Edward Hyde

Real Name: Henry Jekyll.

Identity/Class: Human mutate

Occupation: Doctor

Affiliations: None known

Enemies:  Lanyon, Utterson, Enfield, Sir Danvers Carew

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: London

First Appearance: The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde (1887)

Powers/Abilities: Hyde was more agile and stronger than the average human being, in large part due to his animalistic nature. The almost subliminal hatred and disgust he engendered in most people might also be considered a power.

History: Henry Jekyll was a prominent, well-known and well respected London doctor. He came to believe that within all humans there existed two countering forces, good and evil, and he began to experiment to separate the two, using himself as a guinea pig. Initially he acted out of scientific curiosity, but his experiments managed to unleash a version of him that was unfettered by society's restraints, able to enjoy all his forbidden desires; after this Jekyll continued his work because he secretly enjoyed the freedom this alter ego had compared to his respectable life as a reputable doctor. The chemical formula he discovered not only altered his mind, but his body also changed under it's influence - he became smaller, almost ape-like, and something about his very presence caused normal humans to be repulsed by him. Jekyll dubbed his other self Mr.Hyde.

Hyde soon became notorious in London society, trampling a young girl underfoot in the street, and later being accused of the murder of Sir Danvers Carew. He became a wanted fugitive, and after a roof-top chase, he apparently fell to his death.

Comments: Created by Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was written at Bournemouth in 1885 and published in 1887.

John Barrymore as the first on-screen HydeThere have been several movie versions of the tale. John Barrymore brought the character to the big screen way back in 1920. In 1931 Frederic March played the double role. In 1941 it was the turn of Spencer Tracy, and in 1953 Boris Karloff's version met comedians Abbot and Costello. Jack Palance played the role on television in 1968, Anthony Andrews did likewise in 1989, Michael Caine had his turn in 1990, and Adam Baldwin took on the mantle for a martial arts version (!) in 1999. Most recently, Jason Felmyng played Jekyll / Hyde in League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and Robbie Coltrane lent his voice to both a cartoon version and CGI one to combat Van Helsing.

Tom and Jerry even did a version, with Tom poisoning the milk Jerry was stealing, only to have his nemesis transform into a monster. There have also been spoofs and variations of the theme, such as Doctor Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971), The Nutty Professor (both the Jerry Lewis and Eddie Murphy versions), and Dr.Jekyll and Ms.Hyde in 1995.

Comics have adapted the story several times, and the character has recently been revived as a member of Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Correspondent Mack Lambert notes that Stan Lee has admitted that the character heavily influenced Bruce Banner and his alter-ego, the incredible Hulk.

CLARIFICATIONS: The literary Hyde should be distinguished from

and has no known connection (other than as an inspiration) to

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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