THINKING CAP

BIOGRAPHY

TECHNICAL DATA

Name: Thinking Cap
DCU Creator(s): Professor Hartwell Jackson
First Appearance: Flash Comics #65 (June-July 1945)

HISTORY

Created by Professor Hartwell Jackson in the 1940s, the Thinking Cap was an remarkable device, a metal hat that could project mental force. In 1945, it was stolen by a villain named Tricky O'Rickey only to be recovered by the Golden Age Flash.

In 1947, Cliff DeVoe, the criminal known as the Thinker, stole the device a second time, and joined the Fiddler and the Shade in an attack on Las Vegas. They were defeated by the JSA and the Thinking Cap was disabled in the battle.

Over the years, however, it was re-built and upgraded time and again. Ultimately, the Thinker could enhance his own intellect and control other people with it. When DeVoe was believed killed in action with the Suicide Squad, the helmet ended up in the possession of Doctor La Grieve at the Institute of Meta-Human Studies. Later, it was used in experiments involving one Cliff Carmichael, whose brain was interfaced with the device, resulting in Carmichael becoming the New Thinker.

Eventually, it seems that the circuitry was returned to DeVoe's old helmet again and put into the JSA Museum. The Flash later found out that the demented Johnny Thunder used the Cap for a flower vase, and tried to use it to save a dying DeVoe from cancer. However, DeVoe refused, preferring to rest in peace. Finally, the circuits of the Thinking Cap were incorporated into the JSA HQ computer system, which eventually gained consciousness as the fourth Thinker.

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of Thinking Cap in chronological order click here