REX
GRIFFINREX
GRIFFIN
Real Name: Rex Griffin
Identity/Class: Human (World War I era)
Occupation: Pilot
Group Membership: US
Army Air Corps;
formerly a flying circus
Affiliations: Paula Jackson, Karl Kaufman (aka Phantom Eagle), Major Jack Norriss, fellow pilots
Enemies: Central Powers of World War I and their agents (especially the
Germans);
at the time of his death, he
resented Karl Kaufman for his refusal t flight
Known Relatives: None;
he was engaged to Pamela Jackson at the time of his
death.
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: A military base around Hampton,
Virginia
First Appearance: Marvel Super-Heroes II#16 (September, 1968)
Powers/Abilities: Rex Griffin was a skilled stunt
pilot, but an injury ended that career.
He served as a captain in the military, and he presumably had training in combat and military strategy.
He was willing to risk his life for his
country.
History:
(Marvel Super-Heroes II#16 (fb)) - As high school students, Rex Griffin
and Karl Kaufman were friends, but they were rivals for the hand of
Paula Jackson, whom they considered to be the most beautiful girl in
town. When Rex got the better of Kaufman and demanded he say uncle, Paul
told him not to hurt Karl and agreed to go to the dance with him.
Rex and Karl nonetheless remained close
friends. After they graduated, they learned to fly together and
eventually became partners in a flying circus. However, one day, Rex,
trying to show off for Paula, got a little too daring, struck Karl's
plane and crashed. While Karl suffered more minor injuries, Rex was
hospitalized; lucky to survive, he was grounded for life.
(Marvel Super-Heroes II#16 (fb) - BTS) - Rex and Paula were engaged, and he became a captain in the US Army Air Corps.
(Marvel Super-Heroes II#16 (fb)) - At the Army
Experimental Air Station in Hampton, Virginia, Rex and Paula were
reunited with Karl, whom Rex introduced to US Army Air Corps Major Jack
Norris.
(Marvel
Super-Heroes II#16 (fb) - BTS) - Despite pressure
from Norris and others, however, Karl refused to join the military,
fearing that if he fought against Germany, his parents, who still live
in Germany, would be made to suffer. Karl instead secretly created the
costumed identity of the Phantom Eagle so that he could take to the
skies for the USA safely. Only his friend Curly Anderson shared his
secret.
(Marvel Super-Heroes II#16 - BTS) <1917, March 5> - The Phantom Eagle came upon a formation of German Fokkers, outfought them and discovered that they had come from an enormous dirigible that had invaded the USA.
(Marvel Super-Heroes II#16) - Karl called Rex at the nearest base, instructing him to tell Major Norriss to get a squadron of fighters over Long Island Sound immediately as the Germans were about to invade via a dirigible aircraft carrier. Rex told Karl that they didn't have any decent fighters, and that they wouldn't stand a chance unless Karl led the squadron. Pretending that he wouldn't serve due to the military not paying well enough, Karl refused.
Despite not having flown in months, Rex resolved the lead the squadron, unwilling to let his injuries stop him. Paula tried to stop him, asking what the old crates they had could do against German Fokkers, but Rex refused to listen, telling her that they'd ahve to hope that their boys were better pilots. He bade her farewell, telling her, if anything happened to him, to remember that he loved her.
Although appreciating that his inexperienced pilots were likely to go down in flames, Rex exhorted them to fight and possibly earn some medals. He further considered that if he lived through it, he'd see to it that Kaufman could never show his face in the USA again.
As they approached the dirigible,
German pilots attacked, and the American pilots held their own, despite
being outnumbered and outexperienced. Pursued by a fokker, Rex went into
a power dive, but the Phantom Eagle arrived and shot down the pursuing
German's plane. Rex gave a thankful sign to the masked pilot, but Karl
realized that he had no business being up there, and that it was his own
fault for not agreeing to lead the squadron.
The Phantom Eagle then led the US
planes to attack the dirigible, after which he landed on the dirigible,
planted explosives and fought past the Germans back to his to escape
before the explosion.
(Marvel Super-Heroes II#16 (fb) - BTS) - Meanwhile,
however, Rex's plane apparently took a bullet to the rudder, and he lost
control of his plane. 
(Marvel Super-Heroes II#16) - Seeing Rex's plane
spinning wildly, the Phantom Eagle flew right over top of him and tossed a
rope down into his cockpit. Rex grabbed the rope and got out of his plane,
which spun down in smoke. However, as Rex began to climb the rope, he
suffered a cramp/spasm in his injured arm, and he lost his grip on the
rope and fell to his death.
At Rex's funeral, he was commended for having paid the highest price of all to keep his country free.
Karl watched from a distance,
considering that everybody there blamed him for Rex's death, and he
considered that they were right. He vowed that as the Phantom Eagle he
would continue to oppose Germany until the threat of the kaiser was
ended.
Comments: Created by Gary Friedrich and Herb Trimpe.
Rex previously had a
sub-profile under Phantom Eagle, originally published back in 06/17/2007
This profile was completed 11/29/2025, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Rex Griffin should be distinguished from:
First posted: 09/01/2026
Last updated: 11/29/2025
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. If you like this stuff, you
should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!