DOC WATSON
Real Name: Watson (first name unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Human (World War II era)
Occupation: Soldier, doctor
Group Membership: Deadly Dozen
Affiliations: Sister Angelique, Howling Commandos (Isadore "Izzy" Cohen, Timothy "Dum-Dum" Dugan, Nick Fury, Gabe Jones, Eric Koenig, Robert "Reb" Ralston), Sam Sawyer
Enemies: Captain Conner, Nazis, Sgt. Schoen, Dr. Lola Steimle, Dr. Steinem, Major Strasser, Dr. Sweikert
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Able Company base, England
First Appearance: Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen#1 (June, 1972)
Powers/Abilities: Doc Watson was an experienced medic, and could speak German. In combat, he wielded a machine gun and grenades.
History: (Combat Kelly and his Deadly Dozen#5 (fb) - BTS) - Doc Watson spent 8 years in medical school, then went on to become a career soldier, beginning his military service around 1925.
(Combat Kelly and his Deadly Dozen#5 (fb)) - During World War II, Doc Watson was captured by Nazi spies, and transported to Devil's Island to be held as a prisoner. On the way there, he met Laurie Livingston and Howard Shigeta, and befriended them. At Devil's Island, Shigeta was tormented by the brutal Sgt. Schoen, who beat him. When Watson spat at Schoen in retaliation, the two men were put through ordeals by Schoen, including sweatboxes, obstacle courses, and whippings. Laurie had been sent to the commander, Major Strasser, but was sent to the other prisoners' cells after an attempt on his life. The others thought she was a collaborator, but Shigeta and Watson were certain of her motives, and they planned an escape. As she seemingly gave in to Strasser at a romantic dinner with him, Watson and Shigeta broke out of the cells with the other prisoners, and took the guards' weapons. Shigeta brought Laurie a gun, and she took Strasser hostage so that they could get off of the island, but Sgt. Schoen refused to let them, and shot Strasser dead so that they couldn't exploit him. Laurie, Watson and Shigeta managed to lead the other prisoners through Devil's Island and to a boat which they commandeered. As they set for England, they found Sgt. Schoen aboard, and Laurie shot him dead.
(Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen#1 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Doc Watson met Combat Kelly. For unrevealed reasons, he wound up being sent to prison.
(Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen#1 (fb)) - After being made the leader of the Deadly Dozen, Combat Kelly arranged with Captain Sam Sawyer to have Doc Watson released from prison to serve in the Deadly Dozen. Watson had no love of combat duty, but was willing to join the squad in order to clean his record. Watson joined the Deadly Dozen on a mission to Germany to destroy a new German jet plane created by Dr. Steinem. The Deadly Dozen successfully raided the Luftwaffe complex where the jet was stored.
(Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen#1) - Kelly had Watson and the others destroy the jet plane using grenades. The destruction of the jet threatened to set off all of the jet fuel in the complex, and the Dozen escaped before the explosion destroyed the entire complex. They then met up with their rendezvous plane, and returned to England.
(Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen#3 - BTS) - In January, 1945, the Deadly Dozen entered the frontlines of the war during the push into Germany following the Battle of the Bulge. During a lull in the action, Kelly narrated to them the story of how he became a convict. Not long after he finished his tale, the fighting resumed.
(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#104 - BTS) - The Deadly Dozen were commanded by Captain Conner, and the squad began to realize that Conner was unrealistic about the battlefield conditions. Sgt. Fury's Howling Commandos came to assist the Deadly Dozen, but Captain Conner cracked-up when he learned that thousands of German soldiers were headed for their position.
(Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen#4) - Sgt. Fury beat up Conner in anger, then assumed command the situation, ordering Miller and Wagner to bring Conner back to headquarters. Fury led his and Kelly's squads into battle against the Germans, and they succeeded against enormous odds, driving off the Germans. When Conner returned, he tried to kill Fury and Kelly for commiting mutiny, but Miller caught up to Conner and killed him for abandoning him and Wagner after an attack. The Deadly Dozen brought Miller and Wagner's bodies back with them, but left Conner's.
(Combat Kelly and his Deadly Dozen#5) - After completing an obstacle course run, Watson met up with Shigeta and Livingston, and they reminisced about their first meeting over drinks.
(Combat Kelly and his Deadly Dozen#6 (fb)) - Watson joined the Deadly Dozen at a USO dance, but their pass was brought to an end when Captain Sawyer summoned them for another mission. The Deadly Dozen were assigned to work with pilot "Mad-Dog" Martin in order to break through a Nazi fortress. Martin transported the Deadly Dozen to the site of the fortress in his B-17, but after dropping them off on the ground, seemingly abandoned them.
(Combat Kelly and his Deadly Dozen#6) - Martin returned and crashed his plane into the fortress, allowing the Deadly Dozen a chance to take the fortress. He won the respect of the Deadly Dozen with his actions.
(Combat Kelly and his Deadly Dozen#7) - As the fortress was mopped up by the Allies, the Deadly Dozen had to walk to their rendezvous point. They found a farmhouse in France near the German border where Sister Angelique lived, and found that she had German soldiers as guests. The Germans agreed to turn themselves over to the Deadly Dozen. Although tempers flared between the two groups when one of the Germans tried to rape Erika, one of Sister Angelique's charges, Sister Angelique halted them by taking up a gun and threatening to shoot them. The Deadly Dozen finally departed with the Germans as their prisoners.
(Combat Kelly and his Deadly Dozen#8) - The Deadly Dozen performed an underwater obstacle course run in preparation of their next mission, to confront Dr. Sweikert, a sadistic Nazi surgeon. The Deadly Dozen captured Dr. Lola Steimle, and Laurie Livingston impersonated her in order to enter Sweikert's facility, with Kelly disguised as her driver.
(Combat Kelly and his Deadly Dozen#9) - After 24 hours, the Deadly Dozen went to rescue Kelly and Laurie, and Watson was sent to create a diversion by speaking German to the guard in order to draw him out so Ace could kill him. However, Ace decided to use a knife instead of his gun, and Watson started to run when the German raised his gun. Watson was shot in the back, moments before Ace killed the guard. Jake Jensen checked Watson, and found that he was dead.
Comments: Created by Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers and Jim Mooney.
Doc Watson is mistakenly called "Johnson" throughout issue #6.
by
CLARIFICATIONS: Images taken from: Last updated: 08/26/05
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
Doc Watson should not be confused with:
Combat Kelly#9, page 2, panel 1
Combat Kelly#5, page 19, panel 6
Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen#4 (December, 1972) - Gary Friedrich (writer), Dick Ayers (pencils), Mike Esposito (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen#5-6 (February-April, 1973) - Gary Friedrich (writer), Dick Ayers (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen#7 (June, 1973) - Gary Friedrich (writer), Dick Ayers (pencils), John Tartaglione (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen#8-9 (August-October, 1973) - Gary Friedrich (writer), Dick Ayers (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
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