The Vile Menagerie: DOOMSDAY

Alter Ego: None
Occupation: Destroyer
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: None
Group Affiliation: None
Base of Operations: Mobile
First Appearance: Superman: The Man of Steel #17 (November, 1992)
Height: 7'0"
Weight: 615 lbs.
Eyes: Red
Hair: White

History:
The creature dubbed Doomsday was a biological creation of Kryptonian science. Over decades, bits of genetic material were grown into infants, tossed into a hostile environment to be ripped to shreds, cloned, and tossed again. After several decades, this case of forced evolution created an immortal, unstoppable, unloving killing machine with an inbred hatred of Kryptonians. Eventually, Doomsday made its way to Earth.

Justice League America intercepted the hulk en route to Metropolis, during the period when the Martian Manhunter had assumed the form of Bloodwynd. The third hero to engage Doomsday, Bloodwynd struck out with a mighty, yet ineffectual blow. Retaliation saw Bloodwynd tossed through an oil refinery, which sparked a blaze that caused him to revert to Martian form. Bloodwynd recovered and joined Superman, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Maxima, Fire, and Booster Gold in a single prolonged energy attack against Doomsday. The exertion caused Fire to temporarily lose her powers, but didn't phase the monster. After continued attrition on the side of angels and his aiding in a rescue, Bloodwynd vanished to heal himself. Only Superman and Maxima remained, and then only the Man of Steel, who was left in a deathlike state after finally halting the rampage.

Martian Manhunter, now in full command of his mind and body, faced Doomsday again amongst the JLA. This time, the Superman foe Brainiac had usurped Doomsday's mind with his own-- an ironic turn, considering the circumstances of his prior battle with Bloodwynd. J'Onn J'Onzz proved no match for the combined might of the overwhelming mental and physical powers at the command of Doomsday/Brainiac, and was repeatedly brutalized, along with his fellow Leaguers. However, he and Orion were able to stall Doomsday long enough for Superman to sort out a solution that involved teleportation tubes.

After the original was finally eradicated, an evolved clone of Doomsday attempted to assassinate then-U.S. President Lex Luthor. The Commander-In-Chief was defended by the Manhunter from Mars, who had been secretly working out of the Oval Office in disguise. Though this Doomsday had developed sentience, it remained immune to telepathy, and could now breathe fire to boot. Suffice to say, this struggle ended as always, with J'Onn J'Onzz wrecked. Superman eventually defeated Doomsday again, through brute force.

Although the Martian Manhunter was again in the intelligent Doomsday's vicinity during an affair with Preus, there have been no further rematches.

Powers:
Doomsday has most consistently been portrayed as having fantastically high degrees of strength, and invulnerability to nearly any force directed at it. This includes most forms of physical, telepathic or energy attack. Further, should a type of attack "kill" Doomsday, it will eventually resurrect with a new found resistance to that type of assault. Doomsday's body can also spontaneously adapt to a foe, offering new powers without warning. His sole inhibitions appear to be unaided flight and limited intellect, though even the latter has shown increasing improvement.

Weaknesses:
The original Doomsday could only be overwhelmed by the most fantastic of forces. THe clone, having been created through DNA spliced with Superman's, is vulnerable to Kryptonite.

Distinguishing Features/Weapons:
Doomsday's body is covered in incredibly strong bony protrusions that can rend most materials.

Created by: Dan Jurgens

Further Reading:
Superman: The Doomsday Wars (1998)
Our Worlds At War In A Nutshell (2001)
Action Comics #821-824 (1-4/05)