| DAN TURPIN | BIOGRAPHY |
| Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (as Brooklyn), Jack Kirby (as Terrible Turpin) |
PERSONAL DATA
Full Name: Daniel 'Terrible' Turpin
Aliases: Brooklyn
Occupation: Former boy commando, formerly head of Metropolis Special Crimes Unit, private investigator
Status: Deceased
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York
Citizenship: American
Marital Status: Widowed
Known Relatives: Rosie (wife, deceased); Maisie (daughter); unnamed uncle (deceased)
Group Affiliation(s): Formerly Boy Commandos, formerly Metropolis Special Crimes Unit
Gender: Male
Height: 4'11" – later 5'10"
Weight: 98 lbs – later 210 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
First Appearance: (as Brooklyn): Detective Comics #64 (June 1942)
(as 'Terrible' Turpin): New Gods Vol. 1 #5 (October-November 1971): "Spawn"
Creators: Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (as Brooklyn), Jack Kirby (as Terrible Turpin)
OVERVIEW
Formerly a child hero known as 'Brooklyn' during the Second World War, Dan Turpin moved to Metropolis and joined the Special Crimes Unit, which he ran for many years.
He recently died after his body was taken over by the evil new god Darkseid.
HISTORY
The early years of Dan Turpin are still shrouded in mystery, but it is known that he somehow made his way to England during the early days of World War II to join up with Captain Rip Carter and three other boys to form a Detached Service Unit called the Boy Commandos. The group was very useful in behind-the-lines missions in pre-Allied invasion Europe, and became an inspiration to millions on the home front as reports of their missions made headlines back home.
The Boy Commandos made many enemies among the Axis, even earning the attention of one of the Reich’s top terror specialists, Agent Axis. During the war, the gang also met up with mystery men like the Sandman and Sandy, the Guardian and the Newsboy Legion.
After the end of the war, Captain Carter resigned his active military commission to work with Task Force X, with the boys accompanying him around the world fighting crime.
As the years wore on, the original members of the Boy Commandos went away to school or rejoined members of their families – except for Brooklyn. At the end of the 1940s, the group was finally disbanded, as Rip rejoined the military and a now young adult Brooklyn faded into obscurity.
The exact details are unknown, but it is believed that Brooklyn made his way to the Suicide Slum of Metropolis, possibly seeking to use his fighting skills however he might, possibly becoming involved in criminal activities. He did meet up with Patrolman Jim Harper, formerly known to him as the Guardian, and under unknown circumstances he became a police officer in Metropolis, earning the nickname 'Terrible' Turpin for his rough manner and his 'smash first ask questions later' attitude.
Soon after Superman's appearance in Metropolis, Kalibak, an agent of Darkseid, appeared, causing much damage hoping to draw Superman's attention. Unfortunately for him, he met up with Terrible Turpin first. Outmatched in height, weight and weaponry, Turpin let the denizen of Apokolips know that even normal humans could be a menace.
After nearly dying in the battle, as he laid in the hospital recuperating, Turpin was tapped to become head of a new special unit of the Police Department, a Special Crimes Unit that would deal with the unusual aspects of the newly emerging metahuman criminal population. Turning down the chance to head the Unit, he instead went to work as the special assistant to its head, Maggie Sawyer. Dan would later develop a romantic crush on Sawyer, and the two became close friends even though it would never develop farther than the friendship. After Sawyer left to join the Gotham City police department, Turpin took over as head of the Special Crimes Unit.
Serving for many years, when the SCU was reformed as the Science Police, Turpin retired. Using his many connections, he became a private investigator. Unbeknownst to Turpin, his mind contained part of the Anti-Life Equation. As a consequence, Turpin was captured by the evil gods of Apokolips, and his body was used to house the spirit of Darkseid. His will strong to the last, Turpin finally had to give in as the Lord of Apokolips gained physical form again.
It was Turpin's spirit that allowed Darkseid to be killed by Batman at the end of the Final Crisis.
POWERS AND WEAPONS
As Brooklyn, he was an active boy, later a teenager who was proficient in the use of firearms and hand-to-hand combat. He was trained in military maneuvers, stealth and commando tactics.
As Inspector Dan 'Terrible' Turpin, he continued his training, adding police procedure to his skills. At first highly active, but as the years wore on, he began to slow down a bit. Turpin has a never-say-die attitude that carries him further than a normal man his age might. A little overweight, he would be wise to lay off the doughnuts once in a while.
CHRONOLOGY
For a definitive list of appearances of Dan Turpin in chronological order click here
PROFILE REFERENCES
Superman Secret Files #1 (January 1998)