Dan Dreiberg
A brilliant engineer who traded the mask for peace after saving humanity from annihilation.
Daniel M. Dreiberg is the second Nite Owl, a costumed adventurer who relied on technical wizardry and tools as well as his skills as a fighter. Born on September 18, 1940, he became a member of the vigilante team Crimebusters, also known as the titular Watchmen. After the Keene Act forced his retirement in 1977, he contributed scholarly articles to ornithological journals. In 1985, he returned to vigilantism alongside Silk Spectre II, breaking Rorschach out of prison and ultimately traveling to Ozymandias' Antarctic fortress. Following the revelation of Ozymandias' plan, Dreiberg reluctantly agreed to keep the secret for the sake of world peace, assuming the new identity of Sam Hollis with Laurie.
Quick Facts
- Real name
- Daniel M. Dreiberg
- Also known as
- Nite Owl II
- Occupation
- Costumed adventurer
- former vigilante
- contributor to ornithological journals
- Base of operations
- New York City, Owlship
Lore & Background
Dan Dreiberg sought out Hollis Mason soon after Mason retired in May 1962, asking if he could use the name and persona of Nite Owl to fight crime. Mason acceded, and Dreiberg became the second Nite Owl. All of his gadgets and costumes are based on an owl theme. He uses an owl-shaped flying vehicle nicknamed the 'Owlship' or 'Archie' (short for Archimedes, after Merlin's pet owl in T.H. White's novel The Once and Future King), equipped with a variety of offensive and defensive devices, such as flamethrowers and 'screechers'—devices capable of producing a sharp screech-like sound. Dreiberg met fellow costumed adventurer Rorschach, who suggested they partner to take on organized crime. The two became not only a team but also best friends. He supported the idea of costumed vigilantes forming a group to fight crime strategically, but Rorschach and the Comedian rejected the idea. Having already come to understand that his expensive activities were too limited in scope to make any real difference, Dreiberg retired after the passing of the Keene Act on August 3, 1977. In 1985 (when the story takes place) he seemed to regret his decision to give up crime fighting, having no sense of personal fulfillment without it. Rorschach said regarding his retirement, 'No staying power'.
Reader's Guide
Daniel M. Dreiberg, known professionally as Nite Owl II, is a costumed adventurer born on September 18, 1940. He relied on both technical wizardry and tools as well as his skills as a fighter, which set him apart from his fellow costumed adventurers. Following the Keene Act, Dreiberg contributed scholarly articles to ornithological journals. He became romantically entangled with the second Silk Spectre, Laurie Juspeczyk, after she left Doctor Manhattan. He returned to vigilantism along with her following the murder of the Comedian. Their first foray was the successful rescue of the occupants of a burning building. The excitement of aiding the residents awakened Dreiberg's sexual feelings for Laurie and the two made passionate love following the rescue. They later broke Rorschach out of prison in an attempt to stop Ozymandias' scheme to 'save the world from itself.' Unfortunately, the freeing of Rorschach indirectly resulted in the brutal murder of Hollis Mason, which Dan learned of only when he and Rorschach interrogated suspects. Upon learning of Mason's death, Dreiberg became violent, attacking the informer and loudly swearing vengeance against Mason's killers with such ferocity that Rorschach had to restrain him. In the end, Hollis' killers (the Knot-Tops) were killed along with half of New York City by Ozymandias' plot. Dan and Rorschach traveled to Ozymandias' Antarctic fortress. They battled with and were swiftly defeated by Ozymandias, who revealed his plan to unleash a telepathic monstrosity on New York City that will release massive psychic waves that will kill half the city. Nite Owl expressed the desire to stop him and was told that it already happened. Millions were dead, and the world's nations agreed to work together to combat this new 'extraterrestrial threat.' Reluctantly, Dan and the recently arrived Dr. Manhattan and Laurie Juspeczyk agreed to keep this secret for the sake of world peace. The morally absolute Rorschach left, attempting to take Dan's vehicle back to civilization to tell the world. Unseen by the others, Doctor Manhattan killed Rorschach to stop him. Dan and Laurie were offered hospitality by Ozymandias, which they accepted. Before leaving for another galaxy, Manhattan seemed satisfied and happy at the sight of Laurie now in a relationship with Dan. In the conclusion of the story, having been assumed to be dead in the attack, they were seen in their new identities of Sam and Sandra Hollis (in homage to the late Mason), with dyed blonde hair. They traveled to California and made a brief visit to Laurie's mother Sally Jupiter, the former Silk Spectre, in which Laurie reconciles with her mother over the discovery that the Comedian was her father. They promised to visit again soon and left with the intent of continuing their adventures in crime-fighting. In the events of Doomsday Clock, it is revealed that seven years after the events of Watchmen, 'Sam and Sandra Hollis' have a daughter together. They also adopt Clark, the son of two costumed villains, Mime and Marionette. After jailing the pair following an aborted bank robbery, Dr. Manhattan noted that Marionette was pregnant. He sensed that the child had a bright future ahead of him. To preserve that future, he took the boy as an infant following his birth in a prison hospital. Dr. Manhattan named him Clark, raised him nearly to his teen years and after bequeathing Clark his powers and infusing his life force into the planet, brought Clark to the Hollises to raise.
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Elsewhere in Watchmen
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