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{{Infobox comics character
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#REDIRECT [[List of Marvel Comics characters: D#Big Ben Donovan]]
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| character_name = Big Ben Donovan
| image = <!-- filename format only -->
| imagesize = <!-- default 250 -->
| caption =
| publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]
| debut = ''[[Luke Cage, Hero for Hire]]'' #14 (October 1973)
| creators = [[Steve Engelhart]]<br>Billy Graham
| full_name = Benjamin Donovan
| species = [[Human]]
| alliances = <!-- optional -->
| partners = <!-- optional -->
| supports = <!-- optional -->
| aliases = <!-- optional -->
| powers = Super-strength
| cat =
| subcat =
| hero =
| villain =
| sortkey = Big Ben Donovan
| addcharcat# =
}}
'''Big Ben Donovan''' is a character in [[Marvel Comics]].

==Publication history==
Big Ben Donovan first appeared in ''Luke Cage, Hero for Hire'' #14 and was created by [[Steve Engelhart]] and Billy Graham.

==Fictional character biography==
Big Ben Donovan is a large man that is close to 8 ft. Mrs. Jenks hired him to settle the last of Mr. Jenks' affairs. When Mrs. Jenks would be giving Big Ben Donovan the payoff, he drunkly went after Mrs. Jenks who ran to the office of [[Luke Cage]]. This led to a fight between Luke Cage and Big Ben Donovan which ended with Big Ben Donovan surrendering upon the misunderstanding being cleared up. Big Ben Donovan agreed to help Luke Cage out in any way.<ref>''Luke Cage, Hero for Hire'' #14</ref>

Big Ben Donovan later witnessed Mrs. Jenks' confession of killing a reporter named Phil Fox (who was actually killed by [[List of Marvel Comics characters: R#Albert Rackham|Billy Bob Rackham]]). He then informed Luke Cage about Mrs. Jenks' confession before she passed away.<ref>''Luke Cage, Hero for Hire'' #16</ref>

Big Ben Donovan acted as [[Claire Temple]]'s lawyer in order to clear her of the murder charge. He then continued working as Luke Cage's lawyer until he started working with [[Jeryn Hogarth]].<ref>''Power Man and Iron Fist'' #61</ref>

Big Ben Donovan had a brother named Paul who just became the leader of the Thunderbolts Gang where they made the mistake of fighting the [[Maggia (comics)|Maggia]] for control of their turf. After his brother was killed in prison by operatives of the Maggia, Big Ben Donovan's sanity broke where he vowed vengeance on those responsible starting with Assistant District Attorney [[Thunderbolt (Marvel Comics)|William Carver]]'s brother Lonnie. During the struggle with William Carver, a sniper tried to shoot them at Lonnie Carver's funeral only to end up orchestrating the event that turned Bill Carver into Thunderbolt. Then Big Ben Donovan hijacked a Maggia shipment that was under the supervision of [[Caesar Cicero]]. When Big Ben Donovan turned to Luke Cage for help, they defeated Caesar Cicero's men before being defeated by [[Man Mountain Marko]] who brought them to Caesar Cicero. Before Caesar Cicero's men could bury Luke Cage alive, [[Iron Fist (comics)|Iron Fist]] and Thunderbolt arrived to help Luke Cage and Big Ben Donovan. Upon Thunderbolt realizing that Big Ben Donovan had Lonnie Carver killed, Thunderbolt removed his mask and advanced towards Big Ben Donovan as Luke Cage emerged from the ground to invervene. Before Thunderbolt died of his powers' side effects that aged him to an old man, he was happy that he now knows who killed his brother.<ref>''Power Man and Iron Fist'' #62</ref>

Big Ben Donovan later came under the employ of [[Tombstone (comics)|Tombstone]] at the time when Tombstone was working for the Serbian Black Maria Gang. When the "[[Marvel Knights]]" investigated the criminal activity, Tombstone sent [[Bengal (comics)|Bengal]], Big Ben Donovan, and [[Bullet (comics)|Bullet]] to deal with them.<ref>''Marvel Knights'' #11</ref> Big Ben Donovan faced off against [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics)|Daredevil]] where [[Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)|Black Widow]]'s "widow bites" managed to take down Big Ben Donovan.<ref>''Marvel Knights'' #12</ref>

