IMP
Real Name: Booie Dawdly
Identity/Class: Normal human (WWII era)
Occupation: Crimelord, part-time pawnshop operator
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Nails Jenks,
Spike
Enemies: Cartiffy's Jewelry Shop, police (Officer
William O'Brian, others), Witness
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: New York City, USA (see
comments)
First Appearance: Mystic Comics I#8/4 (March, 1942)
Powers/Abilities: The Imp is rising crimelord with lofty ambitions. He rules his city by fear, relying on his close and loyal minions to violently enforce his will, even among his own lackeys. As the overweight Booie Dawdly, he is a pawnshop operator and masquerades as the police's friend. He can handle a small handgun, but can be easily scared.
Height: 4'8"
Weight: 120 lbs.
Eyes: Dark brown
Hair: White
History:
(Mystic Comics I#8/4 (fb) - BTS) - The Imp was a crimelord
who began rising in the underworld with a string of successful jewel
heists and violently loyal thugs. The Imp hid behind a simple pawnshop
front and basic disguise of spectacles and smoothed hair, and kept
friendly relations with the local police in his civilian identity of
Booie Dawdly.
(Mystic Comics I#8/4) - The Imp ordered two of this thugs
(Spike and Nails Jenks) attack Cartiffy's Jewelry Shop in a night-time
smash-and-grab. But the heroic vigilante Witness chanced upon them and
gave chase. The Witness caught Spike and interrogated him while Nails
returned to the Imp with the stolen gems and told his boss what had
happened. The Imp instantly recognized the vigilante from the
description and intended to kill him. The next morning, police officer
William O'Brian asked the Imp (as shopkeeper Dawdly) about the robbery
and the fake-friendly Dawdly told him he'd inform the police if anyone
tried pawning off the jewels. But the Witness, apparently not
recognizing any physical similarity between Dawdly and the Imp, was
secretly observing and spoke to Dawdly after O'Brian left. Frightened,
Dawdly led the Witness to a trapdoor to the cellar and slammed him
inside. Changing quickly into the Imp, the villain scuttled down a side
staircase with a gun to shoot the hero. Instead, the Witness shoved
Nails into the Imp, throwing off his aim, and then clobbered the pair.
The Witness declared he didn't like imps and left. Officer O'Brian later
found the two criminals still unconscious with all the stolen loot
around them.
Comments: Created by Stan Lee & Mike Suchorovsky.
He's based in "the largest city in the world", which I
assume is meant to be New York City
The opening splash page identifies the character as "known only as the Imp", so it may be that his pawnshop operator identity of Booie Dawdly is an alias.
This profile was completed on 11/25/2025 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS :
Imp has no known connections to:
Nails Jenks was wanted for robbery in six states. He
worked for the Imp as a regular thief in the Imp's planned robberies and
enforced loyalty among the Imp's lackeys. He inadvertently revealed to
the Imp that the heroic vigilante Witness was after them after their
latest jewel heist. The next morning, the Witness had traced the trail
to the Imp's pawn store front; the Imp trapped the Witness in the cellar
where Nails was waiting. The Witness shoved Nails to knock off the Imp's
aim and then clobbered the two criminals unconscious. Local police
officer William O'Brian later found the two still unconscious with all
the stolen loot around them.
--Mystic Comics I#8/4
images: (without ads)
Mystic Comics I#8/4, p1, pan1 (main image)
p5, pan3 (headshot)
p7, pan1 (Nails)
Appearances:
Mystic Comics I#8/4 (March, 1942) - Stan Lee (writer, editor), Mike
Suchorovsky (pencils & inks)
First posted: 09/05/2026
Last updated:
11/25/2025
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!
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