Danny the Street
1500 - The magical realm Fairyland, part of the Paths Beyond, grows it's own benevelont consciousness, working though it's magic to protect the people within.
1905 - Fairyland appears regularly in the dreams of the mortal plane as Wonderland, Oz, Neverland, Slumberland and so on. It comes to love the people of this realm.
1916 - Fairyland's consciousness is severed from it's magical plane when the sleeping sickness severs much of humanity from the dreaming. It begins to slowly manifest itself as a small clearing in the woods outside Covington, Ohio.
1963 - Fairyland first manifests itself as a street within a major city, magically shaping itself, and creates a home for several lost souls. He becomes Danny the Street.
2 years ago - Danny is discovered by the Key, who captures Rebis, using him as fuel source to break through Danny into the Paths Beyond in an attempt to access the Dream Realm. They are saved by the Doom Patrol when Rebis transcends to a higher plane of existance, diffusing the key across reality. Connected again to the Paths Beyond, Danny is able to again expand to Danny the World. Cliff Steele introduces him to Jane Morris, giving her a kindred spirit where she can be free to allow all her alters to coexit in harmony.
Danny the Street was practically impossible to adapt to our timeline. People asked about him forever, but we just couldn't figure out a way to incorporate a character that operates so completely outside the logic of the rest of the world. Sure, this is the same DC that includes a sentient planet space cop, but somehow the idea of a sentient city street just continually defied our attempts to explain.
Ultimately, though, he's just too beloved to not find a way to use. Ultimately it just became about finding what parts of the world would create space for him, and make sure that we only use him in a way that build WITH everything else. This means he really can't be a major part of the world, and certianly can't be the Doom Patrol's regular headquarters, but we absolutely feel better that he's part of our timeline.
Ultimately, though, he's just too beloved to not find a way to use. Ultimately it just became about finding what parts of the world would create space for him, and make sure that we only use him in a way that build WITH everything else. This means he really can't be a major part of the world, and certianly can't be the Doom Patrol's regular headquarters, but we absolutely feel better that he's part of our timeline.
Danny the Street's StoryDanny appeared for the first time in Doom Patol #35. His arrival was essentially the subject of the issue as we were introduced to the idea of a sentient urban geography that can magically and seemlessly manifest itself within cities without disruption, creating a safe place of respite for people that are lost or cast away from the rest of the world. The story would go on to revolve around Danny as he was targetting by the various normality-enforcing enemies of the Doom Patrol, and as the series went on he remained one of their most steadfast allies.
If that was all he was, Danny would probably just be quirky idea in an already quirky series, but Danny was also just brimming with loveable personality. He identifies as gender non-conforming, his storefronts all steriotypically "masculine" gun shops and hardware stores and gyms, but all decorated fancifully with frills flowers and fairy lights, which is apparently his form of cross-dressing. His major feature is "Peeping Tom's Perpetual Cabaret" and it's drag shows. He's just this incredibly nurturing and protective presence, and it is downright impossible not to love him. By the end of Morrison's run on Doom Patrol, we learn that Danny started his life as a whole magical world, and he is able to expand again, becoming Danny the World. Other Doom Patrol series have continued to use him as a character, but I honestly can't imagine a better resolution for Danny. |