The Coming of Mister Scarlet (Wow Comics #1)

Special prosecutor Brian Butler debuted as a fairly focused fighter facing ferocious felons. Immediately, it was revealed in his first appearance that he had a dual identity, although thus far no further details were provided as to his alter ego of Mister Scarlet. Some of the questions left unanswered:

1. How did he receive the extensive training needed to attain such physical feats as he will demonstrate in his costumed crusade?
2. What motivated him to become a mystery man, as superheroes of his day were then known?
3. Why, oh why, would he clad himself in scarlet spandex from head to toe, complete with a yellow cape referred to as a "beach towel"?
4. How far back does his colorful crimefighting career go, as a criminal in story refers to him by name alluding to an established reputation.
5. Who is Cherry Wade, the dependable secretary of Brian Butler who seemingly knows of her boss' nighttime activities?
6. When did Brian and Cherry realize that they loved each other, as first he declares his affection to her and later she returns feelings back towards him?

The story begins with a mystery relating to the murder of a city councilman. Butler as special prosecutor is tasked with the case of ascertaining who is behind this, which he promises the council he will learn within 72 hours. Instead of inquiring the police as to investigating this crime, Brian launches into his first chronicled case as Mister Scarlet, tracking down a stool pigeon Rocco who leads him to councilman Jonas Ludwell. Seems like he was right in not asking for the help of the local flatfoots, as a beat cop named O'Mahoney knows that Rocco, as a hitman, doesn't deserve to be walking free down the streets of this unidentified city, yet lets him keep on strolling. However, a note from Scarlet tips off Officer O'Mahoney that Rocco is best behind bars.

Before visiting the crooked councilman, Scarlet swoops into the flat of Cherry, awaking her from her slumber to pen a letter to be delivered to the Council. Then, he visits his prey Ludwell who is accompanied by gangster Mike Shannon, and despite overwhelming numbers, Mister Scarlet is able to take out all of these goons. Pieces fall in place, as the mystery mastermind soon stands revealed!

The next day, Butler meets with the City Council, and reveals yet another not heretofore referred to councilman and "financier" named Warren Crane is the puppeteer behind these sinister schemes. Ascertaining from paperwork which Scarlet purloined from Shannon, the politician who had been slain was tired of being a pawn in the underworld's schemes, and was thus eliminated. Case closed, although the depths of corruption in Butler's city merits his attention, clad during the day in a suit and at night in sensational spandex.

A few amazing things occur in this initial story. First, Mister Scarlet seems to effortlessly glide from rooftop to rooftop, and carries a firearm for which he keeps in his holster. He doesn't use it except to threaten Rocco, yet the grim grimace he uses to stare down various hoods is either a convincing act or a deeply disturbing sense of anger brewing within him. The nature of this has yet to be revealed. Although as plainclothes Butler, he decks Crane as glibly as Scarlet did with hoods, showing that Brian has no fear of his alter ego being discovered.

Still, it is the relationship with Cherry Wade that will continue to define and refine the characterization of Brian for years to come. The subtext with their relationship indicates a deep affection restrained by... something. But what is not yet identified, although we can answer the following questions:

• Supporting Scarlet: The only recurring character to appear in this tale is Miss Cherry Wade, as she will be known through the years. Is she just an assistant, a romantic interest, or just a confidant. Time will reveal how their roles as supervisor and secretary will develop and reverse as circumstances change.

• Red Romance: Once more, Miss Wade seems to vacillate between hot and cold with her supervisor.

• Menacing the Mister: No lasting adversaries, except for the evil that festers within the city.

• Crimson Capabilities: Surprising agility and acrobatic feats displayed. Possibly some gadgets. Keep an eye on his piece, which is much more than a gun.

• Fawcett Facts: Gotham City is identified as the burg that Butler/Scarlet protects.

Definitely modeled after a Dark Knight published elsewhere, we will see many comparisons between Mister Scarlet and Batman. From the tortured temperament and weapon wielding during their early days, each would be tempered by significant sidekicks they'd both soon meet...

The OrigIn of Bulletman (Nickel Comics #1)

Every origin story of a hero begins with key elements necessary for the reader to invest their time and interest in the character. First, there has to be motivation for why he or she is pursuing this course. Second, explaining what distinguishes this featurered character from others surrounding them. And third, build upon the character by providing them compelling challenges they must face.

Jim Barr was son of Pat Barr, an official killed in the line of duty. However, the boy focused during his formative years towards intellectual pursuits instead of physical ones, meaning that as an adult Jim failed the officer exam. However, as he was well known as a ballistics expert, Jim was invited to take a different exam, which proved his mental acumen to be a police scientist.

At the station he was assigned, Barr was relentlessly teased by the patrolmen and officers he helped assist on cases. Even his boss Sgt. Kent showed him no mercy in this regard, although Kent's daughter Susan saw something special in the criminologist.

