Rag Doll
Rag Doll is a comic book character that first appeared in Flash Comics #36
Rag Doll was born with a triple jointed skeleton, enabling him to bend his arms and legs in astonishing ways.
History
Merkel was a contortionist and eccentric dancer employed by a small carnival that went bankrupt in 1942. In need of money, he decided to rob a department store. He sneaked into it's stockroom and disguised himself as a human sized rag doll. Using his contortionist abilities, he sat in a strange posture in the stock room, and no one suspected that he was anything other than an inanimate doll. Thus he was able to rob the store that night.
Inspired by this success, Merkell decided to begin his career as the costumed criminal known as the Rag Doll. He had himself delivered in a package as a gift to a rich young woman named Gerelda Cummins, who thought him to be merely a large inanimate Doll. Rag Doll overheard Cummins planning a party involving a treasure hunt for $150,000 in defense bonds. With the aid of his gang, Rag Doll tried to steal the bonds, but was opposed by the Flash (Jay Garrick). Rag Doll attempted to kill his opponent but failed and the Flash took him to jail.
Decades later, the Thinker mentally manipulated the Rag Doll into trying to steal a number of valuable dolls. The Thinker then secretly manipulated the Flash into making a mistake each time he was about to capture the Rag Doll, in the hope of humiliating the Flash. However, with the help of the Barry Allen Flash, Jay discovered the plans of the Thinker and both he and the Rag Doll were captured.
Later the Rag Doll faced the Justice League and Justice Society as part of the Ultra Humanite's Secret Society of Super Villains. The Rag Doll and some of his fellow Society members travelled back in time where they also battled the All-Star Squadron and Infinity Inc. At the end of that adventure the villains found themselves trapped in an inter-dimensional limbo until the cosmos shaking Crisis on Infinite Earths released them.
Modern Day
In his sixties Rag doll's powers caused his body overextend and somewhat deformed. He was no longer able to continue his supervillain ways. He travelled around becoming senile and ranting. Eventually he discovered people listened to his rantings. To the homeless, insane , and disenfranchised he became a leader and he realized that they were willing to kill or even die for him. With his army of followers he started a campaign of terror in Opal City and caused Starman(Ted Knight) to call in his old Justice Society friends to help stop the Rag Doll cult reign of terror. When he was confronted by the golden age Starman, Flash and Green Lantern; He threatened the lives of their families and then tried to escape but the heroes struck back and in the confusion Rag Doll was killed. The next day his body was stolen from the morgue.
Rag Doll later joined the Injustice Society, who were trying to get the Cosmic Key to help the Wizard, and free Johnny Sorrow. Rag Doll manages to convince Solomon Grundy to join the team. The key was being kept in the Justice Society trophy room. The Injustice Society succeed in getting the key, but are attacked by the League of Assassins. Rag Doll betrays the team, and takes the key. As he runs, the Wizard activates the key. The fleeing, traitorous Rag Doll is sacrificed to open the portal and free Johnny Sorrow.
Powers and Abilities
Rag Doll is triple-jointed, allowing extreme flexibility and durability.
In other media
The Batman
He appears in the Batman as a wise cracking thief he battles both Batman and Catwoman in his first appearence but is defeated.
| Super Name: | Rag Doll |
| Real Name: | Peter Merkel |
| Aliases: |
Peter Merkel Father Opal City's Charlie Manson |
| Publisher: | DC Comics |
| Gender: | Male |
| Character Type: | Human |
| 1st Appearance: | Flash Comics #36 |
| Appears in: | 28 issues |
| Birthday: | |
| Died: |
