Tweedledum and Tweedledee (comics)
| Tweedledum and Tweedledee | |
|---|---|
 Tweedledum and Tweedledee debut in Detective Comics #74. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Detective Comics #74 (April 1943) |
| Created by | Don Cameron (writer) Jerry Robinson (artist) Bob Kane (concept) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Dumfree and Deever Tweed |
| Team affiliations | Society of Super Villains Wonderland Gang |
| Notable aliases | Tweedledee and Tweedledum |
| Abilities | Fat bodies that allow rolling and bouncing The New 52: Superhuman strength and resistance |
Tweedledum and Tweedledee are a duo of supervillains appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, primarily as enemies of Batman.[1]
Dumfree and Deever Tweed made his live-action debut in the third season of Gotham, portrayed by Adam Petchel and Happy Anderson.
Publication history[edit]
Tweedledum and Tweedledee first appeared in Detective Comics #74 (April 1943), and were created by Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson and Don Cameron.[2]
Fictional character biographies[edit]
Dumfree Tweed and Deever Tweed are cousins who resemble each other so closely that they are often mistaken for identical twins. The pair are known as Tweedledum and Tweedledee, both as a play on words on their real names, and because they closely resemble Sir John Tenniel's depictions of the characters in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass. The two Tweeds always conduct their criminal activity in partnership with one another.[3] They prefer to mastermind criminal schemes and let their henchmen carry out any necessary physical activity. The Tweeds will often use their extraordinary resemblance to trick their opponents into thinking there is only one of them. Tweedledum and Tweedledee first encountered Batman and Robin when they began a crime spree in Gotham City. Batman and Robin have fought against the Tweeds and have overcome them on subsequent occasions.[4]
The pair makes an appearance in Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth as inmates in Arkham Asylum. In this incarnation, they appear attached to each other by a pair of electroshock helmets, with Tweedledum representing the right half of the brain, and Tweedledee the left.
Although Tweedledum and Tweedledee are most often depicted as being the leaders of their own criminal organization, they sometimes are reimagined as the henchmen of the Joker.
In a shoot-out with the GCPD during War Games, Dum is shot in the head.[5]
During the Infinite Crisis, Tweedledum and Tweedledee appear as members of Alexander Luthor, Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains. Joker refers to them as "Tweedledee and the new Dum" implying that the original Tweedledum is either dead or still incarcerated. It was later confirmed in Detective Comics #841 that Dumfree Tweed had died and his twin brother Dumson Tweed had taken his place.[6]
The new Tweedledum and Tweedledee were part of the Wonderland Gang. Originally believed by the public to be run by the Mad Hatter, it was revealed that the Tweeds really ran the gang using one of Tetch's own mind control devices on him to cash in on his notoriety. They filled the Wonderland Gang with other pairs based on Alice in Wonderland (such as Mad Harriet, the Lion and the Unicorn, and the Walrus and the Carpenter). After Batman took down the henchmen, Mad Hatter eventually got back at them by sticking mind control chips on the two and turning them on each other. The villains were eventually arrested by the police.[7] After some imprisonment, the Tweeds reformed the Wonderland Gang with the Walrus and the Carpenter, but were quickly apprehended by Batman, Robin and Nightwing.[8]
During the Salvation Run storyline, Tweedledum and Tweedledee ended up deported to another planet where the other villains rounded up were sent to.[9]
Tweedledum and Tweedledee were seen being released by Hush, who was masquerading as Bruce Wayne.[10]
The New 52[edit]
In The New 52 (a reboot DC's continuity launched in September 2011), they are reintroduced as the Tweed Brothers, working with Mad Hatter. They have been manipulated by Mad Hatter in a plot to make Gotham City insane. They are soon taken out by Batman. They also seem to have superhuman strength and resistance.[11]
During the "Forever Evil" storyline, Tweedledum and Tweedledee are among the villains recruited by the Crime Syndicate of America to join the Secret Society of Super Villains.[12]
Powers and abilities[edit]
Tweedledum and Tweedledee officially have no superpowers, but their fat bodies enable them to bounce and roll as they please. In The New 52, the brothers have superhuman strength and resistance.
In other media[edit]
Television[edit]
- Tweedledum and Tweedledee appear in The Batman/Superman Hour episode "A Mad Mad Tea Party", both voiced by Ted Knight. This version of the duo works for the Mad Hatter.
- Tweedledum and Tweedledee appear in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. This version of the duo utilizes a coordinated fighting style, possess increased bouncing capabilities, and work for Baby Face.
- Dumfree and Deever Tweed appear in the third season of Gotham,[13] portrayed by Adam Petchel and Happy Anderson respectively. This version of the duo are professional wrestlers, boxers, and members of the "Terrible Tweeds" alongside three unnamed brothers. Introduced in the episode "Mad City: New Day Rising", Jervis Tetch brainwashes the Tweeds to serve as his enforcers and help him attack the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD) to rescue his sister Alice. Tetch, Alice, Dumfree, and Deever successfully escape, but two of the Tweeds are killed while one is arrested. Throughout the episodes "Follow the White Rabbit" and "Red Queen", the remaining Tweeds continue to serve Tetch until the GCPD eventually arrest the trio and incarcerate them at Arkham Asylum.
Video games[edit]
- A biography for Tweedledum and Tweedledee appears in Batman: Arkham Asylum.
- Tweedledum and Tweedledee appear in Batman: The Enemy Within, voiced by Kirk Thornton and Dave B. Mitchell respectively. This version of the duo are named Frank Dumfree and Willy Deever respectively and patrons of the Stacked Deck Bar who have had previous interactions with Batman and later find work with the Joker.
Miscellaneous[edit]
- Tweedledee and Tweedledum appear in the Batman: Arkham Knight prequel comic. They are hired by the Penguin to steal a shipment from WayneTech and receive assistance from a henchman called "Tweedledie". Though the trio succeed, Batman finds, defeats, and leaves them for the GCPD. While in police custody, Tweedledum and Tweedledee are killed by the Arkham Knight.
- Tweedledee and Tweedledum appear in the Injustice: Gods Among Us prequel comic.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Steranko, Jim (1970). The Steranko History of Comics, vol 1. Supergraphics. p. 48.
- ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 353–354. ISBN 9780345501066.
- ^ Mitchell, Kurt; Thomas, Roy (2019). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 180. ISBN 978-1605490892.
- ^ Fleisher, Michael L. (1976). The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume 1: Batman. Macmillan Publishing Co. pp. 358-359. ISBN 0-02-538700-6. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ Detective Comics #799. DC Comics.
- ^ Detective Comics #841. DC Comics.
- ^ Detective Comics #841. DC Comics.
- ^ Detective Comics #847, DC Comics.
- ^ Salvation Run #3. DC Comics.
- ^ Batman: Streets of Gotham #16. DC Comics.
- ^ Batman: The Dark Knight (vol. 2) #8. DC Comics.
- ^ Forever Evil #1. DC Comics.
- ^ "Gotham Season 3 Details; Mad Hatter & More Villains Confirmed". Screen Rant. 23 May 2016.
