Doctor Demonicus

Doctor Demonicus
Dr. Demonicus makes his first cover appearance. From Shogun Warriors # 14
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Godzilla #4 (Nov 1977)
Created by	Doug Moench and Tom Sutton
In-story information
Alter ego	Douglas Birely
Team affiliations	Pacific Overlords
Abilities	Scientific genius

Doctor Demonicus (Douglas Birely) is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He possesses advanced knowledge of genetic engineering and has clashed with the Avengers and Shogun Warriors in addition to S.H.I.E.L.D.

Doctor Demonicus first appeared in Godzilla #4 (Nov 1977), and was created by Doug Moench and Tom Sutton.

Douglas Birely was born in Culver City, California. As a scientist, he was studying the correlation between radioactivity and mutation when he is contaminated by a radioactive spill. As Doctor Demonicus, he is a criminal geneticist and subversive. His discovery of the Lifestone allows him to create immense monsters mutated from animals. These include Batragon, Ghilaron, Lepirax and Centipoor. Using his monsters and his troops he raids oil tankers from his secret laboratory on one of the Aleutian Islands. The monsters are defeated by Godzilla and Demonicus is defeated by Gabe Jones and taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. When Jones confronts Demonicus during this story, Demonicus is altogether willing to tell him his background, and when referencing his monsters' creations he says "Knowing of his nuclear radiation mutation, I took my cues from Godzilla himself." When Godzilla begins slaying the creatures he has made, Demonicus becomes unstable, even claiming he would battle Godzilla directly in order to save the last of the creatures.

Demonicus becomes an ally of the alien Myndai, Maur-Konn, who gives Demonicus his gigantic space satellite base orbiting the moon. Demonicus later uses his genetic and robot monsters the Starchild, Cerberus and the Hand of Five against the Shogun Warriors Raydeen, Combatra and Dangard Ace. Demonicus launches a meteor strike against Earth from his space station base. He is foiled by the Shogun Warriors and taken into custody by S.H.I.E.L.D. again.