Doctor Destiny (John Dee) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky, the character first appeared in Justice League of America #5 (June 1961)[1]
Jeremy Davies played the character in his live-action debut on the Arrowverse crossover "Elseworlds". David Thewlis plays a version of the character in the television series The Sandman.[2][3]
Doctor Destiny first appeared in Justice League of America #5 (June 1961), and was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky.[4]
Doctor Destiny is a petty criminal scientist who uses his genius to create astounding devices for crime. He first encounters the Justice League shortly after he captures Green Lantern and impersonates him to infiltrate the League. Destiny attempts to kill the League by sending them into space, but is foiled by Green Lantern.[5]
Doctor Destiny later creates the Materioptikon, a device which allows him to manipulate dreams and make them reality.[6] The Sandman reveals that the Materioptikon is powered by the Dreamstone, an artifact owned by Dream. After being given the Dreamstone by his mother Ethel, Destiny manipulates the stone until it is attuned to him rather than Dream.[4]
Doctor Destiny's power becomes so great that the Justice League resort to drastic measures to stop him. They hypnotize him and manipulate his psyche to prevent him from dreaming. This prevents him from using the Materioptikon, but causes him to lose his mind and shrivel to a skeletal form. Destiny is sent to Arkham Asylum, where his sanity erodes further.[4][7]
Following the death of his mother, Destiny escapes Arkham, makes his way to a diner, and tortures the patrons. Dream, recently freed and searching for stolen tokens of power, is unable to stop Destiny until the Dreamstone is destroyed, which returns its power to Dream.[8] Despite this, Destiny's continued use of the Materioptikon allows him to retain a portion of its powers.[9]
In The New 52 continuity reboot, Doctor Destiny first appears at the end of Justice League Dark #19. A.R.G.U.S. is in possession of his Dream Stone, which John Constantine recognizes.[10] It is revealed that Madame Xanadu is Destiny's mother.[11]
During the "Forever Evil" storyline, Doctor Destiny is among the villains recruited by the Crime Syndicate of America to join the Secret Society of Super Villains.[12]
In the Knight Terrors event, it is revealed that the Nightmare Stone utilized by Insomnia was once the Dreamstone. Sometime after the stone's creation, it was stolen by Doctor Destiny, who manipulated it into the Nightmare Stone, and broke it into small pieces. Fearing the stone's power, Destiny chooses to hide it, but is killed by Insomnia for not telling him where it is hidden.[13]
John Dee has the ability to enter and manipulate dreams. He also possesses extensive knowledge of medical science.[14]
Doctor Destiny makes a minor appearance in Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth.[15] This version is weak and wheelchair-bound.[16]
Doctor Destiny, referred simply to as "Destiny", appears in Justice League Dark, voiced by Alfred Molina.[17] This version is a dark wizard who was trapped in the Dreamstone by Merlin and Etrigan centuries prior. In the present, Destiny possesses Ritchie Simpson before being defeated by John Constantine, Deadman, and Etrigan after they separate him from the Dreamstone.
Doctor Destiny appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[21]
