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DEATHBIRD

Real Name: Swallow (first name unrevealed)

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Earth-88469) resurrected human mutate

Occupation: Servant of Death;
   formerly vigilante

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Death, Force America (Birdman, Captain Hero, Clue, Cyberhead, Mother Earth, Shotgun, U-Boat), Force America's butler (name unrevealed)

Enemies: Dead Clown, unintentionally William "Bull" Davidovich

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Birdboy, Swallow

Base of Operations: New York, USA (Earth-88469)

First Appearance: Dead Clown#3 (February, 1994) as Deathbird; Dead Clown#1 (October, 1993) as Swallow/Birdboy

Powers/Abilities: Swallow was initially a male teenager obsessed with powerful and popular beings, and especially wanted to be someone's sidekick. After being resurrected by Death as super-hero Deathbird in adult form, he had flight capabilities plus super-human strength and durability. He may have been granted immortality in order to complete his mission.

Height: 6' (by approximation); formerly 5'3" (pre-transformation) (by approximation)
Weight: Unrevealed; 135 lbs. (pre-transformation) (by approximation)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Unrevealed (formerly brown)

History:

(Dead Clown#1 (fb) - BTS) - Obsessed with super-hero team Force America, especially Birdman, the teenager Swallow wanted to be his idol's sidekick, dubbing himself Birdboy. Swallow encountered Birdman and endeared himself sufficiently to gain a feather and a promise to go on joint patrol. He later went to Force America's headquarters and demanded from their butler to see Birdman.

(Dead Clown#1) - Birdman fled from the over-eager fanboy, but Birdboy jumped out the window after him. Unable to fly, he fell, but survived. Aware the rogue super-human Dead Clown was being hunted by Force America, Birdboy chanced across him first, but was soundly beaten up by his target. Dead Clown duped Birdboy into thinking he could be his sidekick (self-dubbed "Clown Lad"), so Birdboy switched allegiance and revealed Force America's plans. Dead Clown then maced him and left him to be beaten up by gun-toting bar patrons.

(Dead Clown#2 (fb) - BTS) - Birdboy was taken to the city hospital to recover from his severe injuries and avoid shocks.

(Dead Clown#2) - Keen to dispose of Force America and its allies, Dead Clown sent a surprise present with his skull to scare the boy. The shock killed Swallow; as his spirit floated away, he saw Birdman trying to extract a gold filling from his corpse. Birdboy arrived in the afterlife and intended to confront the demigod Death about his unfair demise.

(Dead Clown#3) - Birdboy climbed a cliff of bones until he reached the sickly Death. Telling of his rejection and betrayal, Birdboy was still dismissed by Death -- until he revealed his connection to Dead Clown, who was despised by Death. Birdboy made a deal to become Death's sidekick to bring Dead Clown "to justice." Swallow was instantly granted super-powers in an adult body with cape and mask, and renamed himself Deathbird. He flew from Death's domain and hunted down Dead Clown. Meanwhile, Dead Clown had been cornered by the super-strong Captain Hero and William "Bull" Davidovich (the latter surgically altered to mimic and replace Dead Clown as a corporate asset). Seeing "Dead Clown" (actually Davidovich), Deathbird pounded Captain Hero into the ground and flew away with Davidovich, foolishly believing justice had been served.

Comments: Created by Chris Ulm, Phil Gosier, and Bobby Rae.

There was something kinda inappropriately sleazy about Birdman initially accepting Birdboy's adulation, then evading him, while teen-aged Swallow expected to find him near the Boys Room. Just... off.

Malibu's Dead Clown follows the violence and parody of DC's Lobo (and later Marvel's Lunatik - with a dash of What The--?).

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Deathbird/Swallow/Birdboy has no known connections to:


images: (without ads)
Dead Clown#3, p16, pan6 (Deathbird flying)
Dead Clown#1, p10, pan3 (as Birdboy)
Dead Clown#2, p14, pan3 (hospital headshot)


Appearances:
Dead Clown#1 (October, 1993) - Chris Ulm (writer), Joel Thomas (pencils), Bobby Rae (inks), Roland Mann (editor)
Dead Clown#2 (November, 1993) - Chris Ulm (writer), Joel Thomas (pencils), Bobby Rae (inks), Roland Mann (editor)
Dead Clown#3 (February, 1994) - Chris Ulm (writer), Phil Gosier (pencils), Bobby Rae (inks), Roland Mann (editor)


First posted: 11/10/2018
Last updated: 02/18/2022

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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