History:
SAILOR SWEENEY
Real Name: Sweeney (first name unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Human (Post-World
War II Era)
Occupation: Sailor (Seaman First Class)
Group Membership: U.S. Navy
Affiliations: Barney Barnacle, Broadway Barnes, Big Deal Dumbrowski, Commander Jones, Joanie Jones, Kitty Kelly, Lover Boy Lemmon, Chief Petty Officer Mulligan, Pedro, Lt. Steele, Tubby
Enemies: The Chinese army, communist spies
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Usually mobile in the Pacific Ocean
First Appearance: Sailor Sweeney I#12 (June, 1956)
Powers/Abilities: Sailor Sweeney was an experienced sailor with expertise in deep sea diving. He was also a fair hand-to-hand combatant. He occasionally wielded a rifle.
Height: Unrevealed
(approximately 6'1")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 180 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
History:
(Sailor Sweeney I#12) - Sailor Sweeney and his friends Broadway Barnes, Big Deal Dumbrowski, Lover Boy Lemmon and Tubby were on the last six days of their recruit training when Joanie Jones, niece of Commander Jones, visited their base. Sweeney knew of Joanie because of newspaper accounts about a beauty contest she had won in college and he'd already put up a photo of her in his locker. Chief Petty Officer Mulligan told the five of them to stop thinking about girls but Sweeney soon realized Mulligan was himself wanting to win a date with Joanie. When Joanie saw Sweeney had her picture in his locker she asked him out on a date.
(Sailor Sweeney I#12/2) - Sweeney's ship under the command of Commander Jones was assigned by the U.S. Navy to evacuate Chinese civilians from island. Aboard aboard ship, Sweeney tackled a Chinese man who was flashing a mirror out to sea and suspected him of being a communist spy. Sweeney turned him over to Commander Jones. Mulligan assigned Sweeney and his friends with him in a PT boat keep a watch for any more communist activity. They investigated what seemed to be a fishing boat but quickly realized it the "fishermen" had a torpedo aboard their boat. The phoney fishermen fled but they gave chase in the PT boat and captured it but six other similar crafts armed with torpedoes appeared on the horizon. Mulligan ordered the PT boat to steer a straight course which prevented the enemy craft from firing torpedoes. Sweeney used a steel fishing net aboard the captured craft to foul up the enemy boats and sink them.
(Sailor Sweeney I#12/3) - Mulligan was irritated that he and Sweeney were put on shore patrol duty in Tokyo, Japan but after all their heroics in helping others such as catching a robber, rescuing a woman from a burning building, halting a fight in a shop and preventing a beer truck from being hijacked, they wound up being feted with a private party hosted by all the people they'd helped.
(Sailor Sweeney I#12/5) - While exploring Antarctica Mulligan thought he'd found tracks left by communist agents and he led Sweeney, his friends and Commander Jones on a chase following the prints in the snow but they turned out to have been left by penguins.
(Sailor Sweeney I#13) - Sailor Sweeney and Mulligan found they were the only men interested in watching a new "Spy Fighters" movie as all the other sailors wanted to pursue their own interests. While leaving base for the movie, Sweeney and Mulligan saw two spies trying to steal the Flying Platform, a small hovering device which was being tested on base. Mulligan and Sweeney climbed on to the Flying Platform as the spies were lifting off then threw the spies from the platform but when they landed on a nearby truck they discovered the truck's owners were more spies. The spies tied up Mulliga and Sweeney but the two men quickly broke their bonds, reclaimed the Flying Platform then landed it on top of all four spies, pinning them to the ground until a Navy patrol could arrest them. The heroics complete, Sweeney and Mulligan regretted missing the "Spy Fighters" movie.
(Sailor Sweeney I#13/2) - On a friendship tour of Mexico, Mulligan and Sweeney decided to each try their hand as a matador. Mulligan attempted to bribe the man caring for the bulls to send his toughest bull against Sweeney, but the man's son Pedro assumed his father made a mistake and sent the smaller bull after Sweeney, while Mulligan had to face the larger, more powerful bull. Sweeney won acclaim from the local women while Mulligan was humiliated.