Determined to empower himself to qualify as a cop like his father, Jim ingested a serum of his own creation which was designed to flush impurities from the body in criminals. The next morning, he found his own body had grown substantially, gaining tremendous strength while discovering his mental facilities had also been heightened

This led to his next creation, which would define his costumed career to come. The Gravity Regulator Helmet, which allowed him to not only defy gravity but to propel its wearer through the air at high velocities. For this, the police lab tech nicknamed Bullet became the Bulletman.

And the timing could not have been better, as a crime boss named Blackmask kidnapped Susan and her father in a political play for power, whereby the gangster could install his own people in the police. Bulletman tracked down the Kents, freed them, and gaining notoriety as well.

Curiously, the local newspaper offered a reward of $1000.00 to anyone with a picture of the flying hero, which Barr secretly provided them with a stipulation to pay the policeman's fund. Hopefully, his picture wasn't a close up, as Bulletman wasn't wearing a mask. Nor would he during his subsequent exploits, which appearemtly was a fashion choice he didn't need as no one recognized that Barr and Bulletman were one in the same. Even Susan, his soon to be steady girlfriend, nor her father. Does the helmet regulate not only gravity but the perception of others? Apparently so, although the official explanation was that Jim wore an oversized lab coat at work to disguise his physique. Yeah, um sure.

A regular feature as we dissect Bulletman's history are the following categories:

• Bullet Buddies: While not the only supporting cast he would have, Susan Kent and Sgt. Kent would be the most important people in Jim's life. As his girlfriend/cheerleader and boss/tormentor, the two would continue to interact with both Barr and Bulletman, never connecting the two.

• Rocketing Romance: Definite signs of interest from Miss Kent, as a groupy of Jim's. As for Mr. Barr, nothing as of yet. Still to focused on his life's passion in police work. Will he allow room for two?

• Bedeviling Bulletman: Blackmask is a fairly generic masked felon, although his hoods have access to am impressive net that stuns its captives, as it has done to Susan and the Sarge. Newspaper publisher Stephen Doone will return a few more times as his masked alias, becoming Bulletman's first recurring nemesis.

• Powerful Projectile: Gaining near superhuman strength with a mind to match from a homemade serum is impressive. What's more so is constructing a Gravity Regulator Helmet from scrap pieces of equipment in his lab. What kind of lab was that, to have such awesome items that assemble into a state or the art wingless flight mechanism? Perhaps it is in part due to the wacky physiques of Bulletman's Earth-S, where he is later revealed as living on. The helmet with have new features revealed overtime, while Jim's physical might is downplayed over time.

• Fawcett Facts: Jim bares a resemblance to the previously debuting Jay Garrick aka the Flash of Earth-Two. Both are police scientists, both have their bodies modified to superhuman levels by chemicals, both streak at swift speeds to and fro, and each is clad with stylish helmets. They would meet decades later, although their counterparts on each other's world were different.

How will Jim continue to masquerade as a weak technician? How will Bulletman continue to strike terror in the hearts of criminals? How will his relationship with Susan progress? Check back to find out.

Sensational Scarlet Second Stringers: An Origin Story

Welcome to the world's first, and most comprehensive, blog dedicated to the exploits of twin dynamic duos of Fawcett Comics clad in red and gold. Those duos being Mister Scarlet and Pinky, as well as Bulletman and Bulletgirl. Each pair were seeming second stringers in the publishing world of Fawcett, both overshadowed by the Marvel Family. However, these costumed crusaders had lengthy runs during the Golden Age of comics, and as such merit mention as would their contemporaries of their day.

Following decades of inactivity, where these heroes and others whom they fought next to all disappeared, it was revealed what became of them when they returned years later... as young as their last appearance! What became of them, and what they ended up doing, will be revealed in time.

We will analyze and dissect the heroes, abilities, plots, supporting characters and adversaries of these Crimson Crimefighters. For instance:

• Mister Scarlet was the masked alter ego of Gotham City district attorney Brian Butler. His chronicled tales during the decade of the 1940's consisted of 93 appearances. Early on, Scarlet flew solo... quite literally... before adopting a young orphan early on in his caped career.
• Pinky, the lad whom Brian sheltered following the death of his mom, immediately emulated his hero by wearing scarlet spandex similar to Butler's. Together, the pair would face struggles that the more famous Dynamic Duo of another world's Gotham, Batman and Robin, never dreamed of tackling. Namely, finding enough money for a square meal each day!
• Bulletman was originally police scientist Jim Barr, seeking to honor his late father who perished in the line of duty but becoming an officer himself. Lacking physical stature for the job, Barr developed and ingested a serum that overnight gave him a muscular physique and mental acumen. Developing a Gravity Regulating Helmet, Jim as Bulletman rocketed through 173 Golden Age tales, though most of them with a partner to assist him.
• Bulletgirl, the aforementioned partner, was Jim's girlfriend Susan Kent. Having discovered her boyfriend's alter ego, she convinced him to provide her with a spare helmet allowing her to fly alongside her man. Together, they built the second most prolific family of fearless fighters, second only to the Marvels whom they would befriend over time.