GUS: Guild of Understanding Superbeings

[Kieran_Frost]

Welcome to GUS: Guild of Understanding Superbeings

A thread dedicated to discussing and often appreciating the various therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists and councillors across Marvel’s superheroic and super villainous world. Marvel has a surprisingly high number of therapeutic characters; which is understandable, considering the trauma so many heroes seem to suffer.

I’ve always been interest in psychologists, I’m not entirely sure why. I love In Treatment, and nearly every episode of a show where a main character visits a therapist. So it came as quite a surprise when I realised yesterday that THREE of my “Top 5” favourite characters (Moonstone, Emma Frost, Doctor Voodoo) were therapists; that’s an incredible percentage!

So feel free to share your trivia, images and opinions on the listeners of Marvel (and others I may have forgotten). The GUSes, if you will. :D

First up, Marvel’s most dangerous woman to have in your head:
MOONSTONE [Dr. Karla Sofen]


Second, the man who works magic with your woes:
DOCTOR VOODOO [Dr. Jericho Drumm]


Third, the woman who can literally “get inside your thoughts” (though not anymore, it seems):
THE WHITE QUEEN [Emma Frost]

[Kieran_Frost]

DOC SAMSON [Dr. Leonard ‘Leo’ Samson]

DOCTOR STRANGE [Dr. Stephen Strange]

PROF X [Prof. Charles Xavier]
Training: Ph.d in Psychology, Psychiatry, Biophysics, Genetics and Anthropology at Oxford University
Bio: Xavier worked with fellow mutation expert, Dr. Karl Lykos, as well as Dr. Moira MacTaggert, who built a Mutant Research Center on Muir Island, again. Apparently, Charles had gotten over Moira in his travels to the Greek island of Kirinos. Xavier renewed his friendship with Moira, who was now a renowned geneticist, and they began discussing the idea of founding a school for mutants. Xavier discussed his candidates for recruitment to his personal strike force, the X-Men, with Dr. MacTaggert, including those he passed over, which were Kurt Wagner, Piotr Rasputin, Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, and Ororo. Professor Xavier's first student was the 11-year-old Jean Grey, who had been traumatized when she telepathically experienced the emotions of a dying friend. Over the years, Charles made a name for himself as geneticist and psychologist, renowned enough that the Greys were referred to him when no other expert could help their catatonic daughter, Jean. Professor Xavier helped Jean recover and taught her to use her telekinetic powers. Professor Xavier also trained Tessa to spy on Sebastian Shaw and built a machine for Jamie Madrox to learn at home, instead of going to school.

http://marvel.wikia.com/Charles_Xavier_(Earth-616)

[Kieran_Frost]

Here is a full list:
AHAB [Dr. Roderick ‘Rory’ Campbell]
Training: Ph.D in psychology from Strathclyde University
Bio: Rory Campbell was a psychologist who joined Moira MacTaggert's genetic research team at the Muir Island Mutant Research Center while the British super-team Excalibur was stationed there. He discovered that in the alternate future of Earth-811 ("Days of Future Past"), he became the mutant-hunter Ahab, creating and leading hordes of mutant trackers called "Hounds." Rory decided to prevent that future from coming to pass. When Excalibur captured the feral mutant Spoor, then an Acolyte of Magneto, Rory had a special room constructed with a laser-web that reacted to hostile actions. Using mood-altering pheromones, Spoor provoked Rory into attacking him, causing the lasers to amputate Rory's left leg.
Soon after, Rory accepted a position of mutant liaison and management within the restructured W.H.O. (Weird Happenings Organization). He also traded information on the Legacy Virus to Sebastian Shaw of the Hellfire Club, in exchange for a bionic leg. Succumbing to the influence of the mutant Apocalypse, Rory became the Horseman of Apocalypse Famine. In this capacity, he captured Sunfire, one of the Twelve, a group of mutants destined to usher in a golden era for their kind. Famine later clashed with members of The Twelve after they escaped Apocalypse, and was teleported away with the other Horsemen by Mikhail Rasputin. Campbell's whereabouts since are unknown.
http://marvel.com/universe/Ahab

DOCTOR BONG [Lester Verde]
Training: advanced degrees in journalism, genetics and psychology
Therapist Bio: Doctor Bong reappeared months later, having switched careers again. This time he set himself up as a psychologist (apparently to win the affections of a woman named Barbara.) He treated Deadpool, encouraging him to engage in gratuitous battle against Wolverine as therapy. Bong called off the battle, though, when Deadpool seemed to reach a breakthrough.
http://marvel.com/universe/Doctor_Bong

DOCTOR DRUID [Dr. Anthony Ludgate Druid]

DOCTOR FAUSTUS [Dr. Johann Fennhoff]
Bio: Johann Fennhoff was born in Vienna, Austria. He became a psychiatrist and criminal mastermind. He has proclaimed himself the "Master of Men's Minds," and is known for the use of psychological methods of combat. His plots typically involve manipulating his foes into positions where they will, essentially, kill themselves.
In his first appearance, Faustus induced nightmares and hallucinations in Steve Rogers in an attempt to drive him insane. However, he was easily bested in a physical confrontation. It was later revealed that he had been treating the amnesiac Peggy Carter, and captured Sharon Carter and her parents in an attempt to destroy Captain America. Faustus then acquired stolen weapons from Stark International with which he planned to threaten New York City, and organized a private flight of American criminals; however this plan was thwarted by Captain America.
Faustus has no superhuman powers but has a genius intellect, and is extremely charismatic and can modulate his voice in a highly persuasive manner. He has a doctorate in psychiatry.
Faustus regularly employs hologram projectors, hallucinogenic gas dispensers, androids, and elaborate props. He also hires henchmen to impersonate various people as a part of his scheme to affect his victims' minds.
Faustus has suffered extensive leg injuries, forcing him to use a cane or wheelchair for mobility. He can stand or walk without assistance for only a brief time.

