InsaneJournal

Doug had a lot of great character moments, so it was hard to decide. There were at least two in the issue I settled one, but I felt this one summarises him nicely.

Context - The New Mutants have been captured by Psylocke (in her US debut) who is under the control of Spiral. Rather than a physical attack, she has used her powers to take their psyches inside her own mind, under Spiral's influence known as "The Wildways".

The only ones to escape were Doug and Warlock, who also find Brian Braddock (regressed to a childs age by Psylocke's agents) and have to give a pep talk to him (The kid who can speak languages and has self image problems, has to give a pep talk to a guy with superstrength who can fly! Go Doug!).

Brian is captured too, but Doug and Warlock discover Psylocke, who has been hardwired into Mojotech devices. In an effort to save her, Doug and 'Lock merge into Douglock for the first time, combining their minds and powers completely. They then tap into the devices and enter her mind.

We find out that Mojo wants to age the New Mutants to adulthood and realign their minds so they will become slavishly devoted to him. Spiral, who is also present in Psylockes mind and who is doing all the work here, is jealous of Psylocke, so spontaneously decides that she'd rather brainfry EVERYONE, Psylocke included, just to annoy Mojo.

Her plan manifests as a carousel, with all the New Mutants (and Captain Britain) riding on it. The faster it goes the closer to a whirling vortex of destruction they are. The -lock side of Douglock is busy trying to save the rest of the mindscape from being destroyed too, leaving the Doug- side to try and save his friends...



So, not because of powers, but through sheer determination, and an understanding that determination IS strength in a mindscape. Doug rescues his friends and Captain Britain (Whose hand it is Doug has grasped there) and ruins the plans of Spiral, a sorceress of no little power and skill.

Is it any wonder I love the little fellow?