Per Degaton
Encyclopedia
Per Degaton is a fictional character
, a DC Comics
supervillain
who can travel through time. Per Degaton made his first appearance in All Star Comics
#35 (June/July 1947) and was created by John Broome
and Irwin Hasen
. The name "Per" is Swedish and short for "Peter".
ever since he was an assistant to the Time Trust, a group of scientists developing a time ray in order to go to the future and acquire an effective bombing defense for use during World War II
. In 1942, the Justice Society of America
is sent 500 years into the future to retrieve such a defense, and acquire a formula that produces a bomb-proof shield after proving they are the real Society to the Future and each receiving a segment. Nazis attempt to steal the formula, but are foiled by the JSA. In a fit of jealousy, Per Degaton sabotages the formula, causing it to fail its second test, and leaves the Time Trust soon after. Later in 1942 he is employed at Project M, another secret scientific group. During this time he meets the time traveling robot Mekanique
, who enlists his aid in her war against the All-Star Squadron
. In exchange for his help, Mekanique promises to give him the secrets of time travel. They fail in their attack on the All-Stars, and Mekanique’s body is destroyed, but Degaton salvages her head. He keeps her head by his side for the next five years, and they fall in love.
By 1947 Degaton is assisting Professor Malachi Zee, a former member of the Time Trust. Zee is able to finish a time machine with the help of Degaton and Mekanique. Degaton plans to take the machine for himself, and shoots Zee, who unexpectedly falls into it, sending him 40 years into the future. Mekanique suggests that the two of them simply wait four decades for the machine to reappear, but this idea drives Degaton into a lunatic rage. He buries Mekanique’s head, and makes new plans for himself. Per Degaton begins a short career as an evil para-military commander and joins the Injustice Society
of the world. Joining the armed forces of Capitol City [clearly meant to be Washington
], Dr. Mid-Nite suddenly finds himself under attack from the air, where criminal paratroopers are dropping smoke bombs to cover their take-over of the Washington Monument. As the Man of Midnight nears the monument, several felons toss grenades at him, which he promptly catches and tosses back, over-coming the criminals and saving the lives of the nearby soldiers. Mid-Nite then races up the spiral staircase of the monument to discover Degaton aiming a weapon at him...but the Man of Night throws a smoke bomb at Degaton, blinding him. After the smoke clears, Dr. Mid-Nite discovers that Degaton has escaped via a rope leading down to the Capitol dome, and he follows, only to be overcome by Degaton. But the ISW is defeated by the JSA after Green Lantern fakes his death after battling Brainwave, impersonates the Thinker and frees them, and spends the next 30 years in prison. Degaton was either free at some point thereafter or connected enough to function from within jail to influence Senator Joseph Fallon's role in discrediting the Justice Society in 1951 (revealed in America vs the Justice Society #4)
After his release, Degaton roams the streets as a derelict until his old ally Brain Wave
finds him. Degaton had hit the skids, he was homeless and in very poor health. He died his red hair black to be inobtrusive but was later discovered by the Brain Wave. Brain Wave found him at a soup kitchen and was determined to restore his vitality in hopes that Degaton would make him a new body, so restored his memories. Brain Wave caused a series of worldwide disasters and made a machine that sapped the willpower of the JSA that they displayed in averting the disasters to return will and youth to Per Degaton. The JSA confronted the villains aboard Brain Wave's space station, and when the JSA had the villains on the ropes, Brain Wave used his mental powers to send Earth on a collision course with the sun, demanding they submit or see the planet die. Power Girl sent Brain Wave's space station toward the sun, overheating it and causing the villains to pass out.
Degaton returns to prison, but is paroled ten years later due to advanced age.
Free at last, Degaton reconstructs Mekanique and the pair battle Infinity, Inc. at the site of arrival of Zee’s time machine. When it reappears it contains not only the dying Zee, but a 1947 version of Degaton himself (a 'chronal duplicate' - see below). When Degaton lunged at the machine as it had disappeared in 1947, the machine’s energies created two Degatons, one who lives a normal life and one who is carried along with the time machine. The older Degaton disintegrates instantly due to the paradoxical existence of two Degatons at one moment. Mekanique kills the younger Degaton as well as herself, fearing this Degaton would end up betraying her once more. (Originally, in the pre-Crisis
continuity, the time machine still reappears in the 1980s Taking advantage of the revelation of Batman's Diary, a document that supposedly convicted the Justice Society of treason, Degaton used his remaining influence to attempt to indict the group in Congressional sub-committee. Degaton's recognized that this was likely his last chance as a day that he had foreseen, the return of Zee's time machine, was close at hand. As the Congressional sub-committee became less and less convinced by evidence against the JSA, Degaton kidnapped Richard Grayson, Earth-2's Robin, and waited at the spot where the time machine should appear. It was revealed the diary was Batman's subliminal attempt to warn the Society of Degaton. The JSA, in pursuit of the captive Grayson, catch up to Degaton, literally lifting away the walls of the building in which he is hiding. At a dramatic moment, the time machine re-appears and Zee staggers out, accusing Degaton of murder with his final breath. Surrounded by witnesses and facing prison for a 40 year old murder charge at his advanced age, Degaton placed the gun to his temple and fatally shot himself (America vs the JSA #1-4) in a retcon of this story).
between Greece
and Persia in 331 B.C, thus halting technological development, and meaning he and his henchmen were able to conquer an America medieval levels of technology with modern weapons as they were left in specially prepared caves of chronitum safe from the alterations to the time stream. Technology disappeared in an odd fashion, train tracks being left but no trains, light bulbs were left but no electricity. He had built up the army by making money on such things as betting on horse races. Just before he tells them the point Degaton changed, he is shot again, and only penicillin
will save his life, though the hospital stocks vanish. The JSA stop various plans by Degaton while Green Lantern, Johnny Thunder, and Wonder Woman stay in the hospital to protect Zee.
