The Death Battallion (America's Greatest Comics #1)

With America's Greatest Comics #1, history was made, as the first team of supervillains... all of whom had previous appearances separately... joined forces as the Death Battalion. Consisting of Mr. Scarlet's adversaries in Wow Comics #2 of Doctor Death, the Ghost, the Horned Hood, and his opponents in Wow Comics #3 of Black Thorn, Black Clown and the Laughing Skull, together with mastermind the Brain formed a true challenge for the crimson crusader.

While there has been acknowledgement that before the Injustice Society of Earth-Two, before the Monster Society of Evil on Scarlet's Earth-S which faced his pal Captain Marvel, and even before the Five Fingers of the Hand who met their match versus Law's Legionnaires on Earth-Two, there were a triad of terror that faced Bulletman, the Revenge Syndicate. However, that would occur in 1942, while this tale predates all of these problematic paladins. And does so early in Mister Scarlet's career, shortly after he picked up his trusty sidekick to help him thin out the herd of heinous heretics in this hideous hive.

Our tale commences when six of the worst criminals in Gotham City, which Scarlet protects, escape their prison and are assembled by the mysterious helmeted Brain. Meanwhile, prison warden Loomis resigned out of failure for allowing these dangerous dudes to escape his grasp. We will see him again.

In order to strike terror throughout America through coordinated attacks on five key men. While each of these criminals had their own agendas based on greed, they willingly submit to their new master's orders. Pledging allegiance to Brain, it becomes apparent that he holds some sway over the sextet. What that is is untold.

The first target, Senator Dean, is removed by Doctor Death... although this leads to a confrontation with Mister Scarlet who learns about the Battalion before his old foe escapes. The Brain then sends his new henchmen on their individual missions of chaos. Kudsen (head of a defense program) whom the Black Clown tries to eliminate with the aid of a trained gorilla, F.B.I Chief Doover is scared near to death by the Ghost.  a cabinet of politicians zapped by Black Thorn's mummy ray (wasn't that thing destroyed, and Thorn wasn't it's original designer so how did he rebuild it from scratch?), armory General Dodd whose guard is taken out by the Horned Hood, and the dynamic duo itself by the Laughing Skull. 

Mister Scarlet and Pinky each take separate targets, and help each other out when the other is captured at different points during this adventure. They are able to capture Laughing Skull and Horned Hood, while the other four retreat to the Brain's hideout.

As such, when the pair of missing felons arrive at Brain's lair... somehow they obtained the location of it, perhaps from their captured foes... Scarlet and Pinky make short work of the remaining crooks. And in the end, learn that mastermind the Brain is in reality Warden Loomis, a plant from Nazi Germany sent to sow discord in America at this critical juncture during World War II.

This decisive defeat is such that none of these villains will return for later a rematch with the crimson crime fighters, falling into obscurity. So much so that they are all but forgotten in the annals of history as being history's first team of supervillains, a template that would repeated multiple times thereafter.

• Supporting Scarlet: Pinky shows his mettle facing off against a few of the Battalion on his own, and coming the his mentor's rescue.

• Red Romance: None this go around. Miss Wade only appears trying to dissuade young Pinky from his costumed career.

• Menacing the Mister: The Death Battalion are the culmination of a gaggle of gaudy greedy goons, who repeat their mistakes and end up on the business side of our Dynamic Duo's fists.

• Crimson Capabilities: Mister Scarlet's massive might versus Black Clown's gorilla, and Pinky's effortless gliding through the air as if flying, are inexplicable and unbelievable.

• Fawcett Facts:Once more to repeat.... before the Revenge Syndicate, the Sivana Family, the Monster Society of Evil... there were these guys. One and done, but historical nonetheless.

Melodious Death - Mr. Scarlet Meets the Ghost - The Horned Hood (Wow Comics #2)

Since his last appearance, which was also his first appearance, in the winter of 1940, evidently big plans were in the works for our red raider, as not one nor two but three tales were penned of him for the upcoming summer 1941 Wow Comics edition! From these tales, the mythos of this masked manhunter were built upon, from his hot and cold relationship with secretary and girl friday in Miss Cherry Wade, to his first repeating rogues revealing themselves in each of these three adventures.

In the first tale "Melodious Death", special prosecutor Brian Butler and Miss Wade are working through their legal case workload, when strange music radiates from a nearby window. Quickly changing into his scarlet spandex, our hero finds the deceased body of orchestra pianist Campini. It seems that the musician had delivered to him an odd melody that he found himself playing until stuck in a cord that inexplicably led to his demise.

