Mr. Scarlet
Encyclopedia
Mister Scarlet is the name of several fictional character
s, comic book
superhero
es published by DC Comics
. Brian Butler the original Mister Scarlet debuted in Wow Comics
#1 (December 1940), and was created by France Herron and Jack Kirby
.
#1 later showing up in Mary Marvel
vol 1 #9 both published by Fawcett Comics
. After the Fawcett Comics properties were acquired by National Publications, he appeared in Justice League of America Vol 1 #135-137 published by DC Comics
.
, fought evil in his city for several years. His success was such that his employment was frequently in jeopardy due to a lack of crime. As a result, he throughout his series took up several odd jobs to supplement his family's income. He is a Batman
-style crimefighter. He had several devices which aided him in apprehending various criminals along with some above-average acrobatic and hand-to-hand combatant skills.
In his first appearance in Wow Comics #1, Brian was based in Gotham City
. This may be the first use of the name of this city in comics. Later retcon
s established Mr. Scarlet's base in either New York City
or Fawcett City
.
Although initially appearing in the 1940s, Mr. Scarlet and Pinky were revealed to still be active and at relatively the same age level in the 1970s during a team-up with the Justice League of America
and Justice Society of America
in Justice League of America vol 1 #135-137. It was during this teamup that the two crimefighters joined with several other heroes to form Shazam's Squadron of Justice, when the villain King Kull had teamed up with other villains on an attempt to wipe out humanity on all three Earths after capturing the Elders who empowered the Marvels preventing them from transforming. Scarlet and Pinkey fought against the Weeper
II and Earth-2 Joker on Earth-S as they committed jewel robberies and turned people into different materials, their goggles helped them against the Weeper's tear gas, although no further adventures of this team were chronicled thereafter.
, Pinky Butler is revealed to have taken over the identity of his father Mister Scarlet after his death, having been active in Fawcett City
for several years. It is also revealed how they retained their youth since the 1940s, as the wizard Shazam provided a protective field around the city for decades allowing its inhabitants to age slower than their contemporaries in other cities.
Pinky first appeared as Mr. Scarlet in Power of Shazam #44, saving Freddy Freeman for the first time from Chain Lightning.
Mr. Scarlet later rescues Freddy Freeman
from Prometheus
' captivity, alongside the Bulleteer
.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
s, comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
es published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. Brian Butler the original Mister Scarlet debuted in Wow Comics
Wow Comics
Wow Comics was a monthly ongoing comic book anthology series, which was published by Fawcett Comics from winter 1940 to March 1952. From issue #9 to #58, the book's cover features were the solo adventures of Fawcett's Mary Marvel character...
#1 (December 1940), and was created by France Herron and Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
.
Publication history
Mr. Scarlet appears in Wow ComicsWow Comics
Wow Comics was a monthly ongoing comic book anthology series, which was published by Fawcett Comics from winter 1940 to March 1952. From issue #9 to #58, the book's cover features were the solo adventures of Fawcett's Mary Marvel character...
#1 later showing up in Mary Marvel
Mary Marvel
Mary Marvel is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine, originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics. Created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze, she first appeared in Captain Marvel Adventures #18 in...
vol 1 #9 both published by Fawcett Comics
Fawcett Comics
Fawcett Comics, a division of Fawcett Publications, was one of several successful comic book publishers during the Golden Age of Comic Books in the 1940s...
. After the Fawcett Comics properties were acquired by National Publications, he appeared in Justice League of America Vol 1 #135-137 published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
.
Brian Butler
Mister Scarlet is district attorney Brian Butler, who along with his adopted son Pinky the Whiz KidPinky, The Whiz Kid
Pinky the Whiz Kid is the name of a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. Pinky Butler debuted in Wow Comics #1 , and was created by France Herron and Jack Kirby.-Fictional character biography:...
