Rag Doll (Peter Merkel Jr.)
| Rag Doll | |
|---|---|
.JPG) | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Villains United # 1 |
| Created by | Gail Simone Dale Eaglesham |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Peter Merkel, Jr. |
| Team affiliations | Secret Six |
| Abilities | Contortionist |
Rag Doll (Peter Merkel, Jr.) is a fictional character, a supervillain and anti-hero in the DC Comics Universe . He first appeared in Villains United #1 (July 2005), and was created by Gail Simone and Dale Eaglesham. He is a member of the Secret Six and the son of the original Rag Doll, Peter Merkel.
Fictional character history
A new Rag Doll was featured in the Villains United miniseries, as a member of a small group calling themselves the "Secret Six" who hoped to rival the new Secret Society of Super Villains. In Issue #3 it was revealed he is the son of the original Rag Doll and was born a normal baby. To please his father he underwent surgery to implant lubricated cybernetic joints that let him emulate his father's physique. The surgery left him badly disfigured and requiring regular doses of an emollient to lubricate his skin - otherwise his bones will literally cut through his brittle flesh. He also had surgically removed his genitals, which he considered a "bother." The new Rag Doll also had a strange relationship with a Parademon, who referred to Rag Doll as "Clown". How the Parademon had been separated from Apokolips remains unclear. It considered itself the Rag Doll's guard-dog, threatening to hurt or kill anyone who even inconvenienced the Rag Doll, despite his protests. The Parademon died, however, detonating ten Mother Boxes to cover the Secret Six's escape during a battle with the Society.
He briefly battled his father, the original Rag Doll (who was representing The Society). This was just prior to the original Rag Doll abandoning The Society and rejoining the Injustice Society (which led to his eventual death). Their battle was cut short by the intervention of the Parademon. [1]
Ragdoll next pushes Parademon replacement Mad Hatter off the roof of Vandal Savage's stronghold, claiming there is only room for one freak on the team.[2]
Ragdoll next appears on with new sixth member Harley Quinn, retrieving a box that is later revealed to contain the deceased Justice League member Ice. The Birds of Prey retrieve Ice's body and the Six escape unpaid.[3]
Dr. Psycho later uses his powers to cause Ragdoll to attack his teammates.
The Six, with new members Jeanette and Bane, are hired to retrieve a card that supposedly gets its owner out of Hell free. They are attacked by many supervillains who want the card, most acting under orders from Junior, a mysterious mob boss who controls the West Coast. In a confrontation, it is revealed that Junior is actually Doll's sister who has undergone unspeakable mutilation at the hands of their father[4].
Catman, Bane, and Ragdoll (who is disguised as Robin) go to Gotham City after the death of Batman and kill members a crime ring after rich peoples' children, but Nightwing shows up at the last house and sends them all away.[5]
After Bane declares himself the new leader of the Six and fires Scandal, the sixth member becomes Black Alice, a goth teen with the power to copy the abilities of magic users across the Universe. After Alice infiltrates a cult and is uncovered, Ragdoll saves her life[6] and she begins a flirtation with him, much to Bane's chagrin. Catman's son is targeted for murder, all of the pre-existing team members leave the Six to help Catman after he steals their plane, leaving Bane and Jeanette to create a temporary Six until the others return.[7] On their journey to South Africa to try and find Catman, he is very shocked to discover that Alice does indeed consider Ragdoll to be her boyfriend, and attacks Scandal in the mistaken belief that she wants him, despite Scandal's lesbianism. Alice summons Etrigan's powers to fight Scandal, but promptly gives up, turning back to normal in tears. She explains that she knows Ragdoll doesn't like her like that (especially with the knowledge that she is unaware of his lack of reproductive organs), but acted out simply from the strain and guilt of having gave her father cancer by mistake. Ragdoll attempts to offer her comfort, and when Deadshot takes it as an attempt to flirt with her, Ragdoll actually stands up straight (literally and figuratively) for the first time defending Alice.[8]
Relationships
As a member of the Secret Six, he had formed a bond with Parademon. After Parademon was killed, Rag Doll had his upper torso stuffed and keeps it in his room at the House of Secrets. (Secret Six #1)
He also says he has a sister he once French-kissed but talking to Parademon's stuffed body is less socially awkward. Despite lacking genitals, he also apparently planned on having sex with a nurse who gave him her phone number, and it was suggested that he derived physical pleasure from being beaten by Manhunter.
Rag Doll spends his share of the Six's loot on constructing a monkey house and purchases 'cute little monkey outfits' that resemble the costumes of the Secret Six for the small pack of monkeys that live in his room.
Rag Doll has also mentioned that his father was "not a kind man", and was disappointed in the fact that only his brother inherited the family gift. His surgeries to transform himself were done to please his disapproving father. However, during their brief confrontation, the elder Rag Doll chastised his son, saying that his son's surgeries were inferior to his own natural talents.
In Secret Six second series #2, it is revealed that his first name is Peter.
In #5, it was revealed that villainous Junior, a villain who has control of the entire West Coast Mob, and has the entire supervillain community at beck and call, out of fear, is actually Peter's sister.[9] In #6, we discover that Junior's real name is Alex (so named because Ragdoll Sr. "wanted another boy", which would seem to clash with Ragdoll Jr.'s previous mention of his brother). Though it is not stated outright, Alex heavily implies that Ragdoll Sr. sexually abused her as a child.
Powers and abilities
Through a series of surgeries, Ragdoll had his biological joints replaced with artificial ones. These joints allow him to bend, compress, and contort in ways even master contortionists cannot. Ragdoll requires a special emollient to keep his artificial joints from tearing through his skin. He often wields a knife and is an adequate hand-to-hand fighter.