Mr. Scarlet

Last updated
Mister Scarlet
WowComicsNo2.png
Mister Scarlet from Wow Comics #2, artist Jack Binder
Publication information
Publisher Fawcett Comics
DC Comics
First appearance Wow Comics #1 (Winter 1940-41)
Created by France Herron (writer)
Jack Kirby (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoBrian Butler
Pinkerton "Pinky" Butler
Team affiliations Squadron of Justice
All-Star Squadron
AbilitiesOlympic level athlete
Keen investigative skills
Use of utility belt

Mr. Scarlet is a fictional, comic book superhero published by Fawcett Comics, and later by DC Comics. Brian Butler, the original Mister Scarlet, debuted in Wow Comics #1 (cover-dated Winter 1940-41), and was created by France Herron and Jack Kirby.

Contents

Publication history

Mr. Scarlet, created by writer France Herron and artist Jack Kirby debuted in Fawcett Comics' Wow Comics #1 (Winter 1940-41) and was the cover feature for five issues of that anthology comic. [1] He later appeared in Fawcett's Mary Marvel #9 (Feb. 1947). After the Fawcett properties were acquired by National Comics Publications, the future DC Comics, Mr. Scarlet appeared in Justice League of America #135-137 (Oct.-Dec. 1976).

Fictional character biography

Brian Butler

Mr. Scarlet is district attorney Brian Butler, who along with his adopted son Pinky the Whiz Kid, fought evil in his city for several years. His success was such that his employment was frequently in jeopardy due to a lack of crime. As a result, he throughout his series took up several odd jobs to supplement his family's income. He used inventive devices to help him apprehend criminals, and had great acrobatic and hand-to-hand combatant skills. [2]

In his first appearance in Wow Comics #1, Brian was based in Gotham City. This may be the first use of the name of this city in comics. Later retcons established Mr. Scarlet's base in either New York City or Fawcett City. [3]

The heroes tangle with a wide variety of villains, including the sinister Death Battalion, who plan the assassinations of top government officials. The Battalion's members include Dr. Death, the Ghost, the Horned Hood, the Black Thorn, the Black Clown and the Laughing Skull, and their leader, known as "the Brain", is actually the warden of El Catraz prison. [4]

Although initially appearing in the 1940s, Mr. Scarlet and Pinky were revealed to still be active and at relatively the same age level in the 1970s during a team-up with the Justice League of America and Justice Society of America in Justice League of America 135-137. It was during this team-up that the two crime-fighters joined with several other heroes to form Shazam's Squadron of Justice. [5]

Pinky Butler

After the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Pinky Butler is revealed to have taken over the identity of his father Mr. Scarlet after his death, having been active in Fawcett City for several years. It is also revealed how they retained their youth since the 1940s, as the wizard Shazam provided a protective field around the city for decades allowing its inhabitants to age slower than their contemporaries in other cities.

Pinky first appeared as Mr. Scarlet in Power of Shazam #44.

Mr. Scarlet later rescues Freddy Freeman from Prometheus' captivity, alongside the Bulleteer. [6]

Other versions

Related Research Articles

Captain Marvel (DC Comics) Superhero

Captain Marvel, also known as Shazam, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comics originally published by Fawcett Comics, and currently published by DC Comics. Artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker created the character in 1939. Captain Marvel first appeared in Whiz Comics #2, published by Fawcett Comics. He is the alter ego of Billy Batson, a boy who, by speaking the magic word "SHAZAM!", can transform himself into a costumed adult with the powers of superhuman strength, speed, flight and other abilities. The character battles an extensive rogues' gallery, primarily archenemies Doctor Sivana, Black Adam, and Mister Mind.

Mary Marvel Fictional superheroine

Mary Marvel is a fictional character superheroine originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics. Created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze, she first appeared in Captain Marvel Adventures #18. The character is a member of the Marvel/Shazam Family of heroes associated with the superhero Shazam/Captain Marvel.

Fawcett Comics Publisher

Fawcett Comics, a division of Fawcett Publications, was one of several successful comic book publishers during the Golden Age of Comic Books in the 1940s. Its most popular character was Captain Marvel, the alter ego of radio reporter Billy Batson, who transformed into the hero whenever he said the magic word "Shazam!".

Marvel Family fictional characters

The Marvel Family, also known as the Shazam Family, or simply the Shazamily, are a group of superheroes who originally appeared in books published by Fawcett Comics and were later acquired by DC Comics. Created in 1942 by writer Otto Binder and artist Marc Swayze, the team was created as an extension of Fawcett's Captain Marvel franchise, and included Marvel's sister Mary Marvel, their friend Captain Marvel Jr., and, at various times, a number of other characters as well.

Squadron of Justice

The Squadron of Justice was a name used by two superhero teams of characters who originated from Fawcett Comics. Each team only made one appearance in a single story.

Mister Mind fictional character from Fawcett and DC Comics

Mister Mind is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Otto Binder and C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics, Mister Mind the character made a cameo appearance in Captain Marvel Adventures #22 before making his full first appearance in Captain Marvel Adventures #26.

<i>The Power of Shazam!</i> 1994 graphic novel by Jerry Ordway

The Power of Shazam! is a 1994 hardcover graphic novel, written and painted by Jerry Ordway for DC Comics. The 96-page story, depicting the revamped origins of former Fawcett Comics superhero Captain Marvel, was followed by an ongoing series, also titled The Power of Shazam!, which ran from 1995 to 1999.

