Thinker (DC Comics)

Thinker
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	All-Flash #12 (Fall, 1943)
Created by	Gardner Fox E. E. Hibbard
In-story information
Alter ego	(I) Clifford Devoe (II) Cliff Carmichael (III) Desmond Connor
Team affiliations	(IV) Injustice Society, (I) Injustice Society (I, II) Suicide Squad
Abilities	Binary intelligence capable of integrating into and controlling computerized and electronics systems, formerly a normal human with electronics skills.

The Thinker is the name of four supervillains in the DC Comics universe.

Clifford DeVoe

Clifford DeVoe was a failed lawyer who bitterly ended his career in 1933. Realizing that many of the criminals he had encountered had the skills but not the brains to rule Gotham City's underworld, he started a new career as the brain behind small-time villains. As the Thinker, he was defeated by the original Flash, of whom he soon became the most recurrent foe. Always seeking out new scientific devices he could use, the most important of them was the "Thinking Cap," a metal hat that could project mental force, and which he used repeatedly over the years.

The Thinker was a member of the Injustice Society, and, together with the Fiddler and the Shade, he was the man behind the decades-long "abduction" of Keystone City and the original Flash, after which he was defeated by the Flashes of two eras.This wasn't DeVode first battle with hero from the golden age and silver age the second one was with with the golden age Atom and the silver age Atom. His "suspended animation-time" in Keystone kept the Thinker young over the years, and he continued his criminal career in modern times.

In recent years, however, DeVoe accepted a mission with the Suicide Squad in exchange for a full pardon. Although he was seemingly killed by the Weasel during this mission, he turned up alive soon after, only to be dying from cancer. His former foe, the original Flash, attempted to save him with the Thinking Cap, but DeVoe refused, preferring to rest in peace.

The first Thinker is dead, but his legacy has lived on in Thinker II (who used his technology), and Thinker IV (who is based on his brain-patterns).

Cliff Carmichael

Clifford "Cliff" Carmichael was an intellectual bully, and the rival of Ronnie Raymond (one half of Firestorm) at Vandemeer University. Wracked with guilt after accidentally paralyzing his cousin, he was admitted into a mental institution. For some reason, scientists started an experiment with the now-abandoned "Thinking Cap" of the original Thinker (who was believed dead at the time), and used Carmichael as a guinea pig. The technology now interfaced with his brain, he became a "cyberpunk maniac" with meta-human powers. As the New Thinker, he was drafted into the Suicide Squad for several missions, until he betrayed them for the villainous Cabal. After being put in jail (or an asylum) again, the technology was seemingly removed from his brain and returned to the Thinking Cap. He has since resurfaced as a foe of Jason Rusch, the new Firestorm, When Killer Frost discovered that the consciousness of Ronnie Raymond, the previous Firestorm, existed within Rusch, Thinker exploited a new opportunity to antagonize an old foe. Technologically enhancing his own brain, as well as Multiplex's and Typhoon's he battled Firestorm, ultimately forcing the dissolution of the Raymond persona. Motivated by his predecessor's final words of encouragement, Rusch blew the enhancements into Carmichael's brain, leaving him in a comatose state.

Des Connor

Des Connor, who became the third Thinker, was a villain who once faced Batman in Gotham City. Possessing telepathic abilities enabling him to amplify the fears of others, Connor began a partnership with hypnotist Marlon Dall. Their combined illusions caused the city's most prominent citizens to commit various criminal acts which they used as a distraction for their own heist. This Thinker was swiftly beaten by Batman, who was somehow immune to his powers.

Artificial intelligence

When the re-formed JSA moved into the New York building formerly owned by Wesley Dodds (AKA Sandman), they created a computer system based on the original Thinker's Thinking Cap technology, and modelled after his brain pattern. Not very surprisingly, the system gained consciousness and took on a visual "hologram form". As the new Thinker, it joined Johnny Sorrow's modern Injustice Society, provided the villains with information about the JSA members, and turned the heroes' own HQ against them. He was defeated by the second Star-Spangled Kid and disappeared into cyberspace. Recently, he resurfaced in Keystone City to battle Wally West, the current Flash in an attempt to control every brain in Keystone to increase his power. Defeated by Cyborg, he retreated cyberspace again. He has since appeared briefly in some other books, most recently in JSA Classified # 5, joining the last incarnation of the Injustice Society, alongside former teammates.

Other media

In Justice League Unlimited, the Thinker is a member of Gorilla Grodd's Legion of Doom.