Odd Man (comics)
| Odd Man | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| First appearance | Detective Comics #487 (1979) |
| Created by | Steve Ditko |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Clayton "Clay" Stoner |
| Abilities | Low-tech gadgets |
The Odd Man is a fictional comic book hero created by Steve Ditko. The character was intended to first appear in Shade, the Changing Man #9 but instead first appeared in Detective Comics #487 in December 1979.[1]
Fictional character biography
Clayton "Clay" Stoner is a private detective (height: 5'11", weight: 160 lbs[2]) living in River City. He has blue eyes and blond hair which changes to black hair when he acts as a vigilante wearing mismatched clothing under the name the Odd Man. He uses his wits and an elaborate series of gadgets to disorient and confuse his opponents. These include a weighted extended tie, a spray he developed which melts certain plastics, gloves that emit powder or smoke when he claps his hands together, and a slippery oil spray. He also has the ability to make his enemies black out, presumably through the use of one of his sprays or concoctions.[3]
Origin
"He came from nowhere, garbed in a confused costume that would make a carnival clown blush with embarassment [sic]. His weapons were absurd -- impossible! But somehow he became the terror of criminals, and everyone began to wonder ... who is the Odd Man?" (from "The Odd Man" by Steve Ditko, published in Detective Comics #487).
Publication history
The Odd Man was introduced in an eponymous story that had him pitted against the supposed reincarnation of the first Nile Queen and her Pharaoh consort:
- Detective Comics #487 (the Odd Man—debut, originally intended for Shade, the Changing Man #9[4]) (December 1979 – January 1980)
- Superboy (vol. 4) #65 (August 1999)[5]
- Mother Panic #3 – 6 (2016–2017)
References
- ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 352. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ^ "Odd Man - Steve Ditko - DC Comics - Character Profile". writeups.org. Retrieved 2014-07-07.
- ^ "Obscure DC Comics Characters: O". cosmicteams.com. Retrieved 2014-07-07.
- ^ "Detective Comics #487". Grand Comics Database. Retrieved 2014-07-07.
- ^ "The Odd Man". thrillingdetective.com. Retrieved 2014-07-07.