, fought evil in his city for several years. His success was such that his employment was frequently in jeopardy due to a lack of crime. As a result, he throughout his series took up several odd jobs to supplement his family's income. He is a Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
-style crimefighter. He had several devices which aided him in apprehending various criminals along with some above-average acrobatic and hand-to-hand combatant skills.
In his first appearance in Wow Comics #1, Brian was based in Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
. This may be the first use of the name of this city in comics. Later retcon
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
s established Mr. Scarlet's base in either New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
or Fawcett City
Fawcett City
Fawcett City is a fictional city, and the home of DC Comics' Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family. It first appeared in the graphic novel "The Power of Shazam" by Jerry Ordway in 1994. Its name is derived from the original publishers of Captain Marvel comics, Fawcett Comics...
.
Although initially appearing in the 1940s, Mr. Scarlet and Pinky were revealed to still be active and at relatively the same age level in the 1970s during a team-up with the Justice League of America
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
and Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
in Justice League of America vol 1 #135-137. It was during this teamup that the two crimefighters joined with several other heroes to form Shazam's Squadron of Justice, when the villain King Kull had teamed up with other villains on an attempt to wipe out humanity on all three Earths after capturing the Elders who empowered the Marvels preventing them from transforming. Scarlet and Pinkey fought against the Weeper
Weeper
The Weeper is the name of two fictitious comic book supervillains, originally published by Fawcett Comics and today owned by DC Comics. The original Weeper first appeared in Master Comics #23 in February 1942....
II and Earth-2 Joker on Earth-S as they committed jewel robberies and turned people into different materials, their goggles helped them against the Weeper's tear gas, although no further adventures of this team were chronicled thereafter.
Pinky Butler
After the Crisis on Infinite EarthsCrisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
, Pinky Butler is revealed to have taken over the identity of his father Mister Scarlet after his death, having been active in Fawcett City
Fawcett City
Fawcett City is a fictional city, and the home of DC Comics' Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family. It first appeared in the graphic novel "The Power of Shazam" by Jerry Ordway in 1994. Its name is derived from the original publishers of Captain Marvel comics, Fawcett Comics...
for several years. It is also revealed how they retained their youth since the 1940s, as the wizard Shazam provided a protective field around the city for decades allowing its inhabitants to age slower than their contemporaries in other cities.
Pinky first appeared as Mr. Scarlet in Power of Shazam #44, saving Freddy Freeman for the first time from Chain Lightning.
Mr. Scarlet later rescues Freddy Freeman
Captain Marvel Jr.
Captain Marvel Jr. is a fictional character, a superhero originally published by Fawcett Comics and currently in the . A member of the Marvel Family team of superheroes, he was created by Ed Herron and Mac Raboy, and first appeared in Whiz Comics #25 in December 1941.Captain Marvel Jr.'s...
from Prometheus
Prometheus (comics)
Prometheus is the name of three fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.The first Prometheus debuted in New Teen Titans vol. 2, #24 and was created by Marv Wolfman and Eduardo Barreto . The second version debuted in New Year's Evil: Prometheus Prometheus is the name...
' captivity, alongside the Bulleteer
Bulleteer
Bulleteer is a fictional character and DC Comics superheroine, a member of the Seven Soldiers. She debuted in Seven Soldiers: The Bulleteer #1 , and was created by Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette...
.
Other versions
- A new version of Mister Scarlet appeared in ElseworldsElseworldsElseworlds is the publication imprint for a group of comic books produced by DC Comics that take place outside the company's canon. According to its tagline: "In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places — some that have existed, and others...
' Kingdom Come and The Kingdom miniseries'. Mister Scarlet is drawn as a bright red devil of a man known for hanging out at Titans TowerTitans TowerTitans Tower is a fictional building in the DC Comics universe. Its various incarnations have been home to the superhero team called the Titans...
bar with Matrix, the new JokerJoker (comics)The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
's daughter, and the new Thunder. He has a large "crest" running down his hood, based on the fin on the original's cowl.