Big Ben Donovan was incarcerated in the Cage where he gained weight. Upon Tombstone being incarcerated at the Cage, he enlisted Big Ben Donovan, [[Hypno-Hustler]], and a second [[Rocket Racer]] to help him against [[Kangaroo (comics)|Kangaroo]]. When the three villains held Kangaroo down so that Tombstone could kill him, the [[Prison officer|prison guard]] intervened.<ref>''Spider-Man's Tangled Web'' #16</ref> Kangaroo beat back his attackers which landed Big Ben Donovan, Hypno-Hustler, and Rocket Racer II in the prison infirmary.<ref>''Spider-Man's Tangled Web'' #17</ref>

It was revealed that Big Ben Donovan has a son named Little Ben Donovan who Big Ben Donovan left as a kid. He did managed to put money into his son's trust fund so that he can go to Columbia University after high school. By the time 9/11 happened, Eric Slaughter took over the criminal organization at the docks where he had his minion Floyd kill a dock worker.<ref name="Daredevil #109">''Daredevil'' #109</ref> Agent Purcell of a rogue task force had found Big Ben Donovan in his prison and forced him to take the rap for the dock worker's murder and be sentenced to death or else they will harm Little Ben Donovan.<ref name="Daredevil #110">''Daredevil'' #110</ref>

Five days from his execution, Big Ben Donovan was visited by [[Dakota North (comics)|Dakota North]] where she recorded his confession and his conversion to Islam. He later got a visit from Matt Murdock who wanted to be his lawyer.<ref>''Daredevil'' #107</ref> Matt Murdock expressed his interest in helping Big Ben Donovan getting cleared of all charges. Though Big Ben Donovan denied that he was innocent and later tried strangling himself in his cell.<ref>''Daredevil'' #108</ref> Matt Murdock later visited Big Ben Donovan in the prison's hospital where he told Matt Murdock to back off.<ref name="Daredevil #109"/> Upon bringing Little Ben Donovan with him, Matt Murdock visited Big Ben Donovan and told him that Floyd confessed to his crimes.<ref name="Daredevil #110"/>

During the ''[[Shadowland (comics)|Shadowland]]'' storyline, Big Ben Donovan met [[Nightshade (Marvel Comics)|Deadly Nightshade]] at Ryker's Island when it comes to dealing with the members of the [[Flashmob (comics)|Flashmob]] (consisting of [[Chemistro]], [[Cheshire Cat (comics)|Cheshire Cat]], [[Comanche (comics)|Comanche]], [[Dontrell Hamilton|Dontrell "Cockroach" Hamilton]], [[Mr. Fish]], and [[Spear (comics)|Spear]]). While Dontrell Hamilton, Mr. Fish, and Spear were released, Big Ben Donovan was unable to secure the release of Chemistro, Cheshire Cat, and Comanche due to their warrants and/or parole violations.<ref>''Shadowland: Power Man'' #2</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
While Big Ben Donovan doesn't have powers, he is large and exceptionally strong.

==In other media==
===Television===
* Big Ben Donovan appears in ''[[The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes]]'' episode "To Steal an Ant-Man." He appears as a member of [[Crossfire (comics)|Crossfire]]'s gang at the time when [[Cassandra Lang]] was captured by Crossfire so that [[Ant-Man (Scott Lang)|Scott Lang]] can pay off his debt. During Scott Lang's meeting with Crossfire, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and [[Hank Pym]] showed up where they help Scott Lang fight Crossfire. Big Ben Donovan was among the gang members defeated by the heroes.

