History:
VERGIL CONRAD
Real Name: The handle's Vergil Conrad
Identity/Class: Cat (Beat Generation)
Occupation: Daddy-o, a real gone cat with no gig, dig?
Group Membership: A lone star in a galaxy of his own
Affiliations: His used-to-be Jill
Enemies: That square Steve Cooper
Known Relatives: No handcuffs
Aliases: No other marks, man
Base of Operations: Jungled up in Greenville, USA but he really haunts Beatsville, capital of everywhere.
First Appearance: Teen-Age Romance I#78 (November, 1960)
Powers/Abilities: Focus your audio, Jack. Vergil's a cool cat who knows his groceries. He could make sounds with his bongo. Vergil would never give his stash for kicks of kindness.
The Lofty Scene: Nobody knows, dig? (approximately 6')
Heavy, Man: Nobody knows, dig? (approximately 165 lbs.)
Orbs: Brown
Mop-Top: Black
History:
(Teen-Age Romance I#78 (fb)) - Vergil Conrad was the first beatnik ever seen in the sleepy little town of Greenville and his appearance at the local high school surprised the clean-cut teens there. He went to a history class where the teacher asked for his viewpoint on the French Revolution. Vergil opined that "it was a real crazy rumble... but those jokers were only wasting their time! Life's useless and the whole world's a drag! And all the revolutions can't change it!" This unconventional answer surprised his classmate Jill, who sought him out at the end of the day. Vergil had seen her, "I and liked what I saw!" Fascinated by his "different ideas," Jill talked with him.
A couple of days later, Vergil visited Jill's home for dinner and met her parents. Vergil told Jill's father he didn't believe in work, saying it was for "squares" who "didn't know better!" Jill's parents called him sloppy, rude, smug and had "the philosophy of a bum!" They told Jill not to see him again but Jill refused and continued to see him.
Under Vergil's influence, Jill began dressing like a beatnik. With prom coming up, Jill refused to go, agreeing with Vergil it was for "squares." When Jill's old boyfriend Steve tried to ask her out Jill refused, saying all her time was taken up with Vergil. Vergil mocked Steve, telling him to get another date; Steve grabbed Vergil and was about to strike him but Jill accused Steve of behaving like a "jealous boor" who was intimidated because Vergil was "superior to you, mentally."
(Teen-Age Romance I#78) - Vergil was happy with Jill, calling her the only "hip" person in town. One day, Vergil was outside Jill's house playing his bongo when a fire broke out inside the house. Jill's father had injured his leg and was confined to his bed. Jill asked Vergil for help in rescuing her father but Vergil told her "it's probably already too late! Besdies, why should we risk our lives to save his?" Vergil told her to "get yourself som square who doesn't mind risking his neck for somebody else!"
As if in answer, Steve Cooper appeared and smashed down the door to her father's room, rescuing him from the fire. Steve punched Vergil in the eye as punishment for his cowardice. Jill resumed dating Steve and this taught Jill a valuable lesson to not mistake a "sloppy unconcern about the world for maturity and individuality!"
Comments: Had a real wild thrill thanks to an unidentified writer (possibly Stan Lee and Larry Liber), Dick Giordano and Vince Colletta.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Vergil Conrad's a totally different cat than:
He's a square, a cube, a real creep, he's bad news, man, he's the lord mayor of Dullsville. This square used to be an item with Jill 'til she saw the real gone truth, that he was inferior to Vergil. Squaresville that he was, Steve tried to kick off a scene with Vergil but Jill was hep and lay a righteous coolness on him, man. Alas, man, because Vergil didn't try to save Jill's pops from a fire, Jill like, spaced out on Vergil and Steve decorated Vergil's eye with some percussion.
--Teen-Age Romance I#78) 78 (fb), 78
A real cute chick Vergil had dibs on. She was his 16-year-old Sophie, she dug his vernacular and mentally superior ways. Under Vergil's vibes, she took up beatnik patter and threads, but when her pops was caught in a fire, she spaced out on Vergil because he wouldn't trade his stash for kicks of kindness. Jill went back to that square Steve Cooper.
--Teen-Age Romance I#78) 78 (fb), 78
images: (without ads)
Teen-Age Romance I#78, page 4, panel 2 (main)
Teen-Age Romance I#78, page 3, panel 2 (face)
Teen-Age Romance I#78, page 7, panel 2 (Steve smash!)
Teen-Age Romance I#78, page 6, panel 4 (Jill)
Appearances:
Teen-Age Romance I#78 (November, 1960) - unidentified writer, Dick Giordano (penciler), Vince Colletta (inker), Stan Lee (editor)
First posted: 09/01/2026
Last updated:
04/24/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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