Doctor Sivana fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics

Doctor Thaddeus Bodog Sivana is a fictional supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bill Parker and C. C. Beck, the character is the archenemy of the superhero Captain Marvel, both of whom first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 by Fawcett Comics. Sivana was soon established as Captain Marvel's archenemy and frequent foe.

<i>Captain Marvel Adventures</i>

Captain Marvel Adventures was a long running comic book anthology series by Fawcett Comics starring Captain Marvel during the Golden Age of Comic Books.

Uncle Marvel Fictional character

Uncle Marvel is a fictional comic book character, originally created for Fawcett Comics, and today owned by DC Comics, who appears in stories about the Marvel Family team of superheroes.

Pinky the Whiz Kid is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by Fawcett Comics, and later by DC Comics. Pinky Butler debuted in Wow Comics #4, and was created by Otto Binder and Jack Binder.

Ibis the Invincible

Ibis the Invincible is a fictional character, a comic book superhero originally published by Fawcett Comics in the 1940s and then by DC Comics beginning in the 1970s. Like many magician superheroes introduced in the Golden Age of Comics, Ibis owes much to the popular comic strip character Mandrake the Magician. A second Ibis, successor of the first, was introduced in 2007.

Minute-Man

Minute-Man is a fictional comic book superhero.

<i>Wow Comics</i> comic book anthology series

Wow Comics was an ongoing monthly Golden Age comic book anthology series published by Fawcett Comics from winter 1940 to August 1948.

Mister Atom Fictional comic book supervillain

Mister Atom is a fictional comic book supervillain, a radioactive robot who is regularly seen as an enemy of Captain Marvel.

Captain Marvel Jr. Fictional character

Captain Marvel Jr., also known as Shazam Jr., is a fictional superhero originally published by Fawcett Comics and currently published by DC Comics. A member of the Marvel/Shazam Family team of superheroes associated with Captain Marvel/Shazam, he was created by Ed Herron and Mac Raboy, and first appeared in Whiz Comics #25 in December 1941.

Tawky Tawny Captain Marvel character

Tawky Tawny is a fictional character, an anthropomorphic tiger who appears as a supporting character of Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family in superhero/funny animal comic book stories published by Fawcett Comics and later DC Comics.

King Kull (DC Comics) fictional character

King Kull is a comic book supervillain originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics and appearing as a foe of Captain Marvel.

Francis Edward Herron was an American comic book writer and editor active in the 1940s–1960s, mainly for DC Comics. He is credited with co-creating Captain Marvel Jr. and the Red Skull, as well as such characters as Cave Carson, Nighthawk, and Mr. Scarlet and Pinky the Whiz Kid. Herron spent the bulk of his time in the comics industry writing for such characters as Green Arrow, Superman, and the Western character Tomahawk.

Timeline of DC Comics (1940s)

The 1940s were an essential time for DC Comics. Both National Comics Publications and All-American Publications would introduce many new featured superheroes in American comic books in superhero comics anthology tales like More Fun Comics, Adventure Comics, Detective Comics, Action Comics, All-American Comics, Superman, Flash Comics, Batman, All Star Comics, World's Finest Comics, All-Flash, Star Spangled Comics, Green Lantern, Leading Comics, Sensation Comics, Wonder Woman, Comic Cavalcade and Superboy that would be a staple for the comic book company. Examples of the superheroes include the Flash, Hawkman and Hawkgirl, Johnny Thunder and Thunderbolt, Spectre, Hourman, Robin, Doctor Fate, Congo Bill, Green Lantern, Atom, Manhunter, Doctor Mid-Nite, Sargon the Sorcerer, Starman, Johnny Quick, the Shining Knight, the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, Tarantula, Vigilante, Green Arrow and Speedy, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Sandy, the Golden Boy, Mister Terrific, Wildcat, Air Wave, Guardian, Robotman, TNT and Dan the Dyna-Mite, Liberty Belle, Superboy and Black Canary. These characters would later crossover in superhero team titles in the 1940s such as the Justice Society of America and the Seven Soldiers of Victory helping pave a way to a shared universe of the publication company. Other used featured characters outside of superheroes included kid titular heroes like the Newsboy Legion and the Boy Commandos. Later Western heroes would be used such as Johnny Thunder, Nighthawk and Pow Wow Smith.

References

  1. ↑ Benton, Mike (1992). Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company. p. 192. ISBN   0-87833-808-X . Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  2. ↑ Mr. Scarlet and Pinky at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016.
  3. ↑ Wow Comics #1 (Dec. 1940)
  4. ↑ Morris, Jon (2017). The Legion of Regrettable Supervillains: Oddball Criminals from Comic Book History. Quirk Books. p. 51. ISBN   978-1594749322.
  5. ↑ Justice League of America #135-137 (Oct.-Dec. 1976).
  6. ↑ Justice League: Cry for Justice #7 (April 2010)
← Wow Comics, later retitled Real Hero Western and then Real Hero Westerns series was debuted by Fawcett Comics. See Wow Comics for more info and the previous timeline. Timeline of DC Comics (1940s)
Winter 1940		The character Midnight was debuted by Jack Cole. See Midnight (DC Comics) for more info and next timeline. →
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.