* Benjamin Donovan appears in the [[Netflix]] series set in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]], portrayed by Danny Johnson. He was depicted as a normal-sized lawyer for some of New York City's criminals and crooked politicians.
** In ''[[Daredevil (TV series)|Daredevil]]'', Benjamin Donovan served as the lawyer of [[Kingpin (comics)|Wilson Fisk]]. Upon his firm failing to prove Wilson Fisk's innocence as revealed in "Seven Minutes in Heaven," Benjamin Donovan tells Wilson Fisk that his firm is doing everything they can to get Wilson Fisk released from Ryker's Island. Upon having Donovan paying a guard at Ryker's Island to have Frank Castle brought to him, Donovan tells him that any money needed will be taken from [[Vanessa Fisk|Vanessa Marianna]]'s protection. Fisk tells Donovan that he won't need any more money once this plan is complete. In the episode "The Man in the Box," Benjamin Donovan is asked by Wilson Fisk to make up a legal contract in braille during his meeting with Matt Murdock.
** In ''[[Luke Cage (TV series)|Luke Cage]]'', Benjamin Donovan served as the lawyer of [[Cottonmouth (Cornell Cottonmouth)|Cottonmouth]] and [[Black Mariah (comics)|Mariah Dillard]]. He appeared in the episode "Manifest" where he defended Cottonmouth following his arrest claiming that there were no further evidence against him outside of the testimonies of [[Misty Knight]] and the late Rafael Scarfe. In the episode "Blowin' Up the Spot," Mariah Dillard enlisted Benjamin Donovan to represent Candace Miller at the time when Misty Knight was questioning her about the details involving Cottonmouth's murder.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Benjamin_Donovan_(Earth-616) Big Ben Donovan] at Marvel Wiki
* [http://comicvine.gamespot.com/big-ben-donovan/4005-33896/ Big Ben Donovan] at Comic Vine
* [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix2/donovanbigben.htm Big Ben Donovan] at Marvel Appendix

{{Luke Cage}}
{{Daredevil}}

⚫
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters]]
[[Category:Fictional lawyers]]

Revision as of 19:27, 8 February 2017

Big Ben Donovan
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceLuke Cage, Hero for Hire #14 (October 1973)
Created bySteve Engelhart
Billy Graham
In-story information
Full nameBenjamin Donovan
SpeciesHuman
AbilitiesSuper-strength

Big Ben Donovan is a character in Marvel Comics.

Publication history

Big Ben Donovan first appeared in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #14 and was created by Steve Engelhart and Billy Graham.

Fictional character biography

Big Ben Donovan is a large man that is close to 8 ft. Mrs. Jenks hired him to settle the last of Mr. Jenks' affairs. When Mrs. Jenks would be giving Big Ben Donovan the payoff, he drunkly went after Mrs. Jenks who ran to the office of Luke Cage. This led to a fight between Luke Cage and Big Ben Donovan which ended with Big Ben Donovan surrendering upon the misunderstanding being cleared up. Big Ben Donovan agreed to help Luke Cage out in any way.[1]

Big Ben Donovan later witnessed Mrs. Jenks' confession of killing a reporter named Phil Fox (who was actually killed by Billy Bob Rackham). He then informed Luke Cage about Mrs. Jenks' confession before she passed away.[2]

Big Ben Donovan acted as Claire Temple's lawyer in order to clear her of the murder charge. He then continued working as Luke Cage's lawyer until he started working with Jeryn Hogarth.[3]

Big Ben Donovan had a brother named Paul who just became the leader of the Thunderbolts Gang where they made the mistake of fighting the Maggia for control of their turf. After his brother was killed in prison by operatives of the Maggia, Big Ben Donovan's sanity broke where he vowed vengeance on those responsible starting with Assistant District Attorney William Carver's brother Lonnie. During the struggle with William Carver, a sniper tried to shoot them at Lonnie Carver's funeral only to end up orchestrating the event that turned Bill Carver into Thunderbolt. Then Big Ben Donovan hijacked a Maggia shipment that was under the supervision of Caesar Cicero. When Big Ben Donovan turned to Luke Cage for help, they defeated Caesar Cicero's men before being defeated by Man Mountain Marko who brought them to Caesar Cicero. Before Caesar Cicero's men could bury Luke Cage alive, Iron Fist and Thunderbolt arrived to help Luke Cage and Big Ben Donovan. Upon Thunderbolt realizing that Big Ben Donovan had Lonnie Carver killed, Thunderbolt removed his mask and advanced towards Big Ben Donovan as Luke Cage emerged from the ground to invervene. Before Thunderbolt died of his powers' side effects that aged him to an old man, he was happy that he now knows who killed his brother.[4]

Big Ben Donovan later came under the employ of Tombstone at the time when Tombstone was working for the Serbian Black Maria Gang. When the "Marvel Knights" investigated the criminal activity, Tombstone sent Bengal, Big Ben Donovan, and Bullet to deal with them.[5] Big Ben Donovan faced off against Daredevil where Black Widow's "widow bites" managed to take down Big Ben Donovan.[6]

