Daniel Drumm, also known as Doctor Voodoo and Jack O'Lantern, is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, and the identical twin brother of Brother Voodoo.

Daniel Drumm
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceStrange Tales #169 (September 1973)
Created by
In-story information
Alter egoDaniel Drumm
SpeciesGhost
Notable aliasesDoctor Voodoo
Jack O'Lantern
Abilities

Mark Anthony Brighton portrayed Drumm in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Doctor Strange.

Publication history

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Drumm first appeared in Strange Tales #169 (September 1973). This issue also featured the first appearance of Brother Voodoo. Drumm went on to star in guest appearances alongside Brother Voodoo in other Marvel titles such as Ghost Rider, Doctor Strange, The Tomb of Dracula, and Hulk. The character was also featured in the ongoing series Doctor Voodoo: Avenger of the Supernatural, written by Rick Remender which began in 2009 and ended in 2010. The series was cancelled after only five issues. The character has recently been featured in the Age of Heroes series.[1]

Fictional character biography

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Daniel is the identical twin brother of Jericho Drumm (who would later become Brother Voodoo). They were raised by their Aunt Matilda, in an impoverished neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Jericho left to pursue an education in the United States, whilst Daniel remained in Haiti and studied magic, eventually earning the title Brother Voodoo. Twelve years later, Jericho learned that Daniel was ill, and returned to Haiti, where he learned that an evil occultist called Damballah had placed a curse on him. At midnight, Damballah used a voodoo doll resembling Daniel to kill him, but not before Jericho promised Daniel that he would stop Damballah. A witch doctor, Papa Jambo, then used magic to link the two brothers' spirits together, and Jericho became the new Brother Voodoo, with his brother's ghost.[2]

Many years later, when the Eye of Agamotto leaves Doctor Strange after showing him and the New Avengers nearly thirty candidates who would possibly replace him, Jericho Drumm, due to his mystical power and heritage, and being apparently chosen by the Eye itself, is chosen as the acting Sorcerer Supreme of the Earth-616 reality. Due to their shared bond, Daniel Drumm's ghost chooses to stand for his brother and help him in his new role.[3] In this capacity, he joins Jericho and the Avengers in a battle on the mystical plane against the entity Agamotto itself, willing to retrieve his Eye and rule Earth. Despite their combined efforts, Strange, the Avengers and Daniel fail, forcing Jericho to sacrifice himself in a mystical explosion, taking out both Agamotto and the Eye. Daniel survives the explosion, and, briefly taking control of Luke Cage's body, angrily blames Doctor Strange for Jericho's death, fleeing to parts unknown.[4]

Daniel Drumm's ghost later returns, possessing various Avengers and killing other sorcerers (ranging from Daimon Hellstrom, Jennifer Kale, and Baron Mordo) in preparation for his final assault on Strange (now convinced that Strange set his brother up to fail in his new role). Doctor Strange defeats him by using dark magic (recognizing that Drumm had only killed dark magic specialists while trying to frame Strange), subsequently regaining his position of Sorcerer Supreme as a result.[5]

During the "AXIS" storyline, Doctor Doom resurrects the Drumm brothers to stop the inverted Scarlet Witch from destroying Latveria. Daniel still expresses hatred for the Avengers and is delighted to solve a problem they caused. He starts by possessing Scarlet Witch in an attempt to defeat her.[6]

Following the "Civil War II" storyline, Daniel Drumm's ghost allies with the Hand and has them obtain Bruce Banner's corpse.[7] When the Uncanny Avengers confront the Hand and Drumm, they are confronted by a revived Hulk in samurai armor.[8]

Powers and abilities

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As Brother Voodoo, Drumm possessed many magical abilities. He can also merge his soul with his brother's body, which increases his speed, stamina and strength, and can also enter and control other bodies as he pleases.

Somehow surviving Jericho's apparent death, Daniel Drumm lost the abilities tied to Jericho's one: however, he retained the ability to enter and control other bodies, using them as physical mediums.

Other versions

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Earth-Chaos

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In the Earth-Chaos timeline, Daniel Drumm performed a dark ceremony with his brother Jericho watching. In the release of the strange energy, Daniel was apparently incinerated, only to return on the day before Halloween 13 years after the Chaos! event as Jack O'Lantern, launching a scheme to bring about a hell on Earth and take over the world with the proper alignment of cosmos, making it Halloween every day. Raising dead persons and animating dinosaurs, he looked to gather the remaining heroes of the world for the purpose of eliminating them. However, Jericho and the Supernaturals were able to overcome his machinations, sending Jack into another dimension.[9]

In other media

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Film

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Daniel Drumm appeared in Doctor Strange, portrayed by Mark Anthony Brighton.[10] This version is a member of the Masters of the Mystic Arts and guardian of the New York Sanctum before being killed by Kaecilius and succeeded by Stephen Strange.

Video game

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Daniel Drumm appears in Marvel Avengers Alliance as part of his brother's Spirit Possession attack.

References

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  1. ^ "Comic Book DB - Daniel Drumm". Archived from the original on 2012-03-13.
  2. ^ Strange Tales #169 (Sept. 1973). Marvel Comics.
  3. ^ The New Avengers #53 (July 2009). Marvel Comics.
  4. ^ The New Avengers (vol. 2) #6 (Jan. 2011). Marvel Comics.
  5. ^ The New Avengers (vol. 2) #31–34. Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ AXIS #8. Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ Uncanny Avengers (vol. 3) #14. Marvel Comics.
  8. ^ Uncanny Avengers (vol. 3) #15. Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ The Supernaturals (vol. 1) #1–4 (October–December 1998). Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ ""Doctor Strange" Prequel Comic Hints at Movie Secrets, Introduces Another Marvel Villain". 6 July 2016. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
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