Origin
Nothing is known about Dr Silence’s origin. As a young man he contracted a disease in a brothel that will cause him to cease to exist if he ever sees his naked face. From that point on, he constantly wore a mask, to prevent himself from ever seeing his own face.
Creation
Dr Silence was created by Grant Morrison and Richard Case. He made his first appearance in Doom Patrol #27.
Major Story Arcs
The Painting That Ate Paris
Dr Silence accompanies Mr Ballard to the observatory of Horst Eismann, coincidentally on the same day that the Painting That Ate Paris is stolen by the Brotherhood of Dada. After the Brotherhood becomes ensnared in the painting and it returns to Eismann’s collection, Dr Silence becomes obsessed with acquiring it; unbeknownst to him, this is due to the psychic manipulations of Mr Nobody. Having received the painting, he finds himself constantly watching it, and is distressed by a black blotch on the painting, a blotch which continues to grow, eventually covering the whole painting. He attempts to burn the painting with acid, but is stopped when it speaks to him, warning him not to. His house is invaded by Agent “!”, Alias the Blur, and the Love Glove, who rescue Mr Nobody out of the painting. Mr Nobody removes Dr Silence’s mask and shows him his own reflection in Alias the Blur’s mirror face, causing Dr Silence to vanish from existence.
Powers and Abilities
Dr Silence has no known superhuman powers or abilities. He is fairly intelligent, and very wealthy.