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MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 921: THE SCALY DRAGON

MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 921: THE SCALY DRAGON

(Champ Comics 014, 1941) The Scaly Dragon is what I would consider to be a very by-the-book fascist saboteur with a better-than-average name. He does have a couple of noteworthy things about him though, including 1. the fact that he is a pseudo-Imperial Japanese spy rather than the much more common pseudo-Nazis that we usually see. 2. Though the Scaly Dragon’s first couple of efforts were aimed at sabotaging the water supply of New York City (which is where the Human…

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CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 003

CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 003

It’s a dangerous ol’ job, heroing. Thus, the Catalogue of Wounds! Green Lantern: While tied up in a burning house, Green Lantern must thrust his hands into the flames to escape. (All American Comics 031, 1941) Hawkgirl:  Hawkgirl is shot in the back by an agent of Mister X while acting as a Hawkman decoy on her very first outing in costume (All-Star Comics 005, 1941) Hawkman: Shot in the left shoulder by Alexander the Great. (Flash Comics 002, 1940)…

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FASCIST GOON CLEARING HOUSE 012

FASCIST GOON CLEARING HOUSE 012

I know we’re all tired of fascist, but these are fake, historical fascists who get beat up, so it’s cathartic at least.  the Blitzys: The Blitzys, aka the Yellowshirts, have a never-clearly-articulated plan to divide American society by beating people up for not joining the Army. I assume that there must be more to it than that but the focus of the adventure is not on Spy Smasher beating up these particular fascists (though beat them he does) but in…

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MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 919: THE WEREWOLF

MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 919: THE WEREWOLF

(Cat-Man Comics 005, 1941) There are three remarkable things about the story of the Werewolf. The first is that it finally establishes that the city that the Pied Piper operates out of has a name and that it is Central City – this both a nice thing to have cleared up and a fun coincidence, given that the other comic book Pied Piper, the Flash villain, also lives in a place with that name.  The second thing is just how clearly and…

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MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 918: THE BLACK PANTHER

MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 918: THE BLACK PANTHER

(Cat-Man Comics 004, 1941) The district attorney of Central City, the NYC clone that the Pied Piper inhabits, has been murdered by what the authorities can only conceive of as a beast! The city is in a real tizzy, especially once Police Commissioner Gurry receives a note informing him that he will be the next victim (and the cute little signature on this note is why I am calling this villain the Black Panther when it is not used elsewhere…

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MINOR SUPER-HERO ROUND-UP 076

MINOR SUPER-HERO ROUND-UP 076

Yet more super-heroes for your delectation. the Black Widow: There are a lot of Black Widows in comics, but Linda Masters is the first one who I have encountered who is actually a widow and not just a woman named after a spider as a way of emphasizing how creepy-deadly she is. And since her husband was Murdered by a Crimeâ„¢, she expresses her grief by becoming a crimefighter. We don’t see a lot of the Black Widow’s modus operandi during her…

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CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 002

CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 002

Just which comic book character has taken the most punishment down through the years? join me as we compile the definitive guide to bodily trauma in the super class.  Blackhawk: Blackhawk must set off an explosion from closer-than-optimal range and ends up getting lightly shredded. (Military Comics 003, 1941) Blackhawk’s next two adventures feature him getting whipped badly enough to mark up his torso, by the Black Tigress and the Scavengers, respectively. (Military Comics 004 & 005, 1941) Blackhawks: Blackhawk…

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MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 917: THE GHOST

MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 917: THE GHOST

(Cat-Man Comics 004, 1941) The Upper New York Castle District appears to also exist in the Temerson/Helnit universe, because when NYC-based vigilante the Ragman is hired to investigate a supposed haunting at a place called Glascow Castle he hops in his car and drives there. Glascow Castle’s owner, Sir Wilkens Sidney, claims to have seen the ghost of 18th Century murder victim Duke Edgeroy wandering the halls of his home and believes that the Ragman is the man to get…

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GENERIC COSTUMED VILLAIN ROUND-UP 036

GENERIC COSTUMED VILLAIN ROUND-UP 036

Every one of them a disappointment to their parents.  Mr Axis:  He may just be a regular Nazi spy* lurking around Washington DC and disrupting trade deals between the US and the rubber-rich nation of Rumbia, but his name is Mr Axis! Such a perfect name for a fascist super-villain and yet one that seemingly was only used once**. Patriotic super-hero Miss Victory really puts the boots to him in her debut adventure. (Captain Fearless Comics 001, 1941) * Technically…

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MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 916: THE STINGER

MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 916: THE STINGER

(Cat-Man Comics 003, 1941) The Stinger is in most respects an extremely generic masked gang boss of the kind that we have seen so frequently before, right down to the fact that he is wearing one of those hanging cloth face masks, an item only worn by generic masked gang bosses of the 1940s. The real difference between all those other guys and the Stinger is that the Stinger’s very first move was to send out some goons to ambush and murder local…

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