The Magic Sphere continues to show what happened with the Flash, who returned to the professor's lab to see if there was any penicillin located there. Finding none, he returns to the hospital, and aska a doctor where a supply might be found. He tells the Scarlet Speedster that they may be some in "The Time Capsule" in Colossal Caves, which would be immune to time change. With the scenery changing all along the Flash, the Flash arrives at the caves and runs smack dab into Per Degaton and his men. Degaton manages to knock a stalactite from the ceiling onto the head of Flash, blacking him out. Upon recovering, the Flash is taken to the time capsule and placed inside, then Degaton leaves. The Flash uses his speed to propel the capsule through a metal wall, releasing him and dumping the contents of the capsule to the ground. Fortunately, Flash grabs the penicillin before it hits the floor, subdues Degaton's men and races the penicillin over to the hospital, musing to himself that the JSA must figure out WHAT crucial event in the past Degaton is changing to cause the effects taking place.
As the Atom speeds from the hospital, the Magic Sphere shifts the scene to Per Degaton and his men in armored tanks, entering the city of Gotham. But the column stops as one of the men asks Degaton when they are going to get the money that was promised them. When Degaton balks, the men point out that they are in front of the Gotham Insurance Company, and their vault has a million in gold in it. Degaton agrees to their request for money, realizing it will reinforce their loyalty. As they break into the vault, the Mighty Mite shows up and begins cleaning house with Degaton's thugs. But Atom is kayoed, tied and taken to the company's accident exhibit, which contains dozens of things that can cause instant death. Degaton leaves the Atom suspended over rotting floor boards in the room with a dripping kerosene lamp, that will eventually start a fire and cause the Atom to drop to his death below. Fortunately the Atom escapes, having at least learned that Degaton has changed "a battle" in the past, so he returns to the hospital with the news.
With darkness falling swiftly upon Gotham, because of modern streetlights, house lights and cars disappearing, Dr. Mid-Nite enters Gotham's blackened Hall of Science, listening to an address by Professor Appleby, famed chamist, to the world's scientists gathered there. Per Degaton suddenly enters the meeting, boasting that he is the one responsible for the change, and that he will not allow them to reconstruct what he is destroying. The Wonder of the Witching Hour jumps at Degaton's men and wipes them out, and throws Degaton across the room....just as the last of Degaton's men, Kale, hits the Man of Midnight over the head. When Dr. Mid-Nite recovers consciousness, he is tied on the floor, and three of scientists are brought before Degaton, who reminds all of them that he was once their assistant, and orders them to devise a clever death for the helpless JSA member on the floor. They devise a gruesome plan to destroy the good doctor with hydrocyanic acid, but Mid-Nite uses his wits to cause the acid to drip on his bonds instead, and he breaks loose in time to save the three scientists from being killed by Degaton's men with his blackout bomb. Dr. Mid-Nite then heads back for the hospital, hoping that Professor Zee has recovered enough to tell the JSA what event Degaton has changed in the past.
While the city of Gotham reels under the disappearnce of modern conveniences, the Sphere now shows Hawkman on his way to the Mayor's office, when he spots a bridge transformed back into an ancient rope bridge, and he must save the people on it falling to their deaths. Meanwhile, Degaton's army of tanks emerges from the city's subway system, and the thugs of Degaton enter the Mayor's office. The gun the Mayor pulls on them suddenly turns into an ancient flintlock --- but their guns, protected by the rays of special metal, are pulled on the Mayor as the Feathered Fury enters the open window, and starts working over the criminals. But Hawkman is captured and led away to the back of an antique shop, with the Mayor, and laid on a canopy bed. Degaton hits a switch, bringing the top of the canopy and the bed closer and closer to crushing the pair....but Hawkman uses his untied legs to stop the top, forcing the ancient springs in the mattress to snap, thus saving their lives. Hawkman then flies the Mayor back to his office.
Back at the hospital, the doctor has already administered the penicillin and the professor recovers enough to let the JSA know that Degaton has changed the outcome of the famous Battle of Arabela, that took place in 331 B.C. He tells the Justice Society to go to Colossal Caves and enter into his time machine, and go back to that year and cause the original outcome of that battle to happen. Green Lantern offers to go alone, fearing that the entire group might frighten Degaton into destroying the time machine before they could use it. Once he secures the machine, he is to bring it back to the hospital and the entire JSA will go back in history to correct Degaton's actions.
As the Green Gladiator reaches Colossal Caves, he spots Degaton's men outside the entrance, so he decides to use his ring to enable him to enter the cave right through the mountain's wall. Once inside, he walks down the cave's corridors, but suddenly hears Degaton order Kale and his men to destroy the time machine, as it has served its purpose. Green Lantern charges Degaton by the machine, and accidentally trips into the machine and is knocked out. Degaton then sets the machine for 10,000 years in the future, and off it whisks! When G.L. awakens, we discover that the Lantern's head has knocked the switch in such a way that he has only traveled ten years into the future, and as he emerges, the JSA is there to greet him! They are amazed that he is still alive after all of those years, and G.L. suddenly realizes that he is in the future, and not the present, and also discovers that the JSA are now wanted outlaws! Realizing that they can still change the Battle of Arabela, they head toward the time machine...but it explodes as they near it. So Green Lantern uses his power ring to take the group 3000 years back into the past. Meanwhile, Degaton and his men are sitting in his office, discussing the fate of the JSA, when all of a sudden, modern inventions begin re-appearing. The scene shifts to 331 B.C. with Alexander the Great's Army being routed, when the JSA suddenly appears and turns the tide of battle in Alexander's favor. Just then, they all hear gunfire, as Degaton's men appear on the scene....but the JSA is quick to defeat them. In gratitude, Alexander gives the Justice Society his personal shield and dagger, which they accept as they fade away from view. As the course of history begins to correct itself, Wonder Woman suddenly remembers that, as all of them return to the future, memory of these evnts will completely disappear from their minds. The Magic Sphere finishes its tale....and Johnny wonders how they could all now remember what had happened, and the Amazon Princess reminds them of the shield and dagger. And as they look at the shield, they see that the Sphere has translated the Macedonian language and illegible signature to that of Alexander. The story closes with Professor Zee in his lab with Per Degaton, who seems to remember some foolishness about him dreaming that he was the ruler of the world! By so-doing, it is as if they had never occurred, they only found out about it due to Wonder Woman's magic sphere after they wondered how they had acquired an ancient shield, resulting in the Degaton chronal duplicate being returned to 1947, and the memories of the events erased from all involved.
