Changes: Albert Desmond (New Earth)

With this Philosopher's Stone I can transmute any element into any other. I bet your heart wouldn't work so good, if it was... oh, say... coal!

— Doctor Alchemy ^src

Albert Desmond was a CCPD forensic scientist. He suffered from multiple personality disorder where, like Two-Face, one side was a harmless citizen, the other personality was a dark criminal. Utilizing his knowledge of chemistry and using the Philosopher's Stone, Desmond worked under the guise of Mister Element and later Doctor Alchemy.

History

Rogues

After being sent to jail by Flash, Desmond somehow found the Philosopher's Stone, which had the ability to transmute one element to another. After using the Stone to escape, Desmond restarted his criminal career under the new moniker of Doctor Alchemy and clashed with Flash many times, but was defeated every time.

Eventually, Desmond's good personality resurfaced and he quit crime and hid the Stone. However, a new Doctor Alchemy appeared, who turned out to be Alvin Desmond, Albert's identical twin whom he shares a psychic link with. It was later revealed that the "twin" was a construct of Albert's evil by the Stone itself. The construct was eliminated, though Albert became Doctor Alchemy again and joined the Rogues.

Keystone Kops

Albert Desmond setup a lab in Gotham City that was discovered by officers Andrew Kelly and Donald Peak during a regular check-up on two children reported for suspicious behavior. When the chemicals spilled and mixed when attempting to remove the children from the hidden lab, a chemical fire set Andrew Kelly on fire. Donald Peak reported the flames emitted no heat. It was discovered the trap was set as an experiment by Albert Desmond to transform someone into a grotesque and powerful creature. The creature was eventually stopped by the GCPD and Batman.^[3]

Powers and Abilities

Abilities

Alchemy
Chemistry
Hand-to-Hand Combat (Basic): Dr. Alchemy's an average athlete and combatant.^[4]

Weaknesses

Multiple Personalities

Paraphernalia

Equipment

As Doctor Alchemy:

Philosopher's Stone

As Mister Element:

Various gimmicks related to chemistry, as gold lines, sodium and magnesium capsules, a special liquid which dissolve ferrous metals, etc.^[5]

Weapons

Element Gun (As Mister Element only)^[6]

Notes

Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-One era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and should be considered apocryphal.
Other characters have also used Desmond's gimmick. A S.T.A.R. Labs scientist named Doctor Curtis Engstrom briefly used the Philosopher's Stone as The Alchemist during the period Desmond was cured.
More recently, Alexander Petrov, a Keystone City police scientist, became the new Mister Element. Although he used Desmond's original element-gun, and a variant of the costume, he attempted to confuse things by using the gun to freeze things, thereby implicating Captain Cold. He was killed by the real Cold.^[7]

Trivia

Al's father Professor Peter Desmond was an astronomer investigating a star known as the Dragon's Eye. Al Desmond's wife Rita believed the star's instability affected her husband's sanity.^[1]
A fake Dr. Alchemy claimed Al's father's name was Herman Desmond.^[2]

External Links

Dr. Alchemy/Mr. Element at Flash: Those Who Ride the Lightning

Footnotes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 The Flash #216
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 The Flash #288
↑ Gotham Central: Keystone Kops
↑ Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #6
↑ Showcase #13
↑ Silver Age #1
↑ The Flash: Ignition

Holy anachronisms, Batman!
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Rogues Gallery
This character is or was a member of the Rogues, a loose collection of enemies to the Flash, in any of its various incarnations. They are a team of highly effective super-villains with their own internal code that prevents them from killing speedsters.
This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Rogues Gallery members category."

Flash Villain(s)
This character, team, or organization, is or was primarily an enemy of any or all of the various incarnations of the Flash. This template will categorize articles that include it into the category "Flash Villains."

Injustice League member
This character is or was a member of the Injustice League, a villainous counterpart to the Justice League, in any of its various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Injustice League members" category.

Blue Beetle Villain(s)

This character, team or organization, is or was primarily an enemy of the Blue Beetle Legacy in any of its incarnations. Including Dan Garrett, Ted Kord and Jaime Reyes as well as any alternate universe equivalents.
This template will automatically categorize articles that include it into the "Blue Beetle Villains" category.

