More mad science than criminal science or vice versa? You be the judge! This guy, who seems to be neither bald nor ironically hairy enough for his name of Baldy Fluger to make sense, has a hypnotic ray and a plan: to use that hypnotic ray for crime. The Green Mask and Domino the Miracle Boy have something to say about that. (Mystery Men Comics 021, 1941) If there was any more to these three (respectively named Boris, Oscar and…
(Mystery Men Comics 029, 1941) Really very strong showing from the Death Master in the splash panel, with artist Louis Cazenueve (as Lester Raye) doing some great Kirby-esque monster-man work on the man himself. And the story version of the character almost measures up! The Death Master is head of a counterfeiting gang who completely buys into his own hype – he’s a sneering, gloating villain of the type I love. But why is the Death Master called that? Why,…
(Mystery Men Comics 029, 1941) The Hooded Killer AKA the Hooded Man AKA the Hooded Figure is your average lawyer personal secretary who has killed his client and is now attempting to kill his client’s heirs because once they’re all gone then he gets the money. Do you know that because of comic books ad police procedurals every time the subject of wills comes up this is the kid of thing that runs through my mind? Hopefully I never have…
(Mystery Men Comics 029, 1941) We first see Countess Belladonna at the Westchester Flower Show, where she meets young Brenda Talmadge and murders her for her recently-inherited Riviera Ruby. Now here I’m going to jump ahead and spoil the twist of a comic book that was published more than 80 years ago: Countess Belladonna is actually Judge Talmadge, stepfather to Brenda Talmadge. As with any modern reading of a story with gender ambiguity there is a temptation to read more…
(Mystery Men Comics 028, 1941) In addition to being a member in good standing of the Name Sounds Like It’s a Thematic Choice But Isn’t Club, Dr Leech is a charter member of the The Protagonist Just Wandered into My Place of Work Instead of Having to Do Any Detective Work to Find Me Society. When the Green Mask intercepts a clearly mind controlled bank robber he hauls him into the nearest doctor’s office, which turns out to be Dr…
(Mystery Men Comics 027, 1941) As is so frequently the case, this here ghost is in fact an elaborate hoax carried out to keep people away from a particular location. This time it’s a gang of smugglers operating out of an old abandoned inn evocatively named “the Tombstones” by the locals. The Green Mask makes short work of these rascals despite the extra effort they put in, including wholesale grave robbing in order to keep themselves stocked up with enough…
(Mystery Men Comics 026, 1941) It’s the Manx! Our second catsuit-clad cat-themed villain after the Cat’s Paw! This fella doesn’t share too much about himself but seems to be a bit of a criminal opportunist – here he’s attempting to steal a pistol used in a 25 year-old murder so that he can blackmail the murderer, now a wealthy and successful man. Given his sneaky climbing style of getting about I’d wager that he’s usually some sort of burglar. A…
From issues 020 to 024 of Mystery Men Comics the Lynx had an amazing special move. At least once the Rook, target of the move on more than one occasion, managed to get his back.
From issues 020 to 024 of Mystery Men Comics the Lynx had an amazing special move. At least once the Rook, target of the move on more than one occasion, managed to get his back.
(Mystery Men Comics 018, 1941) This here is the Rook, the only recurring antagonist of Golden Age duo the Lynx and Blackie the Mystery Boy. In terms of crime, he’s your basic thief and murderer with a sideline in opportunistic kidnapping and extortion. He does have several notable attributes, however: Tactics: The Rook has a hypnoray and he is going to use it, dammit. He’s not one of those fickle super-villains who blame their tools every time a plan doesn’t…