DR. JUDAS TRAVELLER
DR. ASHLEY KAFKA (former Director of the Ravenscroft Institute)

DR. GERALD WRIGHT (Ms. Marvel #38)
Osborn informs Karla the Dark Avengers all have to undergo psychiatric evaluations and he wants her to go first, wanting her professional opinion of Dr. Gerald Wright's skills. After going through some of Karla's memories psychically, Dr. Wright reveals the memories of her mother's death are locked behind a "Hulk shaped door" and he came to kill the Dark Avengers because they are all made up of criminals and makes Karla start to choke herself to death. As Karla is choking herself, she tricks him by getting him to go back into her head where she reveals she killed her mother and hated being seen as a criminal and a failure. After Karla breaks free, she asks him if he is prepared to do what she did and shoots his right arm off leaving him begging for mercy. Off panel it appears she chokes him to death.

DR. SHEILA MARKS
DR. VALERIE ‘VAL’ COOPER
MARK LANGLEY
PROF. HUDDLESTON (at Metropolitain University; where Bookworm worked)

SAURON [Karl Lykos]
Bio: As Karl grew older he fell in love with Tanya, but the stern Dr. Anderssen refused to let her marry Karl because of his lack of financial means. So Karl Lykos set off for medical school, vowing to become wealthy so he could marry Tanya. Lykos became a hypnotherapist, but his need for life energy increased as he became an adult. Hence, he constructed devices through which he could drain his patients' life energies into himself.
Lykos met the geneticist Professor Charles Xavier under circumstances that have yet to be revealed. Together they worked on the secret "Project Mutant." It has yet to be explained exactly what this project was, why it was secret, what results it might have had, and who, if anyone, had commissioned it if not Xavier himself. Xavier knew about Lykos' need and ability to siphon the life energy of others into himself, but he never told his protégés, the mutant hero team known as the X-Men, about it.
http://marvel.wikia.com/Karl_Lykos_(Earth-616)

SCORN [Dr. Tanis Nieves]

SEAN GARRISON
After Wolfsbane left the Xavier school she was replaced by Sean Garrison as school counsellor. Garrison had initially declined the offer, but upon discovering that his estranged daughter, Laurie Collins, was a student at the school, he decided to accept in the hope of winning her back (he has similar pheromone manipulative mutant powers as his daughter)

TRAUMA [Terrence Ward]

[MadDokta]

I loved Doctor Voodoo, especially in the sadly short-lived Remender series. It still pisses me off to this day that Bendis killed him off so unceremoniously and instead of bringing him back at the end of New Avengers like he should've (and did with Wasp in Avengers), he instead used the chance to stick the knife in even deeper and killed off Daniel Drumm as well!

Also I kinda liked Doc Samson as well before Loeb made him go all crazy with some multiple personality, dyslexic shit and then killed him off...

[The Black Guardian]

Xavier! Keep the Dream alive!

[Shinglepants]

Moonstone is my favourite. She kicks ass mentally and physically. She's got the brains and the brawn!

I like how she uses her abilities to play people and manipulate them.

[Kieran_Frost]

I loved Doctor Voodoo, especially in the sadly short-lived Remender series

I too ADORE that series. Criminally underrated. It's probably my favourite mini-series ever!

It still pisses me off to this day that Bendis killed him off so unceremoniously and instead of bringing him back at the end of New Avengers like he should've (and did with Wasp in Avengers), he instead used the chance to stick the knife in even deeper and killed off Daniel Drumm as well!

Also I kinda liked Doc Samson as well before Loeb made him go all crazy with some multiple personality, dyslexic shit and then killed him off...

Sounds like Loeb I really liked Doc Samson in Thunderbolts.

Xavier! Keep the Dream alive!

*looks up Prof. X's bio on wikipedia*
DAMMIT!!! I didn't know. Amazing choice! See, this is why this thread exists! :)

Moonstone is my favourite. She kicks ass mentally and physically. She's got the brains and the brawn!
I like how she uses her abilities to play people and manipulate them.

Moonstone is my all time favourite character too. Love the Sofen!

[Kieran_Frost]

Does anyone know what this is from? Is that THE Captain Marvel? And who is the villain?

[MadDokta]

I seriously hope what Remender said about how he couldn't use Doctor Voodoo seriously leads to the man coming back and being in something major instead of just rotting in limbo. To be honest, I thought he was a cooler and better Sorcerer Supreme than Doc Strange, since he was still rather new to it all and there's the hero's journey of discovery to mine out of that.