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{{Short description|Fictional Marvel Comics villain}}
{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image=Dr Bong.jpg
|caption=
|character_name=Doctor Bong
|real_name=Lester Verde
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|debut=''Howard the Duck'' #15 (August 1977)
|creators=[[Steve Gerber]]<br/>[[Marie Severin]]
|alliances=
|partners=Fifi the Duck
|aliases=
|powers=Genius scientist<br/>Advanced knowledge of genetic engineering<br/>Wears a [[bell (instrument)|bell]]-shaped [[helmet]] that can be struck to create a number of effects
}}

'''Doctor Bong''' ('''Lester Verde''') is a [[supervillain]] appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. The character possesses an advanced knowledge of [[genetic engineering]], and his bell-shaped helmet can be struck to create a number of effects. Intended as a parody of [[The Island of Doctor Moreau|Doctor Moreau]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Rovin |first=Jeff |title=[[The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains]] |date=1987 |publisher=Facts on File |isbn=0-8160-1356-X |location=New York |page=85 |authorlink=Jeff Rovin}}[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofsu0000rovi_h5r9/page/84/mode/2up]</ref> he is an [[archenemy]] of [[Howard the Duck]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=110}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Beard |first=Jim |date=April 8, 2019 |title=This Classic Super Villain's Name Really Is Doctor Bong |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/this-super-villain-s-name-really-is-doctor-bong |access-date=September 22, 2024 |website=Marvel}}</ref>

==Publication history==
Doctor Bong first appeared in ''Howard the Duck'' #15 (August 1977), and was created by [[Steve Gerber]] and [[Marie Severin]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Field |first=Tom |title=Secrets in the Shadows: The Art & Life of Gene Colan |year=2005 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |page= 116}}</ref> The character's personality was loosely based on journalist [[Bob Greene]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Field |first=Tom |title=Secrets in the Shadows: The Art & Life of Gene Colan |year=2005 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |page= 122}}</ref>
	
The character subsequently appears in ''Howard the Duck'' #16–20 (Sept. 1977–Jan. 1978), #24–25 (May–June 1978), #27 (Sept. 1978), #30–31 (March, May 1979), ''The Sensational She-Hulk'' #5 (Sept. 1989), ''Deadpool'' #26–27 (March–April 1999), ''Howard the Duck'' #1–3 (March–May 2002), ''Daughters of the Dragon'' #3 (May 2006), and ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #552 (April 2008).

Doctor Bong received an entry in the ''[[Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe|Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89]]'' #2.

==Fictional character biography==
As a child, Lester Verde was severely bullied. When complaining about it to his mother, she noted his creative use of insults against his tormentors and sparked his desire to use his creativity to become a writer.<ref name="Howard the Duck">''Howard the Duck'' #17</ref>

Originally a [[journalism]] student whose yellow journalism got his professor fired, his hand is severed by a miniature guillotine when performing with the punk band Mildred Horowitz.<ref name=":0" /> This is a large factor in his becoming the villain Doctor Bong. How he developed his paraphernalia was never explained.<ref name="Howard the Duck"/>

It is revealed that he was also a skilled scientist, using his knowledge of [[chemistry]] and [[physics]] to create several devices and creatures to do his bidding, particularly Fifi the Duck, who was the closest thing Bong had to a henchwoman.<ref name="Howard the Duck"/> He lives in a castle on a remote island, and can stun or kill by ringing his bell-shaped head.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Morris |first1=Jon |title=The Legion of Regrettable Supervillains: Oddball Criminals from Comic Book History |date=2017 |publisher=Quirk Books |isbn=978-1594749322 |page=216}}</ref>

He had a longtime crush on [[Beverly Switzler]], whom he eventually married.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brevoort |first1=Tom |last2=DeFalco |first2=Tom |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=Sanderson |first4=Peter |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |title=Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History |date=2017 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1465455505 |page=180}}</ref>  Before he was removed from the book, [[Steve Gerber]] had intended their marriage to last and for her to no longer be a main character in the ''Howard the Duck'' series. After Gerber left, [[Bill Mantlo]] brought Beverly, now single again, back to the book.

[[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]] later pitted Bong against [[She-Hulk]], trying to uncensor sanitized violent television so that his [[Genetic engineering|genetically-engineered]] [[multiple birth|quintuplets]] would be raised not finding violence at all attractive. She-Hulk, using her abilities to break the [[fourth wall]], manages to defeat him.<ref>{{cite comic|title=The Sensational She-Hulk|issue=#5|volume=2|date=Sept. 1989| publisher=Marvel|story=The Doctor Is In!}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Harkin |first=Chris |date=January 7, 2024 |title=Marvel: 7 Villains Who Are Hesitant To Kill |url=https://gamerant.com/marvel-villains-hesitant-to-kill/ |access-date=September 22, 2024 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}</ref>

It is later revealed in his initial appearance that he had given up supervillainy to obtain a [[PhD]] in [[psychology]]. His first patient is [[Deadpool (comics)|Deadpool]], who came to him for treatment after the events of ''Dead Reckoning''.<ref>''Deadpool'' #27</ref> He was, however, back to supervillainy by the [[Max (comics)|Max]] [[Howard the Duck]] series.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=April 2010}}