Similar results are achieved by members of the-then fledgling All-Star Squadron who thwart the Degaton chronal duplicate's attempt to change the circumstances of the Japanese
Attack on Pearl Harbor
, he had beaten Zee to death this time, and travelled into the future of the century, where he decided he would be unable to conquer the world after the war due to the advancement, so decided to change the events of the war. He thought of making Hitler stop his greatest mistakes, but would still have only helped him draw, however a time-storm between September 1939 and December 6, 1941 prevented him changing those events.
Read more: http://onewayfilms.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=books&action=display&thread=9173#ixzz1QMCRLTdz. He tried to stop the JSA's involvement with the help of the villains he had pulled back in time, the Monster, King Bee, Professor Zodiac, Sky Pirate, Solomon Grundy
(though he was planning on getting rid of him once he had succeeded), who he promised could kill Green Lantern, and the magical Dr Fate foe Wotan
who held the JSA prisoner with a magical aura. He also hypnotized some Japanese storm-troopers, and equipped them with advanced technology, along with Zeroes stolen from a Future Museum. However the All-Star Squadron
's got involved, and though they were captured, during which Degaton explained who he was and what his plan was, the sword of the Shining Knight
enabled them to free themselves, and stop the Zeroes attacking San Francisco. They are able to free the Spectre (comics)
when Degaton tries to destroy the island the JSA are imprisoned in, who frees the other members, meaning Degaton returns to 1947, and the villains are returned to their time peroids. This did prevent the JSA from being able to intercept the attacking Japanese forces, and also results in Danette Reilly attaining her fire-based powers and becoming the second Firebrand (this is a distinct change to the formula of having all of his actions in past times erased, though everyone involved still forgets his involvement).
In addition to these 1947 "resets," another standard feature is that, prior to each new time-travel attempt, Degaton remembers all prior attempts, usually in the form of a dream that happens the night before Prof. Zee finishes the time-machine and is ready to test it (linking all of his attempts to alter time back to this one moment in a kind of Möbius strip
). These memories stay with the chronal duplicate for the duration of each new attempt to change history he makes, though it is unclear if the older Degaton retains these memories also.
The Degaton chronal duplicate remains a foe of the Justice Society, continually trying to alter history to his will. During one of the annual pre-Crisis meetings between the Justice League of America (JLA) of Earth-One and the JSA of Earth-Two
in 1982, the Degaton chronal duplicate nearly takes over Earth-2. This time he has shot Zee again, but checked to make sure he was really dead. Degaton has discovered he can travel between alternate Earths after he accidentally travelled to Earth-Prime. He discovered this was a world where superheroes were fictional. He was then caught up in a time-storm and found the prison of Earth-Three
's Crime Syndicate of America. They tried to get him, but he revealed he had made sure he and his Time Machine would vibrate at a different speed to them, meaning they couldn't touch him. They told him who they were, and he decided to use them. He then made them steal nuclear missiles from the Cuban Missile Crisis
of 1962 on Earth-Prime and bringing them back in time to Earth-Two's 1942 by towing them behind his time machine, not caring about the fact war would happen due to this. When the Syndicate betray him thy are sent to 1982, as he had made sure this would happen when they touched him. The Syndicators rematerialized on the JLA satellite by the League's teleporter. They quickly overcame the surprised heroes who were waiting for the JSA's annual meeting with the two groups. The JSA had been sent to the Crime Syndicate's interdimensional prison and were able to escape with the combined powers of Starman and Doctor Fate. Degaton had constructed an arena on Earth-2 where he made superheroes fight.
The Syndicate returned to assist Per Degaton's plan to rule the world. Though they had been double crossed by Degaton, they would help him until the moment came to strike. The villains once again fought the JLA, the JSA, and even members of the All-Star Squadron from 1942. He is beaten by the combined forces of these heroes. With his changes undone, he is again returned to 1947 with no memory of the events, while everyone else involved likewise lose their memories of events, and are returned to their proper times/worlds (the term 'chronal duplicate' is a descriptive term being used here to help differentiate and reconcile the actions of a youthful Degaton from 1947 manipulating historical events while an older Degaton lives out his life from 1947-onward, aging normally up to the Infinity, Inc. story; this term was used only in the context of that story. Also, as a result of the character's time-jumps, chronological order for his activities is difficult to determine with absolute certainty since at any time it could be revealed that one, or more, additional attempts were made from the same starting point in 1947. It can be assumed, however, that as long as a youthful Degaton is time-traveling in a story, it will have to be the 'chronal duplicate' prior to his appearance with his older-self in the Infinity, Inc. story since neither survive that encounter, and to-date, there have been no time-travel stories with a definitively post-1947 Degaton. He has no personal realization that he is a duplicate, nor do his opponents who, if anything, simply view him as just the 1947 version).
Degaton (the chronal duplicate), frustrated for not being able to harm the JSA chronologically in their last encounter, uses his time-traveling abilities to "watch life hurting [his enemies]." Sequentially confronting all the current JSA members (as of 2004), he tells them that he saw them die, and reveals some hints on their final moments. For example, he provides the revelation of the gruesome punishment that Atom Smasher will suffer at the hands of the Spectre
, the breaking down of the relation between Stargirl
and Captain Marvel
, and it is only due to the intervention of Daniel Hall that Degaton does not tell Hector Hall
details of his eventual passing. He tells Jay Garrick
the Flash that he died like a man.
