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Deadman
Deadman

Deadman

219 appearances Β· Silver Age Β· 1967–2025 Β· 4 key issues
Who is Deadman?

Boston Brand was a daredevil circus acrobat whose life was cut short by an assassin's bullet during a high-wire performance. Granted a ghostly second chance by the goddess Rama Kushna, he roams the afterlife as Deadman, able to possess the living while searching for his killer.

Few characters made an entrance quite like Deadman β€” debuting in Strange Adventures #205 in 1967, this Silver Age DC creation from Arnold Drake and Carmine Infantino arrived with a concept so audacious it's been captivating readers for nearly six decades. With 195 catalogued appearances spanning from 1967 all the way to 2025, he's proven himself one of DC's most enduring and versatile figures, equally at home in his own solo title, the supernatural ensemble of Justice League Dark, and the anthology sprawl of Action Comics Weekly. He keeps remarkable company across those pages β€” sharing adventures with the likes of Batman, Superman, and Green Lantern β€” and four of his appearances carry key-issue status, a testament to how often his stories have mattered to collectors and fans alike. If you haven't explored what makes Deadman so compelling, nearly six decades of DC history are waiting to make the case.

Identity

Real name. Boston Brand

Powers. : Boston Brand was an acrobat in his mortal life. ; : Deadman is intimately familiar with many dimensions of the afterlife and has knowledge of many of the mystical powers that interact with the living world. ; : Deadman is a proficient hand-to-hand fighter, and also stated to the Sensei that he had taken some training.

Affiliations. Formerly White Lantern Corps, Sentinels of Magic, Seven Soldiers of Victory, Justice League of Apostles, Justice Arcana, JLA Reserves, Justice Society International

β˜… First appearance
Strange Adventures #205
Oct 1967

Trivia

  • Deadman's staying power in the DC Universe owes much to his evolution into a remarkably frequent supporting player across titles and team books, keeping him relevant and visible without ever needing to carry a mainstream solo headline.en.wikipedia.org

Top series

Covers through the years β€” 1967–2021

Strange Adventures #205 β˜… 1967
Strange Adventures #205
World's Finest Comics #226 1974
World's Finest Comics #226
Challengers of the Unknown #84 1977
Challengers of the Unknown #84
DC Comics Presents #38 β˜… 1981
DC Comics Presents #38
All-Star Squadron #59 β˜… 1986
All-Star Squadron #59
The Spectre Annual #1 1988
The Spectre Annual #1
Guy Gardner: Warrior #39 1996
Guy Gardner: Warrior #39
Green Arrow #7 2001
Green Arrow #7
Solo #7 2005
Solo #7
Solomon Grundy #5 2009
Solomon Grundy #5
Justice League Dark #14 2013
Justice League Dark #14
Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #2 2017
Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #2
Bizarro Comics: The Deluxe Edition #[nn] 2021
Bizarro Comics: The Deluxe Edition #[nn]

Appearances (1–150 of 219, oldest first)

Strange Adventures (1950)
The Brave and the Bold (1955)
Blackhawk (1957)
Vengeur (1972)
#6
World's Finest Comics (1941)
Challengers of the Unknown (1958)
#84
Vampirella (1978)
DC Special Series (1977)
#8
All New Collectors' Edition (1978)
Cancelled Comic Cavalcade (1978)
The Flash (1959)
The Comics Journal (1977)
Detective Comics (1937)
Jimmy Olsen's Pal, Fred Hembeck [Hembeck Series] (1981)
#6
DC Comics Presents (1978)
#38
Star Trek (1984)
#14
Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe (1985)
All-Star Squadron (1981)
#59
Swamp Thing (1985)
The Spectre (1987)
The Spectre Annual (1988)
#1
Comics Scene (1987)
San Diego Comic Con Comics (1992)
#3
Lobo / Deadman: The Brave and the Bald (1995)
Guy Gardner: Warrior (1994)
#39
Batman (1940)
Batman: Gotham Adventures (1998)
#6
Crisis on Infinite Earths (1999)
Day of Judgment (1999)
#2
JLA (1997)
Deadman: Dead Again (2001)
Green Arrow (2001)
#7
Bizarro World (2005)
Nightwing: Year One (2005)
Solo (2004)
Infinite Crisis Companion (2006)
Teen Titans (2003)
#42
Batman Collection: Neal Adams (2008)
#1
Reign in Hell (2008)
#4
Wednesday Comics (2009)
Solomon Grundy (2009)
#5
The Outsiders (2009)
#31
Brightest Day (2010)
#8
DCU: Legacies (2010)
#9
Saga of the Swamp Thing (2009)
#5
DC Comics Presents: The Teen Titans (2011)
#1
DC Universe: Legacies (2011)
The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2011)
#12
Supergirl (2011)
#3
I, Vampire (2011)
DC Comics - The New 52 FCBD Special Edition (2012)
#1
Justice League Dark Annual (2012)
#1
Teen Titans by Geoff Johns Omnibus (2013)