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Quote1 Wait a minute, mister! Nothing will stop you, eh? Nothing? You're the fool! You're the black blind, murdering fool! Because you will be stopped! And I'll tell you by whom, Mr. Leader! You'll be stopped by the millions of innocents you have killed! Their ghosts - their memory will rise to those left behind, and they will crush you, Mr. Leader, like a villainous worm - like a gnat - like a mere flea! Quote2
Blazing Skull (Mark Todd)

Appearing in "Origin of the Black Marvel"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Blackfoot Tribe (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
    • Chief Man-To (First appearance; dies) (Only in flashback)
    • Running Elk (Medicine Man) (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
    • Jund (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
    • Numerous unnamed members (Only in flashback)

Antagonists:

  • Criminals
    • Al
    • Steve
    • Frani (Mentioned)
    • Moe
    • Vannie
    • Numerous unnamed criminals

Other Characters:

  • Unidentified Electric Light Plant
    • Mickey (Electrician) (First appearance; dies)
    • Numerous unnamed workmen
  • Two unnamed workmen
  • Three unnamed surgeons
  • Lord (Invoked)
  • Nick (Criminal)
  • LAPD
    • Numerous unnamed police officers
  • James Lyons (Mentioned) (Unnamed) (Dan's Father)

Races and Species:

Locations:

Synopsis for "Origin of the Black Marvel"

A group of criminals storm the local power station and knock out the crew on site. Then they quickly destroy the generators, cutting power to the entire city. This is all part of a grander scheme, however before the crooks can pull their main job, they are attacked by the newest costumed hero: The Black Marvel. After beating the crooks into submission, the Black Marvel learns that they are going to be attack the local armory.

As the hero rushes of, he thinks back to the circumstances that led to him becoming the costumed hero that he is: Some time ago the Black Feet Indian Tribe were waiting for the ultimate passage of their medicine chief. His demands that his successor pass a series of tests that would prove him the pride of the Black Feet. This contest was left in the hands of Running Elk. None of the natives were able to pass the tests. Some days later young Dan Lyons came to the camp to pay respect to the passing chief due to the fact that he saved his father years ago. Hearing of the contest to find a successor, Dan would would accept the challenges and pass them all. He would then be given a costumed and christened the Black Marvel and told to fight against crime and injustice.

With his recollection over, the Black Marvel arrives at the scene of the armory and stops the crooks from robbing it. During the fight one of the crooks is fatally shot and tells the Black Marvel that this was all a plot to organize all the local mobs into one organization. With the rest of the crooks captured, the electricity is restored and the Black Marvel has the first notch for his bow.

Appearing in "The Tempest"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Cappy (Jane's Father) (First appearance)
  • Jane (Cappy's Daughter) (First appearance)

Antagonists:

  • Four unnamed thugs

Races and Species:

Locations:

Items:

  • Magical Bracelet

Vehicles:

  • Mary J (First appearance) (Ship)

Synopsis for "The Tempest"

Cappy and his daughter Jane are out at sea when their boat is capsized by a massive storm. Washed ashore on an island, Cappy grasps for a strange bracelet. When he vocally wishes that he could save his drowning daughter the amulet begins to glow and suddenly the Super-Slave -- a powerful genii -- appears and rescues the sea lost girl and returns her to shore. The Super Slave explains who he is, and that whenever they need his help they just need make a wish and he will come to their aid before disappearing back into the bracelet.

Exploring the island, they come across a shack and try to get aid from the person inside. The man in the shack turns out to be notorious criminal and his gang. When they attempt to subdue Cappy and his daughter, Cappy summons the Super Slave. The crooks are no match for the super-powered genii, however the Super Slave is forced to stop when Jane is captured and her life threatened. Cappy is then ordered to send the genii away and he is soon locked up in a room with his daughter. Cappy then comes up with a solution to save themselves with the Super Slave without getting injured. Summoning their super-powered protector, Cappy orders him to shrink down in size and surprise the crooks. The Super-Slave easily beats the crooks into submission and rescues Cappy and Jane.

As they exit the cabin, Cappy spots the ship "Mary J", owned by a notorious rum runner and tells his daughter that they are in for a lot more trouble.

