History ComicBook / Deadman

* ImmuneToMindControl: Deadman has a bad habit of encountering villains he can't possess in major storylines. The first of these is Sensei, an killer ordered the hit on Deadman, who Deadman can only fight by taking over the body of his own killer.

* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: Sometimes Deadman's powers don't really make sense. Sometimes he'll be able to possess paintings, giant crabs, aliens or other times read the memories of people he takes control of, even though those abilities are never shown before or since.

* TheNicknamer: Calls ComicBook/{{Zatanna}} 'darling', and John 'con job'.

* TheFogOfAges: A ghost called Tlaloc becomes convinced he's a god after spending centuries trapped within a sacred pyramid. Deadman recognizes that they're the same and has to appeal to his human longings to stir Tlaloc's buried memories of his mortal life.

He first appeared in ''Strange Adventures'' #205 (October, 1967). Initially written by Arnold Drake and drawn by Carmine Infantino, although they got replaced by Jack Miller and Neal Adams until the character's story arc ended with ''Strange Adventures'' #216. He would go on to in team-ups with darker superheroes like Franchise/{{Batman}}, ComicBook/ThePhantomStranger, and ComicBook/SwampThing for the rest of the twentieth century. He did get a couple of mini-series devoted to him, a four-issue one in 1987, a two-issue one in 1989, a five-issue one from 2001 to 2002, and a 13 issue run in 2006.

* GrandTheftMe: This is the entire concept behind Deadman, whose sole power is the ability to effortlessly possess ''anybody'', from children to Franchise/{{Superman}}. He was brought back to life at the end of ''ComicBook/BlackestNight'', and in ''Comicbook/BrightestDay'' he appeared to be capable of restoring things to life. Then [[StatusQuoIsGod he died again]].

* BecomingTheMask: A literal example. Boston doesn't naturally look like a ghost, he just died in his circus outfit. He didn't learn for a long time that he could actually take the mask off.

Boston Brand is a Creator/DCComics character who was a circus trapeze artist that was assassinated during one of his performances. He returned to the world as a ghost and found that he had been given the ability to possess any living being by Rama Kushna, a powerful Hindu Goddess, so that he could find whoever killed him and earn some justice in the world. Still dressed in his circus costume, he continued to use his stage name: [[MeaningfulName Deadman]].

** After ComicBook/BlackestNight, Boston was returned to the land of the living by the White Entity.

** In the famous "Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot", a RetGone Supergirl reminds ComicBook/{{Deadman}} that he doesn't need the glory of superheroing -- he does it because it's the right thing to do.

* AllPowerfulBystander: Part of a group with the Phantom Stranger and the Spectre in ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths.

* ArchEnemy: Sensei and the Hook.
* TheAtoner: Why he is a JerkWithAHeartOfGold rather than just a jerk.
* BackFromTheDead: Boston Brand was a circus performer who was murdered during a circus act, and consequently forced to dwell in the Earthly realm as a ghost.

* RecklessReEntry: Mike Baron's run of Deadman stories begins with Boston brooding on a satellite way above the Earthand leaping off of it, diving through the atmosphere, and landing into an airplane on a drug-run. Obviously, Deadman doesn't have to worry about the safety of this maneuver.

[[caption-width-right:350:''"How can I find anything -- when no one can hear me -- or see me -- or fear me?!"]]

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Deadman_400x600_3578.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:[[TakeThatAudience This is how you people spend life?!]]]]

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: In ''Strange Adventures'' #214, Deadman possesses a man he sees doting on his girlfriend out of jealousy, only to learn that he's a hitman totally fine with cunning down fathers just a few feet away from their kids.

Deadman also has a small supporting cast. They include Lorna, his lover in life and manager of his old circus, Tiny, a fiercely loyal strongman Deadman possesses when he needs Muscle, Cleveland Brand, Boston's identical twin brother who takes his place as the circus' trapeze artist, and Rama Kushna, the Hindu goddess who gave Deadman his powers and the mission to balance good and evil in the world.