Sir Denis Nayland Smith

Real Name: Denis Nayland  Smith

Identity/Class: Normal human

Occupation: Police commissioner, former Colonel in British Army Intelligence

Affiliations: Dr. Petrie

Enemies: Fu Manchu

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: London, formerly Burma

First Appearance: The Zayat Kiss (The Storyteller, 1912)

Powers/Abilities: Good detective and capable fighter.

History: Denis Nayland Smith was the Police Commissioner of Burma around 1912, when he first encountered his long time nemesis Dr. Fu Manchu; pursuing the investigation led him to London, where he enlisted the aid of his old friend Dr. Petrie. During the Great War Petrie joined Army Intelligence, and after the conflict ended he transferred to Scotland Yard. Throughout the years he repeatedly battled Fu Manchu's many insidious schemes and agents, later being knighted for these endeavours.

Comments: Created by Sax Rohmer. Smith first appeared in Sax Rohmer's short story "The Zayat Kiss," which later became the first few chapters of the novel The Insidious Doctor Fu Manchu. Whenever his nemesis has made it to the big screen, Smith has tended to follow, and he has been played by a variety of actors over the years, starting with Fred Paul in the 1923 British serial "The Mystery of Dr. Fu Manchu." 

Smith also joined his arch enemy in the Leo O'Mealia illustrated daily newspaper strip adaptations of the early novels, published between1931 to 1933. The character returned in comic form when Marvel Comics did a comic about Fu Manchu's noble son, Shang Chi, appearing as his ally in his battles against his villainous father.

Thanks to Tony Ramsden and William Patrick Maynard for corrections.

CLARIFICATIONS: None.

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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