him, so Tyrell planned to kill them. He helped Zag adopt the personality and mannerisms of the Rag Doll and sent him to kill the extortionists. Zag succeeded in killing four of the five men, but was stopped thanks to the intervention of Jack Knight

Powers and Abilities

Zag was very agile and athletic, and wielded an antique tribal dagger as his weapon of choice. He was clinically deranged and truly believed that he was the Rag Doll of Opal City.

Son of Peter Merkel

A new Rag Doll was featured in the Villains United miniseries, as a member of a small group calling themselves the "Secret Six" who hoped to rival the new Secret Society of Super Villains. In Issue #3 it was revealed he is the son of the original Rag Doll (no first name given) and was born a normal baby. To please his father he underwent surgery to implant lubricated cybernetic joints that let him emulate his father's physique. The surgery left him badly disfigured and requiring regular doses of an emollient to lubricate his skin - otherwise his bones will literally cut through his brittle flesh. He also had surgically removed his genitals, which he considered a "bother." DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... In comic books, first appearance refers to the date or issue of a characters first appearance. ... Villains United is a six-issue comic book limited series, written by Gail Simone with art by Dale Eaglesham and Wade von Grawbadger, published by DC Comics in 2005. ... Gail Simone at the 2002 SDCC. Photo copyright 2002-2005 Lea Hernandez Gail Simone is a popular American writer of comic books. ... Dale Eaglesham is a veteran comic book illustrator who has been working in the industry since 1986. ... The Secret Six is the name of three distinct, fictional comic book teams in the DC Comics universe, plus a noncanonical fourth team. ... Villains United is a six-issue comic book limited series, written by Gail Simone with art by Dale Eaglesham and Wade von Grawbadger, published by DC Comics in 2005. ... The Secret Six is the name of three distinct, fictional comic book teams in the DC Comics universe, plus a noncanonical fourth team. ... The Secret Society of Super Villains (SSoSV) is a group of comic book villains that exist in the DC Universe. ... Emollients soften skin (and moisturisers add moisture). ...

He briefly battled his father, the original Rag Doll (who was representing The Society). This was just prior to the original Rag Doll abandoning The Society and rejoining the Injustice Society (which led to his eventual death). Their battle was cut short by other attacking villains. (Villains United #6) The Secret Society of Super Villains (SSoSV) is a group of comic book villains that exist in the DC Universe. ...

Relationships

Parademon and Rag Doll in battle with the Secret Six.

As a member of the Secret Six, he had formed a bond with Parademon. After Parademon was killed, Rag Doll had his upper torso stuffed and keeps it in his room at the House of Secrets. (Secret Six #1) Image File history File linksMetadata Parademon5. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Parademon5. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... The House of Secrets #92 (July 1971), introducing Swamp Thing. ...

He also says he has a sister he once French-kissed, but talking to Parademon's stuffed body is less socially awkward. A taxidermied snow leopard. ...

Rag Doll has also mentioned that his father was "not a kind man", and was disappointed in the fact that only his brother inherited the family gift. His surgeries to transform himself were done to please his disapproving father.

In the final (December, 2006) issue of Secret Six, Ragdoll pushed Jervis Tetch (the Mad Hatter) off the roof of Vandal Savage's stronghold, claiming there is only room for one freak on the team. Tetch survived, and swore revenge on the rest fo the Six. It is likely the main target of his revenge in the future will be Ragdoll. The Mad Hatter is a supervillain in the Batman comics, published by DC Comics. ...

Powers and Abilities

Rag Doll has had his joints removed and replaced with lubricated cybernetic joints, which give him contortionist abilities. He has been shown to fall from great heights and survive, slither his way through sewage pipes and out of a toilet, and trap his foes in his wrapped limbs while he snaps their necks. His enhanced physique has some form of durability and high pain tolerance, who enabled him to reattach a severed arm and heal quickly from an exposed bone fracture, with a prognosis of a fairly good post-op recovery. His damaged joints can always be surgically replaced. A bone fracture is a medical condition in which a bone becomes cracked, splintered, or bisected as a result of physical trauma. ...

Other media

Rag Doll on The Batman animated series.

The Rag Doll has appeared on The Batman, voiced by Jeff Bennett. Able to bend himself in every imaginable (and even some unimaginable) positions, Rag Doll is a formidable opponent for The Batman, but an even bigger adversary of Catwoman. Image File history File links RagdollAnimated. ... Image File history File links RagdollAnimated. ... The Batman is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. ... Jeff Glen Bennett (born 1963) is a well known voice actor in movies and games. ...

External links

• The Comic Archives: The Rag Doll
• The Rag Doll Biography
• The Rag Doll Profile at Legions of Gotham.org
• Rag Doll Rap Sheet
• Rag Doll I - Unofficial Guide to DC Comics entry
• Rag Doll II - Unofficial Guide to DC Comics entry
• Rag Doll III - Unofficial Guide to DC Comics entry
• Rag Doll Cult - Unofficial Guide to DC Comics entry
• The Rag Doll's Animated Profile (The Batman)
• Rag Doll Animated Bio