Daniel Lyons (Earth-616)

Man-to, the last chief of the "Black Feet" was dying and sought a worthy successor. His medicine man, Running Elk, arranged a series of tests for potential candidates, but over a hundred prospective braves tried and failed to reach the standard required.

Dan Lyons was the last contestant, the son of a white man whose life Man-to had saved many years before. Wishing to repay this debt, he braved the tests. He outran a deer, swam upstream faster than the salmon, and proved himself an incredible marksman on the archery range, getting four consecutive bullseyes while blindfolded. When other arrows were fired at him, he caught them in the air. Then finally he wrestled a bear, and snapped its neck, slaying it. Satisfied, Man-to gave Dan the sacred costume of the Black Marvel, along with the responsibility to right wrongs and destroy those who would prey on the helpless. He also gave him a long bow, telling him to notch it every time he performed a good deed - only when he had one hundred notches would he be truly worthy of calling himself "The Black Marvel."

His first public adventure saw him stopping a raid on the city armoury, carried out under cover of darkness after the crooks created a black-out by attacking the electrical plant. In his next adventure, the Black Marvel stops Nazi agents from killing a refuge who has escaped the regime in Germany.

Later, when a scientist discovered a formula which transformed him into a murderous beast known as Dr. Hyde, The Black Marvel stops him to prevent more killings. Next he prevented a greedy diamond mine owner from tricking local native Americans into attacking his own workers.

In 1942 The Black Marvel mets Captain America for the first time and joined a number of other heroes in in a parachute drop drop on a Nazi stronghold in occupied Europe.

After this mission The Black Marvel returned to the United States under unknown circumstances. His next adventure pit him against the Order of the Hood, a criminal organization that had been robbing banks in the Los Angeles area. The Black Marvel followed them back to their headquarters, and while he was briefly captured, he eventually managed to win the day and break up the organization.

The Black Marvel's final mission saw him fail to save a hotel full of burning people, causing him to retire in shame.

Modern Age

As an old man, the Black Marvel attended a reunion party of golden age heroes of which Captain America was the guest of honour. The party was actually a trap set by the hero killer Zeitgeist who died in battle with Captain America.

Even later still, Lyons made a bargain with the demonic being Mephisto that allowed him to obtain four superpowered costumes abandoned by the superhero Spider-Man, and used them to launch the superhero team the Slingers. The heroes eventually helped release Lyons from his demonic contract, allowing him to die in peace.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

None

Abilities

The Black Marvel was extremely fit, at the top of normal human attainment. He was an excellent fighter, and in his prime was even strong enough to out-wrestle a bear.

Appearances in Other Media

See Omar Mosely (Earth-194111)

Links

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/b/blackmarvel.htm

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Daniel Lyons (Earth-616)

From Marvel Database

Contents

History

1940s