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DREAM MASTER

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Normal human (post World War II era)

Occupation: Cult leader

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Filip, Oris

Enemies: Captain America (Jeff Mace), Golden Girl (Betty Ross), his victims (Mr. Bell, others)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Temple of Silence, 777 Hope Road, New York City, USA

First Appearance: Captain America Comics I#73/4 (July, 1949)

Powers/Abilities: Dream Master is a gaunt but charismatic and prideful man, keen on theatrics. He carries a pouch of "dream powder" of unrevealed composition and origin that places people whose eyes have been exposed to it into instant sleep wherein they experience vivid dreams; however, these dreams differ according to the personality and overriding emotions of the individual. Dream Master sold his dreams as only providing tranquility, thereby making him very wealthy. His pointed ears suggest additional but unrevealed details. He claims to be "deathless"...

Height: 5'7"
Weight: 135 lbs.
Eyes: Black (dark brown?)
Hair: Black

History:

(Captain America Comics I#73/4 (fb) - BTS) - The man who became known as the Dream Master came into the possession of "dream powder" of unrevealed composition and origin. This powder when cast into exposed eyes, would cause the victim to fall quickly asleep and experience vivid dreams. Vulnerable people, such as those emotionally exhausted or suicidal, were particularly susceptible, and would experience peaceful dreams, while those weak-minded would dream tormented nightmares, and brave adventurers experienced fights against overwhelming odds. He developed a cult-like space he dubbed a Temple of Silence and took the moniker Dream Master. Advertising broadly, he had helpers who targeted especially the vulnerable. His Temple, roomed with beds for sleepers and a prison room for those tormented from nightmares, became full.

(Captain America Comics I#73/4 (fb)) - Dream Master continued to receive vast sums from wealthy clients seeking peace from misery. Dream Master's advertising and promises caught the attention of teachers Betty Ross (secretly the heroic Golden Girl) and Steve Rogers (Jeff Mace, secretly Captain America), who followed their school's principal, Mr. Bell, a prospective customer of Dream Master's. Rogers and Ross were turned away at the Temple door as it was full, so they changed into their superhero attire and climbed over the compound's wall. Inside the Temple, the duo saw the sleepers dormitory and Dream Master's ceremony of dropping his dream powder into the eyes of clients. But the heroes also found a cellar and the prison room where those unable to recover from nightmares raged. The crazed people broke free and rushed past to attack the Dream Master, who held them back with his aids and additional dream powder. Captain America and Golden Girl sought to capture Dream Master for imprisoning the nightmare victims, but he had thuggish helpers Filip and Oris distract them while he cast powder in the heroes' eyes and they instantly fell asleep, both dreaming of fighting Genghis Khan and his legions. Dream Master raised a dagger, readying to stab them.

(Captain America Comics I#73/4) - The crazed mob continued to advance and Dream Master fled downstairs into the now-empty prison room while the heroic duo recovered and police dispersed the people. Captain America and Golden Girl soon found Dream Master, who made a dire threat of reprisal before escaping via a secret doorway. The duo later followed and spotted a cord that led down a deep vertical tunnel, but their discovery was met with an explosion that left the villain's fate unresolved.

Comments: Uncredited creators.

Is the dream powder another product derived from the Baluchistan Century Plant, already shown in this era (1946)?

Surely he's worthy of a mention elsewhere as maybe an agent of Nightmare? The dream dust does seem to be plentiful and replenish itself in his pouch. Perhaps the dream dust could be the skin scrapings of Nightmare himself.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Dream Master has no known connections to:

images: (without ads)
Captain America Comics I#73/4, p6, pan7 (main image)
   p7, pan3 (headshot)
   p5, pan2 (pouring dream sand)
   p10, pan1 (threat)

Appearances:
Captain America Comics I#73/4 (July, 1949) - uncredited writer & artist(s), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 04/17/2023
Last updated: 04/17/2023

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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