Dan Dreiberg

Verified Timeline

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'.

In Their Own Story

The hangar was quiet except for the hum of the engines. Dan sat on a crate, polishing his goggles until they gleamed under the fluorescent lights. He thought about the flight path he had calculated earlier, tracing invisible lines across the ceiling with his eyes. Outside, the New York rain blurred the city skyline into gray smears. He missed the thrill of the glide but preferred the silence here. A single blueprint lay on the table, marked with red ink where something needed fixing. He picked up a wrench, listening to the distant thunder roll over the Hudson River, wondering if he would ever truly leave the Owlship behind.

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. 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'. 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.

Did You Know?

• Dan Dreiberg was born on September 18, 1940.
• His flying vehicle is nicknamed 'Archie,' short for Archimedes, after Merlin's pet owl in T.H. White's novel The Once and Future King.
• After the Keene Act, Dreiberg contributed scholarly articles to ornithological journals.
• Rorschach said of Dreiberg's retirement: 'No staying power'.
• In Doomsday Clock, Dan and Laurie adopt a boy named Clark, whom Dr. Manhattan raised and infused with his powers.