[thumbimg]32/allstar_squadron2.jpg[/thumbimg] [thumbimg]32/allstar_squadron3.jpg[/thumbimg]
Per Degaton’s full history involved “timeline copies” called “chronal duplicates”. Each of these has a unique story, believing that they were the true Per Degaton. The “main timeline” of Per Degaton began with
All-Star Squadron #1-3 as a laboratory assistant to the Time Trust. Watching the JSA go into the future to help in the Allied Powers effort in 1942, he almost immediately became obsessed with Time Travel. His exploits included coming across the robotic time traveler Mekanique (who promised him the power of time travel), and attempting to defeat the All-Star Squadron. Although failing, Degaton is able to preserve Mekanique’s head and the two fall in love. He eventually turned on both Mekanique and Dr. Zee and attempted to take over the world.
[thumbimg]32/AllStar-37.jpg[/thumbimg]
In
All Star Comics #37, Per Degaton assaulted Dr. Zee again. This time, Dr. Zee escaped into the time machine, making it to the year 1983. In the meantime, Per Degaton remained in his time, becoming a marquee member of the Injustice Society of the World (who were at odds with the JSA). The JSA defeated him, and he was sentenced to 30 years in prison (revealed in
All Star Comics #58). Upon release, he drifted until he came across Brain Wave (who found him in a soup kitchen), and together, try to attack the JSA, and fail once again. He returned to prison again and is old and gray at this point, so his sentence was reduced. Upon release, he rebuilds Mekanique and waits for Dr. Zee to show up in 1983. However, when he does, while he was dying from the gunshot wound, Per Degaton’s assault reveals a chronal duplicate (further explained in
Infinity Inc. Annual #2).
[thumbimg]32/degaton-death.jpg[/thumbimg]
At this point, the Per Degaton continuity takes a bit of a split. In the pre-crisis version, there is no chronal duplicate in the machine. This makes a difference because the space-time paradox destroys the older Per Degaton, and Mekanique subsequently kills the younger one and herself. In the pre-crisis version, where there is no chronal duplicate, Per Degaton is named as Dr. Zee’s killer as the JSA surround him. Totally defeated, Degaton, as opposed to undergoing another prison stint, commits suicide with a bullet to the temple.
Silver Age Chronal Duplicate Escapades
[thumbimg]32/JLA-209.jpg[/thumbimg]
Per Degaton had many minor exploits after the Golden Age and outside of his own main timeline. The branches of his timeline, the chronal duplicates, were often combating the JSA with world domination in mind. He would usually be driven to conquest by a dream of a previous encounter. One particular occurrence involved an assault again a team consisting of both JSA and Justice League of America (JLA) members (from Earth-One). In
Justice League #207-209 (1982), Per Degaton used multiple smaller branches in his timeline in order to bend history to his will, by stealing nuclear warheads from Earth-Prime’s Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. He brought them to Earth-Two’s 1942, nearly overtaking the world in the process, assisted by Earth-Three’s Crime Syndicate of America. Again, however, he was foiled in his attempt, with a combined effort from the JSA, JLA, and All-Star Squadron. He is returned back yet again to 1947 as a lab assistant to Dr. Zee, again with no memory of what happened.
My Opinion
Most people would agree that Per Degaton was at least somewhat insane. Insanity is complex by nature. What was really going on in this guy’s head though? Many also thought Hitler was somewhat insane too. Well, going back to that same forum that I read, the posters there did not believe Per Degaton was a Nazi, but a fascist (and in my opinion a classical megalomaniac), and was simply impressed with the autocracy of the Hitler regime.
However, if Per Degaton isn’t a Nazi, what is he? Crazy? Misunderstood? If you were to ask Per Degaton, he’d most likely tell you that he was under-appreciated. You know what? Given the uniqueness of his character next to his obscurity in comicdom, he might actually be onto something there.
