carson-len-starr-full-tinycarson-len-starr-face-part LEN CARSON

Real Name: Len Carson

Identity/Class: Human; possibly had some magic or other psychic powers;
    pre-Modern time period (circa 1970 A.D., and presumably 2-4 decades before that

Occupation: Comic book/Magazine story writer

Group Membership: None known

Affiliations: O'Neal (police officer), Whitney (editor and/or publisher);
    formerly Starr the Slayer;

Enemies: Starr the Slayer;

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Evil One" (from Starr)

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    formerly an unidentified metropolitan city, possibly Manhattan, New Yorkcarson-len-starr-face-shout

First Appearance: Chamber of Darkness#4/3 "Sword and the Sorcerers" (April, 1970)

Powers/Abilities: Len Carson had some experience writing comic book/magazine stories.

    Under unrevealed circumstances, he dreamed of the adventures of Starr the Slayer, which he wrote into plots for a successful series of stories.

    It is further unrevealed whether his writing the plot to kill off Starr somehow transported Starr forward in time to confront him; the circumstances that brought Starr forward and returned him to his time are unrevealed.

    He smoked cigarettes, which would have limited his endurance and caused other health problems while limiting his endurance, etc.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'10")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 180 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Orange

History:

(Chamber of Darkness#4/3 (fb) - BTS) - Under unexplained circumstances, comic book writer Len Carson began dreaming of the adventures of swords and sorcery barbarian hero Starr the Slayer (see comments). Using these dreams as plots for comics, Len wrote a series of magazine (presumably comic book-ish) stories featuring Starr, published by a man named Whitney.

    Over time, the dreams affected Len, and he became more him uptight and eventually developed stomach ulcers.

(Chamber of Darkness#4/3) - Awakening from a dream of Starr, Len considered that he had the plot for his next story, but that he could take the strain no longer. He called Whitney, told him he had another Starr the Slayer classic "for that rag you call a magazine." He advised Whitney that he was calling to tell him that he would not like the ending, as he was going to kill off "that sword-swingin' slob." As the stories were successful, Whitney told him that he couldn't do that, and Len told him that he could do whatever he wanted, as he was the author. "You just publish 'em and let me write 'em, huh?"

    After Whitney hung up on him, Len considered that it could be that he had just knocked off the best meal ticket a writer ever had."

(Chamber of Darkness#4/3 (fb) - BTS) - Over a few hours, Len frantically typed up his plot.

(Chamber of Darkness#4/3 (fb) - BTS) - After Starr slew Trull in Zardath, Starr was transported to the city in which Len lived, and he sensed that Len had brought him there to slay him. carson-len-starr-vstarr.jpg

(Chamber of Darkness#4/3) - As Len headed out to mail in his sword-and-sorcery swan song, he encountered police officer O'Neal, who greeted him and asked if he was still writing those stories he claimed came from dreams. Len told him that he had just finished his last one, as the doctor had told him they were getting him to uptight. Having read one of the stories the other day, O'Neal noted his disappointment and that the stories he had read were really good.

    Len silently considered that another nightmare like tonight's and he would go crazy. Nonetheless, he also thought about how he had kind of gotten attached to Starr and that he couldn't help feeling a bit like...

carson-len-starr-final    Len's thoughts were interrupted when he was confronted by Starr himself, who called him a murderer, referring to Len's intent to destroy him; Starr advised Len that he could slay him instead. Dodging Starr's first sword-thrust, Len argued that he had created him and that he was not real. Starr countered that then Len should stand still, as a phantom blade could scarcely harm him. As Len continued to dodge, Starr noted that the "wizard" had not the courage to test his words. Hearing that, Len argued that Trull was Starr's magical enemy, not him. Starr called him a liar, telling him that he was far worse and more dangerous than Trull, as Len had summoned him to this city of titan towers.

    Continuing to argue that he had dreamed up Starr, he tried to show him his plot, but the English language on the paper was just strange symbols to Starr. As Starr raised his sword, Len futilely stated that he had made Starr a hero and that he couldn't just murder him in cold blood. As he began his down stroke, Starr asked the "wizard" who would call it murder when he killed only to save his own life.

(Chamber of Darkness#4/3 (fb) - BTS) - Starr presumably slew Len with his sword.

(Chamber of Darkness#4/3 - BTS) - Starr awakened, back in his own time near the city of Zardath, where his companion, the minstrel Morro, noted that Starr had never departed but had rather been lying there on the ground the whole time.

Comments: Created by Roy Thomas and Barry Smith.

    It is unrevealed if Len just was receiving visions of Starr's adventures or whether he was directly influencing them; Starr at least believed that if Len wrote his death that he would indeed die.

    Len Carson previously had a sub-profile under Starr the Slayer, originally published 11/20/2005.

    Whitney and O'Neal probably deserve sub-profiles, but time has been tight lately. Someone else can add those in if they wish.

    This profile was completed 05/30/2026, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th anniversary 's celebratory event to represent Starr the Slayer's characters and stories.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Len Carson should be distinguished from:




images: (without ads)
Chamber of Darkness#4/3, pg. 4, panel 3 (face, yelling on phone);
          panel 4 (full, tiny);
       pg. 5, panel 1 (face, partial, calm);
          panel 5 (attacked by Starr);
       pg. 6, panel 7-8 (Starr with sword raised, CARSON's hand on plot)
Appearances:
Chamber of Darkness#4/3 "Sword and the Sorcerers" (April, 1970) - Roy Thomas (writer), Barry Smith (artist), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 09/02/2026
Last updated: 08/08/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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