Pinky the Whiz Kid

Pinky
Publication information
Publisher	Fawcett Comics DC Comics
First appearance	Wow Comics #4 (Winter 1941-42)
Created by	Otto Binder (writer) Jack Binder (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Pinkerton "Pinky" Butler
Team affiliations	Squadron of Justice All-Star Squadron
Notable aliases	Mr. Scarlet
Abilities	Olympic level athlete Keen investigative skills Use of utility belt

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 (cover-dated Winter 1941-42), and was created by Otto Binder and Jack Binder.

Fictional character biography

Pinky was the adopted son of district attorney Brian Butler, also known as Mr. Scarlet, who fought evil in his city for several years. His father's 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.

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. It was during this teamup that the two crimefighters joined with several other heroes to form Shazam's Squadron of Justice, as King Kull had captured Shazam and the Elders that gave the Marvel Family their powers, and was trying to wipe out humanity on all three Earths. Scarlet and Pinky helped defeat the Weeper and Earth-2 Joker while they committed crimes on Earth-S and turned people into diamonds, although no further adventures of this team were chronicled thereafter. ^[1]

New Mister Scarlet

Main article: Mr. Scarlet

After the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Pinky was revealed to have taken over the identity of his father after his death, having been active in Fawcett City for several years. It was also revealed how they retained their youth since the 1940s, as 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 The Power of Shazam! #44, saving Freddy Freeman for the first time from Chain Lightning.

In Justice League: Cry For Justice , Freddy Freeman is found by Bulleteer Pinky Butler the new Mr. Scarlet in Fawcett City, tied up with his mouth sewn shut to prevent him from transforming into Shazam. ^[2]

Other versions

• A new version of Mister Scarlet appeared in Elseworlds' Kingdom Come and "The Kingdom" miniseries. Mister Scarlet is drawn as a bright red devil of a man known for hanging out at Titans Tower bar with Matrix, the new Joker's Daughter, and the new Thunder.

References

1. Justice League of America Vol 1 #135-137 (October–December 1976)
2. Justice League: Cry for Justice vol. 1 #7 (April 2010)

External links

• DC Database: Pinky Butler

← The second of the Superman theatrical animated short series would be released. See The Mechanical Monsters for more info and the previous timeline.

Timeline of DC Comics (1940s) Winter 1941

The characters Wonder Woman, Steve Trevor and Hippolyta was debuted by William Moulton Mourston and H. G. Peter. Other iconic debuts include the Bracelets of Submission, Themyscira and the Amazons. See Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman's bracelets, Themyscira (DC Comics), Amazons (DC Comics), Steve Trevor and Hippolyta (DC Comics) for more info and next timeline. →