Doctor Shemp

Doctor Shemp (ドクター・クール or Dr. Cool in Japanese) is the leader of the Kamikaze tribesmen who is the second boss. He appeared within Spyro the Dragon and the Reignited Trilogy remaster of the first game, found in the realm of the same name. As Trondo stated upon his rescue, Doctor Shemp thought that he was in fact "cool," and wore sunglasses.

Appearance

In Spyro the Dragon, Doctor Shemp is a yellow shaman, with an oval like body shape. Doctor Shemp wears circular sunglasses, and he has feathers on his head. The front of his body is completely covered by metal body armor, while the back is left uncovered. He wears metal sandals, and he holds a wooden staff in his left hand (like the ones held by the Kamikaze Tribesmen), with a green mask hung on it. At the top of his staff is a giant skull.

In the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, he seems to be a gnorc, and he has two teeth sticking out and pointed ears. His head feathers are sticking straight up rather than being puffed up, and his armor is connected to him with a chain and strap. his staff has a more tribal looking mask with leaves poking out behind it, and the skull on top has blue glowing sockets. He has wristbands with skulls on them, and his staff also has more skulls on it.

Story

When Gnasty Gnorc was looking for recruits to defeat Spyro, shortly after he turned all of the other Dragons into Crystal Statues, he hired Dr. Shemp to stop the young dragon in his tracks. Dr. Shemp waited to confront Spyro at his canyon fortress, where Fat Ladies and their kamikaze minions protected the fortress. Spyro confronted Dr. Shemp, and defeated Dr. Shemp after flaming his backside. In general, Doctor Shemp was arrogant.

Strategy

Spyro's battle with Doctor Shemp took place on three platforms, and the boss attacked differently on each platform. At some point at each attack, he exposed his vulnerable backside. Spyro must flame at backside in order to damage him. After each hit, he hopped across the bridge to the next platform. On the third platform, he perished upon being burned.

Gallery

• Shemp fleeing with a burnt backside
  Shemp fleeing with a burnt backside
• Dr. Shemp as a Spyro Reignited Trilogy PSN trophy.
  Dr. Shemp as a Spyro Reignited Trilogy PSN trophy.
• Concept art of Dr. Shemp in the Spyro Reignited Trilogy
  Concept art of Dr. Shemp in the Spyro Reignited Trilogy
• File:Doctor Shemp RT.jpeg
• Character Sheet of Doctor Shemp (Reignited) by Arik Newman
  Character Sheet of Doctor Shemp (Reignited) by Arik Newman

Trivia

• Doctor Shemp's name is considered an in-joke at Insomniac games. The employees using the phrase "got the shemp" whenever a blunder is made.
• Doctor Shemp's spin attack (performed on the third platform) was identical to the first boss of Crash Bandicoot, Papu Papu.
• The sounds that Doctor Shemp made were later reused for Sleepyhead in Spyro: Year of the Dragon.
• When not attacking, Dr. Shemp may do a finger gun or throat slit gesture, referencing how he thinks he's "cool."
• In Spyro: Year of the Dragon, there was a skateboard move entitled "the Shemp." That could possibly be paying homage to the iconic boss.
• It was possible that the origin of Doctor Shemp's name came from the phrase "Fake Shemp" (named for The Three Stooges actor Shemp Howard, who portrayed "Shemp") used in filming. This is where an actor appears in a film under heavy make-up, filmed from the back, or perhaps showing an arm or a foot. As only Doctor Shemp's back was exposed to attack, it was assumed that his name came from that.
• The fact how Spyro has to hit his exposed backside is similar to Gnorc Sentries.