Bong later appears as one of the many villains in a bar that [[Colleen Wing]] and [[Misty Knight]] enter in search for information. They defeat all the villains, with Bong accidentally taking out the [[Jester (Marvel Comics)|Jester]]. After being held at sword point, Bong reveals all the information he knows about current power struggles.<ref>''Daughters of the Dragon'' #3.</ref>

Doctor Bong appears in ''[[Spider-Man: Brand New Day|Brand New Day]]'' as one of the villains in the Bar with No Name.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #562</ref>

Doctor Bong is one of the many villains kidnapped into a roller derby staged by the cosmic game-obsessed entity called the [[Grandmaster (Marvel Comics)|Grandmaster]]. The bullet proof nature of Bong's helmet is a vital part of the hero's winning plan.<ref>''X-Men: To Serve and Protect'' #4 (Feb. 2011)</ref><ref name=":0" />

Doctor Bong created imperfect clones of [[Captain America|Steve Rogers]], [[Moon Knight]], and [[Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)|Black Widow]] and lured Deadpool into teaming up with them. While at their main base the real [[Secret Avengers]] infiltrated the base causing the real Steve Rogers to battle with Deadpool. After pummeling each other, the real Moon Knight steps in and things finally calm down enough that Cap and Deadpool can talk, Doctor Bong realizes that he has officially lost. He sets off an explosion that kills the Marc Spector and Natasha Romanoff clones, apparently collapsing the building on all the occupants.<ref>''Deadpool'' #28</ref> Deadpool then teams up with the Secret Avengers to stop Doctor Bong. Doctor Bong tries to confuse the Secret Avengers and Deadpool by dressing all his genetic regenerative clones as Deadpool. Then during the fight Deadpool slips away and cons Doctor Bong to think that he is one of his genetic clones and escapes with Doctor Bong. Black Widow makes Doctor Bong crash his escape car and Deadpool brings the unconscious Doctor Bong body back to the Secret Avengers, after the Secret Avengers kill all the fake Deadpools. Doctor Bong wakes up and attempts to set off an explosion using his bell hand, but Deadpool slices off his arm, leaving him helpless in the hands of the Secret Avengers.<ref>''Deadpool'' #29</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Doctor Bong later attended a support group called Supervillains Anonymous, alongside [[Boomerang (comics)|Boomerang]], [[Grizzly (comics)|Grizzly]], [[Hippo (comics)|Hippo]], [[Looter (character)|Looter]], [[Mirage (Marvel Comics)|Mirage]], and [[Porcupine (character)|Porcupine]].<ref>''The Superior Foes of Spider-Man'' #3</ref><ref name=":0" />

After hiring the [[Headmen]] (consisting of [[Angar the Screamer]], [[Shrunken Bones]], [[Gorilla-Man#Arthur Nagan|Gorilla-Man]], [[Ruby Thursday]], and [[Chondu the Mystic]]) as backup, Doctor Bong breaks into the [[Beyond Corporation©]] to gain godlike power by combining its [[anechoic chamber]] and his "Cosmic Bong". Bong and his allies are defeated and handed over to [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] by [[Spider-Man]].<ref>{{Cite comic|writer = Jai Nitz|penciller = Ron Salas|inker = Ron Salas|story = The Quiet Room|title = The Amazing Spider-Man Annual|volume = 3|issue = #1|date = 10 December 2014|publisher = Marvel Comics|location = United States}}</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
Doctor Bong is a genius scientist with advanced knowledge of genetic engineering. His main weapon is his bell-shaped helmet which creates a number of effects when struck, including generating concussive blasts and teleporting him.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Iacobucci |first=Jordan |date=May 15, 2023 |title=10 Powerful Marvel Villains Who Disappeared Without A Trace |url=https://www.cbr.com/strong-marvel-villains-vanish-no-trace/ |access-date=September 22, 2024 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Norman |first=Dalton |date=December 10, 2022 |title=10 Obscure Marvel Villains Only Diehard Fans Know About |url=https://screenrant.com/obscure-marvel-villains-diehard-fans/ |access-date=September 22, 2024 |website=Screen Rant |language=en}}</ref> 

==Reception==

* In 2022, Dalton Norman of ''[[Screen Rant]]'' ranked Doctor Bong first in his "10 Obscure Marvel Villains Only Diehard Fans Know About" list.<ref name=":3" />
* In 2023, Jordan Iacobucci of ''[[Comic Book Resources]]'' (CBR) ranked Doctor Bong third in his "10 Powerful Marvel Villains Who Disappeared Without A Trace" list.<ref name=":2" />
* In 2024, Chris Harkin of ''Game Rant'' ranked Doctor Bong fourth in his "Marvel: 7 Villains Who Are Hesitant To Kill" list.<ref name=":1" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/d/doctorbong.htm Doctor Bong at MarvelDirectory.com]

{{Howard the Duck}}
{{Deadpool}}
{{Steve Gerber}}

[[Category:Characters created by Marie Severin]]
[[Category:Characters created by Steve Gerber]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1977]]
[[Category:Fictional amputees]]
[[Category:Fictional chemists]]
[[Category:Fictional geneticists]]
[[Category:Fictional physicists]]
[[Category:Fictional psychologists]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics male supervillains]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics scientists]]