FALCON

Real Name: Carl Burgess

Identity/Class: Human (World War 2 Era

Occupation: Assistant district attorney, vigilante

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Angel (Tom Halloway), Mrs. Bankhead, Paul Bankhead, Black Widow (Claire Voyant), Challenger (Bill Waring), Louise, Judge Maurice Martin

Enemies: James Buttersworth, Big Jim Peterson, Bob Schustak, Dr. Ashok Sunga, Mr. Turvy

Place of Birth: Buffalo, New York, USA

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Education: J.D. in law

Base of Operations: Manhattan, New York, USA

First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics I#5/9 (June, 1940)

Powers/Abilities: The Falcon was an excellent hand-to-hand combatant with keen detective skills. Burgess was also an experienced attorney with extensive knowledge of the US legal system. He occasionally wielded a pistol. He also had some knowledge of forensic sciences and kept a laboratory which included an x-ray machine.

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 175 lbs.
Eyes: Gray
Hair: Brown

History:

(Daring Mystery Comics I#5/9) - Assistant district attorney Carl Burgess was called by the police to examine the remains of Jeff Willen, who had been killed by Dr. Ashok Sunga, who left his "wand of death" on Willen's body. Burgess immediately confronted Sunga, who claimed he'd killed Willen by placing a curse upon him. Determined to learn how he was really causing these deaths, Carl donned his red and blue costumed identity of the Falcon to continue his investigation. Dr. Sunga somehow learned the Falcon was coming after him and sent on his henchmen Turvy to stop him. Turvy chopped down a tree in an attempt to crash the Falcon's car but the tree missed his vehicle and the Falcon defeated Turvy in a fight.

The Falcon brought Turvy back to his hideout and threatened to shoot him with his own gun. Just as Turvy was about to talk, one of Dr. Sunga's men knocked on the door with a package for Turvy. When Turvy opened it, he beheld the "wand of death" and died before he could tell the Falcon its secret. The Falcon studied the "wand of death" but didn't detect any chemicals or poisons.

The next day, Burgess returned to Dr. Sunga's office and told him he was dropping his investigation. Dr. Sunga thought Burgess believed in the curse and schemed to get the Falcon out of the way by sending him a "wand of death." When Sunga's package arrived at his hideout, the Falcon placed it in his x-ray machine and saw the "wand of death" inside. Carrying the unopened package, the Falcon returned to Dr. Sunga's office. As the Falcon fought Sunga's henchmen he finally learned it was the box itself that was killing its victims.

Dr. Sunga opened a trapdoor beneath the Falcon that dropped him into a crocodile pit but the Falcon used the crocodile's tail to fling himself out of the pit. Having surmised the package contained an electrical charge that killed the person who opened it, the Falcon threw the box at Dr. Sunga and he was electrocuted. The Falcon delivered Sunga's remaining two henchmen to the police and, as Burgess, pretended to be surprised when he received news about it.

(Daring Mystery Comics I#6/5) - After Spike Pantelli was executed by the state, members of his mob began targeting the jurors. As Burgess was leaving court with Judge Martin, gangsters suddenly drove by and shot Judge Martin and a policeman to death. Burgess took the policeman's gun and shot the driver of the car and was able to capture two of the occupants. In court, the gangsters identified their lawyer as James Buttersworth.

When Burgess heard Spike Pantelli's friend Bo Schustak had just been released from prison he decided to investigate as the Falcon. Now garbed in a gray/white costume with yellow/red gloves, the Falcon confronted Buttersworth and asked for the location of Schustak. Buttersworth drew a gun on him but the Falcon knocked him down and forced Schustak's location. Suddenly, Schustak's men entered Buttersworth's home and attacked the Falcon. Overpowering him they tied him up and brought him to Schustak. Schustak told his men to take him "for a ride" as the Falcon observed they were planning to rob the Midland Bank. As the gangsters were driving the Falcon to an execution point the Falcon attacked the driver, knocking him out; the Falcon jumped out of their car as it went over a cliff.

As the gang started to rob the Midland Bank, the Falcon beat the gangsters to the bank and used tear gas to drive them outside, where the police were waiting. Later, the district attorney asked Burgess to handle the Schustak case.

(Human Torch Comics I#2/3) - Carl Burgess found himself prosecuting Big Jim Peterson, a local political boss. While leaving the courtroom after a day on the case, Carl met Mrs. Bankhead, whose husband Paul had received a note threatening to kill him unless he paid $50,000. Carl accompanied Mrs. Bankhead to her home and found Paul ahd already been kidnapped and left a ransom note for $50,000. Carl left Mrs. Bankhead and adopted his guise as the Falcon, delivering the requested $50,000 to the designated location that evening but placing luminous paint on the satchel so he could easily follow the person who claimed it. The falcon followed the man with the money back to a farmhouse hideout and sabotaged a car outside the farmhouse. The Falcon found Paul Bankhead tied up inside and fought the kidnappers. Although one of them knocked the Falcon out, the sabotaged car couldn't permit them to escape. The Falcon revived and captured the kidnappers, then set Paul Bankhead free. Learning the $50,000 was going to be used to be given to Big Jim Peterson to help him bribe his way out of trouble, Carl returned to the courtroom the next day to conclude his case against Peterson. The jury was convinced of Peterson's guilt and sentenced him to prison. The district attorney mentioned to Carl he was thankful for the Falcon's work.

(Marvel Knights: Spider-Man I#9 (fb)) - One one occasion, the Falcon fought gangsters alongside the Angel, Black Widow and Challenger.

Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and Maurice Gutwirth.

Falcon received an OHOTMU entry in the Marvel Mystery Handbook.

My gosh, his first appearance is a pretty poorly-written story. How exactly did Dr. Sunga find out the Falcon was after him? And how did he know where the Falcon's hideout was? And if the box killed people when they opened it, then how did it kill Sunga in the climax when the Falcon threw it at him?

This profile was completed on 11/24/2025 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Falcon should not be confused with:

images: (without ads)
Marvel Mystery Handbook, Falcon entry (main)
Daring Mystery Comics I#6/5, page 3, panel 6 (face)
Daring Mystery Comics I#5/9, page 2, panel 8 (original costume)

Appearances:
Daring Mystery Comics I#5/9 (June, 1940) - unidentified writer, Maurice Gutwirth (artist), Martin Goodman (editor)
Daring Mystery Comics I#6/5 (September, 1940) - unidentified writer, L. Bing (artist), Joe Simon (editor)
Human Torch Comics I#2/3 (Fall, 1940) - unidentified writer, Paul Reinman (artist), Joe Simon (editor)
Marvel Knights: Spider-Man I#9 (February, 2005) - Mark Millar (writer), Terry Dodson (penciler), Rachel Dodson (inker), Axel Alonso (editor)

First posted: 09/05/2026
Last updated: 11/24/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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