Doctor Sivana

Doctor Sivana (left) and Captain Marvel (right).

Thaddeus Bodog Sivana is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics and created by Bill Parker and C. C. Beck. He first appeared opposite the superhero Captain Marvel / Shazam in Whiz Comics.

Publication history

Created by Bill Parker and C. C. Beck, the character is a recurring enemy of the superhero Captain Marvel, who first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 (cover-dated February 1940) by Fawcett Comics.

Fictional character biography

He is a brilliant but wicked mad scientist that seeks to conquer the world—although his origins and motives have varied between different incarnations, with the New 52/DC Rebirth continuity portraying him as a tragic figure seeking magic to cure his dying family.

Sivana was soon established as Captain Marvel's archenemy and the Shazam/Marvel Family as a whole, serving as one of the two main antagonists of the SHAZAM! franchise (alongside Mister Mind). He has also served as an enemy towards Superman, the Justice League, the Outsiders, the Titans, and has been a part of numerous villainous organizations, such as the Secret Society of Super Villains, the Fearsome Five, the Monster Society of Evil, and the Science Squad. In 2009, Doctor Sivana was ranked as IGN's 82nd Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.[1][2]

Beck has said Parker created Sivana's name by combining the name of the Indian god Siva with the word "nirvana".[3]

Abilities

Although Sivana possesses no super-powers of his own, he has genius level intelligence which allows him to give him a technological advantage in battle, by creating various weapons and gadgets. He is also very business savvy and has a cunning mind. He can see magic with his left eye.

In other media

The character made his cinematic debut in the 2019 DC Extended Universe movie Shazam!, played by Mark Strong, who reprised the role in a post-credits scene cameo in the 2023 sequel Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

References

  1. Doctor Sivana is number 82 Archived May 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine IGN. Retrieved 10-05-09.
  2. Greenberger, Robert (2008), "Doctor Sivana", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 106, ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1, OCLC 213309017
  3. "Findoc, 1998". Archived from the original on 2023-07-13. Retrieved 2023-07-31.