Johnny Dee (John D.) is a fictional
mutant
In biology, and especially in genetics, a mutant is an organism or a new genetic character arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is generally an alteration of the DNA sequence of the genome or chromosome of an organism. It ...
character appearing in
American comic book
An American comic book is a thin periodical originating in the United States, on average 32 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of ''Action Comics'' ...
s published by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
. He debuted in ''
Son of M
''Son of M'' is a 2006 American comic book limited series, a follow-up to Marvel Comics' 2005 "House of M" storyline, starring the depowered Quicksilver. Quicksilver was one of the many mutants to lose his powers as part of the Decimation, for ...
#1'' (2005).
Fictional character biography
Johnny was one of the few mutants who kept his powers after the
Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. Her first appearance was in ''The X-Men'' #4 (March 1964) ...
altered the world so that most of the world's mutants would lose their powers. Living in Mutant Town, Johnny was about to be killed by mutant-hating thugs. After being rescued by
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in the anthology comic book '' Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in the ...
, Johnny agreed to move over to the
Xavier Institute
The X-Mansion or Xavier Institute is the common name for a mansion and research institute appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The mansion is depicted as the Estate (land), private estate of Professor X, Charles Francis ...
for his own safety. There, he became part of
The 198
''X-Men: The 198'' is a comic book limited series that was published by Marvel Comics and set in the Marvel Universe shortly after the ''House of M'' and '' Decimation'' events. The five-issue series began publication in January 2006.
The seri ...
.
Member of The 198
When
Magma
Magma () is the molten or semi-molten natural material from which all igneous rocks are formed. Magma is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and evidence of magmatism has also been discovered on other terrestrial planets and some natural sa ...
arrived at the school, they shared a conversation about her recent outburst. Magma saw them as friends, but Johnny began falling in love with her. Magma admitted that Johnny looked cute but was a bit disgusted by his powers. Later, Johnny appeared to use his powers to create small duplicates of the mutant Magma, and later of
Jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
as well. They appear to be voodoo dolls that make the targets become under Johnny Dee's control. Jazz spied on Johnny and found him making the voodoo doll of himself. Johnny later used the doll against Jazz and killed him. When the mysterious
Mr. M sought out to gain the other 198 their freedom back, Johnny Dee (at the request of O*N*E leader
Demetrius Lazer) had
Leech
Leeches are segmented parasitic or predatory worms that comprise the subclass Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida. They are closely related to the oligochaetes, which include the earthworm, and like them have soft, muscular segmented bodie ...
depower Mr. M, and had Magma kill him. He then stated that he won't ask anything in return for the job. "At least, not yet..." and decided to remain at Xavier's for his own reasons.
Civil War
It is later revealed that Johnny and the creature are not the same being; he has taken to calling it "the freak". Johnny doesn't consider himself a mutant, since the creature has a brain of its own. Two possibilities exist: either the creature is merely a part of Johnny's body and he is in denial of his own mutant nature, or the creature is some sort of parasitic twin who possesses mutant capabilities, while Johnny does not. In any event, Johnny continues to be a pawn in General Lazer's agenda, until Lazer is found out by
Val Cooper
Valerie "Val" Cooper is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character works for the Office of National Emergency as the liaison for mutant affairs. She once claimed to have been inspired to go ...
and General Reyes. Both are incarcerated, but while Lazer is being interrogated (tortured) by Cooper (for information to unlock a door trapping most of the 198), he realizes too late that Johnny did indeed touch him, at which point, Johnny snaps the neck of the voodoo doll of Lazer, killing him. At this point, Dee remains behind bars.
[''Civil War: X-Men'' #2-4]
Powers and abilities
Johnny has an octopus-like creature coming out of his chest with several tentacles. This creature has a brain of its own but it cannot speak (but it's suggested in ''The 198'' that the latter could be false) and can produce 'voodoo dolls' after Johnny introduces a DNA sample of someone (like a strand of hair) in the creature's mouth. The creature spits out a clamshell that contains a tiny naked replica of the person, giving him the ability to control the person entirely.
Johnny and the creature share the same nervous system, but Johnny cannot feel the creature's pain (evidenced in ''
Son of M
''Son of M'' is a 2006 American comic book limited series, a follow-up to Marvel Comics' 2005 "House of M" storyline, starring the depowered Quicksilver. Quicksilver was one of the many mutants to lose his powers as part of the Decimation, for ...
'' #1 when one of the creature's tentacles were slashed, leaving them both on the verge of death, but Johnny was oblivious to the actual extent of the injury).
Footnotes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dee, Johnny
Comics characters introduced in 2005
Marvel Comics supervillains
Fictional murderers
Marvel Comics male supervillains
Marvel Comics mutants
Fictional henchmen