Evil or Just Plain Weird?
The Vintage Villain Lineup
Our most recent challenge over at the Minute Men Newsletter asks folks to identify the six baddies pictured above. If you’re a newsletter subscriber, you know the details. If you’re not, you can subscribe or check out the challenge by clicking here.
Either way, read on! We think you’ll get a kick out of these oddball villains.
Dr. Narsty (1943)
One of the more interesting responses we received over at the Minute Men Newsletter centers on Dr. Narsty, aka “the nastiest man in the world,” who tunnels out of prison to seek revenge on superhero Captain Tootsie.
Created to market Tootsie Rolls, Captain Tootsie gets his strength from eating candy. (That’s right, kids. If you want to be strong, eat sugar!)
Among Dr. Narsty’s evil schemes was to plug Tootsie’s pie hole so he couldn’t eat Tootsie Rolls. (Honest! Would I make this up?)
Evil Twins?
As pointed out by one of our newsletter subscribers, Narsty bears a striking resemblance to another evil doctor from the 1940s–the equally bald and bespectacled Dr. Sivana–archenemy of Captain Marvel from Whiz Comics.
Like the townfolk in the third panel above, I’m sure I never heard of Dr. Sivana before. Nevertheless, looking at him now, I must admit he bears a striking resemblance to Dr. Narsty.
That Other Bald Guy with Glasses
They call him Mirror Man, an evil genius who (like Narsty) escapes from prison to make trouble for his nemesis. In this case, the rival is Batman, and Mirror Man’s plan? Use a mirror-like device to see through Batman’s mask, thus revealing the Caped Crusader’s true identity.
Another Evil Genius
Perhaps the strangest looking villain in our rogues gallery is Animal Vegetable Mineral Man (Doom Patrol 1964).
Equal parts T. Rex, plant, and crystal (not to mention a bit of human head peaking out of his saurian neck), AVMM was completely human before falling into a vat of amino acids.
Once transformed, AVMM uses his newfound strength to seek vengeance on both the Doom Patrol … and his former science teacher.
Strangest of the Strange
Imagine an alien creature coming to Earth and speaking the line in the first panel above. Read it out loud to get the full effect. Crazy, right?
The big green “dictator of Uranus” made his debut in the June 1940 issue of Prize Comics, where he faced off against futuristic superhero Power Nelson.
Runners Up
Competing with Bloor for the title of strangest villain of all is Reefer King (Dynamic Comics 16), who gets his power from (what else?) smoking reefer. Fortunately, superhero Yankee Boy is on the case.
And finally we have …
Making his debut in Blue Beetle # 4 (January 1965), The Praying Mantis Man tries and fails to prey on titular superhero, The Blue Beetle.
More at the Minute Men Newsletter
Weird super villains are just one of the topics we’ve been discussing over at the Minute Men Newsletter.
Designed as a vehicle for exploring topics related to the forthcoming novel Minute Men: Execute & Run, the newsletter is scheduled to release its twelfth bi-weekly issue on October 14, the same day MM: E&R goes up for sale at your favorite bookseller.
If you’re a newsletter subscriber, thanks for your support. If not, you can join the adventure via the signup box below.
We’ll meet you there!
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