VIRUS VIGILANTE (13)
By:
December 21, 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.
Mark Todd, an American journalist who — while stationed in the Far East, learned the “marvelous lore” of the fabled Skull Men — joined the AA in March 1941. (He was part of the pre-Pearl Harbor wave of new members that included The Challenger, The Thunderer, Dr. Nemesis, the Human Bomb, and Vigilante.) As the Blazing Skull, Todd fought a private war against war-mongers — while doing his part to stop the spread of airborne disease. He was an immediate fan favorite… but a scant few months later, when the Japanese bombed the American fleet in Pearl Harbor, Todd’s antiwar stance no longer seemed admirable. He was phased out after a mere 6 appearances.
PS: See Marvel’s Johnny Blaze, aka the Ghost Rider. A reincarnation?
Created by: Bob Davis.
Publisher: Marvel
First Appearance: Mystic Comics #5, March 1941.
Tip o’ the mask to Jess Nevins.
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