Dragon Man
- Not to be confused with the race of Dragon-Men.
Dragon Man is a large, anthropomorphic, reptilian android made of stone.
Biography
Dragon Man was originally created by biologist Dr. Gregson Gilbert in 1965 as merely a theoretical model of a powerful superbeing. The model was soon given life via a potion made by Diablo, who wished to use Dragon Man to defeat the Fantastic Four. Dragon Man proved to be a powerful foe indeed, boasting large wings, great power, and fire breath. When Diablo and Dragon Man fought the Fantastic Four at the campus of State University, Dragon Man turned on his co-creator and tackled Diablo into Dead Man's Lake, sending the two of them into the lake's powerful current and into one of its several subterranean caves to an unknown fate. During the fight, Dragon Man was entranced by Invisible Girl's beauty. Dr. Gilbert, ashamed that he had had a part in creating a weapon of destruction, vowed to remain vigilant should Dragon Man reemerge.[1]
Dragon Man, in fact, reemerged several months later when the Human Torch returned to Dead Man's Lake, kidnapped by Medusa. Medusa forced Torch to drive her away from Gorgon, an Inhuman who was chasing her down in an attempt to bring her back to Inhuman society. Dragon Man leapt from the ground near the lake and started to attack, but Medusa's beauty gave him pause, reminding him of his fondness for Invisible Girl. Gorgon soon arrived as well, and Dragon Man attacked, hoping to defend Medusa. Medusa tried to escape, but Dragon Man grabbed her and flew away with her. He flew into the city where he became tangled up with the rest of the Fantastic Four, and they all landed on a rooftop near the Baxter Building, soon joined by Torch and Gorgon. Medusa pleaded with the Four to protect her as he attacked. The simpleminded Dragon Man focused on protecting Medusa and Invisible Girl, knocking back anyone who got close to them for any reason. Gorgon used his powerful hooves to stomp a hole in the roof, sending Dragon Man plummeting several floors down into the derelict building. Dragon Man soon recovered again, but Gorgon grabbed Medusa and stomped again, causing the building beneath them all to begin to crumble.[2] Gorgon escaped with Medusa, and Dragon Man continued to fight with the Human Torch, but Invisible Girl managed to break them up and convince the simple-minded Dragon Man that they weren't going to harm him. The Fantastic Four made peace with Dragon Man, and Mr. Fantastic even constructed a special enclosure at the Baxter Building for him to live in. Dragon Man resisted, but Invisible Girl pacified him with a special tranquilizer gun.[3]
The reason for the Inhumans' secrecy was soon laid bare, as the Seeker arrived from their home city of Attilan under orders from King Maximus to forcefully return any and all errant Inhumans to the city. Seeker learned of Dragon Man and assumed he was an Inhuman. He and his underlings entered the Baxter Building while the Fantastic Four confronted the Inhumans personally and imprisoned Dragon Man at his base, where he also kept the aquatic Inhuman Triton. The Fantastic Four soon arrived shortly before Dragon Man awoke and broke free of his bonds, attacking the Seeker's men. The fight destroyed Triton's water case, leaving him dying on the floor, and Dragon Man escaped into the city.[4] Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Girl stayed behind to help Triton while the Thing and Human Torch pursued Dragon Man. The fight burst into the apartment of Thing's girlfriend, Alicia Masters, but the two heroes managed to keep her safe and take down Dragon Man when Torch employed intense ultraviolet rays to knock him out with rapid onset heat stroke. They turned Dragon Man over to the authorities, who took him to a "desert isle sanctuary for examination."[5]
References
- ↑ Fantastic Four #35: "Calamity on the Campus!" (February 1965) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Stone, Chic (i), Simek, Artie (let).
- ↑ Fantastic Four #44: "The Gentleman's Name Is Gorgon!" (November 1965) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Sinnott, Joe (i), Rosen, Sam (let).
- ↑ Fantastic Four #45: "Among Us Hide...the Inhumans." (December 1965) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Sinnott, Joe (i), Simek, Artie (let).
- ↑ Fantastic Four #46: "Those Who Would Destroy Us!" (January 1966) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Sinnott, Joe (i), Simek, Artie (let).
- ↑ Fantastic Four #47: "Beware the Hidden Land!" (February 1966) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Sinnott, Joe (i), Simek, Artie (let).