Saturday, February 2, 2019

Bring on the Bad Guys: Doctor Poison

Real name: Princess Maru
A.K.A.: Mei Sing
First appearance: Sensation Comics I#2 (February 1942)
Abilities: Master of poisons, chemicals
Quotes: "I thought you might enjoy the morning newspaper, captain"
Worst act: Creating Reverso, which makes you do the opposite of what you want to do
Created by: William Moulton Marston (script), Harry G. Peter (pencils/inks)

The first reoccurring villain and the first one to make it to the big screen. Also the first one to feature what would be a theme with some of Wonder Woman's foes, namely crossdressing.

When we first see the good doctor, she's presented to us as a massive fellow with weird clamps around the eyes and mouth. After a brief fight, however, and we see the slender Princess Maru under all the wrappings.

Unlike other foes, she's has a costume, and a disguise, and is clearly on Wonder Woman's mental level as shown by her chemical concoctions. Chemical warfare had really advanced during the first World War, so seeing a villain based on that would have been topical.

The good doctor would pop up again, although with the same disguise. She was also a member of Villainy, Inc., which I believe was first all villain team for DC (Monster Society of Evil having shown up in 1943 for Fawcett).

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