Richard D. Johnson

**Richard Denis Johnson** was a former high ranking MVPD

detective, and IDSM inmate.

## MVPD Career

Johnson was the mentor of Drake during his time at the Multiversal Police Academy (MVPA), where he taught several courses. On at least one occasion, the two went on a fishing trip. Following Drake's graduation, they were briefly field partners.

Johnson was wary of the developing relationship of Drake and Wayne, fearing it could pull Drake from his influence. In order to prevent this, he preyed on Wayne's weaknesses, creating an exam specifically designed to entrap Wayne into cheating, and then encouraging Drake to turn his roommate. The scheme worked, and Wayne was expelled.

Johnson was outfitted with a Deep Psyer TZ3, which could administer short electric bursts to incapacitate victims.

## Organizing ArgosCon

In the years following the death of the Original Argos, his Cult of Argos continued to menace the Multiverse. Johnson was tasked with managing a sting operation, ArgosCon 40. As an annual gathering of cultists, ArgosCon provided MVPD strike teams with a perfect opportunity to stamp out the cult entirely. However, as Johnson prepared the conference, he struck up a rapport with a disgruntled cultist, who would later be known at the Multiverse's sole remaining Argos. Johnson was swayed by this Argos' fiery rhetoric, though not in the manner that was intended. When Argos railed against the Cult's self-interested, corrupt body of members, Johnson saw an opportunity to take their place in a new Multiverse order. Consequentially, Johnson assisted Argos in escaping the convention, becoming his silent partner.

## Betraying the MVPD

Johnson was a silent informant to Argos, feeding him information about potential powerful psychics at his direction. None fit Argos' criteria, except for Gore Crenis. Johnson poured himself into Earth-7 research and volunteered for the Dimensional Contraband Team, but was unable to catch Crenis. While the two conspirators kept their options open, no psychics beyond the elusive Crenis came on their radar.

In this time, Johnson also gave Argos full access to MVPD databases, in addition to gossip. It was through this that Argos gained extensive knowledge of MVPD security protocols, science projects such as the Dreamscaper, and full rosters of Doppelgängers. Through venting sessions about work, Johnson would be the first to make Argos aware of Martin Drake and Walton Wayne.

## Events of Drake & Wayne

After his graduation, Johnson took on his MVPD cadet, Drake, as a partner, authorizing him as an MVPD Detective. Johnson had not attended the graduation, to keep up his cool reputation.

On one eventful contraband bust, Johnson would identify the chaotic situation as a perfect time to ambush a weakened Crenis. Johnson delayed in calling for back-up, risking the lives of all those involved, in order to update Argos. When the situation was suitable, he advised Argos to move-in on the target. Johnson did not directly intervene, as to not arouse suspicions. Johnson would however arrest an escaping Wayne, incapacitating him with his Deep Psyer TZ3.

Though Crenis escaped, Argos and Johnson remained alert, and recruited mercenary Doppelgängers, Marquess Drayne and Larry Wake, to the fold. When Crenis was brought in for unconscious probing, Johnson gave him access to the Earth-8 MVPD Outpost, leading to the deaths of a number of MVPD members, including Doctor Somnus and Samoan Joe, and the severe injuries of others, including Lt. Ralph and Hawaiian Mike.

Upon learning that Argos had banished Drake and Wayne to die on the treacherous Earth-34, Johnson showed a rare sympathy, advocating that the two should be spared. This both took suspicion off himself, and gave him an opportunity to add another member to the conspiracy. Argos agreed, and Johnson rescued the two, taking them to Earth-37. Johnson delighted in breaking-up the duo by revealing Drake had been the one to turn-in Wayne for cheating on an exam.

Johnson took Drake under his wing, becoming his partner for a number of months, as Argos plotted the final stages of his grand plan. In this time, the two grew close, Johnson's influence was exacerbated by Drake's the out-of-date Deep Psyer 9K, which affected brain function. Johnson encouraged a gaudy fashion sense, and disrespect of others, clearly hoping to model his former cadet in his own image.

When Argos was ready, Johnson brought Drake to The Core to bear witness to the dimensional merge. When Johnson revealed the truth to his partner, Drake rejected joining him. Johnson bested Drake with his Deep Psyer TZ3, and mocked Drake for turning down the offer. However, they were interrupted by Wayne, who had caught wise to Johnson's manipulations. As Johnson taunted the two, Wayne knocked him out in a single punch.

MVPD scouts who entered The Core in order to find suitable landing grounds for Policatron discovered an unconscious Johnson, and placed him into MVPD custody. The MVPD had long been suspicious of Johnson's connections to Argos, suspicions which were validated by Wayne's claims.

## Inter-Dimensional Super-Max

After his series of high profile crimes, Johnson was delivered a life sentence in the Inter-Dimensional Super-Max Prison (IDSM). He maintained his innocence despite clear evidence to the contrary.

On at least one occasion, Johnson attempted to appeal his sentence, going so far as receiving a retrial.

His complicated legacy left his mentee, Drake, with conflicted feelings.

## Trivia

* Johnson debuted in the Jethroverse Season 3 on a photograph displayed by Drake, depicting the two on a fishing trip.
* Johnson was originally announced as a main cast member on Drake & Wayne, but was ultimately billed as a special guest star.
* Johnson originally appeared in a brief scene of The Phantom Crenis, further explaining his removal as Drake's partner. This was cut from the final version.