The criminal known as Putty Puss was originally a handsome and successful actor named Harley Niav ("Vain" spelt backwards). He involved in a car accident that left him horribly disfigured.
The Man of a Million Faces
He sought the care of the plastic surgeon Dr. Willis Carver, who attempted an experimental treatment on him. Carver used a series of latex supplements and silicone injections to reconstruct Niav's face. The procedure was only partially successful, and after an hour Niav's features would "melt" into a misshapen, drooping mess. This earned him the nickname "Putty Puss", a name he despised.
Carver tried to conceal his mistake from the world by having Niav committed to a mental institution. Niav actually was insane at this point, having been driven to madness by the loss of his career and handsome appearance.
While in the hospital, Niav learned that he could "mold" his face to take on the appearance of others. He murdered his psychiatrist Dr. Young, and took on the man's features. He then left the hospital without incident. Upon escaping, Niav made several underworld connections, and planned to rob banks disguised as several well-known and prominent citizens. The members of his gang also took to calling him "Putty Puss", mostly behind his back but sometimes to his face.
Turning to Crime
The first robbery that Putty Puss committed was in the disguise of police officer Sam Catchem. This brought him to the attention of Dick Tracy and the Major Crime Squad. Putty Puss then committed several more bank robberies, in a variety of disguises. During one, Tracy went in unarmed to negotiate the release of hostages. Putty Puss knocked Tracy out,l took on his features and shot the members of his gang to keep them from identifying him. Putty Puss then went to the home of an old actor friend, Barry Moore. Moore was in rehearsal for a production of the new play "Sleuth" co-st
arring Vitamin Flintheart. Putty Puss revealed to Moore that he knew that Moore was the one responsible for the car accident that disfigured him, revealing his entire origin story in the process. Putty Puss then killed Moore and adopted his features.
Putty Puss took Moore's place in rehearsals, not knowing that Tracy was investigating the history of Harley Niav. Tracy was present on opening when Putty Puss' face began to melt in front of the theatrical audience. Tracy climbed up on stage to apprehend the crimnal, and the two men fought with swords. Putty Puss cut a rope holding a sandbag, which dropped on Tracy knocking him senseless. Putty Puss escaped.
Putty Puss then went to the office of his old high-society friend Franklin Strong. Strong was a media mogul and a candidate for president, and Putty Puss claimed to have evidence that Strong had murdered his wife for her fortune. Putty Puss didn't want hush money, but instead wanted to Strong to agree to put him in film and TV productions under a new alias. Strong agreed on the condition that Putty Puss should impersonate his political rival Diet Smith and publicly embarrass him.
Putty Puss held a press conference disguised as Smith and made many inflammatory and controversial political statements. Tracy was present and became suspicious. He punched "Diet" in the face, which absorbed his fist. His deception revealed, Putty Puss fled in Diet's helicopter. Tracy clung to one of the skids, but let go when Putty Puss started shooting at him. Tracy survived the fall and Putty Puss (who had damaged the helicopter with his gunshots) was forced to land. After a brief attempt at impersonating Tracy, Putty Puss gave up and was taken into custody. He agreed to testify against Strong.
The Return of Putty Puss
Putty Puss reappeared the following year in 1989. He murdered his psychiatrist, Dr. Mitciv, and kidnapped Dick Tracy. He hid
Tracy at Vitamin Flintheart's wax museum, which was one of the attractions at the Land O' Plenty theme park. There, he imprisoned Tracy in recreations of some of his most famous death traps. His ruse was discovered and he returned to jail.
Putty Puss has re-surfaced several times, often impersonating Dick Tracy, his friends, or well-known rogues. In later years, he acquired a verbal tic of speaking in song lyrics, especially when agitated or in the act of committing a crime. He still dislikes being called "Putty Puss".
Notes
- Putty Puss' origin and abilities are very similar to the Batman villain Clayface.
Known Associates
- Dr. Will Carver (Deceased)
- Barry Moore (Deceased)
- Franklin Strong