![](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgGZg8VbNDDF_OuniVSoaldTuqOboTTCYv4NhvXZfk0DbGVxwfTHeOma-A6GzY2d-U6PpuZYEfkEjJB-opDOkihUOpewgYGFxOKYRYZiXgUjecxEN2yQYmHWeFld21kLKBqvgvuxLox4LZ9XDG_L48JiENA84Px2lVx9C4lrHjZPJ7wt4TPyFJe4qXzKBHo\/w640-h282\/l-17%20a%20whirlwind%20001%201940.jpg\" "\\"L-17\\"")
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<\/a><\/div>\nL-17 is a spy from an extremely unspecified foreign power who vexes pilot Wings Bordon throughout his three appearances. He is remarkable both for his longevity – three whole appearances for a simple letters-and-numbers spy is astonishing – and for the fact that he managed to get a promotion between his first appearance and his last, from field agent reporting to a shadowy Chief to being the shadowy figure whom other report to. It’s possible that someone just misremembered L-17’s position, but that doesn’t take away from the achievement. (Whirlwind Comics 001, 1940)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nSir Neville Towse, “England’s most famous explorer” has been threatened with death by a mysterious character known only as the Avenger, and it’s up to Inspector Blake of Scotland Yard to solve the mystery and prevent the murder from happening.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/div>\nThe Avenger turns out to be Sir Neville’s butler Owens, who just wants to get ahold of the money left to him in the explorer’s will without all that tedious waiting around first. He does employ a pretty sweet booby-trapped phone to do the deed, but that doesn’t make up for the disappointingly callow motivation for the crime. (Whirlwind Comics 001, 1940) <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/div>\nClarence the Maniac Man is a circus sideshow wild man, one of a number of groups of people who are just a crime or two away from super-villainy (or a selfless act or two away from super-heroism, I suppose) on any given day. In Clarence’s case, simple jealousy over the affection shown to Captain Marvel by Lovelia, the jerk Queen of the High Wire, drives him to release alien circus animals as revenge on society. That’s toxic, Clarence. (Whiz Comics 006, 1940)<\/p>\n