Deadman
Back to Heroes Main > Deadman
Real Identity: Boston Brand
Affiliations: Haley's Circus
Appearances (BTAC Comics): Court Fight Part I and Court Fight Part Two
Powers: Possession, Intangibility, and Flight
Boston Brand was a star trapeze artist for Haley's Circus and was something of an idol to young Dick Grayson. At one point, he met Zatanna Zatara when she started touring her magic act. Brand performed as "Deadman" and was obsessed with shocking his audience and nothing thrilled him more than the cries of horror from his spellbound crowd. Brand was murdered during his act but he had no idea he was marked for death. Only some drinking friends, two sideshow freaks, and a couple floozies happy to see him dead attended Brand's funeral. Instead of dying and moving on, Brand became his circus namesake, Deadman, a ghost. A very select few could sense his presence much less communicate with him unless he was in possession of someone. Deadman eventually tracked down his killer and solved the mystery of his death with the help of Batman and Nightwing. Justice was served and Deadman's exile on the mortal plane seemingly came to an end. Or so he thought. Deadman opted to play hero in his own weird way.
Deadman returned to Gotham City one night. He wondered where he was heading and for what. He noted the further he traveled, the more he found himself moving in a circle back to Gotham. He noticed Haley's Circus was in town and couldn't resist taking a look. Dick Grayson happened to be in the crowd and waved when the ringmaster acknowledged him. Deadman considered making himself known but decided to leave. Deadman followed the Batmobile to the penthouse of Mayor Hill, a murder scene after he was assassinated by a Talon. Deadman then followed Batman to the Vreeland Manor. He noticed a Talon waiting outside in the brush. Deadman was shocked Talon could see him and slashed at him even. Deadman attempted to possess him but Talon was able to resist. Talon entered the manor and attacked General Vreeland but his daughter Veronica Vreeland walked in on them. Bruce Wayne returned Vreeland's call and overheard the fight. With no other person present, Deadman possessed her and grabbed a sword. Talon was unimpressed and knew she wouldn't last long against him. Deadman tried to create some distance outside near the swimming pool.
Batman returned just in time and threw several Batarangs into Talon's arm and side. Batman ordered Vreeland to get to safety, unaware she was possessed. Talon quickly broke free from Batman's bola. Deadman tried again to possess him but Talon told him to stay away and struck his chest. Batman was confused as to who Talon was conversing with. Talon promised their fight would continue at a later time when the odds favored the Owls. To cover his escape, Talon knocked an unconscious Vreeland into the swimming pool. Talon fled with a paraglider but Deadman tried one last time to possess him. Talon dissipated him painfully. He assured him obstructing the Court's justice always ended in agony. Hours later, Deadman possessed Batman in the Batcave to write him a note, "He's a Zombie" then left. With the help of an amulet from Zatanna, Batman was able to see and talk to Deadman. Deadman waited one hour and ten minutes to make contact, to Batman's chagrin. Deadman quipped he had to make sure he was a believer and he looked so "cute" in his pose.
While Batman analyzed the Talon gauntlet, Deadman possessed Alfred Pennyworth so he could converse with Nightwing. He teased him about the "cute number" he saw him with at the circus the other night and was amused to learn she was Batgirl. Robin listened to Deadman's speech patterns and was convinced there really was a ghost present. Deadman went the extra mile and did a one handed hand stand then performed several flips in a row. Batman had enough and ordered Deadman to vacate Pennyworth's body. He complied but noted Pennyworth was spry for his age. Pennyworth had no recollection of what just happened but noticed the crick in his neck was gone. In vain, Deadman told him he could thank him later. He became bored waiting for the analysis to complete but was adamant the Talon was a zombie because he felt like dry ice. Deadman decided to go along with Bruce Wayne to Mayor Hill's funeral to case the crowd for intel. Deadman possessed Hamilton Hill's sister to report some gossip going about tension between Maureen Hill and Hamilton Hill Junior.
Wayne pointed out his host was not a good choice being Hill's sister. Deadman agreed, he thought her shoes were killing him. Wayne directed him to the three observers watching the funeral from afar. Deadman left her body and pursued the trio to a church. The Owl was shocked there really was a ghost. Three zombie Talons got the drop on Deadman and proceeded to get rid of him. Deadman was in great pain and realized he was dissipating. Luckily, Batman intervened with a exploding Batarang while Deadman pulled himself together. He was not impressed when Batman found a Talon finger in the rubble. While it was analyzed in the Batcave, Deadman mused he wasn't so different than the zombies. Batman mentioned it was up to him to decide to move on. Deadman admitted he feared doing so and wanted to do enough good that would guarantee him getting into Heaven first before he moved on. Batman could relate. Deadman perked up over their bonding. Batman learned the Talons were susceptible to cold. Deadman looked at the Mr. Freeze display and mused he could have been some help.
Batman shifted to figuring out where the Talon's lair was and recalled the Court legend. Deadman joked they must have had so much fun hanging out at City Hall. Batman realized that was the location, to Deadman's surprise. Batman and Deadman sneaked onto a giant owl statue from an entrance in the ceiling and learned the culprit was Hamilton Hill all along. Batman declared only Hill's insane dream to rebuild the Court and rule Gotham would die that night. Suddenly, an army of zombie Talons entered the room. Deadman was at a loss. Batman told him to pick a weapon and start smashing. Deadman understood, possessed Junior and fought the zombies. Batman produced the Freeze Gun and started freezing several zombies. The Talon swooped over, grabbed Batman's arm, tossed him, and destroyed the Freeze Gun. It overloaded and froze his upper body. Hill refused to surrender. He chose to die and set off the charges in the hall. Batman fired his grappling gun and fled with the Deadman-possessed Junior.
From a roof above the site, Deadman noted to Batman that Junior only told the police Batman saved him from his father's killer. Batman pointed out he still wanted to be mayor and wouldn't tarnish the family reputation with the truth. Deadman retorted he didn't seem to have a high opinion of people for a guy who saved them. Batman admitted his opinion of Deadman improved after all the good he did on the case and he would be one step closer to Heaven. Deadman decided to stick around on Earth a little longer and was still looking forward to bonding over Bat-beer. Batman quipped that wasn't happening in his lifetime. Deadman joked he could wait. They parted ways.