VIRUS VIGILANTE (8)
By:
November 27, 2020
One in a series of posts about the Antiviral Alliance, a now-forgotten squad of comic-book vigilantes who during the years leading up to (and through) WWII worked tirelessly to prevent another Spanish Flu-like pandemic. Fun fact: The original intercompany crossover, this “event” would inspire National Comics and All-American Publications to form the Justice Society of America in 1940–1941.
Along with Lady Luck, the Shadow, and Kinks Mason, Dennis Burton joined the Alliance in 1940. A rather disturbing figure, Burton — who called himself the Laughing Mask — was a young Assistant D.A. who, armed with two .45s set about ruthlessly preventing the spread of influenza and other diseases. He was the “Comedian” of the Alliance — a figure whose deeply cynical sense of humor suggested a sociopathic streak.
Fun fact: Although the mouth part of the Laughing Mask’s phosphorescent mask may look hollow/open in the image shown here, in fact it was solid.
Publisher: Timely Comics
First appearance: Daring Mystery Comics #2, 1940.
INTRODUCING… THE ANTIVIRAL ALLIANCE. PRE-COMICS: THE MOON MAN (1933). ORIGINAL TRIO (joined forces in 1939): THE CLOCK | SANDMAN | FANTOM OF THE FAIR. AND THEN THERE WERE SEVEN (joined 1940): THE SHADOW | LADY LUCK | THE LAUGHING MASK | KINKS MASON. SECOND-WAVE SIX (joined 1941): BLAZING SKULL | THE CHALLENGER | THE THUNDERER | DOCTOR NEMESIS | HUMAN BOMB | THE VIGILANTE. LATE TO THE PARTY (joined post-1941): MICRO-FACE | THE DESERT EAGLE.
SIMILAR HILOBROW SERIES: MEET THE L.I.S. | 4CP FRIDAY — themed comic-book detail galleries | CHESS MATCH — a gallery | COMICALLY VINTAGE | DC — THE NEW 52 | FILE X — a gallery | KIRB YOUR ENTHUSIASM — 25 writers on 25 Jack Kirby panels | SECRET PANEL —Silver Age comics’ double entendres | SKRULLICISM