THE MENTAL CASE

Real Name: John Franks

Identity/Class: Human madman;
    (Post-World War II era) (see comments)

Occupation: Madman

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Rene Benoit, Dr. Joseph Browning

Enemies: Demon in Your Head

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile;
    formerly mobile throughout Canada;
    Post-World War II era

First Appearance: Uncanny Tales I#11/3 (August, 1953)

Powers/Abilities: John Franks was a hard worker and an adequate hunter. While there was a demon in his head he was wracked with pain and feelings of terror, making him incapable of doing anything except running around and screaming.

History: (Uncanny Tales I#11/3 (fb)) - John Franks took a vacation from work to go hunting in Canada. He went to the cabin of his guide Rene Benoit, only to find the man writhing in pain and complaining that a demon was inside his head. Franks took care of his friend, and stayed the night. The next morning the demon had gone into Franks' head, and he immediately returned to the States to see a doctor. The doctor was convinced he was going mad, and recommended him to psychiatrist Joseph Browning.

(Uncanny Tales I#11/3 (fb)) - Franks visited Dr. Browning, and was cured his condition. Franks was convinced that his ordeal had been all in his head, but in truth the demon simply switched its' residence to Browning's head.

Comments: Created by an unnamed writer & Reed Crandall.

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#31.

Could the demon in this story be connected to the Great Beasts or Llan the Sorcerer? Canada breeds some strange supernatural terrors.

PROFILE BY FUTURE

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Mental Case has known connection to:

• Headcase, Mannite, @ Uncanny X-Men#372
• Mentallo, (Marvin Flumm) - mutant, shield i esper division resistants, hydra-former head of reconnaissance division, inner circle of enforcers, Chain Gang, possessed Headlok, former ally of Fixer (Ebersol) mental powers, amplified via technology, read minds, induce illusions, @ Strange Tales I#141
• Mentalscope, creation of A-Chiltarians, used to scan brainwaves of human to determine if Earth was fit for conquering and colonization, @ Tales to Astonish I#46

Demon In Your Head has no known connection to:

• Demon, Thor foe, @ Journey into Mystery I#123
• Demon, Project: Glamour, @ Marvel Comics Presents#3/2
• Demon of the Diamonds, Namor character, @ Tales to Astonish I#73
• Demon of the Mask, Dr. Strange foe, @ Strange Tales I#136
• Any other characters named "Demon"

Rene Benoit

Hunter and John Franks' guide. He was possessed by the Demon in Your Head until it left him to occupy Franks' head.

--Uncanny Tales I#11/3 (fb)

Dr. Joseph Browning

Treated John Franks. He thought he had cured Franks of his demonic delusions, but actually he had just given the Demon a new home in his own head..

--Uncanny Tales I#11/3

Demon in Your Head

Possessed a target and tormented them to madness. A victim of the Demon was unable to eat, sleep, think clearly or breathe well. The Demon could jump from one host's head to another at will.

--Uncanny Tales I#11/3

images:
Uncanny Tales I#11/3, p4, pan7;
(Rene Benoit) Uncanny Tales I#11/3, p3, pan1;
(Dr. Joseph Browning) Uncanny Tales I#11/3, p5, pan5;
(Demon in Your Head) Uncanny Tales I#11/3, p5, pan7

Appearances:
Uncanny Tales I#11/3 (August, 1953) Where Monsters Dwell#31 (October, 1974) - reprint

First Posted: 10/21/2004
Last updated: 10/22/2004

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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