Origin
Doctor Druid obtained his psychiatry degree from Harvard but soon became interested in the occult. He spent most of his time studying the occult and gave psychiatry lectures on the side. He was soon contacted by a sick Tibetan Lama seeking treatment. In actuality this Lama was the the Ancient One seeking a successor for the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme. Druid was taught some magical abilities by the Ancient One, but he was soon overshadowed by Doctor Strange.
Creation
Doctor Druid was created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, a couple of years before the Fantastic Four and is said to be the first Marvel hero created in the Silver Age. He was at first called Doctor Droom, but that was changed a few years later to avoid confusion with Doctor Doom. His first appearance is in Amazing Adventures #1.
Major Story Arcs
With the Avengers
Druid later joined the Monster Hunters to help them defeat the Deviants. He then played a major role in drawing the Masters of Evil out of the Avengers Mansion so that the Avengers could retake it. During this conflict, Dr. Druid held a battle of wills against Baron Zemo wherein Druid and Zemo were fighting for mental control over the Masters of Evil member Blackout who had been crucial in the assault. Blackout’s mind can’t handle the stress of having these two people fighting over his mind, and he is killed. Dr. Druid’s highly advantageous aide granted him membership within the Avengers. His membership was soon threatened when he was possessed by Terminatrix. During this time the Avengers were manipulated to elect Druid as chairman and locate the ultimate weapon that Terminatrix was searching for. Druid and Terminatrix were banished to Limbo.
Druid eventually escaped after regaining control of himself and upon exiting Limbo he was younger and revitalized (regaining a full head of hair and even a ponytail!). During this period, Druid offered his services to the heroic gathering during ” The Infinity War” as part of a living battery of mystical energy that included himself, The Scarlet Witch, Agatha Harkness and Shaman. Doctor Strange soon recruited Druid for the Secret Defenders and he led them for a short time, giving the group its first actual stable multi-mission roster including himself, Shadowoman and Cadaver. During this time he was subjected to mind control yet again, this time by the demon Slorioth. After the demon was defeated this team disbanded when Druid faked his death.
Death
He was later empowered by Celtic Druid Gods with all the powers of the ancient druids as he was the last following their traditions, and gained a handful of followers (three to be precise). When he received his power boost, he also received a traditional ‘geize’, that being a specific taboo that he must not break or he would lose his powers. Unfortunately for Druid, there was no second person left to be involved in the ceremony as the ritual typically had it, so nobody was able to tell him what his geize was. Shortly thereafter Druid was seduced by the sorceress Nekra, setting off Druid’s geize, which was apparently that he must never love a witch. In extreme pain, Druid manages to work out a deal with the Celtic gods wherein he is forgiven and has his powers restored after he sacrifices one of his followers. Druid’s powers restored and seemingly running out of control, he was confronted by Daimon Hellstorm, who was at that point the undisputed ruler of Hell. Druid was no match for Hellstorm and he was killed, this time for real. Following this he briefly served in the Legion of the Unliving (this version consisting entirely of dead Avengers) under the Grim Reaper. When he rebelled he was sent back to the afterlife.
Druid has the distinction of being one of very few superheroes who has managed to remain deceased without interruption for a decade or more.
Legacy
His son, the Druid is a member of Nick Fury’s Secret Commandos.
Absent from Marvel comics for about a decade (surprising even for dead characters), Dr. Druid has recently made appearances in non-canon miniseries such as ‘Marvel Zombies/Army of Darkness’ and ‘Marvel Apes’.
Powers and Abilities
His powers include some sorcery but most of his spells require long rituals and would not be used in battle. He is also able to detect the use of any type of magic and track it to its user. He possesses some degree of telepathy and telekinesis and he is able to briefly levitate himself. After being powered up by the Celtic Druid Gods he was able to command nature, including plant life, animals and earth.