He is basically the weirdest character in the DC Extended Universe. You remember the scene in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad where Abner Krill, played by David Dastmalchian, sees his mother's face on every single person in the room? It's terrifying. But it also raises a massive question about the Polka-Dot Man siblings and what actually happened to the other kids who were subjected to those insane STAR Labs experiments.
Abner wasn't an only child.
His backstory is rooted in a specific kind of body horror that the movie only touches on briefly. His mother, a scientist at STAR Labs, was obsessed with turning her children into superheroes. She didn't care about their safety. She cared about results. This obsession led to the accidental creation of one of the most tragic villains in comic book history, but Abner’s brothers and sisters paid the price too. Most of them didn't survive the "interdimensional virus" that gave Abner his powers.
It’s dark. Honestly, it's one of the darkest origins in the entire DCEU because it isn't about a freak accident; it’s about systematic child abuse disguised as "science."
The Tragedy of the Polka-Dot Man Siblings and the STAR Labs Experiments
In the film, Abner mentions that his mother infected all of her children with an interdimensional virus. He is the "success" story, if you can even call it that. The other Polka-Dot Man siblings died during the process.
They weren't lucky.
The experiments involved exposing children to multi-colored, interdimensional pustules. If you look closely at the lore provided in the film and the tie-in materials, Abner’s skin literally produces these dots as a byproduct of a disease. It’s not a "power" in the traditional sense; it’s a symptom. His siblings likely went through the same agonizing stages of the virus—fever, skin eruptions, and eventual total cellular collapse.
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Imagine growing up in a house where your mom is literally trying to turn you into a weapon. That's the reality for the Krill family. While the comics (where he first appeared in Detective Comics #300 back in 1962) treat him more like a joke villain with high-tech gadgets, the modern interpretation makes his family life the core of his trauma.
Why the Siblings Matter to Abner’s Character Arc
Abner is haunted. Literally. When he looks at his teammates—Bloodsport, Ratcatcher 2, King Shark—he sees his mother. But the psychological weight of his dead Polka-Dot Man siblings is what really drives his death wish. He’s the survivor.
Survivor's guilt is a powerful motivator.
In The Suicide Squad, Abner’s obsession with his mother overshadows his relationship with his siblings, but their absence is felt in every line of dialogue about his past. He is the only one left to carry the "polka-dot" legacy, a legacy he absolutely hates. This is why he’s so willing to die on Corto Maltese. To him, the dots are a curse that killed his family.
Differences Between the Movie and the Comics
You might be wondering if these siblings exist in the DC Comics source material. Short answer: No.
In the original comics, Abner Krill was just a guy named "Mister Polka-Dot" who used dots as specialized technology. He wasn't a tragic lab rat. The decision to add the Polka-Dot Man siblings and the abusive mother was a creative choice by James Gunn to give the character emotional stakes. It worked. It turned a D-list joke into a character people actually cried over when he finally shouted, "I'm a superhero!" right before getting crushed by Starro.
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The Science of the "Interdimensional Virus"
What was the virus? In the context of DC lore, STAR Labs often messes with the Multiverse. The "dots" are essentially matter from another dimension trying to force its way into ours through Abner’s pores.
- Abner has to "expel" the dots twice a day or they will consume him from the inside out.
- His siblings likely failed to develop the ability to expel the matter.
- This resulted in their deaths, as the interdimensional energy probably caused them to implode or dissipate.
It is a gruesome thought. It also explains why Abner is so physically frail and mentally unstable. He’s been sick since he was a kid.
The Cultural Impact of the Krill Family Trauma
People resonated with Abner because he represents the "discarded" child. In a world of Supermans and Wonder Womans, the Polka-Dot Man siblings represent the collateral damage of a world obsessed with powers. They are the 99% of test subjects who didn't make it to the Justice League.
David Dastmalchian, who has been very open about his own struggles with mental health and past addiction, brought a level of sincerity to the role that made the family backstory feel real. When he talks about his mom, you don't laugh—you feel uncomfortable. That's the hallmark of good writing. It takes a ridiculous concept like "polka dots" and anchors it in the very real horror of parental betrayal.
What We Can Learn from Abner’s Story
The narrative of the Krill family is a cautionary tale about the cost of greatness. Abner’s mother wanted a "hero," and in her pursuit, she destroyed her entire family.
- Trauma is often the root of villainy (or anti-heroism). Abner isn't "evil," he's broken.
- The "Special" child often carries the weight of those who didn't make it. 3. Legacy isn't always a gift. For the Polka-Dot Man siblings, their legacy was a terminal illness.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you are a writer or a fan looking to dive deeper into this kind of character building, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding the way these siblings were used to build Abner’s mythos.
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Analyze the "Why" behind the power. Don't just give a character a power because it looks cool. Give it a cost. The cost of the polka dots was the lives of Abner’s siblings. That makes the power meaningful.
Use horror to ground the absurd. Polka dots are silly. Interdimensional tumors are terrifying. By blending the two, you create a character that is memorable for more than just their costume.
Research the source material vs. the adaptation. If you want to understand why the movie version of Polka-Dot Man is so much better than the comic version, look at the 2021 film’s production notes. James Gunn specifically looked for the "dumbest" DC villain he could find and gave him a tragic heart.
The story of the Polka-Dot Man siblings remains one of the most haunting footnotes in superhero cinema. It reminds us that behind every "weird" power, there might be a history of pain that most people never see. While we never see their faces—other than through the distorted lens of Abner's hallucinations—their impact on the DCEU is undeniable. They are the silent victims of the race for super-humanity.
To fully appreciate the character's depth, re-watch the scenes in The Suicide Squad where Abner discusses his mother’s "experiments." Pay attention to his body language. Every time he uses his powers, he isn't just fighting a villain; he's purging the very thing that killed his family. It turns a colorful action sequence into a desperate act of survival.