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DOLVIN

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Normal human (WWII era)

Occupation: Nazi agent, cult leader

Group Membership: Leader of the Cult of the River God

Affiliations: His River God followers (at least 124)

Enemies: John Harris, FBI infiltrators (John Harris, others), Sub-Mariner (Namor McKenzie), Ohio River residents

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Ohio River, Ohio, USA

First Appearance: Sub-Mariner Comics#10/1 (Summer, 1943)

Powers/Abilities: Dolvin is brilliant marine engineer who can develop a network of submerged tunnels and underwater locks.to adjust river water levels. He is an athlete-level swimmer and diver. Dolvin is a manipulative and charismatic man who cleverly leads and coordinates a novel religious cult, but he is a murderous Nazi at heart.

Height: 5'8"
Weight: 135 lbs.
Eyes: Dark gray
Hair: Black

History:

(Sub-Mariner Comics#10/1 (fb) - BTS) - A Nazi sympathizer, Dolvin secretly set up an elaborate series of underwater locks along the Ohio River in Ohio state that could dramatically affect the river water levels. Dolvin also established a tunnel under the river between his building base on one side and a secret underground cavern on the other riverbank. Using the locks, Dolvin caused flooding and publicly "predicted" them to appear like a prophet. He created a phony Cult of the River God with a swordfish as its idol, founding it in the cavern and enforcing members take swordfish tattoos for identification. Dolvin was clever in rooting out FBI infiltrators of his Cult. Dolvin advocated peace and an end to war with the Axis powers, pushing his followers to act against the US Government or else there would be more flooding from the would-be River God; however, Dolvin's real effort was to divide American society and undermine the American war effort.

(Sub-Mariner Comics#10/1) - Dolvin called out to the local townsfolk that the River God was angry because the USA continued to demand unconditional surrender from the Axis powers, so he "predicted" the exact time of the next flood as the River God's punishment. The local newspaper broadcast Dolvin's accurate "prediction." Suspicious, the heroic Sub-Mariner investigated. Meanwhile, the next day amid the flood waters, Dolvin disguised in his swordfish diving gear, skewered FBI agent John Harris (actually an infiltrator of the Cult) at the shoreline. Sub-Mariner gave chase, but Dolvin escaped by churning the mud. The Sub-Mariner discovered the clue of the tattoo and adopted it, hoping to infiltrate the Cult himself; however, Dolvin saw the tattoo was not accurate and had his brutish security thugs throw him into a large pool containing ravenous swordfish. But Sub-Mariner managed to clamber out and pursued Dolvin, who fled down a corridor, shutting a booby-trapped door that ignited as Sub-Mariner gave chase. Dolvin made it to the Cult chamber via the underground tunnel, unaware that Sub-Mariner had followed him. Dolvin addressed the assembled Cult members that they continue their forceful efforts to make the US Government seek peace with Germany, or else there would be greater flooding, but Dolvin also advised he retreat from public eye due to Sub-Mariner's presence. However, Dolvin noted one too many followers and Sub-Mariner was forced to reveal himself. The hero exposed Dolvin's plans and true motives to the stunned Cult members, so Dolvin fled through the swordfish idol's mouth and triggered water release that drowned all the followers. Flooding also affected the nearby town. Sub-Mariner caught up with Dolvin in his swordfish-helmeted diving suit and ripped it off, drowning Dolvin. Sub-Mariner then found levers that closed the underwater locks and stopped the flooding.

 

Comments: Created by uncredited writer & Carl Pfeufer.

Is he an official Nazi agent or just a devout Nazi sympathizer? He sounds like a local US Nazi.

A River God cult in Ohio along the freshwater Ohio River worshiping a giant seawater fish that's not associated with a dominant regional Ohio religion like Christianity... I don't want to sound judgy, but the story kinda implies that a lot of small-town folk along the Ohio River in Ohio were ready to quickly convert religions to avert flooding. Kinda whacky. The closest "freshwater swordfish" in this context I can find is the American paddlefish, which looks sort of like a swordfish in profile if you squint, but they are a very different species. Averaging 4.9' (1.5 m) in length, the paddlefish is native to the Mississippi River basin.

At one point, Sub-Mariner urges the River God followers not to let Hitler recover from the war successes of the "united nations" (this is July 1943 before the United Nations organization was officially founded in June 1945). Coincidence? No. US President Roosevelt coined the term "United Nations" to describe the Allied countries around December 1941 as the concept of an organization grew. From 1942 during WWII, "the United Nations" became the official term for the Allies. In order to join, countries had to sign the Declaration and declare war on the Axis powers. The Sub-Mariner story also emphasizes the goal was Hitler's total surrender, not peace as a sign of appeasement with a dictator.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Dolvin has no known connections to:

Cult of the River God

Dolvin developed the Cult of the River God with a large swordfish on an altar as its representative idol for the god of the Ohio River. Through a series of complex underwater locks, Dolvin caused rapid changes in river water levels, catastrophically impacting towns along the Ohio River. Presenting himself as a prophet predicting floods, people were drawn to his Cult, hoping to avert further flooding and stop war. The Cult required a distinct swordfish tattoo of its followers and purple robes. During secret underground assemblies, Dolvin declared the River God was angry and advocated his followers push for peace with the Axis powers by public picketing and letter writing to politicians, but he secretly wished to undermine US efforts against the Nazis. Dolvin was able to root out any FBI infiltrators, but the heroic Sub-Mariner proved too strong to subdue. Sub-Mariner exposed Dolvin's true motives at an assembly and Dolvin fled, but the Nazi opened locks that flooded the underground chamber, drowning all except Sub-Mariner.

   In their final gathering, the Cult numbered 124 (excluding Dolvin). Dolvin also employed several brutish thugs as security.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--Sub-Mariner Comics#10/1

images: (without ads)
Sub-Mariner Comics#10/1, p2, pan1 (main image)
   p15, pan7 (headshot)
   p18, pan2 (wearing swordfish helmet)
   p14, pan2-3 (Cult altar and followers)

Appearances:
Sub-Mariner Comics#10/1 (Summer, 1943) - uncredited writer), Carl Pfeufer (art), Vince Fago (editor)

First posted: 09/16/2025
Last updated: 09/16/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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