Now equipped with a time disc, Degaton has the ability to live "between seconds", apparently ageless in an intangible state, from which he can only be forced with the concentrated tachyon
s found in the hourglass of Hourman
.
After sending his genetically enhanced agents from the future (the "Red Morgue") to kill all relatives of Stargirl, he causes the JSA's temporary 1950s dissolution to become permanent, and disgraces all the masked crime-fighters as traitors, thus erasing from history all subsequent superhero
es. Degaton is eventually stopped by the early-2000's JSA, and beaten to a bloody pulp by Atom Smasher (whose hands were soaked with the concentrated tachyons of the hourglass). The timeline is restored so that his changes never occurred. However (in a break from the established story-formula), Degaton retreats into the time-stream with his memories intact rather than being forced back to 1947 with his memories wiped, renewing his commitment to watching his enemies' deaths across time.
, Per Degaton was reformatted to the unified Earth to be an almost immortal wraith-like being who is out of time sync. He can see the future to a limited degree, but still seeks to rule the world despite his largely immaterial form.
The Degaton chronal duplicate's comments reveal he is one of the few people aware of the Crisis and the former Multiverse
that once existed, and still refers to "other realities" in-story.
After Infinite Crisis
, Degaton returns briefly in Justice League of America and then in Booster Gold
as part of a team with the Ultra-Humanite
, Despero
, Supernova
, and Black Beetle
, who have formed "The Time Stealers," a supervillain group that appears to be manipulating the timestream to their advantage. This version of Per Degaton, along with Ultra-Humanite and Despero, is from an earlier period in the timeline.
's tachyon-filled hourglass has been shown to blur his time vision and allow anyone possessing it to hit Degaton. He is also aware of changes to the timestream and has made mention of remembering events from before Crisis on Infinite Earths
.
It is unclear whether these are innate abilities the Degaton chronol-duplicate acquired or if they are the result of his time disc.
was sped up an hour until his powers ran out whereas the Atom was sped up to the point where his atomic physiology could explode.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, a DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
who can travel through time. Per Degaton made his first appearance in All Star Comics
All Star Comics
All Star Comics is a 1940s comic book series from All-American Publications, one of the early companies that merged with National Periodical Publications to form the modern-day DC Comics. With the exception of the first two issues, All Star Comics primarily told stories about the adventures of the...
#35 (June/July 1947) and was created by John Broome
John Broome (writer)
John Broome , who additionally used the pseudonyms John Osgood and Edgar Ray Meritt, was an American comic book writer for DC Comics.-Early life and career:...
and Irwin Hasen
Irwin Hasen
Irwin Hasen is an American cartoonist, best known as the co-creator of the Dondi comic strip.-Early life:...
. The name "Per" is Swedish and short for "Peter".
Fictional character biography
Per Degaton has been obsessed with time travelTime travel
Time travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
ever since he was an assistant to the Time Trust, a group of scientists developing a time ray in order to go to the future and acquire an effective bombing defense for use during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1942, the Justice Society of America
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. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
is sent 500 years into the future to retrieve such a defense, and acquire a formula that produces a bomb-proof shield after proving they are the real Society to the Future and each receiving a segment. Nazis attempt to steal the formula, but are foiled by the JSA. In a fit of jealousy, Per Degaton sabotages the formula, causing it to fail its second test, and leaves the Time Trust soon after. Later in 1942 he is employed at Project M, another secret scientific group. During this time he meets the time traveling robot Mekanique
Mekanique
Mekanique is a fictional supervillain in the fictional DC Universe. She first appeared in All-Star Squadron #58 .-Fictional character biography:...
, who enlists his aid in her war against the All-Star Squadron
All-Star Squadron
The All-Star Squadron is a DC Comics superhero team that debuted in a special insert in Justice League of America #193 . Created by Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway.-The concept:...
. In exchange for his help, Mekanique promises to give him the secrets of time travel. They fail in their attack on the All-Stars, and Mekanique’s body is destroyed, but Degaton salvages her head. He keeps her head by his side for the next five years, and they fall in love.
By 1947 Degaton is assisting Professor Malachi Zee, a former member of the Time Trust. Zee is able to finish a time machine with the help of Degaton and Mekanique. Degaton plans to take the machine for himself, and shoots Zee, who unexpectedly falls into it, sending him 40 years into the future. Mekanique suggests that the two of them simply wait four decades for the machine to reappear, but this idea drives Degaton into a lunatic rage. He buries Mekanique’s head, and makes new plans for himself. Per Degaton begins a short career as an evil para-military commander and joins the Injustice Society
Injustice Society
The Injustice Society is a group of fictional supervillains in the . They are the main antagonists of the Justice Society of America.-Original team:...
of the world. Joining the armed forces of Capitol City [clearly meant to be Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
], Dr. Mid-Nite suddenly finds himself under attack from the air, where criminal paratroopers are dropping smoke bombs to cover their take-over of the Washington Monument. As the Man of Midnight nears the monument, several felons toss grenades at him, which he promptly catches and tosses back, over-coming the criminals and saving the lives of the nearby soldiers. Mid-Nite then races up the spiral staircase of the monument to discover Degaton aiming a weapon at him...but the Man of Night throws a smoke bomb at Degaton, blinding him. After the smoke clears, Dr. Mid-Nite discovers that Degaton has escaped via a rope leading down to the Capitol dome, and he follows, only to be overcome by Degaton. But the ISW is defeated by the JSA after Green Lantern fakes his death after battling Brainwave, impersonates the Thinker and frees them, and spends the next 30 years in prison. Degaton was either free at some point thereafter or connected enough to function from within jail to influence Senator Joseph Fallon's role in discrediting the Justice Society in 1951 (revealed in America vs the Justice Society #4)
After his release, Degaton roams the streets as a derelict until his old ally Brain Wave
Brainwave (comics)
Brainwave is a name shared by two characters in the DC Comics Universe, who are father and son.-Henry King, Sr.:The Brain Wave was Henry King, a super-villain who used his psionic powers to battle the Justice Society of America in the 1940s, first appearing in All-Star Comics #15...
finds him. Degaton had hit the skids, he was homeless and in very poor health. He died his red hair black to be inobtrusive but was later discovered by the Brain Wave. Brain Wave found him at a soup kitchen and was determined to restore his vitality in hopes that Degaton would make him a new body, so restored his memories. Brain Wave caused a series of worldwide disasters and made a machine that sapped the willpower of the JSA that they displayed in averting the disasters to return will and youth to Per Degaton. The JSA confronted the villains aboard Brain Wave's space station, and when the JSA had the villains on the ropes, Brain Wave used his mental powers to send Earth on a collision course with the sun, demanding they submit or see the planet die. Power Girl sent Brain Wave's space station toward the sun, overheating it and causing the villains to pass out.
