Johannes Fliet (Casey, Crime Photographer foe)

JOHANNES FLIET

Real Name: Johannes "Jo" Fliet

Identity/Class: Human (Dutch) (Post-World War II Era)

Occupation: Animal trainer

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Jack "Flashgun" Casey, Dillinger, Louis Fenelli, Bernice King, Charles King, Captain Logan, Nimbu, Tayan, Ann Williams

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile; formerly, Borneo

First Appearance: (radio) Casey, Crime Photographer: "King of the Apes" (May 1, 1947);
(comics) Casey - Crime Photographer I#1 (August, 1949)

Powers/Abilities: Johannes was an expert at training large apes for public performances. He was extremely strong.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6'2")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 190 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Red

History:

(Casey - Crime Photographer I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Johannes Fliet was a Dutchman born on the island of Borneo. Johannes was recruited by circus performer Charles King to serve as one of his ape handlers alongside Tayan, who was also from Borneo. Johannes grew to resent Charles, thinking he knew as much as he did about the apes but Charles was the one whose name was used to advertise their show.

(Casey - Crime Photographer I#1) - When the circus came to New York, Johannes plotted to arrange Charles' death. Charles' favorite ape was an orangtutang named Nimbu, while the most dangerous ape was the orangutang Dillinger. Pretending to administer medicine, Johannes drugged Nimbu to make him ill so he couldn't be used in Charles' next performance. When Charles used Dillinger in the next show, Johannes directed Dillinger to attack Charles; Dillinger killed Charles during their performance. Johannes hoped he would become the head of the circus act with Charles dead.

Seeking to prevent Tayan from competing with him as the lead performer in the act, Johannes stole Tayan's knife and used it to murder Fenelli, a tightrope walker who had been romantically involved with Charles' widow Bernice. The newspaper photographer Jack Casey surmised Tayan had been framed and shared his theory that Johannes was the killer with Captain Logan of the police and Bernice. Bernice agreed to help set up Johannes to be arrested.

Bernice met Johannes at the circus and he suggested she should sign over 90% of the act to him, since without her husband the act needed a new star ape trainer. Bernice refused, suggesting instead that she could blackmail Johannes into working for free. Angered, Johannes admitted he'd killed Charles and Fenelli and started to drag Bernice to Dillinger's cage, intending for Dillinger to kill her. Captain Logan, Jack Casey and reporter Ann Williams stepped out of the darkness once Johannes made his confession. Johannes tried to use Bernice as a human shield to escape the police but when he pressed up against Dillinger's cage, Dillinger reached through the bars and strangled Johannes to death.

Comments: Created by Alonzo Deen Cole; adapted to comics by an unidentified writer and Vern Henkel.

Johannes originated in an episode of the CBS radio program Casey, Crime Photographer called "The King of the Apes" that was written by Alonzo Deen Cole and first broadcast May 1, 1947.

I think Vern Henkel had only heard of orangutangs by rough description.

The character of Jack "Flashgun" Casey originated in the pulps written by George Harmon Coxe; CBS turned it into a radio series that lasted 1943-1955. At the time Marvel obtained the license for the comic book from CBS, Casey had been a top-rated radio program in 1948 and 1949 - but for some reason it dropped in ratings in 1950 and the whole Casey, Crime Photographer franchise gradually withered away. Marvel's comic lasted just 4 issues.

In the comic version, the details of Fenelli's death weren't described - but in the radio version, he was decapitated with Tayan's knife. Maybe a bit too gruesome, even for a pre-Code comic. Also, Fenelli's first name was only used in the radio version.

Jack "Flashgun" Casey is © George Harmon Coxe; Johannes Fliet is © CBS Studios, Inc.

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:
Johannes Fliet should not be confused with:

"FLITTER" - techno-art creation of Bereet--Incredible Hulk II#269
any other 'Johannes' or 'Fliet'

DILLINGER

Dillinger was the most dangerous orangutan in Charles King's show, hence why King named him after gangster John Dillinger. Johannes manipulated Dillinger into killing Charles during one of their performances. When Johannes came near Dillinger's cage while trying to evade the police, Dillinger reached through the bars and grabbed him by the neck, strangling him to death.