The Curse of Skeleton Munroe

Category: art thief

  • MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 545: “?”

    (Smash Comics 002, 1939)

    An art thief, but an audacious art thief. “?” is so-named because he sends a message signed thus to the Paris Prefect of Police warning that he would steal the Mona Lisa from the Louvre and then actually does it from under the noses of the Prefect, the police and Captain Cook of Scotland Yard. Like, while in the same room as them – he just hits the lights and grabs the painting.

    Then, a couple of days later, another note from “?” saying that he is going to put the painting back! And he approaches this task with the same level of audacity: reveal the location of the painting and then out the window.

    Too bad for “?” that reckless audacity can be a bit predictable – he is immediately corralled on the street below and turns out to be criminal Renee Landrue, who simply stole the painting as a way to sell on 4 forged copies of the Mona Lisa. It’s practically not even a crime! If only he hadn’t tried to blow up Captain Cook and the Prefect in between the theft and the return, he’d practically be a folk hero! BRING BACK the audacious French thief “?”, I say! Give Batman’s filing system a workout!

  • MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 545: “?”

    (Smash Comics 002, 1939)

    An art thief, but an audacious art thief. “?” is so-named because he sends a message signed thus to the Paris Prefect of Police warning that he would steal the Mona Lisa from the Louvre and then actually does it from under the noses of the Prefect, the police and Captain Cook of Scotland Yard. Like, while in the same room as them – he just hits the lights and grabs the painting.

    Then, a couple of days later, another note from “?” saying that he is going to put the painting back! And he approaches this task with the same level of audacity: reveal the location of the painting and then out the window.

    Too bad for “?” that reckless audacity can be a bit predictable – he is immediately corralled on the street below and turns out to be criminal Renee Landrue, who simply stole the painting as a way to sell on 4 forged copies of the Mona Lisa. It’s practically not even a crime! If only he hadn’t tried to blow up Captain Cook and the Prefect in between the theft and the return, he’d practically be a folk hero! BRING BACK the audacious French thief “?”, I say! Give Batman’s filing system a workout!

  • MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 238: THE CLUE CRIMINAL

    (Flash Comics v1 007, 1940)

     

    Long before guys like the Joker and the Riddler made leaving baroque clues to taunt the forces of Law ahead of your next crime a super-villain cliché, the Clue Criminal was out there getting things done, with a name that I must assume was used in a low-effort Batman pastiche some time in the late 60s.

    Speaking of names, the Clue Criminal steals actual real painting “the Blue Boy” and then goes on to do the same to “famed smiling picture” “Modern Louisa”. I guess the Mona Lisa wasn’t in Washington DC to be stolen at the time, but guess what, Gardner Fox, writer of Cliff Cornwall? I checked, and “the Blue Boy” was in California in 1940! Checkmate, me!

    Anyhow, the Clue Criminal perpetrates three art thefts before inexplicably pivoting to attempted zeppelin bombing – possibly the Clues were more important than the Crimes and it was easier to put one together for zeppelin sabotage than any of the theft-worthy art pieces in town. Whatever the reason, Cliff Cornwall proves as adequate at eleventh-hour riddle solving as Batman and/or Robin and the Clue Criminal is put away.

  • MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 238: THE CLUE CRIMINAL

    (Flash Comics v1 007, 1940)

     

    Long before guys like the Joker and the Riddler made leaving baroque clues to taunt the forces of Law ahead of your next crime a super-villain cliché, the Clue Criminal was out there getting things done, with a name that I must assume was used in a low-effort Batman pastiche some time in the late 60s.

    Speaking of names, the Clue Criminal steals actual real painting “the Blue Boy” and then goes on to do the same to “famed smiling picture” “Modern Louisa”. I guess the Mona Lisa wasn’t in Washington DC to be stolen at the time, but guess what, Gardner Fox, writer of Cliff Cornwall? I checked, and “the Blue Boy” was in California in 1940! Checkmate, me!

    Anyhow, the Clue Criminal perpetrates three art thefts before inexplicably pivoting to attempted zeppelin bombing – possibly the Clues were more important than the Crimes and it was easier to put one together for zeppelin sabotage than any of the theft-worthy art pieces in town. Whatever the reason, Cliff Cornwall proves as adequate at eleventh-hour riddle solving as Batman and/or Robin and the Clue Criminal is put away.

  • MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 233: THE VANDAL

    (Flash Comics v1 005, 1940)

    The Vandal is a wealthy art collector who kills artists to increase the value of their works and has a bunch of hired goons steal art for him. The best thing about him is his name/ concept, that his art collection would be as impactful to the art world as the ancient Vandals supposedly were in antiquity. Since he’s a Golden Age Flash villain, he mostly exists to be trolled at super-speed.