Pat Dugan

Superherobox|

caption=S.T.R.I.P.E. with Star Girl
Art by Alex Ross
comic_color=background:#8080ff
character_name=S.T.R.I.P.E.
real_name=Patrick "Pat" Dugan
publisher=DC Comics
debut="Action Comics #40" (September, 1941).
creators=Jerry Siegel and Hal Sherman
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
alliances=Justice Society of America Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. Infinity Inc. Seven Soldiers of Victory All-Star Squadron
aliases=Stripesy
powers= No powers, but brilliant inventor, wears a suit of powered armor|

S.T.R.I.P.E. (Special Tactics Robotic Integrated Power Enhancer) is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics universe. Patrick "Pat" Dugan, first appeared as Stripesy. The character is notable for being the only adult sidekick to a teenage superhero, Sylvester Pemberton, the Star-Spangled Kid. Stripesy was a gifted mechanic who built the Star Rocket Racer, a bubble-topped limousine with the functions of a rocket and helicopter. Together, they were members of the Seven Soldiers of Victory and the All-Star Squadron. Stripesy was created by Jerry Siegel (co-creator of Superman) and Hal Sherman, and first appeared in "Action Comics" #40 (September, 1941).

Fictional character biography

Pat Dugan became the costumed hero Stripesy after aiding a young Sylvester Pemberton III against Nazi spies posing as protestors at a movie on the 4th of July in 1941. The two teamed as embodiments of the American flag, Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, in order to track down and stop the spies.

When the Soldiers were lost in time during the late forties, they were rescued by the Justice League of America and returned to the present day. Upon his return, Dugan had married a woman named Maggie, who left him later to raise their son Michael on his own. Compounding his problems was the fact that Sylvester Pemberton's black sheep relative Arthur had stolen Dugan's patents during their disappearance. Upon hearing about this, Sylvester returned the patents to Pat, and the two reconciled. Dugan was later involved with Infinity, Inc. and their battle against the Injustice Society (Infinity,Inc. #53). The group's first victim is Sylvester Pemberton. The villains Harlequin, the Dummy and Hazard focus their attention on Dugan, just days later. Their plan was to kill him at Stellar Studios, the headquarters of Infinity, Inc. When Pat's son became involved, Hazard exeperienced a change of heart and uses her powers to save their lives. Dummy uses the two as bait but Hazard further throws the battle and the group is defeated. Hazard willingly gives herself up to the police.

The character has been updated for a new audience: In the "Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E." series Dugan had gotten married (for the second time) and settled in Blue Valley. His stepdaughter, Courtney Whitmore, became the second Star-Spangled Kid, partly in order to annoy him. This led Dugan to develop a robotic suit of power armor and assume the identity of S.T.R.I.P.E. so as to accompany and protect her.

Dugan also has gone on missions without Courtney. During the Day of Judgement incident, he travels into space with Captain Marvel and Starfire. Their goal was to retrieve the Spear of Destiny to use against the fallen angel Asmodel, who had led a demonic invasion of Earth. The trio of heroes battle reanimated corpses of abandoned Russian cosmonauts and the corrupting influence of the Spear itself. Dugan is forced to subdue Starfire and the Spear is brought back to Earth and successfully used.

Following the events of the series, Dugan and his family moved to Metropolis, where he has assisted Superman's comrade Steel. Since then, they have moved back to Blue Valley.

Like the rest of the Seven Soldiers, Dugan is younger than he should be, owing to time travel. For a time, Dugan would become even younger, aged to pre-adolescence with many other heroes due to Klarion the Witch Boy. He joins in on at least one battle while armorless (presumably because his armor is now too big), tackling a mystically created monster with his bare hands. Pat, along with most everyone affected, turns back to normal when Klarion is blackmailed into reversing the effects.

Pat has also worked with the Justice Society of America for a time, mostly in a support role. He retooled one of Ted Knight's old designs and created the 'Steel Eagle', a new aircraft for the team.

Recently Pat has completely re-engineered S.T.R.I.P.E., changing its appearance.

Other versions of Stripesy

In "Kingdom Come", Alex Ross portrays Stripesy as a black adult, renamed "Stripes," and is equipped with various military acoutrements such as automatic weaponry, knives and kevlar padding.

Appearances in other media

The new versions of Stripesy and the Star-Spangled Kid have been seen in the animated "Justice League Unlimited" television series, called by their modern names of S.T.R.I.P.E. and Stargirl respectively. Stripesy was voiced by Phil LaMarr, who, because of his primary credit for his leading role as Green Lantern, often went uncredited for several roles.

ee also

*Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E.
*Stargirl
*Star-Spangled Kid

References

* [http://www.toonopedia.com/s-s-kid.htm Don Markstein's Toonopedia "Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy"]
* [http://home.aol.com/MG4273/spangle.htm Classic Comic Books: The Star Spangled Kid]