Will Magnus
Will Magnus is a male comic character who features in DC Comics.
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Biography
Pre-Crisis
William Magnus
Years ago, he was approached by the Rathaway family who wanted his help in correcting their son Hartley Roberty Rathaway's hearing who had been born deaf. Magnus came to replace the cochlea and tympanic membranes with artificial micro-robotics. This not only restored the boy's hearing but had also improved upon it. (The Flash v1 #190)
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of history was created with a different series of events.
The Flash later contacted Barry Allen about enlisting his aid in defeating Doctor Alchemy who had become possessed by the Philosopher's Stone. A copy of the minds of all former bearers of the Stone had taken control of Albert Desmond's body with among them being Magnus's ancestor the sorcerer alchemist named Simon Magus. Desmond managed to spare the Flash from being killed and told him to restore the Philosopher Stone after it was absorbed into Doctor Alchemy's body. This was in in order to help him contain the other personalities that had seemingly over his body. Will Magnus offered some of his expertise and a warning to not wield the stone himself otherwise he might be bound to it. (The Flash v1 #766)
Overview
Personality and attributes
People thought that he gained the nickname Doc because of his multiple Ph.D's but he actually gained it when he was nine years old. This was because at that age the other children played dodgeball whereas he at the science lab using microscopes. (Superman/Batman v1 #34)
Magnus was said to be a person capable of turning science fiction ideas into something practical. (Showcase v1 #37)
It was noted that he was a descendant of ancient alchemists such as Simon Magus and had used their ideas in giving life to elements. (The Flash v1 #766)
Powers and abilities
It was said that he had an intellect on par with Lex Luthor. (Superman/Batman v1 #35)
Such robots were animated by a nuclear powered microscopic activator that was noted for its efficiency. (Showcase v1 #37)
He maintained a facility on Mount Magnus that was a chateau laboratory where he kept the remains of the Metal Men. (Metal Men v4 #2) Will had also created features in the structure to turn it into a giant fighting robot. This could be triggered at any moment whereupon he operated the machine through holographic access controls where he controlled Magnus Opus from a virtual command centre. The exo-structure of the building was built for strength and resilience but unfortunately was not made for speed. (Metal Men v4 #3)
Magnus was one of a number of keen scientific minds gathered at the Hall of Justice by Superman following the appearance of Conner Kent. Alongside Mister Terrific, Batman, and Ted Kord, the group came to determine that crisis events had rebooted reality at least 3 times and that Superboy was a product of such changes to the universe. (Action Comics v1 #1022)
Notes
- Will Magnus was created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru where he made his first appearance in Showcase v1 #37 (March–April 1962).
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Dr. William Milton Magnus appeared in the animated series in the episode "Clash of the Metal Men" where he was voiced by actor Corey Burton. Magnus' past came back to haunt him when his former employees kidnapped and tricked him into constructing new bodies for them. They became the Gas Gang and set out to destroy the world for money. Batman and the Metal Men rescued him and saved the day. Back at Magnus Laboratories, Magnus rebuilt the team's bodies. Soon after, Magnus took part in an undercover mission with Batman. Disguised in a gaudy, outlandish costume, Magnus had the Metal Men shape shift into various objects he would wear or hold. Meanwhile, Batman donned one of his disguises, Matches Malone. Together, they would meet Kanjar Ro at a chosen location to purchase weapon energizers. However, when Magnus said the wrong thing, Kanjar and his men tried to kill them. Batman and the Metal Men went into action and defeated them. At the close of the mission, Magnus expressed his satisfaction. To him, it was more exciting than three days in the lab. Batman, however, seemed to reconsider taking him along again any time soon. Sometime leading up to the October 3rd Starro Invasion, Doc Magnus was infected with a Starro clone. He then set about to reprogram the Metal Men's minds to serve Starro. Booster Gold and Skeets arrived to enlist the robots to fight the Star Conqueror beast and defeated them.
- In Creature Commandos, Will Magnus appeared in the setting of the animated television series in the episode "Cheers to the Tin Man" where he was voiced by actor Alan Tudyk. In the 1960s, Will Magnus, along General King, attended a television publicity tour guesting G.I. Robot. Witnessing the automaton's paranoid behavior to spot any Nazi in the room, the general explained to Magnus that the robot was never designed to attend this kind of event. The scientist responded he preferred to use the term A.I. and expressed his fascination for the machine's advanced program. Having no use of it since the end of World War II, the army gave G.I. to Magnus for his experiments. G.I. Robot was disassembled and was reactivated in Will Magnus' workshop. The roboticist explained he would reassemble him soon, as well as promising improvements. G.I. wondered if the man was a Nazi or if there were any nearby, to which he sighed disappointed when he learned the opposite. Magnus asked him what would be his wish if he theorically had no directive. G.I. answered him he would like to reunite with his comrades from the Easy Company, mentioning the names of each of them which Magnus did not recognize. The scientist explains then how studying G.I. would help him to create the next generation of automatons.
Films
- In Justice League: Gods and Monsters, the character made an appearance in an alternate universe setting where he was voiced by actor C. Thomas Howell. Magnus was shown as a brilliant scientist who was best friends with Kirk Langstrom and had a blonde haired girlfriend named Tina. Langstrom and Magnus were among the prized students of Lex Luthor with Will's research being based on robotics as well as nanotechnology. It was Magnus's nanotechnology that was used to deliver a bat serum into Kirk to cure him of his disease but this turned him into a vampire-like creature. Despite this being the case, Magnus remained friends with Kirk who controlled his need to feed on blood and Will later married his girlfriend Tina. However, he was secretly jealous of Kirk as he knew Tina was in love with him and always asked Will to cure him. At one point, in frustration he hit her and she fatally hit her head and died. Magnus covered up the death and constructed an android duplicate of her that acted as his wife with no one knowing that the real Tina was dead. After getting away with the death, he felt he could change the world for the better and joined Project: Fair Play that sought to counter the Justice League. Magnus maintained his friendship with Kirk Langstrom but secretly created his Metal Men with three of the machines mimicking the abilities of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman who were framed for the deaths of the Project: Fair Play scientists. He also was seemingly fatally wounded in the attack with 'Tina' killed with the two of them taking to the Justice League's tower. Once there, the United States military engaged the League whilst Platinum reactivated and injected nanites that healed Magnus along with giving him a regeneration factor along with super-strength. Will revealed his true goal which was to use his nanite bomb to disperse mind controlling nanites into he brains of everyone around the world through mini-Boom Tubes thus bringing world peace. To accomplish his goal, he needed the Kryptonian power systems at the tower and he along with his Metal Men fought with the Justice League. Ultimately, Magnus was defeated and he asked Kirk to forgive him as he activated a device that shutdown his nanites that killed him.
Video games
- In DC Universe Online, Will Magnus appeared in a non-speaking role in the MMORPG video game where he was a vendor situated on the Watchtowers Tech Wing.
Appearances
- Showcase v1: (1962)
- Metal Men v1:
- Superman/Batman v1:
- DC Universe: Legacies v1:
- Justice League v2:
- Metal Men v4:
- The Flash v1: (2020)
External Links
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