Doctor Polaris
Doctor Polaris is a male comic supervillain who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
Neal Emerson
He was still a young boy when his mother died and he was left in the care of her sister. His single aunt resented the boy and would abuse him where she took out her frustrations on him. (Action Comics v1 #828)
It was said that he was a medical student when he first gained an interest in magnetism. He came to believe that his interest in magnets would pay him dividends as his career to become a medical doctor. (Green Lantern v2 #21)
He came to give lectures on using magnetism in promoting health in people. This led to him gaining a following as people believed in his words with this psychological effect improving their daily lives. In reality, his work had no cure but because people believed him they thought that their health improved. Despite other doctors revealing this, his fame continued among the public and popularity continued to grow. (Green Lantern v2 #21)
A reformed Emerson traveled to the Earth's magnetic North Pole to study it. Emerson was at the point where the lines of magnetic force converge when an earthquake plunged him into a deep crevice. At the bottom of the crevice lay a glowing blue blob. The radiation from the blob altered Emerson's perceptions, allowing him to understand the blob's intentions to dehydrate the entire Earth. Emerson was able to subconsciously influence Hal Jordan into becoming Green Lantern, but was unable to bring the Lantern to the North Pole. In desperation, Emerson created a mental duplicate of his evil alter ego. Doctor Polaris took advantage of the situation and attacked Green Lantern by blocking his power battery with a magnetic barrier. Doctor Polaris flew into Earth's orbit to increase the solar radiation reaching the planet. As he left the Earth's magnetic field, the barrier around the power ring faded, allowing Green Lantern to recover. Green Lantern managed to use micrometeorites to form an iron mask around Polaris' head, blocking off his vision. Back on Earth, Emerson was able to use telepathy to warn Green Lantern of the alien threat. Once Green Lantern disintegrated the blob, the mental image of the evil Doctor Polaris faded away.
Years later, Emerson's dark side returns. Returning to his old costume, Polaris takes the name of Baxter Timmons and moves to Metropolis' Suicide Slum, where he steals advanced technology from warehouses throughout the city. Polaris integrates the new magnetic circuits into his costume, as part of an attempt to gain revenge on Green Lantern. Polaris' plans are stopped through the efforts of the superhero Black Lightning.
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Neal Emmerson
It was believed that he had been cured of his severe case of multiple personality disorder. However, this actually created a new identity of a dark haired woman in a dress named Repulse that only he could see. 'She' attempted to kill him in Metropolis where their fight took place over a bridge which threatened the lives of many innocent people. This was until Superman intervened where he made Emerson realise that Repulse was a persona based on his abusive aunt. This led to the two working together to destroy a metallic construct that Repulse had created to fight them. It was then that Doctor Polaris was taken by Black Adam and Hunter Zolomon to be recruited into the Society. (Action Comics v1 #828)
The identity of Doctor Polaris was later taken on by a ruthless businessman named John Nichol. He had become an avid follower of Emerson's work of empowering a person through magnetism and developed magnetic powers of his own. After Emerson's death, Nichol took on his Doctor Polaris identity and became a full-fledged supervillain where he became an associate of Intergang as he looked to attain more power for himself. (Blue Beetle v7 #32)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Neal Emmerson
Years of exposure to experimental magnets changed him and gave him the power over magnetism. (Green Lanterns v1 #20)
Eventually Neal grew older and got a medical degree. With his medical degree Neal began developing ways to use magnets in order to kill cancer and cure other ailments. After years of experimenting with magnets Emerson developed the ability to manipulate magnetic fields with his mind. Neal had the idea to inject iron into the brains of people and manipulate into killing cancers in all different parts of the body. However the science community shunned him, calling the process potentially dangerous. After being shunned by the science board he was attacked by several media outlets, calling him a fraud. Everyone, including family, believed the lies and senseless attacks of the media and the science board, everyone except Seth. (Green Lanterns v1 #20)