Big Ben Donovan was incarcerated in the Cage where he gained weight. Upon Tombstone being incarcerated at the Cage, he enlisted Big Ben Donovan, Hypno-Hustler, and a second Rocket Racer to help him against Kangaroo. When the three villains held Kangaroo down so that Tombstone could kill him, the prison guard intervened.[7] Kangaroo beat back his attackers which landed Big Ben Donovan, Hypno-Hustler, and Rocket Racer II in the prison infirmary.[8]

It was revealed that Big Ben Donovan has a son named Little Ben Donovan who Big Ben Donovan left as a kid. He did managed to put money into his son's trust fund so that he can go to Columbia University after high school. By the time 9/11 happened, Eric Slaughter took over the criminal organization at the docks where he had his minion Floyd kill a dock worker.[9] Agent Purcell of a rogue task force had found Big Ben Donovan in his prison and forced him to take the rap for the dock worker's murder and be sentenced to death or else they will harm Little Ben Donovan.[10]

Five days from his execution, Big Ben Donovan was visited by Dakota North where she recorded his confession and his conversion to Islam. He later got a visit from Matt Murdock who wanted to be his lawyer.[11] Matt Murdock expressed his interest in helping Big Ben Donovan getting cleared of all charges. Though Big Ben Donovan denied that he was innocent and later tried strangling himself in his cell.[12] Matt Murdock later visited Big Ben Donovan in the prison's hospital where he told Matt Murdock to back off.[9] Upon bringing Little Ben Donovan with him, Matt Murdock visited Big Ben Donovan and told him that Floyd confessed to his crimes.[10]

During the Shadowland storyline, Big Ben Donovan met Deadly Nightshade at Ryker's Island when it comes to dealing with the members of the Flashmob (consisting of Chemistro, Cheshire Cat, Comanche, Dontrell "Cockroach" Hamilton, Mr. Fish, and Spear). While Dontrell Hamilton, Mr. Fish, and Spear were released, Big Ben Donovan was unable to secure the release of Chemistro, Cheshire Cat, and Comanche due to their warrants and/or parole violations.[13]

Powers and abilities

While Big Ben Donovan doesn't have powers, he is large and exceptionally strong.

In other media

Television

  • Big Ben Donovan appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode "To Steal an Ant-Man." He appears as a member of Crossfire's gang at the time when Cassandra Lang was captured by Crossfire so that Scott Lang can pay off his debt. During Scott Lang's meeting with Crossfire, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Hank Pym showed up where they help Scott Lang fight Crossfire. Big Ben Donovan was among the gang members defeated by the heroes.
  • Benjamin Donovan appears in the Netflix series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portrayed by Danny Johnson. He was depicted as a normal-sized lawyer for some of New York City's criminals and crooked politicians.
    • In Daredevil, Benjamin Donovan served as the lawyer of Wilson Fisk. Upon his firm failing to prove Wilson Fisk's innocence as revealed in "Seven Minutes in Heaven," Benjamin Donovan tells Wilson Fisk that his firm is doing everything they can to get Wilson Fisk released from Ryker's Island. Upon having Donovan paying a guard at Ryker's Island to have Frank Castle brought to him, Donovan tells him that any money needed will be taken from Vanessa Marianna's protection. Fisk tells Donovan that he won't need any more money once this plan is complete. In the episode "The Man in the Box," Benjamin Donovan is asked by Wilson Fisk to make up a legal contract in braille during his meeting with Matt Murdock.
    • In Luke Cage, Benjamin Donovan served as the lawyer of Cottonmouth and Mariah Dillard. He appeared in the episode "Manifest" where he defended Cottonmouth following his arrest claiming that there were no further evidence against him outside of the testimonies of Misty Knight and the late Rafael Scarfe. In the episode "Blowin' Up the Spot," Mariah Dillard enlisted Benjamin Donovan to represent Candace Miller at the time when Misty Knight was questioning her about the details involving Cottonmouth's murder.

References

  1. ^ Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #14
  2. ^ Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #16
  3. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist #61
  4. ^ Power Man and Iron Fist #62
  5. ^ Marvel Knights #11
  6. ^ Marvel Knights #12
  7. ^ Spider-Man's Tangled Web #16
  8. ^ Spider-Man's Tangled Web #17
  9. ^ a b Daredevil #109
  10. ^ a b Daredevil #110
  11. ^ Daredevil #107
  12. ^ Daredevil #108
  13. ^ Shadowland: Power Man #2
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