(Sailor Sweeney I#13/3) - Hearing Commander Jones was receiving a shipment of feminine birthday presents, Sweeney and Mulligan both believed it must be Joanie's birthday. With none of the other sailors able to loan them money, both men turned down a date with Joanie in the hopes of quickly raising money to buy her a present. The two men mowed lawns, delivered packages, chopped down trees, moved furniture, washed cars, cleaned chimneys and painted fences. They raised only $50 but used it to buy a present for Joanie - only to learn it was Commander Jones' housemaid's birthday. Joanie went on a date with Barney Barnacle instead of either of them. Mulligan begged Sweeney to hit him in the face; Sweeney agreed if Mulligan would do likewise.
(Sailor Sweeney I#13/5) - Nearby Chinese waters, Sweeney and Mulligan attempted to fish from their vessel but Commander Jones sternly ordered them to never fish from his ship. The two were sent on a mission underwater to a sunk Chinese submarine in an attempt to steal a safe containing secret documents. A Chinese team also attempted to salvage the safe but were driven off by a school of swordfish. Sweeney drove the fish away with his cutting torch. Having entered Chinese waters Jones ordered the men to surface without the safe but Sweeney and Mulligan affixed their anchor to the safe so they could drag it back to international waters. For their sharp thinking Commander Jones permitted them to fish from the ship all the way back to the USA.
(Sailor Sweeney I#14) - Sweeney and Mulligan both took Joanie out to a carnival. Mulligan kept trying to get Joanie to himself but failed until he trapped Sweeney on one of the parachute tower rides. From his vantage, Sweeney was able to stop two crooks from escaping the carnival, making him a hero to Joanie.
(Sailor Sweeney I#14/2) - Exploring the Pacific, Sweeney and Mulligan found a Soviet mine and it led them to a North Korean submarine, which they captured by striking it with one of its own mines, leaving it unable to submerge.
(Sailor Sweeney I#14/3) - Mulligan and Sweeney led baseball teams against each other. Mulligan tried to use a trick baseball but Sweeney hit it with the bases loaded.
(Sailor Sweeney I#14/5) - While on furlough in Italy, Sweeney and his pals learned about a bell which can call for peace. With the local villagers being disturbed because the bell hadn't rung, the men tried to ring the bell without being seen but the bell rings for itself, proving it did have supernatural power.
(Navy Tales I#1/3) - While ashore at Formosa, Sweeney, Mulligan and Lover Boy went swimming on the beach and wound up being caught by Chinese troops who tried to bring them back to China for imprisonment but the sailors escaped. Unable to explain to Lt. Steele why they were late returning to the ship, they were put on grunt duty, swabbing the deck of an aircraft carrier.
(Navy Tales I#2/3) - Sweeney and Mulligan sparred over which of them would give Christmas presents to Kitty Kelly, as both of them had obtained Santa Claus costumes for the occasion. When they find out how many things Kitty wants, they despair of ever satisfying her. Depressed, they give all they have to a Santa Claus who was soliciting money for needy orphans and told him their woes. Meeting up with Kitty they discovered she had received all the presents she asked for. The two men wondered if they were saved by the real Santa Claus.
Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and Syd Shores.
As the history above bears out, Sailor Sweeney's tales were a mix of comedy and adventure.
The movie poster for "Spy Fighters" in Sailor Sweeney I#13 had the series logo used in the Spy Fighters series. Perhaps the movie was an adaptation one of the agency's declassified adventures.
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:
Sailor Sweeney should not be confused with:
Barney Barnacle served as a sailor alongside Sailor Sweeney. He was once able to take Joanie Jones on a date because Mulligan and Sweeney were too busy trying to earn money for what they thought was Joanie's birthday.
--[Sailor Sweeney I#13/3]
"Broadway" Barnes was one of Sailor Sweeney's pals in the Navy. Barnes' chief interest was in horse racing and he would frequently bet on horses when able.
--Sailor Sweeney I#12 (12/2, 12/5, 13, 13/3, 14/5, Navy Tales I#1/3, 2/3
"Big Deal" Dumbrowski was one of Sailor sweeney's pals in the Navy. Dumbrowski was an experienced gambler and loved to play craps games in his spare time. However, although he frequently talked up his prowess at gambling he rarely seemed to win any of his wagers.