Appearing in "The Discovery in the Volcano"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Carol (First appearance)

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

  • Numerous unnamed citizens of Las Palmas

Races and Species:

Locations:

Synopsis for "The Discovery in the Volcano"

Geologist Bob Roland and his fiancée Carol are exploring the mountains of a Mexican town that is threatened by volcanic activity. Their explorations take them into a cavern where they are ambushed by flaming men who take them prisoner and take the couple to their leader: The Sub-Earth Man.

The Sub-Earth Man tells them that he and his flame people ruled the Earth millions of years ago however as the Earth began to cool they were forced to retreat below the surface. Now, having broken through the Earths crust they intend to break free and invade the surface world. Bob, feigning cowardice, offers to help them in order to trick the Sub-Earth Man and his minions into destroying themselves.

To this end, he tricks them into digging up through the Earth directly under the ocean in exchange for their freedom. The Sub-Earth Man complies and as Bob and Carol escape the tunnels they are flooded with water. The Sub-Earth Man is furious over being betrayed and begins to cause increased volcanic activity. Bob and Carol meanwhile have lined the cavern into the Sub-Earth Man's domain with TNT and blast it shut ending his threat. Bob however, is not convinced that this is the last they have heard of the Sub-Earth Man.

Appearing in "Introducing the Terror"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Greco (First appearance; dies)
  • Greco's Henchmen
    • Three unnamed henchmen (First appearance; dies)

Other Characters:

  • Rex (Dog) (First appearance; dies)
  • Gigantic Ape (First appearance; dies)

Races and Species:

Locations:

Items:

  • Unidentified "Virus"
  • Unidentified Serum

Synopsis for "Introducing the Terror"

Dr. John Storm is working in his office late one night when his lab is invaded by a massive ape. He is surprised when his dog Rex's face changes into a skull like appearance and savagely attacks the ape. Although Rex manages to kill the ape, the pet is mortally wounded as well. Interested in this transformation, Storm examines the dogs corpse and extracts the enzyme in it's blood that triggered the transformation.

Meanwhile, outside, a storm rages outside as a man races to a costume party in his car. A bolt of lightning causes his car to crash and the drive is seriously wounded and struck with amnesia. Coming up to the Storm residence. With the mans life fleeting, Dr. Storm would resolve that the only way to save his life would be to inject him with the serum he created from his dogs blood, theorizing it will give this man enhanced strength.

As this experiment is going on, some crooks call on Dr. Storm to force him into use his scientific and medicinal skills for their criminal organization. Storm refuses and as he is being roughed up, the man from the accident revives and upon seeing his savior being attacked becomes angry. This anger triggers a transformation that turns that man into a grim skull faced creature that the crooks call the "Terror". While the Terror kills all of Storm's attackers, the scientist has been mortally wounded and upon his death the Terror vows to use his newfound powers to fight crime.

Appearing in "The Legend of the Blackfeet"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Mrs. Lyons

Antagonists:

  • Comanches (First appearance)
    • Numerous unnamed members

Other Characters:

Races and Species:

Locations:

Synopsis for "The Legend of the Blackfeet"

An Indian brave of the Blackfeet tribe with black paint on his face drives off a Comanche raiding party, saving a wagon train including Malcolm Lyons and his family. Malcolm dubs him a Black Marvel.

Appearing in "Garvey Lang"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Garvey Lang's Henchmen
    • Sam (First appearance; dies)
    • Joe (First appearance; dies)
    • Al
    • Numerous unnamed henchment
  • Garvey Lang (First appearance; dies)

Other Characters:

  • Kingston Railroad
    • Numerous unnamed employees
  • Unidentified State Police
    • Numerous unnamed police officers
  • Daily Gazette (Name only)
  • Tonie Field (First appearance)

Races and Species:

Locations:

Synopsis for "Garvey Lang"

Satan summons his agent the Black Widow before him and orders her to bring him the soul of criminal Garvey Lang, a task that the Black Widow promises to carry out.

