One DC Villain Can Take On The Entire Justice Society Of America At Once
By Christopher Ramos
Per Degaton is one of DC's oldest villains, making his first comic book appearance in 1947's "All Star Comics" #35, by John Broone and Irwin Hasen.
Originally depicted as a time-obsessed scientist, Degaton gained the ability to look into the future; later he would develop the power of inter-dimensional travel, journeying to various Earths across the Multiverse. In 2023's "Justice Society of America" #3 (by Geoff Johns, Mikel Janin, Jordie Bellaire, Jerry Ordway, Scott Kolins, Steve Lieber, Brandon Peterson, John Kalisz, Jordan Boyd, and Rob Leigh from DC Comics) Degaton's origin story was developed far more substantially.
In that comic, Degaton is seen working alongside Adolf Hitler during the 1940s, gaining a reputation for capturing villagers and using them for his experiments. While trying to break the Fourth Dimension, a group of American soldiers (led by Sgt. Rock) attack his lab and kill most of the Nazis working with him. It is then that Degaton desperately inserts himself into his not-quite-finished experiments.
While the soldiers believe Degaton has vaporized himself and is off the board, the villain ends up in 1947, leading directly into the events of that original "All Star Comics" issue, where he tries to continue Hitler's mission while rewriting history.
Ultimately, Degaton's quest was stopped by the Justice Society of America. However, Degaton would continue to try to change time and eliminate the JSA, genetically altering his body and powers in attempts to finally overcome them. As a result, he would become a stronger, more significant problem for all JSA teams. Degaton would murder Helena Wayne's team (including her mother, Catwoman), serving as a catalyst for her journey to the present day, where the villain makes a surprise return and tries to kill the current group of heroes.
