A
super-hero created by
Will Eisner for
DC Comics. Doll
Man first appeard in
Feature Comics #29 in December 1939.
Doll Man was Darrel Dane, a chemist. Having invented a new
formula and with no safe, scientific way to test it, Dane did
what any good chemist would do and drank the formula. Rather
than causing his stomach lining to dissolve as one would suspect,
Dane's formula caused him to shrink to six-inches in height, while
maintaining his normal strength.
Dane found himself stuck at this height and despaired that he
would ever return to normal height. He was aided at this time
by Martha Roberts, the daughter of his mentor, Professor
Roberts. She created clothing for the tiny man, having made
doll clothes in the past and with having for blue sleeveless
leotards, red capes, and red elf shoes.
When Martha was kidnapped by a criminal named Falco because
she would not pay extortion money over some love letters, Dane
rescued her from the criminals. He soon realized that through
concentration he could grow to his normal height and back to
his smaller size. He decided that he would use his new, albiet
relatively useless, ability to battle evil and Doll Man was
born.
Doll Man became a member of the Justice Society of America and
the Freedom Fighters. He even starred in his own comic for
a time.
Years later, Martha Roberts inexplicabley gained the ability to
shrink down as well. She became known as Midge, the Doll Girl.