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Underground > Comic Books >

Identity of the Painted Doll

  
 
Aertho
13:01 / 04.11.02
For those of you reading Promethea, I've had a flash of who the identity of the Painted Doll might be. Perhaps you've already discussed this, but I'm new to both the Barbelith Underground as well as the Promethea mythos... I have the collected books, and all recents save 19 - my name.

Anyway, without revealing too much, I'll supply my evidence, and ya'll can discuss at length or at short.

Camera 1: Painted Doll

Okay, from appearances in Promethea, we see that the Painted Doll is apparently insane, and has made particular adversaries of the 5 swell guys. He's adept with militaristic weaponry, and shows Bond-like acrobatic ability. He's ABC's Joker analog.

In addition to plain old high-tech weaponry and abilities, he shows that explosions and apparent death don't stop him. He comes back to life no matter what. And the Painted Doll is blond.

Oddly enough, the Painted Doll's two spotlight kills were Benny Solomon, and Bruno Smiliac(Jellyhead) -two of Promethea's spotlight villians...

Camera 2: Alan Moore

Mr. Moore used hair color to provide clues as to the identity of the Silk Spectre II's father. He and JHW may be using hair color to provide clues to the Painted Doll's identity.

Mr. Moore also wrote The Killing Joke, featuring DC's preeminent villain, The Joker. He established insanity as the result of heartbreak...

Camera 3: Agents Breughel and Ball

They are FBI agents on the chase after Promethea. They're hip to the different Prometheas, and show knowledge of her existence in literature of the past. They carry a file folder with images of the Promethes 2 Margaret, 4 Bill, and 6 Sophie, featuring one photo of Promethea 4 Bill, signed To Dennis - All My Love from Promethea.

When they DO confront Promethea 7(3) Stacia/Grace, Ball states that they want to ask her some questions about Dennis Drucker.

I'm missing the Chesed issue... grrr. So I don't have info on what occurs in that episode.

Camera 4: Promethea 4 Bill

Bill fell in love with a straight man named Dennis Drucker. Dennis went insane when he discovered the secret of Promethea and killed Bill. While Bill, dead, laments the loss of their relationship, Dennis gazes incoherently in a padded cell, still alive.

Are with me? I've a feeling that the Painted Doll will become Promethea's major villain and primary responsibility in the future of this book. I just wonder how he came up with the power to become his own story...
 
 
gergsnickle
13:21 / 04.11.02
Very interesting, particularly since I've lost track of what's happening back on earth (in the comic, I mean) with all the sphere jumping and was wondering about the whole Painted Doll reference in the new issue. Thank you.
 
 
gergsnickle
13:30 / 04.11.02
Okay, I just looked at the rare and valuable (not really) issue 19 and it does include some Dennis Drucker lore: Agents Breughel and Ball visit him in the clinic, where he asserts that Promethea was a real woman indeed, urging them not go there...when they ask him where 'there' is he replies: "'There?' That's easy. See 'here,' this world, our lives, all this is some kind of dream, and 'there'... 'there' is what we wake up to."

Hope that helps. Hope that doesn't spoil anything.
 
 
Aertho
13:45 / 04.11.02
Well, it does confirm that Dennis Drucker knows A LOT more than the layman about the Immateria. Which fits exactly within the construct of my theory, so I'm happy so far. It doesn't outright prove it either, so I'm stuck in anticipation.

Thanks for the research though. Perhaps others have thoughts in opposition to this, or a supplimenting theory?
 
 
Tamayyurt
15:38 / 04.11.02
This is a pretty brilliant theory, Chesed. The only major problem I have is that I don't know if the painted doll in blond. But maybe I missed that. I always thought he was bald.

Otherwise I love you're thinking. Cause this will explain all of the PD's Holograms. They aren't holograms in the technical sense at all they're more like astral projections. You know what else I was thinking, it would be nice to see the PD somehow combine the Jellyhead tech with the captive Smee.

Anyway, let me know where you got the blond thing and I'll quickly subscribe to your theory
 
 
Aertho
17:03 / 04.11.02
His hair looks painted on. But it's yellow. Not that the Painted Doll is his true body -more like the representation of it.

Anyway... further proof lies in feminine mannerisms. Not only is the name Painted Doll referencing a girl's toy, but he -The Painted Doll- puts lipstick on in a very feminine manner. I know it's hard to glean that from illustration, but look at the panels where he's in the hospital elevator. He smacks on some green lipstick, and then checks himself in the mirror of the elevator door. It SEEMS and feels rather girlish. And then all the flare and style and grace in his movements... I know that's a stereotypical statement- but my theory hinges on the Painted Doll's flawed view of himself and the world, and he may see himself as a flawed man and therefore a maniacal stereotype.
 
 
Mr Tricks
19:32 / 05.11.02
So, what you're saying is after Dennis Drucker went nuts and killed "bill" he became the painted doll.

Or perhaps discovering the truth behind the immateria drove him insane and not only resulted in the murder of Bill but the birth of the painted Doll.

who has become a sort of anti-promethea fostering his own mythic nature by the fame brought on by millions of people killed... His Dollograms etc... could all simply be imaginary technology dreamed up by this crazyman.

I always thought he had a blond crew-cut myself... and it's a fantastic theory...

I'm emagining he's going to use the Jelly-head tech to create Jelly-dolls or something...
 
  
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