--Sailor Sweeney I#12 (12/2, 12/3, 12/5, 13/3, 14/3, Navy Tales I#2/3
Commander Jones was the superior officer of Chief Petty Officer Mulligan, Sailor Sweeney and other sailors. His niece Joanie was frequently admired by both Mulligan and Sweeney.
--Sailor Sweeney I#12 (12/2, 12/5, 13/3, 13/5, 14/2
Kitty Kelly was a young woman whom Sailor Sweeney and Chief Petty Officer Mulligan were both interested in. When they posed as Santa Claus in order to learn what she wanted for Christmas they became depressed, thinking they could never satisfy Kitty's wants. However, Kitty later revealed she had received all the gifts she had wanted, possibly because the real Santa Claus gave them to her.
--Navy Tales I#2/3
"Lover Boy" Lemmon was one of Sailor Sweeney's pals in the Navy. Lemmon considered himself a ladies' man and usually had a date lined up with a woman whenever the crew were on dry land.
--Sailor Sweeney I#12 (12/2, 12/3, 12/5, 13, 13/3, 14/3, 14/5, Navy Tales I#1/3, 2/3
Chief Petty Officer Mulligan was Sailor Sweeney's direct superior. Mulligan and Sweeney were rivals for the affections of Joanie Jones and frequently tried to cause trouble for each other to better their chances with her.
--Sailor Sweeney I#12 (12/2, 12/3, 12/5, 13, 13/2, 13/3, 13/5, 14, 14/2, 14/3, 14/5, Navy Tales I#1/3, 2/3
Pedro was a Mexican boy whose father cared for the bulls used in bullfighting exhibitions. When Sailor Sweeney and his rival Mulligan agreed to try bullfighting, Mulligan bribed Pedro's father to send his largest most powerful bull into the ring with Sweeney. However, when the father passed these instructions on to Pedro the son assumed his father had made a mistake because the larger bull was supposed to be the second one out. Pedro sent a smaller bull to face Sweeney, then sent the larger bull after Mulligan. As a result, Sweeney proved adept enough to impress the local women while Mulligan was humiliated.
--Sailor Sweeney I#13/2
Lt. Steele was an officer who served on the same ship as Sweeney and his comrades. Lt. Steele arranged a liberty visit to Formosa for the crew. When Sweeney, Mulligan and Lover Boy overstayed their liberty because of an episode where they were captured by Chinese invaders they realized their story would sound like a poor excuse to Lt. Steele so offered no explanation to him. Steele put them on grunt duty, swabbing the deck of an aircraft carrier.
--Navy Tales I#1/3
Tubby was one of Sailor Sweeney's Navy pals. Tubby enjoyed eating food. Tubby was particularly good at piloting a PT boat.
--Sailor Sweeney I#12 (12/2, 12/3, 12/5, 13, 13/2, 13/3, Navy Tales I#2/3
images: (without ads)
Sailor Sweeney I#12, cover (main)
Navy Tales I#1/3, page 4, panel 2 (face)
Navy Tales I#1/3, page 5, panel 5 (Barnes)
Sailor Sweeney I#12/3, page 2, panel 6 (Dumbrowski)
Sailor Sweeney I#13/5, page 3, panel 3 (Jones)
Sailor Sweeney I#13/3, page 3, panel 3 (Joanie)
Navy Tales I#2/3, page 2, panel 7 (Kitty)
Sailor Sweeney I#13, page 2, panel 2 (Lemmon)
Sailor Sweeney I#14, page 3, panel 2 (Mulligan)
Sailor Sweeney I#13/2, page 3, panel 7 (Pedro)
Navy Tales I#1/3, page 1, panel 1 (Steele)
Sailor Sweeney I#12/2, page 2, panel 1 (Tubby)
Appearances:
Sailor Sweeney I#12-14 (June-November, 1956) - unidentified writer, Syd
Shores (artist), Stan Lee (editor)
Navy Tales I#1-2 (January-March, 1957) - unidentified writer, Syd Shores
(artist), Stan Lee (editor)
First posted: 09/20/2026
Last updated:
02/18/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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