Degaton returns to prison, but is paroled ten years later due to advanced age.
Free at last, Degaton reconstructs Mekanique and the pair battle Infinity, Inc. at the site of arrival of Zee’s time machine. When it reappears it contains not only the dying Zee, but a 1947 version of Degaton himself (a 'chronal duplicate' - see below). When Degaton lunged at the machine as it had disappeared in 1947, the machine’s energies created two Degatons, one who lives a normal life and one who is carried along with the time machine. The older Degaton disintegrates instantly due to the paradoxical existence of two Degatons at one moment. Mekanique kills the younger Degaton as well as herself, fearing this Degaton would end up betraying her once more. (Originally, in the pre-Crisis
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
continuity, the time machine still reappears in the 1980s Taking advantage of the revelation of Batman's Diary, a document that supposedly convicted the Justice Society of treason, Degaton used his remaining influence to attempt to indict the group in Congressional sub-committee. Degaton's recognized that this was likely his last chance as a day that he had foreseen, the return of Zee's time machine, was close at hand. As the Congressional sub-committee became less and less convinced by evidence against the JSA, Degaton kidnapped Richard Grayson, Earth-2's Robin, and waited at the spot where the time machine should appear. It was revealed the diary was Batman's subliminal attempt to warn the Society of Degaton. The JSA, in pursuit of the captive Grayson, catch up to Degaton, literally lifting away the walls of the building in which he is hiding. At a dramatic moment, the time machine re-appears and Zee staggers out, accusing Degaton of murder with his final breath. Surrounded by witnesses and facing prison for a 40 year old murder charge at his advanced age, Degaton placed the gun to his temple and fatally shot himself (America vs the JSA #1-4) in a retcon of this story).
Chronal duplicate
Several times prior to his death in the Infinity, Inc. story, the 1947 Degaton chronal duplicate tries without success to alter the course of history for his own benefit, including thwarting the course of ancient historical events like the Battle of ArbelaBattle of Gaugamela
The Battle of Gaugamela took place in 331 BC between Alexander the Great and Darius III of Persia. The battle, which is also called the Battle of Arbela, resulted in a massive victory for the ancient Macedonians and led to the fall of the Achaemenid Empire.-Location:Darius chose a flat, open plain...
between Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Persia in 331 B.C, thus halting technological development, and meaning he and his henchmen were able to conquer an America medieval levels of technology with modern weapons as they were left in specially prepared caves of chronitum safe from the alterations to the time stream. Technology disappeared in an odd fashion, train tracks being left but no trains, light bulbs were left but no electricity. He had built up the army by making money on such things as betting on horse races. Just before he tells them the point Degaton changed, he is shot again, and only penicillin
Penicillin
Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
will save his life, though the hospital stocks vanish. The JSA stop various plans by Degaton while Green Lantern, Johnny Thunder, and Wonder Woman stay in the hospital to protect Zee.
The Magic Sphere continues to show what happened with the Flash, who returned to the professor's lab to see if there was any penicillin located there. Finding none, he returns to the hospital, and aska a doctor where a supply might be found. He tells the Scarlet Speedster that they may be some in "The Time Capsule" in Colossal Caves, which would be immune to time change. With the scenery changing all along the Flash, the Flash arrives at the caves and runs smack dab into Per Degaton and his men. Degaton manages to knock a stalactite from the ceiling onto the head of Flash, blacking him out. Upon recovering, the Flash is taken to the time capsule and placed inside, then Degaton leaves. The Flash uses his speed to propel the capsule through a metal wall, releasing him and dumping the contents of the capsule to the ground. Fortunately, Flash grabs the penicillin before it hits the floor, subdues Degaton's men and races the penicillin over to the hospital, musing to himself that the JSA must figure out WHAT crucial event in the past Degaton is changing to cause the effects taking place.
As the Atom speeds from the hospital, the Magic Sphere shifts the scene to Per Degaton and his men in armored tanks, entering the city of Gotham. But the column stops as one of the men asks Degaton when they are going to get the money that was promised them. When Degaton balks, the men point out that they are in front of the Gotham Insurance Company, and their vault has a million in gold in it. Degaton agrees to their request for money, realizing it will reinforce their loyalty. As they break into the vault, the Mighty Mite shows up and begins cleaning house with Degaton's thugs. But Atom is kayoed, tied and taken to the company's accident exhibit, which contains dozens of things that can cause instant death. Degaton leaves the Atom suspended over rotting floor boards in the room with a dripping kerosene lamp, that will eventually start a fire and cause the Atom to drop to his death below. Fortunately the Atom escapes, having at least learned that Degaton has changed "a battle" in the past, so he returns to the hospital with the news.
