DEREK WEEMS
Real Name: Derek Weems
Identity/Class: Normal human
Occupation: Artist (visual medium)
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: None
Enemies: Joshua Carstairs, creatures of
Dimension X
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Dimension X;
formerly unrevealed (likely a major city in the USA)
First Appearance: Strange Tales I#97/5 (June,
1962)
Powers/Abilities: Derek Weems is an
accomplished conventional artist in the painting medium, but with
little inspiration. Hungry for fame, he is willing to resort to theft
and mimicry for success.
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 165 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark brown
History:
(Strange Tales I#97/5 (fb) - BTS) - Derek Weems
completed many conventional-style paintings, but struggled to sell them
on the street. Weems grew jealous of successful modern artists with one
artist particularly--Joshua Carstairs--gaining his ire, because of his
apparently bizarre style of portraiture, which garnered much praise and
attention.
(Strange Tales I#97/5) - Several weeks passed and
Weems had not sold any paintings, but heard much passing talk of
Carstairs'
art. He visited a Carstairs exhibition and wished for his sales, even
thinking to steal Carstairs' art and pass it off as his own. Weems felt
dejected, thinking no one would believe he had such talent. A few days
later, he overheard someone
talk of visiting Carstairs' home and a locked room. Intrigued and
desperate to discover the artist's secret inspiration, Weems found and
followed Carstairs home. Waiting until Carstairs left, Weems broke in,
found the secluded room and smashed the lock. Weems entered what
initially appeared to be an empty room, but proved to be an inescapable
dimensional bridge to Dimension X. The bizarre beings of Dimension X
pulled him across and Weems realized that Carstairs' paintings were actually
portraits of these beings. These Dimension X creatures demanded Weems
pose
for their paintings; stranded, Weems obliged.
(Weird Wonder Tales#21/1) - Dr. Druid
later recounted the story of Derek Weems.
Comments: Created by uncredited writer & Gene Colan.
This story was later reprinted in Weird Wonder Tales #21/1 with panels shuffled to allow a full-page introduction by Dr. Druid. The story was also more colorful in the WWT version, particularly in Weems' search and transition into Dimension X.
The Dimension X denizens (and hence Carstairs' style
of art) are reminiscent of Spanish painter Picasso's Cubist and
Surrealist periods.
There have been other denizens of a "Dimension X",
such as in
Strange Tales I#80 showing an unseen alien dimension inhabited by
weird and aggressive multi-armed humanoids. Likewise, there was the Overlord
of
Dimension X and his Evil Clowns, presented in Slapstick I#1. It has
yet to be revealed if they are the one dimension or a generic term used
by several species to describe their own dimension (or just the
translation in English/Earth language).
This Dimension X seems to sustain the
human Weems, as it's not mentioned that he hungers or needs sleep.
Grand
Comics Database suggests that writer may be Stan Lee or Larry
Lieber.
If the Muse (Blonde Phantom foe) is an abstract
entity from another dimension ("realm of
abstract perception"), then
perhaps it is the same as Dimension X.
---John Holstein
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Derek Weems has no known connections to:
The beings in Dimension X had various bizarre forms compared to humans.
Earth artist Joshua Carstairs had a bridge hidden away in his house to
their dimension and traveled there to paint their portraits. Thinking
his artwork original and visionary, Earth audiences lauded Carstairs'
work, but this diminished the efforts of struggling artists like Derek
Weems, who became jealous of Carstairs' success. Weems broke into
Carstairs' house, hoping to discover the secret to Carstair's
inspiration, but unwittingly crossed the dark and misty bridge to
Dimension X, with its denizens pulling him across. Unable to cross
back, the creatures of Dimension X forced him to pose as they attempted
to paint his likeness.
--Strange Tales I#97/5
images:
(without ads)
Weird Wonder Tales #21/1, p4, pan5 (main image)
Strange Tales I#97/5, p2, pan3 (headshot)
Strange Tales I#97/5, p5, pan5 (Dimension X beings with Weems (at
right))
Appearances:
Strange Tales I#97/5 (June, 1962) - uncredited writer, Gene Colan
(pencils & inks), Stan Lee (editor)
Weird Wonder Tales #21/1 - uncredited writer, Gene Colan (pencils &
inks), John Tartaglione (modifications, pencils
& inks), Roger Stern (editor)
First posted: 02/11/2025
Last updated:
02/11/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™
and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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