In the land of the living, the Kingston rail road is attacked by some of Lang's men who cause a massive railroad accident so that they can loot the train of its valuables. The Black Widow starts her task of collecting Garvey's soul by using her powers to influence one of his men into attempting to take over leadership of Garvey's gang. Garvey then shoots the man dead for his attempt. Later the Black Widow appears before another one of Garvey's gang who is bringing a collection of $250,000 to his boss. He is frightened by her appearance, but when he tries to tell Garvey about the "spook" he saw, Garvey shoots him dead as well.

To his surviving gangsters, Lang tells them to get ready for a masquerade party that he is throwing for them all. The Black Widow makes an appearance at the party and uses her female charms to get Garvey alone. Revealing her true identity, she gives him her widows mark killing him and teleports away before the other gang members can catch her. Back in Hell, Black Widow is commended by Satan for a job well done.

Appearing in "The Poisoned Children"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Nadia La Sanne (First appearance) (Boss McGool's Secretary)

Antagonists:

  • McGool's Henchman
    • Two unnamed henchmen
  • Boss McGool (First appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Evening Enterprise (Name only)
  • Unidentified Police Department
    • Unnamed Police Officer

Races and Species:

Locations:

Events:

Synopsis for "The Poisoned Children"

Moon Man is in his private penthouse reading the paper. Upon spotting the cover story about 35 orphans being struck ill due to food poisoning, he suspects Boss McGool -- the man who purchased the meat -- of buying poor quality meat and pocketing the remaining money. Going to the home of McGool's secretary, he frightens the girl so bad she faints allowing him to take her purse and flee into the night. Returning to his home, Moon Man finds a receipt for the meat and notes that it was heavily discounted. Going to the orphanage, Moon Man inspects the meat, confirming his suspicion that it has gone rancid.

Paying a visit to McGool directly, he arrives just as his secretary is telling him about her previous encounter. When Moon Man attempts to confront McCool he is forced to flee due to the fact that McGool's men outnumber him. Seeing the secretary as a weak link, he follows her home and confronts her again. He convinces the frightened girl to sign a full confession implicating McGool in purposely buying tainted meet and then goes to collect him.

Finding McGool's residence empty, the Moon Man finds a rail schedule and rushes off to the train station. There he catches McCool as he attempts to take a train out of town, beating him into submission and tossing him out of the train. Moon Man then takes McCool and the confession to the police and the following day he remarks at the front page story tells of McGool's arrest.

Appearing in "The Story of Mark Todd"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Powell

Antagonists:

  • Nazis
    • Heer
      • Numerous unnamed soldiers
    • Kriegsmarine
      • Numerous unnamed soldiers
    • Metzer
    • Adolf Hitler

Other Characters:

Races and Species:

Locations:

Synopsis for "The Story of Mark Todd"

The war effort in Europe is taking heavy hits as Poland, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and France are captured by Nazi forces, leaving the Allies to wonder if the Nazis are using a secret weapon to secure their victories. Meanwhile, out on a cruise ship on the Mediterranean, Mark Todd spots a Nazi U-Boat attempting to attack their ship. Diving overboard, Todd transforms into the Blazing Skull and redirects a torpedo away from their boat, saving the crew from certain death.

Returning to his cabin, Todd finds a telegram from his colleague Powell asking him to sneak into Berlin as he has important information. Changing back into the Blazing Skull, Todd jumps ship and is soon picked up by a French spy who helps smuggle him into Berlin for his meeting with Powell. Although his papers are identified as forgeries by the Gestapo, Todd manages to escape and smuggle himself into Nazi Germany. There he meets with Powell and learns that the Nazis are using an enervating gas that increases the strength of shells. However, the only person who knows how the technique works is a scientist named Metzer.

Getting the location of the secret lab, Todd once more goes into action as the Blazing Skull manages to kill Metzer and destroy his lab. Before he can escape, the Blazing Skull is captured and taken prisoner where he is tortured. Todd refuses to scream and when Hitler himself comes to visit, Todd's harsh recriminations cause the Fuhrer to break down in tears and need to be led away. That evening the Blazing Skull breaks free and escapes into the night.

Trivia

Perhaps Metzer's Enervating Gas [Blazing Skull story] was used by the Bund [Captain America Comics#5 (8/41) Captain America 3rd story--called Sleeping Gas in that story] and in various Gas/Vapor Guns used by Timely Comics Nazis (like Countess Mara).

See Also

Links and References

References

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