With darkness falling swiftly upon Gotham, because of modern streetlights, house lights and cars disappearing, Dr. Mid-Nite enters Gotham's blackened Hall of Science, listening to an address by Professor Appleby, famed chamist, to the world's scientists gathered there. Per Degaton suddenly enters the meeting, boasting that he is the one responsible for the change, and that he will not allow them to reconstruct what he is destroying. The Wonder of the Witching Hour jumps at Degaton's men and wipes them out, and throws Degaton across the room....just as the last of Degaton's men, Kale, hits the Man of Midnight over the head. When Dr. Mid-Nite recovers consciousness, he is tied on the floor, and three of scientists are brought before Degaton, who reminds all of them that he was once their assistant, and orders them to devise a clever death for the helpless JSA member on the floor. They devise a gruesome plan to destroy the good doctor with hydrocyanic acid, but Mid-Nite uses his wits to cause the acid to drip on his bonds instead, and he breaks loose in time to save the three scientists from being killed by Degaton's men with his blackout bomb. Dr. Mid-Nite then heads back for the hospital, hoping that Professor Zee has recovered enough to tell the JSA what event Degaton has changed in the past.
While the city of Gotham reels under the disappearnce of modern conveniences, the Sphere now shows Hawkman on his way to the Mayor's office, when he spots a bridge transformed back into an ancient rope bridge, and he must save the people on it falling to their deaths. Meanwhile, Degaton's army of tanks emerges from the city's subway system, and the thugs of Degaton enter the Mayor's office. The gun the Mayor pulls on them suddenly turns into an ancient flintlock --- but their guns, protected by the rays of special metal, are pulled on the Mayor as the Feathered Fury enters the open window, and starts working over the criminals. But Hawkman is captured and led away to the back of an antique shop, with the Mayor, and laid on a canopy bed. Degaton hits a switch, bringing the top of the canopy and the bed closer and closer to crushing the pair....but Hawkman uses his untied legs to stop the top, forcing the ancient springs in the mattress to snap, thus saving their lives. Hawkman then flies the Mayor back to his office.
Back at the hospital, the doctor has already administered the penicillin and the professor recovers enough to let the JSA know that Degaton has changed the outcome of the famous Battle of Arabela, that took place in 331 B.C. He tells the Justice Society to go to Colossal Caves and enter into his time machine, and go back to that year and cause the original outcome of that battle to happen. Green Lantern offers to go alone, fearing that the entire group might frighten Degaton into destroying the time machine before they could use it. Once he secures the machine, he is to bring it back to the hospital and the entire JSA will go back in history to correct Degaton's actions.
As the Green Gladiator reaches Colossal Caves, he spots Degaton's men outside the entrance, so he decides to use his ring to enable him to enter the cave right through the mountain's wall. Once inside, he walks down the cave's corridors, but suddenly hears Degaton order Kale and his men to destroy the time machine, as it has served its purpose. Green Lantern charges Degaton by the machine, and accidentally trips into the machine and is knocked out. Degaton then sets the machine for 10,000 years in the future, and off it whisks! When G.L. awakens, we discover that the Lantern's head has knocked the switch in such a way that he has only traveled ten years into the future, and as he emerges, the JSA is there to greet him! They are amazed that he is still alive after all of those years, and G.L. suddenly realizes that he is in the future, and not the present, and also discovers that the JSA are now wanted outlaws! Realizing that they can still change the Battle of Arabela, they head toward the time machine...but it explodes as they near it. So Green Lantern uses his power ring to take the group 3000 years back into the past. Meanwhile, Degaton and his men are sitting in his office, discussing the fate of the JSA, when all of a sudden, modern inventions begin re-appearing. The scene shifts to 331 B.C. with Alexander the Great's Army being routed, when the JSA suddenly appears and turns the tide of battle in Alexander's favor. Just then, they all hear gunfire, as Degaton's men appear on the scene....but the JSA is quick to defeat them. In gratitude, Alexander gives the Justice Society his personal shield and dagger, which they accept as they fade away from view. As the course of history begins to correct itself, Wonder Woman suddenly remembers that, as all of them return to the future, memory of these evnts will completely disappear from their minds. The Magic Sphere finishes its tale....and Johnny wonders how they could all now remember what had happened, and the Amazon Princess reminds them of the shield and dagger. And as they look at the shield, they see that the Sphere has translated the Macedonian language and illegible signature to that of Alexander. The story closes with Professor Zee in his lab with Per Degaton, who seems to remember some foolishness about him dreaming that he was the ruler of the world! By so-doing, it is as if they had never occurred, they only found out about it due to Wonder Woman's magic sphere after they wondered how they had acquired an ancient shield, resulting in the Degaton chronal duplicate being returned to 1947, and the memories of the events erased from all involved.
Similar results are achieved by members of the-then fledgling All-Star Squadron who thwart the Degaton chronal duplicate's attempt to change the circumstances of the Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, he had beaten Zee to death this time, and travelled into the future of the century, where he decided he would be unable to conquer the world after the war due to the advancement, so decided to change the events of the war. He thought of making Hitler stop his greatest mistakes, but would still have only helped him draw, however a time-storm between September 1939 and December 6, 1941 prevented him changing those events.
Read more: http://onewayfilms.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=books&action=display&thread=9173#ixzz1QMCRLTdz. He tried to stop the JSA's involvement with the help of the villains he had pulled back in time, the Monster, King Bee, Professor Zodiac, Sky Pirate, Solomon Grundy
Solomon Grundy (comics)
Solomon Grundy is a fictional character, a zombie supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. Named after the 19th century children's nursery rhyme, Grundy was introduced as an enemy of the Golden Age Green Lantern , but has since become a prominent enemy for a number of superheroes, such as Batman and...
(though he was planning on getting rid of him once he had succeeded), who he promised could kill Green Lantern, and the magical Dr Fate foe Wotan
Wotan (comics)
Wotan was a fictional DC Comics supervillain and the archenemy of Doctor Fate until his recent reformation at the hand of Yahweh himself.-Fictional character biography:...
who held the JSA prisoner with a magical aura. He also hypnotized some Japanese storm-troopers, and equipped them with advanced technology, along with Zeroes stolen from a Future Museum. However the All-Star Squadron
All-Star Squadron
The All-Star Squadron is a DC Comics superhero team that debuted in a special insert in Justice League of America #193 . Created by Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway.-The concept:...
