The Crimson Avenger

From Barbelith

dronleto The Crimson Avenger First Appearance: Detective Comics #20, October, 1938

Basically, Crimson Avenger was a Green Hornet knock-off. Wealthy vigilante, newspaper publisher, big hat, Asian chauffeur, identified by a bright color. He's generally said to have inspired the whole crimefighters-wearing-masks thing, at least within the DC Universe. He was the original cover-boy for Detective Comics, paving the way for the Most Famous Masked Detective of All, Batman.

The Crimson Avenger (whose real name was Lee Travis) originally wore a big cloak, in the style of the pulp heroes who inspired his creation. By the time he joined the Seven Soldiers of Victory, his costume had been revamped as a red body-suit and a hood topped with a curious fin. His sidekick Wing (a Kato knock-off) wore a similar outfit, in yellow.

In 1972, the death of Wing brought back the Seven Soldiers (as part of a JLA crossover story) and The Crimson Avenger himself died a few years later -- more or less permanently.

Read more about The Crimson Avenger and Wing at Toonopedia (http://www.toonopedia.com/crimson.htm).

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