JERRY LARKIN

Real Name: Jerry Larkin

Identity/Class: Human (WW2 Era)

Occupation: Soldier, former comedian

Group Membership: Howling Commandos

Affiliations: Howling Commandos, Dino Manelli, Sam Sawyer

Enemies: Nazis

Known Relatives: Joy Larkin (wife), unnamed children

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: England, World War 2

First Appearance: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#63 (February, 1969)

Powers/Abilities: Larkin was a typical soldier, equipped with a rifle and grenades. He was also trained in judo. He was fearless in battle, owing to his medical condition.

History: (Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#63 (fb, BTS))- Jerry Larkin was once a comedy performer, partnered with Dino Manelli. After Dino became a famous actor, Larkin drifted through various bit parts until he finally joined the military when America joined World War 2. Larkin eventually learned that he had cancer, but continued to serve in the army, and finally found himself able to take a post with the Howling Commandos. He let Dino know a few weeks before joining.

(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#63)- When Jerry arrived at the Howlers' barracks, they had just ended a poker game wherein "Pinky" Pinkerton had cheated. "Reb" Ralston was put off when Larkin called him a sore loser and attacked him, but Larkin dispatched him with a judo throw. Larkin then presented himself to Sgt. Fury. Fury warned him that it took more than papers to be a Howling Commando, but Larkin was certain he was up to it, and the other Howlers welcomed him aboard.

Now that he was in, Dino revealed to the others that Larkin was an old friend of his, and the others were encouraged to hear Manelli vouch for him. 24 hours later, Larkin joined the Howlers on a mission to Germany. Soon after parachuting in, the Howlers were fired upon by a machine gun nest, and Larkin took the nest out single-handedly. Fury gave him a stern warning to not act like a hero, and Larkin promised he wouldn't.

As they journeyed through a forest, Fury was shot by a sniper and had to be pulled back to the rendezvous point by Pinkerton. Larkin disobeyed Dum-Dum Dugan and took off, single-handedly taking out both snipers. They continued along to destroy a German port, and Larkin helped "Izzy" Cohen plant his explosives, taking out a machine gun nest with a grenade. As they raced to get out of the way of the impending explosion, one of the machine gunners, dying, shot Larkin in the back. Larkin struggled to safety, then collapsed in Manelli's arms. He told Manelli he didn't want any medals-- that he wouldn't have done what he had done if he hadn't been dying of cancer. He then died.

Comments: Created by Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers and John Severin.

Jerry Larkin was based on comedian Jerry Lewis, just as Dino Manelli was based on Dean Martin.

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
Jerry Larkin should not be confused with:


Images taken from:
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#63, page 10, panel 1
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#63, page 5, panel 2


Last updated: 05/23/04

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