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Name: Elongated Man
Secret Identity: Randolph William "Ralph" Dibny
Origin: Growing up with an overachieving brother who always seemed perfect, Ralph yearned to be the center of attention and thus became a mischievous prankster frequently getting in trouble. As he got older, Ralph became intrigued by circus contortionists and their astounding feats of agility and flexibility. Curious, he questioned the pergormers and found they all had one thing in common: frequent consumption of a soft drink called Gingold. Gingold contained gingo, a rare fruit that most people are allergic to.
Desiring to gain elastic abilities himself in pursuit of fame and fortune, Ralph began studying chemistry. Applying what he learned, Ralph was able to create an immensely concentrated serum from gingo fruit extract. Thus, he soon found himself able to stretch, bend, twist and otherwise shape his body in fantastic ways. Designing a costume, the young man moved to Central City and took up the heroic alias of the Elongated Man.
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Befriending Central City’s other costumed crimefighter the Flash (Barry Allen), Ralph would tackle a series of adventures becoming a respect ally of a number of heroes. Also taking a job as a private investigator, Ralph finally attained his dream of fame and wealth by touring the nation making public appearances.
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It was at one of these events, he met the great love of his life Sue Dearbon whom he married. Afterwards, the Dibnys traveled the world solving a number of cases before settling down when Elongated Man joined Earth’s premier super team the Justice League of America.
Powers/Abilities:
Despite this, he was nowhere near as invulnerable as fellow stretching hero Plastic Man (who is also a better shapeshifter and able to stretch in ways that exceed Ralph’s more limited capabilities). Though he’s had no formal training, Ralph Dibny is a very talented detective skilled in deductive reasoning. In this regard, he is shown to be as competent as such icons as Batman and the Question. He’s also an amateur chemist who invented the serum that grants him his stretching ability. The elixir must be drunk every few days or else he would lose his powers (similarly to how Golden Age hero Hourman was powerless without his strength enhancing Miraclo pills).
Ralph’s time in the Justice League taught him basic combat skills, notably boxing.
Random Trivia: Elongated Man is notable for being one of few DC characters to reveal his secret identity to the public, being married, and having a very stable home life. He and his wife have both served as League members. During the events of “Identity Crisis”, it was revealed that super villain Dr. Light had sexually assaulted Sue Dibny years ago. When Sue was murdered later, Ralph believed Light to be respondible only for it to be revealed that it was Ray Palmer’s (the Atom) deranged ex-wife who was the real culprit. Following Sue’s death, Ralph retired as Elongated Man though the two would be reunited with his death during a case involving Felix Faust and the demon Neron. The two would continue to solve cases in the afterlife as “ghost detectives” investigating the paranormal.
