Dan Turpin

Daniel "Terrible" Turpin is a character published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, he first appeared in New Gods #5 (November 1971).

Dan Turpin
Dan Turpin as depicted in The Adventures of Superman #499 (Feb. 1993). Art by Tom Grummett.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	New Gods #5 (November 1971)
Created by	Jack Kirby
In-story information
Full name	Daniel Turpin
Species	Human
Team affiliations	Metropolis SCU
Notable aliases	Terrible

Turpin is a supporting character of Superman and a member of the Metropolis police. Turpin has appeared in various media outside comics, primarily in association with Superman. Joseph Bologna voices the character in Superman: The Animated Series, where he is modeled after Kirby.

Fictional character biography

In Turpin's first appearance, he is one of the few citizens of Metropolis aware that a secretive war is taking place in the city between super-powered beings. When this war turns violent, Turpin's boss tries to take him off the case, but Turpin ignores him. Turpin leads the fight against Kalibak, using the city's energy to assist Lightray and Orion in defeating him. Turpin is injured, but survives.^[1]

He keeps his job and becomes Lieutenant Inspector of the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit.^[2] In the third Superboy series, Turpin is sent to Hawaii to investigate whether they need a Special Crimes Unit of their own. While initially skeptical, a visit from the Female Furies convinces Turpin that the islands need an SCU.^[3] In later Superman titles, Turpin is loyal to Maggie Sawyer before her transfer to Gotham City. His romantic feelings for her fall apart when he learns she is lesbian.

He has spent a long time fighting threats in Metropolis; such as the rampaging group of mutants called the 'Underworlders'.^[4]

In Final Crisis, Turpin investigates the case of several missing children and Orion's death.^[5] He is possessed by Darkseid, but freed after Batman shoots him with a poisonous Radion bullet.^[6][7][8]

Other versions

• An alternate universe variant of Dan Turpin appears in Superman: The Dark Side.
• An alternate universe variant of Dan Turpin appears in Superman's Metropolis. This version is a low-class worker and member of a revolution against Superman, who is the ruler of a dystopian Metropolis.
• Dan Turpin appears in Elseworld's Finest.
• Dan Turpin appears in Injustice 2. After Superman is defeated and his Regime disassembled, Turpin is assigned to oversee his imprisonment before being killed by Talia al Ghul's daughter Athanasia.^[9][10]

In other media

Television

• Dan Turpin appears in Superman: The Animated Series, voiced by Joseph Bologna.^[11] This version is the leader of the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit who is physically modeled after Jack Kirby.^[12] In his most notable appearance in the two-part episode "Apokolips... Now!", Turpin is killed by Darkseid during his attack on Earth.
• Dan Turpin appears in the Smallville episode "Bulletproof", portrayed by David Paetkau. This version is a rookie Metropolis police officer. He also appears in the Smallville Season 11 comic series.

Film

• Dan Turpin makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Superman: Unbound.
• Dan Turpin appears in The Death of Superman, voiced by Rick Pasqualone.^[11]

Video games

Dan Turpin appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[13]

Miscellaneous

Dan Turpin appears in the GraphicAudio production of Superman: The Never Ending Battle.