ZOMBIE MASTERZOMBIE MASTER
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Human mutate or mutant (see comments)
Occupation: Scientist, Would-be world conqueror
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: His zombie minions; Giant Buzzards
Enemies: Fiery Mask (Jack Castle)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Mad Doctor, "Master"
Base of Operations: An old ramshackle house on the waterfront, unknown town in the U.S.
First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics#1 (January, 1940)
Powers/Abilities: The Zombie Master is immense in size, almost twice that of a normal man. He has proportionate strength, and possibly a longer lifespan than a normal human.
He used advanced technology to transform others into a zombie-like state and force them to serve him. He was also served by several giant buzzards
Height: 20'
Weight: 7500 lbs.
Eyes: Green
Hair: Gray
History: (Daring Mystery Comics#1 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, the Zombie Master had begun to kidnap homeless men and others off the streets to use in his experiments.
(Daring Mystery Comics#1) - One of these experiments,
Peter Johnson, was brought in his zombie-like state to police
headquarters, where he attacked the captain and young physician Jack
Castle, until the policeman shot him dead. Investigating Johnson
and other homeless men's disappearances, Castle got the bright idea to
ask the utilities company for records of anyplace that had been using
massive amounts of power. This led him to an old, run-down house.
He was quickly taken at gunpoint by a zombie who led him downstairs to
the Zombie Master. The giant decided to use Castle as his next
experiment, but something went wrong, and instead of turning Castle
into a zombie, the machines granted him incredible
powers. Breaking free, Castle defeated the Zombie Master and
escaped with a female hostage he had rescued. Castle would then
adopt the superhero guise of the Fiery Mask.
Comments: Created by Joe Simon.
A goofy story, but it was written in 1940, so don't expect Busiek. It was reprinted in the Golden Age of Marvel Comics Vol. 2 trade paperback, which is where I got it.
Obviously, his zombies are not true zombies, but created through science.
John Kaminski theorizes that the energy that the Zombie Master uses may either be gamma or ionic in nature. The green light suggests gamma radiation, while the glowing of Fiery Mask's eyes suggests ionic (much like Wonder Man).
It is not clear exactly what the Zombie Master is. He states that he spent 50 years ashamed of his grotesque size. He claims his devices are thousands of years ahead of humanity's. It's very possible he's boasting there, or that he found them, maybe in a secret lair of the Deviants. Maybe he is a Deviant. I'm guessing he's probably just a mutant with the ability to conceive and build advanced electronics.
Clarifications:
Zombie Master received a profile in the Marvel Mystery Handbook: 70th Anniversary Special.
The Zombie Master has no known connections to
The Zombie Master had several enormous buzzards
guarding his dungeon lair. His minion claimed they were bred,
though they may have been subjected to some of the Master's
experiments.
Jack Castle fought off a couple before escaping the house.
--Daring Mystery Comics#1
images:
Daring Mystery Comics#1, story ?, page 5,
panel 3 (main image)
page 4, panel 5 (giant buzzard)
Appearances:
Daring Mystery Comics#1 (January, 1940) - Joe Simon (writer/artist/editor)
Last updated 07/11/05
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
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you should check out the real thing!
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