[F216-1] 1.0 ^1.1 The Flash #216

[F288-2] 2.0 ^2.1 The Flash #288

[3] Gotham Central: Keystone Kops

[4] Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #6

[5] Showcase #13

[6] Silver Age #1

[7] The Flash: Ignition

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 | Image                   = Doctor Alchemy 001.jpg
 | RealName                = [[Albert Desmond|Albert "Al" Desmond]]
-| CurrentAlias            = Doctor Alchemy
+| MainAlias               = Doctor Alchemy
 | Aliases                 = [[Mister Element]]
 | Identity                =
 | Affiliation             = formerly [[Rogues]], [[Injustice League (The Silver Age)|Injustice League]]
-| Relatives               = [[Alvin Desmond]] (brother)<br>[[Rita Desmond (New Earth)|Rita Desmond]] (ex-wife)<br>Peter Desmond/Herman Desmond (father) <ref>{{c|The Flash Vol 1 216}}</ref><ref>{{c|The Flash Vol 1 288}}</ref><br>unnamed mother
+| Relatives               = [[Alvin Desmond]] (twin brother)<br>[[Rita Desmond (New Earth)|Rita Desmond]] (ex-wife)<br>Peter Desmond/Herman Desmond (father) <ref name=F216>{{c|The Flash Vol 1 216}}</ref><ref name=F288>{{c|The Flash Vol 1 288}}</ref><br>unnamed mother
 | Universe                = Earth-One; New Earth
 | BaseOfOperations        = [[Central City]]
@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 | UnusualFeatures         =
+| Alignment               = Bad
 | Citizenship             = American
 | MaritalStatus           = Divorced
 | Occupation              = [[Professional Criminal]]
-| PlaceOfBirth            =
-| PlaceOfDeath            =
 | Creators                = John Broome; Carmine Infantino
-| First                   = Showcase #13
+| First                   = Showcase Vol 1 13
 | Quotation               = With this '''Philosopher's Stone''' I can transmute any element into any other. I bet your '''heart''' wouldn't '''work''' so good, if it was... oh, say... '''coal'''!
 | Speaker                 = [[Albert Desmond (New Earth)|Doctor Alchemy]]
 | QuoteSource             = The Flash Vol 2 40
+| Overview                =  '''Albert Desmond''' was a [[Central City Police Department|CCPD]] forensic scientist. He suffered from multiple personality disorder where, like [[Two-Face]], one side was a harmless citizen, the other personality was a dark criminal. Utilizing his knowledge of chemistry and using the [[Philosopher's Stone]], Desmond worked under the guise of '''Mister Element''' and later '''Doctor Alchemy'''.
-| Overview                =
 | HistoryText             =
-===Origin===
-Albert Desmond suffered from multiple personality disorder where, like [[Two-Face]], one side was a harmless citizen, the other personality was a dark criminal. Utilizing his knowledge of chemistry, Desmond began his criminal debut under the guise of Mister Element.
 ===Rogues===
 After being sent to jail by [[Barry Allen (New Earth)|Flash]], Desmond somehow found the [[Philosopher's Stone]], which had the ability to transmute one element to another. After using the Stone to escape, Desmond restarted his criminal career under the new moniker of Doctor Alchemy and clashed with Flash many times, but was defeated every time.
@@ Line 47: / Line 43: @@
 * {{Alchemy}}
 * {{Chemistry}}
+* {{Hand-to-Hand Combat (Basic)}}: Dr. Alchemy's an average athlete and combatant.<ref>{{c|Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol 1 6}}</ref>
 | Weaknesses              =
-* {{Mental Illness|Multiple Personalities}}
+* {{Mental Disorder|Multiple Personalities}}
 | Equipment               =
 As Doctor Alchemy:
 * '''[[Philosopher's Stone]]'''
 As Mister Element:
-*Various gimmicks related to chemistry, as gold lines, sodium and magnesium capsules, a special liquid which dissolve ferrous metals, etc.  <ref>{{c|Showcase Vol 1 13}}</ref>
+* Various gimmicks related to chemistry, as gold lines, sodium and magnesium capsules, a special liquid which dissolve ferrous metals, etc.<ref>{{c|Showcase Vol 1 13}}</ref>
 | Transportation          =
 | Weapons                 =
-* '''Element Gun''' (As Mister Element only) <ref>{{c|Silver Age Vol 1 1}}</ref>
+* '''Element Gun''' (As Mister Element only)<ref>{{c|Silver Age Vol 1 1}}</ref>
 | Notes                   = {{Multicont Earth-One}}
-* Other characters have also utilized Desmond's gimmick. A [[S.T.A.R. Labs]] scientist named [[Curtis Engstrom (New Earth)|Doctor Curtis Engstrom]] briefly used the Philosopher's Stone as The Alchemist during the period Desmond was cured.
+* Other characters have also used Desmond's gimmick. A [[S.T.A.R. Labs]] scientist named [[Curtis Engstrom (New Earth)|Doctor Curtis Engstrom]] briefly used the Philosopher's Stone as The Alchemist during the period Desmond was cured.
 * More recently, [[Alexander Petrov (New Earth)|Alexander Petrov]], a [[Keystone City Police Department|Keystone City police scientist]], became the new Mister Element. Although he used Desmond's original element-gun, and a variant of the costume, he attempted to confuse things by using the gun to freeze things, thereby implicating [[Leonard Snart (New Earth)|Captain Cold]]. He was killed by the real Cold.<ref>{{c|The Flash: Ignition}}</ref>
-| Trivia                  = * Al's father Professor Peter Desmond was an astronomer investigating a star known as the Dragon's Eye. Al Desmond's wife Rita believed the star's instability affected her husband's sanity.<ref>{{c|The Flash Vol 1 216}}</ref>
+| Trivia                  = * Al's father Professor Peter Desmond was an astronomer investigating a star known as the Dragon's Eye. Al Desmond's wife Rita believed the star's instability affected her husband's sanity.<ref name=F216/>
+* A fake Dr. Alchemy claimed Al's father's name was Herman Desmond.<ref name=F288/>
-* A fake Dr. Alchemy claimed Al's father's name was Herman Desmond.<ref>{{c|The Flash Vol 1 288}}</ref>
 | Wikipedia               = Doctor Alchemy
 | Links                   =
@@ Line 74: / Line 70: @@
 {{Flash Villain}}
 {{Injustice League members}}
+{{Blue Beetle Villain}}
 [[Category:Injustice League I members]]
 [[Category:Criminals]]
+[[Category:Crime Champions members]]