He and the other prisoners were then freed from captivity by Maxwell Lord who offered them their fondest wishes in exchange for their aid in his plans. (Justice League vs. Suicide Squad v1 #1) After being freed from the Catacombs prison, Emerson participated in an assault on the Island of Colu, where he used his magnetic abilities to destroy the facility's automated security systems while operating under a manic intensity. Polaris acted as the team's heavy hitter during the conflict, providing tactical support for Maxwell Lord in their mission to recover a heart-shaped diamond. (Justice League vs. Suicide Squad v1 #2) Attacking a secret A.R.G.U.S. facility, the team fought their way toward the vault, Doctor Polaris displayed a chilling level of detachment, focused entirely on the magnetic signatures of the technology surrounding them. He was instrumental in bypassing the facility’s heavy physical shielding, using his mastery over the electromagnetic spectrum to effortlessly peel back reinforced steel doors that would have stopped a conventional strike team. Despite the psychological strain, Doctor Polaris remained loyal to Lord’s psychic commands, eventually reaching the inner sanctum where the team successfully secured the Eclipso Diamond. (Justice League vs. Suicide Squad v1 #3)
Overview
Personality and attributes
His belief in magnetism and fascination with the north star of Polaris lead to him taking the name Doctor Polaris. (Green Lantern v2 #21)
He was regarded as a great benefactor of mankind for his work in using magnetism in promoting health. (Green Lantern v2 #21)
It was said that a side effect of his magnetic experiments was that they resulted in the creation of an evil alternate persona. (Green Lantern v2 #21)
A new persona came to manifest in Emerson's mind with this being known as Repulse. This one took the form of a woman with long black hair and wore a red dress where only Emerson could see her. She was shown to have access to Doctor Polaris's powers that she could use in imaginative ways. Repulse was said to be more powerful and dangerous than the original Doctor Polaris persona. It was revealed that this persona was actually based on Emerson's abusive aunt with Repulse berating him and even attempting to kill Neal. (Action Comics v1 #828)
Emmerson was known that he had an older brother named Seth Emerson who was supportive of him. (Green Lanterns v1 #20)
He had an aunt who was his mother sister where she became his guardian for a time. She as noted to had been abusive and regularly hurt Emerson when he was but a child. (Action Comics v1 #828)
Powers and abilities
It was said that he knew more about magnetism than any college professor. (Green Lantern v2 #21)
By manipulating the magnetic energy, he could envelop it around himself giving him the power to levitate and even fly. (Green Lanterns v1 #19)
He came to expose himself to magnetic currents from two powerful electro-magnets where he regularly increased the exposure time. The tremendous magnetic power he was capable of unleashing made him too dangerous to be allowed to remain free. (Green Lantern v2 #21) He was described as the World's Greatest Master of Magnetism. (Villains United v1 #2) He was regarded as one of the most powerful villains on Earth. (Action Comics v1 #828)
It was shown that he his powers were strong enough to bring the Justice League Watchtower space station down to Earth. (Green Lanterns v1 #21) His control over metal objects was enough that he could apply force to overwhelm constructs created by Green Lantern Rings. (Green Lanterns v1 #19) Neal was able to manipulate the metals deep in the Earth to create earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other atrocities. (Green Lanterns v1 #20) Emmerson had the ability to sense metals around him where he could determine what they were and how far away they were from himself. (Green Lanterns v1 #19)
A mysterious force in his mind was capable of resisting mental probes even when he was unconscious. (Green Lantern v2 #21)
He is able to manipulate the metals deep in the Earth to create earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other disasters. He can also sense metals around him, he can determine what they are and how far away they are.
With a blast, he could make a person's body magnetic to the point that it attracted any metallic items towards them. (Green Lantern v2 #21)
He could also send a burst of ultra-magnetism at short-range that could kill a person. (Green Lantern v2 #21)
Through the E.M spectrum, he could manipulate other forms of radiation such as solar radiation. (Action Comics v1 #828)
Notes
- The Neal Emerson Doctor Polaris was created by John Broome and Gil Kane where he made his first appearance in Green Lantern v2 #21 (June, 1963).
In other media
Television
- In Justice League Unlimited, Doctor Polaris appeared in the animated television series set in the DC Animated Universe where he was voiced by uncredited actor Michael Rosenbaum.
- In Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Doctor Polaris appeared in the setting of the animated television series in the episodes "Fall of the Blue Beetle!" and "Game Over for Owlman!" where he was voiced by actor Lex Lang.
Appearances
- Green Lantern v2: (1963)
- The Ray v1:
- Blue Beetle' v7':
- Justice League vs. Suicide Squad v1:
- Green Lanterns v1:
External Links
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