's got involved, and though they were captured, during which Degaton explained who he was and what his plan was, the sword of the Shining Knight
Shining Knight
Shining Knight is the name of three comic book superheroes that have appeared in books published by DC Comics. The original Shining Knight, Sir Justin, was created by Creig Flessel and first appeared in Adventure Comics #66 .-Sir Justin:...
enabled them to free themselves, and stop the Zeroes attacking San Francisco. They are able to free the Spectre (comics)
Spectre (comics)
The Spectre is a fictional character and superhero who has appeared in numerous comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in a next issue ad in More Fun Comics #51 and received his first story the following month, #52...
when Degaton tries to destroy the island the JSA are imprisoned in, who frees the other members, meaning Degaton returns to 1947, and the villains are returned to their time peroids. This did prevent the JSA from being able to intercept the attacking Japanese forces, and also results in Danette Reilly attaining her fire-based powers and becoming the second Firebrand (this is a distinct change to the formula of having all of his actions in past times erased, though everyone involved still forgets his involvement).
In addition to these 1947 "resets," another standard feature is that, prior to each new time-travel attempt, Degaton remembers all prior attempts, usually in the form of a dream that happens the night before Prof. Zee finishes the time-machine and is ready to test it (linking all of his attempts to alter time back to this one moment in a kind of Möbius strip
Möbius strip
The Möbius strip or Möbius band is a surface with only one side and only one boundary component. The Möbius strip has the mathematical property of being non-orientable. It can be realized as a ruled surface...
). These memories stay with the chronal duplicate for the duration of each new attempt to change history he makes, though it is unclear if the older Degaton retains these memories also.
The Degaton chronal duplicate remains a foe of the Justice Society, continually trying to alter history to his will. During one of the annual pre-Crisis meetings between the Justice League of America (JLA) of Earth-One and the JSA of Earth-Two
Earth-Two
Earth-Two is a fictional universe appearing in American comic book stories published by DC Comics. First appearing in The Flash #123 , Earth-Two was created to explain how Silver-Age versions of characters such as the Flash could appear in stories with their Golden Age counterparts...
in 1982, the Degaton chronal duplicate nearly takes over Earth-2. This time he has shot Zee again, but checked to make sure he was really dead. Degaton has discovered he can travel between alternate Earths after he accidentally travelled to Earth-Prime. He discovered this was a world where superheroes were fictional. He was then caught up in a time-storm and found the prison of Earth-Three
Earth-Three
Earth-Three is a fictional alternate universe set in the . It is the Earth of an alternate reality in the DC Multiverse. It first appeared in Justice League of America #29 .-Pre-Crisis:Its history is a mirror image to the Earth we know...
's Crime Syndicate of America. They tried to get him, but he revealed he had made sure he and his Time Machine would vibrate at a different speed to them, meaning they couldn't touch him. They told him who they were, and he decided to use them. He then made them steal nuclear missiles from the Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
of 1962 on Earth-Prime and bringing them back in time to Earth-Two's 1942 by towing them behind his time machine, not caring about the fact war would happen due to this. When the Syndicate betray him thy are sent to 1982, as he had made sure this would happen when they touched him. The Syndicators rematerialized on the JLA satellite by the League's teleporter. They quickly overcame the surprised heroes who were waiting for the JSA's annual meeting with the two groups. The JSA had been sent to the Crime Syndicate's interdimensional prison and were able to escape with the combined powers of Starman and Doctor Fate. Degaton had constructed an arena on Earth-2 where he made superheroes fight.
The Syndicate returned to assist Per Degaton's plan to rule the world. Though they had been double crossed by Degaton, they would help him until the moment came to strike. The villains once again fought the JLA, the JSA, and even members of the All-Star Squadron from 1942. He is beaten by the combined forces of these heroes. With his changes undone, he is again returned to 1947 with no memory of the events, while everyone else involved likewise lose their memories of events, and are returned to their proper times/worlds (the term 'chronal duplicate' is a descriptive term being used here to help differentiate and reconcile the actions of a youthful Degaton from 1947 manipulating historical events while an older Degaton lives out his life from 1947-onward, aging normally up to the Infinity, Inc. story; this term was used only in the context of that story. Also, as a result of the character's time-jumps, chronological order for his activities is difficult to determine with absolute certainty since at any time it could be revealed that one, or more, additional attempts were made from the same starting point in 1947. It can be assumed, however, that as long as a youthful Degaton is time-traveling in a story, it will have to be the 'chronal duplicate' prior to his appearance with his older-self in the Infinity, Inc. story since neither survive that encounter, and to-date, there have been no time-travel stories with a definitively post-1947 Degaton. He has no personal realization that he is a duplicate, nor do his opponents who, if anything, simply view him as just the 1947 version).
Degaton (the chronal duplicate), frustrated for not being able to harm the JSA chronologically in their last encounter, uses his time-traveling abilities to "watch life hurting [his enemies]." Sequentially confronting all the current JSA members (as of 2004), he tells them that he saw them die, and reveals some hints on their final moments. For example, he provides the revelation of the gruesome punishment that Atom Smasher will suffer at the hands of the Spectre
Spectre (comics)
The Spectre is a fictional character and superhero who has appeared in numerous comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in a next issue ad in More Fun Comics #51 and received his first story the following month, #52...
, the breaking down of the relation between Stargirl
Stargirl
Courtney Whitmore is a superheroine known as Stargirl in the DC Comics Universe. Originally known as the second Star-Spangled Kid, she began using the name "Stargirl" after she was presented with the Cosmic Staff by Jack Knight...
and Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
, and it is only due to the intervention of Daniel Hall that Degaton does not tell Hector Hall
Hector Hall
Hector Hall was a superhero who appeared in DC Comics's Infinity, Inc., Sandman and JSA. He has gone by the names Silver Scarab, Sandman and, before his death, Dr. Fate.-Childhood:...
details of his eventual passing. He tells Jay Garrick
Jay Garrick
Jay Garrick is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe and the first to use the name Flash.-The Flash:...
the Flash that he died like a man.
