"DOUGHY BOY"

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Extradimensional/alternate reality (Reality-8417), probably extraterrestrial (see comments)

Occupation: Creator of planets/chef, herald of Galactus 

Group Membership: Heralds of Galactus

Affiliations: Galactus (Galan), Golden Oldie (May Parker)

Enemies: Formerly Golden Oldie (May Parker)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Unrevealed sector of an unrevealed galaxy (probably Milky Way)

First Appearance: Marvel Team-Up I#137 (January 1984)

Powers/Abilities: "Doughy Boy" can fly through space apparently without the need for equipment, a ship or a suit (see comments), and can fire energy blasts. He can create planet sized confectionery capable of sustaining life. Once he became a herald of Galactus, he would have been imbued with the Power Cosmic, enhancing all of these abilities.

Height: 5'3" (by estimation)
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: White
Hair: None 

History:
(Marvel Team-Up I#137 (fb) - BTS) - Having heard of Galactus by reputation and come to consider the world-devourer as his personal god, "Doughy Boy" decided to make edible worlds as offerings to him. However, when he began to do so his own people mistakenly believed he was just baking doughnuts (which to them was heresy) and banished him. He became well known, and generally ridiculed, in his sector of space for the worlds he created, but he remained proudly defiant of his creations, defending them so they would remain untouched until Galactus came for them. 

(Marvel Team-Up I#137) - Having recently and reluctantly become the newest herald of Galactus, Earth's May Parker, now Golden Oldie, found Doughy Boy's latest creation, a "Twinkle Planet," while searching for an uninhabited world for her master to eat. As she fired off a signal to Galactus, Doughy Boy sent an energy blast passed her to warn her away from his creation. As he proudly touted the greatness of his creation and informed her that only one being was worthy of it, that being arrived. Awestruck to finally meet his idol, Doughy Boy prostrated himself. With Galactus expressing approval with Golden Oldie's meal choice, May spotted an opportunity to quit her unwanted job, and suggested Galactus make Doughy Boy his herald instead of her, pointing out it would mean Galactus never being forced to again ravage existing worlds. Eagerly agreeing that he could whip up an endless supply of cream-filled planets, Doughy Boy said he would be honored to serve, and Galactus accepted the logic of the suggestion, releasing Golden Oldie from her service in favor of Doughy Boy.

Comments: Created by Mike Carlin, Greg LaRocque and Mike Espesito.

   He has no proper name given in the story; the closest we come is when Golden Oldie describes him as " some kind of doughy boy" while he describes himself as "a creator." Both of these are really only descriptions, but given that he's clearly a riff on the Pillsbury Doughboy, the former descriptor seems the more appropriate choice to use as a placeholder name.

   Since we know so little about him, it's difficult to pin down exactly what he is. He's found in space, so some kind of extraterrestrial seems likely, but it's not impossible that he's some kind of artificially created being or a cosmic entity. Heck, we can't rule out that what we think is his body is instead some kind of bizarre-looking spacesuit. Personally, if it were up to me (and it's not), he'd turn out to be "the Confectioner," a previously unseen Elder of the Universe who lives just to make edible planets; I know he mentions his people banishing him, but we don't know how long ago that was, so they could have all died out in the early days of the universe while he kept going because of his obsession, just like the other Elders.

   Doughy Boy appeared in a story that was part of Assistant Editor's Month, a string of deliberately off-kilter, slightly silly issues produced when the main editors were away attending San Diego Comic Con. Silly though he is, the only thing really preventing him turning out to have a counterpart in the mainstream Marvel Universe (Reality-616) is choice (i.e. a writer who wants to use him again) and maybe a hesitancy to risk annoying Pillsbury; having him show up once is parody and legally okay, but if he kept reappearing Pillsbury might raise an objection.

   This profile was completed 09/18/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary's celebratory event.

Profile by Loki.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Doughy Boy has no known connections to:

Twinkle Planet

  

Doughy Boy's "Twinkle planet" was a moist, light sponge cuboidal world with a creamy white filling (but clearly not a giant Twinkie, because those would be copyrighted), Doughy Boy's creation could sustain life, but its intended purpose was as an offering for Galactus, and once located by Golden Oldie it fulfilled that, and was eaten by the world-devourer.

  

--Marvel Team-Up I#137

 

images: (without ads)
Marvel Team-Up I#137, p20, pan1 (main)
Marvel Team-Up I#137, p19, pan2 (headshot)
Marvel Team-Up I#137, p19, pan1 (Doughy Boy flying through space)
Marvel Team-Up I#137, p18, pan4 (Doughy Boy's sponge planet)

Appearances:
Marvel Team-Up I#137 (January 1984) - Mike Carlin (writer), Greg LaRocque (pencils), Mike Espesito (inks), Bob Denatale (editor)

First Posted: 09/19/2021
Last updated: 09/18/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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