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Crimson Avenger

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Crimson Avenger
The Golden Age Crimson Avenger as shown in his first cover photo, from Detective Comics #22 (December 1938); art by Jim Chambers.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearance(Travis)
Detective Comics #20 (October 1938)
(Carlyle)
Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (April 2000)
Created by(Carlyle)
Geoff Johns
Scott Kolins
In-story information
Alter egoLee Walter Travis
Jill Carlyle
Abilities(Travis)
Trained soldier
Skilled martial artist
(Carlyle)
Teleportation
Intangibility

Crimson Avenger (Lee Walter Travis) is a superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Detective Comics #20 (October 1938).[1] He is the first superhero and costume hero published in Detective Comics. He preceded Batman, and appeared in the same year after Action Comics #1 debuted characters like Superman, which led to the Golden Age of Comic Books. He is sometimes depicted as one of the first masked heroes within the fictional DC Universe. He is also known as a founding member of DC's second depicted superhero team, the Seven Soldiers of Victory.

Publication history

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Crimson Avenger (along with his sidekick Wing) first appeared in the DC Comics anthology American comic book series Detective Comics in issue #20.[2][3] The Crimson Avenger had many similarities to The Green Hornet, including a sidekick named Wing who was an Asian valet, and a gas gun that he used to subdue opponents.[4] In his early appearances he dressed in a red trenchcoat, a fedora, with a red mask covering his face; except for the red, he was visually similar to The Shadow. Later, when superheroes became more popular than costumed vigilantes, his costume was changed to a more standard superhero outfit, consisting of red tights, yellow boots, trunks and crest, and a "sun" symbol which was revealed in 2003 to be a stylized bullet hole. The character continued appearing in Detective Comics until issue #89 (July 1944).[5]

According to Jess Nevins' Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes, "most of his opponents are ordinary, but there is the Boss and his zombies, the occasional mad scientist, and some name villains like Echo, Methuselah, and the crime genius the Brain".[6] In 1941, the Crimson Avenger joined the Seven Soldiers of Victory, a second superteam styled after the popular Justice Society of America appearing in All-Star Comics. The Seven Soldiers debuted in Leading Comics #1 (December 1941), and continued until #14 (March 1945).[7]

Fictional character biography

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Two separate accounts of Crimson Avenger's origins have been printed, which complement each other in some areas, but contradict in others. The first backstory appeared in Secret Origins #5 (August 1986), and was written by Roy Thomas, with art by Gene Colan. Lee Travis, the young publisher of the Globe-Leader newspaper, attends a costume ball on Halloween in 1938. This is the night of Orson Welles' broadcast of The War of the Worlds. Having gotten advance notice of the radio show, a group of criminals dressed in alien-like costumes take advantage of the ensuing panic to rob the party guests. The villains murder a young journalist and Travis is enraged, going after the costumed thieves and exchanging gunfire. Travis drives the thieves into a ditch and disappears before the police arrive, now inspired to become the Crimson Avenger.[8] The use of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds in the story was inspired by the fact that Crimson Avenger's first comic book appearance was dated October 1938, the same month as the radio broadcast.[9]

The second, extended origin appeared in Golden Age Secret Files & Origins (2001). In this version, Lee Travis was a war-weary man of the world trying to forget the horrors of the Wars and seek some inner peace of mind. To this end, he briefly settled in the mystical city of Nanda Parbat, where he was shown the future career of Superman by Rama Kushna. When Travis returned to civilization, he found that nearly ten years had gone by for the rest of the world, at which point he took to the streets as the Crimson, and later the Crimson Avenger.

In a one shot story named "Whatever Happened to the Crimson Avenger?" featured in DC Comics Presents #38 (October 1981), Lee Travis finds out that he is suffering from an incurable terminal disease. While brooding on his situation, Travis spots a ship blinking SOS with its lights. Travis dons his suit one last time and heads out to investigate. He discovers the ship was taken over by criminals seeking to steal its cargo of unstable chemical waste and the captain was trying to summon help. Travis engages the criminals, but is unable to prevent a grenade from starting a fire that threatens to cause a massive explosion. Knowing he is dying anyway, Travis makes the crew abandon ship while he pilots the ship to a safe distance and is killed.[10][8]

Other versions

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The Jill Carlyle incarnation of Crimson Avenger as depicted in JSA #52 (November 2003). Art by Carlos Pacheco.
  • Albert Elwood, an eccentric inventor, made a single appearance as the Crimson Avenger in World's Finest Comics #131 (February 1963) and attempted to help Superman, Batman and Robin thwart the robberies of the Octopus Gang. Elwood helps the heroes capture the gang and retires right afterward.[11]
  • An alternate universe version of Lee Travis / Crimson Avenger appears in Batman: Detective No. 27. This version is a detective.
  • King Crimson, a character based on Crimson Avenger, appears in Kingdom Come.

Jill Carlyle

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A female Crimson Avenger first appeared in Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (April 2000), created by Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins. This version is a minor Spirit of Vengeance and a lawyer who lost a case in which the defendant was clearly guilty. She obtained a pair of Colt pistols originally owned by the first Crimson Avenger and used them to exact vengeance upon the unknown criminal.[12] These guns are cursed, giving the Crimson Avenger an eternally bleeding bullet wound on her chest. Additionally, if Crimson Avenger uses the guns for revenge, they will track and kill those who have taken an innocent life.[13][14][15]

In other media

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  • The Lee Travis incarnation of Crimson Avenger makes non-speaking appearances in Justice League Unlimited. This version is a member of the Justice League.
  • The Lee Travis incarnation of Crimson Avenger appears in a photograph in the Stargirl episode "Brainwave" as a member of the Seven Soldiers of Victory.
  • The Lee Travis incarnation of Crimson Avenger appears in issue #33 of the Justice League Unlimited tie-in comic.[16]

References

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  1. ↑ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ↑ Booker, M. Keith (2014). Comics through Time: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas [4 volumes]: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313397516.
  3. ↑ Hall, Richard A. (2019). The American Superhero: Encyclopedia of Caped Crusaders in History. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781440861246.
  4. ↑ Goulart, Ron (2001). Great American Comic Books. Publications International. p. 56. ISBN 9780785355908. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  5. ↑ Benton, Mike (1992). Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company. p. 160. ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  6. ↑ Nevins, Jess (2013). Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes. High Rock Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-61318-023-5.
  7. ↑ Benton, Mike (1992). Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company. p. 169. ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  8. 1 2 Wallace, Dan (2008), "Crimson Avenger I", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 90, ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1, OCLC 213309017
  9. ↑ Thomas, Roy (2009). All-Star Companion: Volume 4. TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 80, 215. ISBN 9781605490045.
  10. ↑ Wells, John (May 2013). "Flashback: Whatever Happened to...?". Back Issue! (#64). TwoMorrows Publishing: 51–61.
  11. ↑ Fleisher, Michael L. (2007). The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume Three: Superman. DC Comics. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-4012-1389-3.
  12. ↑ Flint, Hanna (April 24, 2018). "10 fierce superheroes the goddess Beyoncé should play". SYFY WIRE. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  13. ↑ Wallace, Dan (2008), "Crimson Avenger II", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 90, ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1, OCLC 213309017
  14. ↑ Wiese, Jason (June 15, 2020). "7 DC Characters Zendaya Would Be Perfect To Play". CINEMABLEND. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  15. ↑ Holland, Stephanie (February 19, 2020). "10 Black Female Heroes We Want To See In Live Action". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Justice League Unlimited #33 - Everything Old is New Again (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
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