CLUTCHING HANDS
CLUTCHING HANDS
Real Name: Ellis Brent
Identity/Class: Human spirit;
(Post-World War II era) (see comments)
Occupation: Seeker of vengeance;
formerly writer
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: formerly Ted Wayne
Enemies: Ted Wayne, William Winters
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mobile;
Post-World War II era
First Appearance: Journey into Mystery I#1/3 (June, 1952)
Powers/Abilities: Ellis Brent existed as a ghost, and was presumably immune to any conventional form of injury, although he could interact with material objects. He could appear anywhere from thin air, but usually preferred to just materialize his hands. The Clutching Hands could induce heart failure in a victim by choking them.
History: (Journey into Mystery I#1/3 (fb) - BTS) - Ellis Brent got rich writing sea novels. Impoverished writer Ted Wayne invited him to an abandoned schooner under the pretense of helping him gather material for a new book.
(Journey into Mystery I#1/3) - Ted Wayne drowned Brent, and stole a partially written book Brent had brought to the schooner. Brent rose from the grave as the Clutching Hands, and visited Wayne at his apartment. The Hands finished the incomplete book, and handed it over to Wayne. The next day the Clutching Hands murdered Wayne's publisher William Winters. The police suspected Wayne of being a murderer, and the Clutching Hands helped convince them of this by killing a police officer that was pursuing Wayne. The Hands later signed a confession implicating Wayne in Winters' murder. Wayne was sentenced to death, but on the day of his execution the governor pardoned him. The Clutching Hands would not be denied their vengeance, and opened the gallows' trapdoor, hanging Wayne.
Comments: Created by an unnamed writer and Cal Massey.
As with many 1950's and 1960's Marvel monster stories, this
story is not confirmed as part of Earth-616 continuity, but there's nothing
to exclude it either.
--Leave it in unless something rules it out!--Snood.
This story was reprinted in Where Monsters Dwell#21.
PROFILE BY FUTURE
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Clutching Hands have no known connection to:
Ted Wayne has no known connection to:
Mr. Greyle
Ted Wayne's lawyer. Had Winters' body exhumed and a post-mortem conducted on it. This revealed that Winters' died of heart failure, proving Wayne innocent.
--Journey into Mystery I#1/3
Ted Wayne
Second-rate writer who lived in poverty. Murdered Ellis Brent and stole his unfinished book. Tried to pass the book off as his own after the Clutching Hands finished the book. He became a fugitive when the Clutching Hands murdered his publisher William Winters. He was sent to prison and sentenced to death by hanging. His lawyer Mr. Greyle obtained a pardon from the governor on the day of his execution, but the Clutching Hands opened the gallows' trapdoor, hanging Wayne.
--Journey into Mystery I#1/3(fb) - BTS (1/3
William Winters
Ted Wayne's publisher. Killed by the Clutching Hands.
--Journey into Mystery I#1/3
images:
Journey into Mystery I#1/3, p4, pan5;
(Mr. Greyle) Journey into Mystery I#1/3, p5, pan1;
(Ted Wayne) Journey into Mystery I#1/3, p1, pan2;
(William Winters) Journey into Mystery I#1/3, p3, pan1
Where Monsters Dwell#21 (May, 1973)