Shaking down a hood, as would become his standard m.o., Mister Scarlet ultimately used a note left with the victim with a postdate to somehow track down the culprit and his goons. The ghastly looking Doctor Death was the man behind this crime, although Scarlet needed prove to pin on him. So, leaving the shaken hood at the base of a stairway, Scarlet impelled his adversary to make his next move. That move, to strike at the next man of three that were on his list... a Mister Ravelle.

Once more, Scarlet shows his creepy side as a man with no barriers, once more lunging in midair into the apartment of Miss Wade, who provided him with a key to cause of Campini's death. Poison laced in the paper that contained the notes of the sheet music which was Campini's last performance.

At Ravelle's home, Mister Scarlet made quick work of Doctor Death and his hoods, although it seemed at first that Death had our protagonist somehow sweating for his life! And through deduction, Scarlet ascertained that Doctor Death was in fact Ravelle, who had recently been fired from the symphony and sought revenge on the man he blamed for this.

But never fear, Doc Death would return...as would the next two villains this issue!

In "Mister Scarlet Meets the Ghost", we see our colorfully clad crimefighter this time prowling the streets of the yet to be named Gotham City in pursuit of problematic prey.

Henry Suffridge, the Orphan Society's president, discovered that one of his board members has stolen from that organization's funds. Three candidates as to who this could be... Petrie, Crane or Jones. As each man left the meeting, the mysterious Ghost sent out his minions to scare one of the trio, leaving Mister Jones in a panic when a Mister Scarlet on patrol found him.

Assuring the businessman there is no such thing as ghosts, our caped crusader decided to approach Suffridge himself to see is the president knew anything about this. From a distance, the sheet-clad ghosts working for our arch-villain were spying Scarlet. Meanwhile, Mister Scarlet had a plan.

When next seen, the masked Brian Butler is, yet again, somersaulting through the perpetually open window of his secretary, jarring her from her slumber. Then, almost as suddenly, he leave! What is this guy's deal?

Tracking down the Ghost and goons, who now have cornered Jones and seek to scare him into admitting who the criminal is that is stealing from the Orphan Society, one of their number throws off his sheet to reveal... Scarlet himself.

Making quick work of the thugs, are daring do-gooder reveals his suspicions which turn out to be true, that Suffridge himself was the Ghost who was seeking to distract attention from claims that he himself was the crook behind this theft.

Never fear, the Ghost would reappear, although we first need to meet the third member of this budding battalion of bad guys.

When the Maharaja Jewels were being displayed in the local museum, they were a temptation to much for the Horned Hood to resist. Realizing as Brian Butler that his alter ego would be needed to guard these jewels, Mister Scarlet was on hand later that night when professional henchmen Rocco and Slugger broke in to steal these priceless items, as their boss looked on. Busting up the dastardly duo, Mister Scarlet's attention was distracted as the Hood got away with his ill-gotten gains. Once more muscling information from one of the felons, Mister Scarlet tracked down the jewels to a local fence who seemingly got the drop on the hero, as his boys overwhelmed the hero. Never fear, Scarlet broke through his bonds without breaking a sweat, and once more force one of his captors to reveal the hideout of Horned Hood.

But before facing his the floppish fiend himself, Scarlet decided to revisit his favorite pasttime, breaking into Miss Cherry Wade's flat! At this point, it is quite obvious she's fed up with her employer's frequent visits, although still insists on leaving her windows ajar! Then, after trouncing both his remaining cronies and the Hood himself, Scarlet brought the jewels back to their rightful owners. Another case closed.

• Supporting Scarlet: At this point, Miss Cherry Wade really would like someone else to occupy the attention of Brian and his other identity.

• Red Romance: As for the caped and cowl crusader who during daytime hours plays the part of her Miss Wade's boss, Mister Scarlet seems to be throwing out not-so-subtle hints of interest.

• Menacing the Mister: Three foes who would later reappear... together with others... in their next appearance! Indeed, Doctor Death, Ghost and Horned Hood were the first recurring rogues of many that would face Scarlet throughout the years.

• Crimson Capabilities: Tremendous strength, to burst out of bonds so easily. Daring acrobatics from ledge to ledge, without nary a rope in sight. Astute observational and/or bold assumption skills.

• Fawcett Facts: Still no outside connections to the greater Fawcett-verse. But soon...

Will the streak of multiple tales in a single issue continue? Let's find out...