CRACKSMAN
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Normal human (WWII
era)
Occupation: Bank thief
Group Membership: Leader of his small gang (two
thugs)
Affiliations: His two thugs; briefly Mr. Groody
(pawn)
Enemies: Mr. Groody (first name unrevealed),
Midwood Bank & staff, Patriot
(Jeff Mace)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Small town in USA (name
unrevealed)
First Appearance: Marvel Mystery Comics I#62/5
(March, 1945)
Powers/Abilities: Cracksman is a debonair
master thief but ruthless in his goal of stealing only very large sums
of money. He has excellent safe-cracking and lock-picking skills.
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 160 lbs.
Eyes: Dark brown
Hair: Black, white at temples
and back
History:
(Marvel Mystery Comics I#62/5 (fb) - BTS) - Cracksman
planned a big raid on a small town bank. Desiring more than what the
bank held, he came up with a plot to break into the bank's vault and
not steal anything, only leaving a note that the bank held too little
worth stealing but attached to a package containing $10,000 entrapment
money. The plan in motion, Cracksman and his two thugs broke into the
safe at Midwood Bank at midnight and tied up the watchman.
(Marvel Mystery Comics I#62/5) - Cracksman and his two
thugs left the wrapped bribe money and note, and untied the watchman.
(Marvel Mystery Comics I#62/5 (fb)) - Passing nearby,
reporter Jeff Mace (secretly the heroic vigilante Patriot) interrupted
the crooks as they left, but was knocked out by Cracksman's thugs.
Cracksman drove his
men away.
(Marvel Mystery Comics I#62/5) - The watchman called
up bank manager Mr. Groody about the break-in. Groody rushed over and
found Cracksman's dismissive note and secretly held the bait money.
Later, Mace asked asked about the bandits but Groody nervously laughed
it off. Cracksman confronted Groody in his home when he returned and
used the money bait to blackmail Groody to assist in a larger robbery.
As instructed by Cracksman, Groody had $250,000 delivered to the bank
the next night for the thief to raid. But Mace was suspicious and
learned of the big shipment, and went as Patriot to Groody's house to
investigate. There, Groody advised Cracksman the money had arrived;
Cracksman foolishly declared he would steal everything. Patriot
intervened and the terrified Groody tried to call police, but was
ruthlessly stabbed to death by Cracksman. Incensed at the murder,
Patriot punched Cracksman but was knocked out by a thug. The fiends
tied the hero up and took him to the bank, where the thugs began
emptying the vault. Near the vault's door, Cracksman told Patriot that
he would be left in the sealed vault to suffocate; instead (and despite
having his arms still bound), Patriot shoved Cracksman inside the vault
and pushed the door shut. Trapped, Cracksman and his two thugs had to
wait until the police arrived to be released, but Cracksman still
called for revenge some day.
Comments: Creators not credited.
Cracksman's unusually tall forehead may be from
turricephaly,
which is a type of cephalic disorder where the head appears tall with a
small length and width.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Cracksman has no known connections to:
images:
(without ads)
Marvel Mystery Comics I#62/5, p4, pan1 (main image)
p4, pan2 (headshot)
Appearances:
Marvel Mystery Comics I#62/5 (March, 1945) - uncredited writer, artist,
editor
First posted: 09/05/2026
Last updated:
11/19/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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