History:
LANK HULL
Real Name: Lank Hull
Identity/Class: Human (Post-World
war II Era)
Occupation: Convict
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Rita Vaughn
Enemies: Kirk
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: A prison somewhere in USA
First Appearance: World of Mystery I#1 (June, 1956)
Powers/Abilities: Lank was an amateur mesmerist. He had an incomplete knowledge of mesmerism and proved capable of mesmerizing himself.
Height: Unrevealed
(approximately 5'11")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 150 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
History:
(World of Mystery I#1/2) - Lank Hull was a convict sentenced to 20 years in prison. After one year behind bars he found himself in the prison library one day where he discovered a book titled 'Mesmerism' which promised to teach the reader how to mesmerize others. Lank wondered if the knowledge in that book could be used to break out of the prison. He wondered if anyone else had tried or if perhaps it had never been noticed before. While the guard wasn't looking he tore a page of details on mesmerism from the book so he could study it in his cell.
That evening, Lank followed the instructions on the page to mesmerize using a mirror to reflect the light. Gazing into the mirror he practised saying "Look into my eyes! Look deep! Your will is gone... my mind holds you in its power! I am your master!" Unwittingly, Lank had mesmerized himself!
Within his own mind, Lank imagined himself using mesmerism to control the mind of Kirk, the guard and forcing him to open his cell, then calmly walking out of the prison, control every guard he met. He imagined himself a week after his escape meeting Rita Vaughn, a waitress and placing her into his thrall. He ordered Rita to marry him and she complied then he planned to flee with Rita to Argentina with her to avoid recapture.
However, as his airplane set off to Argentina is suddenly started turning around and flying directly towards the prison. Confused, Lank took control of the pilot's mind and returned to the air field. He decided to flee to Canada instead and boarded a train but the train started to turn around as well. He took control of the engineer and made him return to the station. For his third attempt, Lank boarded a ship bound for Europe but the ship turned around out of port. Lank tried to take control of the ship's captain but the captain resisted him and slapped him in the face.
At that moment, Lank awoke in his cell and learned he had mesmerized himself; his escape, his romance with Rita and his various attempts to flee the country had all occurred in his mind. Lank realized he would have to serve his 19 years behind bars but continued to mesmerize himself with the mirror, telling Rita to wait for him, apparently revisiting his romance with her inside his own mind.
Comments: Created by Carl Wessler and Robert Q. Sale.
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:
Lank Hull should not be confused with:
Kirk was a guard at the prison where Lank was confined. After mesmerizing himself, Lank imagined seizing control of Kirk's mind and forcing him to release him from prison. In reality, Kirk monitored Lank's condition as he lay in a stupor in his cell. When Lank came out of his hypnotic state, Kirk remarked Lank should have studied more than one page from the book.
--World of Mystery I#1/2
After mesmerizing himself, Lank imagined Rita Vaughn, a waitress. He placed Rita under his control and willed her to marry him but all his attempts to flee the country with her failed as he finally came out of his hypnotic stage to find himself in his cell. Undaunted, Lank mesmerized himself, telling Rita to wait for him, apparently revisiting his imagined romance with her.
--World of Mystery I#1/2
images: (without ads)
World of Mystery I#1/2, page 2, panel 4 (main)
World of Mystery I#1/2, page 4, panel 1 (face)
World of Mystery I#1/2, page 2, panel 2 (Kirk)
World of Mystery I#1/2, page 4, panel 1 (Rita)
Appearances:
World of Mystery I#1 (June, 1956) - Carl Wessler (writer), Robert Q.
Sale (artist), Stan Lee (editor)
First posted: 09/09/2026
Last updated:
11/24/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
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