We at Read Riordan are crazy about Doughboy, the fan-favorite shabti who serves as the lynchpin to the entire Kane Chronicles trilogy. So we thought it was about time he got his time in the spotlight!
What exactly IS he?
Doughboy is a shabti, a wax figure brought to life by an Egyptian magician to act as a servant. In Doughboy’s case, he was created by Julius Kane, the father of Carter and Sadie Kane. Immediately the little guy had such an attitude problem. So much so that Julius cut off Doughboy’s legs to prevent him from escaping or, in Doughboy’s own words, “rising up and killing” his despised master. One wonders why the shabti was left with the ability to talk back.
It’s best to refer to him by his proper name: Supreme-Force-Who-Crushes-His-Enemies.
What’s in a name?
Because Doughboy demands the utmost respect, it’s best to refer to him by his proper name: Supreme-Force-Who-Crushes-His-Enemies. Sure, Doughboy is cuter, and no one has ever seen him crush anyone, let alone his enemies. And yes, the only one who seems to get crushed (frequently, in fact) is Doughboy himself. Still, it’s the polite thing to do.
Free at last! But not for long
Sadie and Carter Kane discovered Doughboy in Brooklyn House in their father’s old workbag. Sadie accidentally summoned him by saying his trigger words: “Tell us what you know.” Once the shabti learned that Julius had disappeared, Doughboy reveled in his newfound liberation and sprang forward to glorious freedom. Forgetting he had no legs, he made his grand exit by . . . slowly crawling away. Suffice it to say, Sadie had Doughboy back in his box before he knew what hit him.
A (somewhat) helpful companion
Eventually Doughboy told Sadie and Carter what he knew, gleefully warned them about the Demon Days, and then turned back into a blob of wax. The siblings took Doughboy along with them on their quest to find their father, and Carter used the shabti to find the Book of Thoth—before some fruit bats spoiled their day.
Gone, and also probably forgotten
Doughboy was last seen driving the cab that took Carter, Sadie, and Zia Rashid to Phoenix. How could a wax figure with no legs manage that, you ask? Carter smushed him into a coat that had the ability to drive. (No wonder Doughboy hates magicians.) His reward for his noble sacrifice? Being abandoned—they took a ride in Amos’s truck instead—and never mentioned again.
Or is he?
Who knows, maybe in spite of his magician-hatred, he’ll turn up again in the new Kane Chronicles companion guide, Brooklyn House Magician’s Manual? Pre-order here so you can find out when the book releases on May 1st.