Now equipped with a time disc, Degaton has the ability to live "between seconds", apparently ageless in an intangible state, from which he can only be forced with the concentrated tachyon
Tachyon
A tachyon is a hypothetical subatomic particle that always moves faster than light. In the language of special relativity, a tachyon would be a particle with space-like four-momentum and imaginary proper time. A tachyon would be constrained to the space-like portion of the energy-momentum graph...
s found in the hourglass of Hourman
Hourman
Hourman is the name of three different fictional DC Comics superheroes, the first of whom was created by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily in Adventure Comics #48 , during the Golden Age of Comic Books.-Rex Tyler:Scientist Rex Tyler, raised in upstate...
.
After sending his genetically enhanced agents from the future (the "Red Morgue") to kill all relatives of Stargirl, he causes the JSA's temporary 1950s dissolution to become permanent, and disgraces all the masked crime-fighters as traitors, thus erasing from history all subsequent superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
es. Degaton is eventually stopped by the early-2000's JSA, and beaten to a bloody pulp by Atom Smasher (whose hands were soaked with the concentrated tachyons of the hourglass). The timeline is restored so that his changes never occurred. However (in a break from the established story-formula), Degaton retreats into the time-stream with his memories intact rather than being forced back to 1947 with his memories wiped, renewing his commitment to watching his enemies' deaths across time.
Post-Crisis
Due to the events of the Crisis on Infinite EarthsCrisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
, Per Degaton was reformatted to the unified Earth to be an almost immortal wraith-like being who is out of time sync. He can see the future to a limited degree, but still seeks to rule the world despite his largely immaterial form.
The Degaton chronal duplicate's comments reveal he is one of the few people aware of the Crisis and the former Multiverse
Multiverse (DC Comics)
The DC Multiverse is a fictional continuity construct that exists in stories published by comic book company DC Comics. The DC Multiverse consists of numerous worlds, most of them outside DC's main continuity, allowing writers the creative freedom to explore alternative versions of characters and...
that once existed, and still refers to "other realities" in-story.
After Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
, Degaton returns briefly in Justice League of America and then in Booster Gold
Booster Gold
Booster Gold is a fictional DC Comics superhero. Created by Dan Jurgens, he first appeared in Booster Gold #1 and has been a member of the Justice League, DC Comics' all-star team of heroes. The character is initially depicted as a glory-seeking showboat from the future, using knowledge of...
as part of a team with the Ultra-Humanite
Ultra-Humanite
The Ultra-Humanite is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Action Comics #13 , and was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster...
, Despero
Despero
Despero is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Justice League of America #1 Despero is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Justice League of America #1 Despero...
, Supernova
Supernova (comics)
Supernova is an identity used by three characters in the , all related to the Carter bloodline. The first appearance of this character was in the weekly DC Comics series 52 where the mystery of his true identity and purpose was one of the recurring themes of the series.-52:The character of...
, and Black Beetle
Black Beetle (comics)
Black Beetle is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics.-Publication history:Black Beetle first appeared in Booster Gold vol. 2 #5, and was created by Geoff Johns, Dan Jurgens, Norm Rapmund, Matthew Sturges and Carlo Barberi...
, who have formed "The Time Stealers," a supervillain group that appears to be manipulating the timestream to their advantage. This version of Per Degaton, along with Ultra-Humanite and Despero, is from an earlier period in the timeline.
Powers and abilities
The Per Degaton chronal duplicate possesses a limited "time vision," allowing him to know what will happen in the near future. He is out of phase with normal time, which renders him intangible. HourmanHourman
Hourman is the name of three different fictional DC Comics superheroes, the first of whom was created by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily in Adventure Comics #48 , during the Golden Age of Comic Books.-Rex Tyler:Scientist Rex Tyler, raised in upstate...
's tachyon-filled hourglass has been shown to blur his time vision and allow anyone possessing it to hit Degaton. He is also aware of changes to the timestream and has made mention of remembering events from before Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
.
It is unclear whether these are innate abilities the Degaton chronol-duplicate acquired or if they are the result of his time disc.
Equipment
The Per Degaton chronal duplicate travels on a "time disc," a machine that allows him to travel through time as well as having fail-safes to return time to normal should his plans fail. It is capable of flight and he has mentioned a camera in it. The Degaton chronal duplicate also uses small time discs which can be thrown. Upon contact with a person, it speeds up metabolism. The speed varies; HourmanHourman
Hourman is the name of three different fictional DC Comics superheroes, the first of whom was created by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily in Adventure Comics #48 , during the Golden Age of Comic Books.-Rex Tyler:Scientist Rex Tyler, raised in upstate...
was sped up an hour until his powers ran out whereas the Atom was sped up to the point where his atomic physiology could explode.
Television
- Per Degaton appears in the Batman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain...
episode "The Golden Age of Justice" voiced by Clancy BrownClancy BrownClarence J. "Clancy" Brown III is an American actor and voice actor. He is known for his roles in live action as The Kurgan in the cult classic film Highlander, Byron Hadley in the award-winning The Shawshank Redemption, Brother Justin Crowe in HBO's critically acclaimed Carnivàle, and Career...
. The Justice Society of AmericaJustice Society of AmericaThe Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
enlist Batman's help when Per Degaton is revived from suspended animationSuspended animationSuspended animation is the slowing of life processes by external means without termination. Breathing, heartbeat, and other involuntary functions may still occur, but they can only be detected by artificial means. Extreme cold can be used to precipitate the slowing of an individual's functions; use...
by his assistant Professor Zee. When he attacks the city, he uses the Spear of Destiny to age Batman, Doctor Mid-Nite, Flash, Hawkman, and Hourman. He is defeated when the spear backfires, turning him to an old man. After that, Per Degaton appears in a flashback in the episode "The Siege of Starro! Part One", attacking the White House in Washington, D.C. with an army of robots until he is stopped by the Justice Society of America.