CROCODILE MAN

Real Name: Professor Logan (first name unrevealed)

Identity/Class: Human (see comments) (1950s)

Occupation: Scientist in some unspecified area of expetise; self-appointed protector of "The Black Swamp"

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Crocodiles of the swamp

Enemies: Peter Dooley, Greg Knight, Lorna (but only because he misunderstood their intentions)

Known Relatives: Wife (name unrevealed; deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: "The Black Swamp," somewhere in Africa

First Appearance: Lorna, the Jungle Queen#2/2 (August, 1953)

Powers/Abilities: Professor Logan had a rapport with crocodiles and could command them to do his bidding. He wore a costume that made him resemble a crocodile.

History: (Lorna, the Jungle Queen#2/2 (fb) BTS) - Ten years earlier, Professor Logan and his wife moved to the swamps of the jungle because Mrs. Logan loved orchids, and Logan wanted to get his wife the rarest and the best. But shortly thereafter, Mrs. Logan died of a fever, and Professor Logan buried her among the flowers she loved as her monument. Professor Logan then became one with the crocodiles and they helped him guard his wife's grave.

(Lorna, the Jungle Queen#2/2) - Scientist Peter Dooley hired hunter Greg Knight to guide him through the jungle to find the lupuli (a rare breed of orchid) because the superstitious natives of the area refused to go there. Lorna swung by to offer her friend Greg help, but he wouldn't let her go ("This is a job for MEN!"). However Lorna secretly followed them because they were headed to a dangerous place -- the Black Swamp ("I found the man I like and I'm not going to have anything happen to him!").

  During their journey, the two intrepid men were menaced by a giant snake -- Lorna's expertly thrown spear put an end to it, but also revealed her presence to them ("The little minx followed us!"). Finally reaching their destination, the men found the lupuli orchids growing in the center of the swamp. Knight and Dooley constructed a raft to cross the waters, but they were suddenly attacked by a pack of crocodiles. As they fired their rifles to drive off the beasts, Lorna swung down to assist them just as a giant man-like crocodile seized Dooley and swam away with him.

Lorna and Greg tracked down the missing Dooley and came upon an unusual sight -- Dooley was bound in ropes next to the Crocodile Man, who was standing reverently before a gravestone. The Crocodile Man then lifted Dooley up and was about to toss him to the crocodiles in the water, but Lorna leapt down upon the man-beast and knocked Dooley to safety, then she used her knife to cut into the Crocodile Man and revealed the disguise of Professor Logan.

Logan explained his story to the trio, telling them he only wanted to preserve the secret jungle spot. The three solemnly vowed to keep his secret, so the grateful Professor Logan gave Lorna an orchid and had his "friends" form themselves into a living raft to take them back home, then the eccentric old man returned to his beloved wife's grave.

Comments: Created by Don Rico and an unknown artist.

What a story -- I almost expected to see Shaggy and Scooby drive up in the Mystery Machine.

Although I have Professor Logan classified as a human, the fact that he had such a command over predatory reptiles like crocodiles (not exactly easily trainable critters, I believe) suggests that there may have been other factors involved -- perhaps Logan was a mutant, or had supernatural assistance, or...I'll leave it up to the readers to speculate.

You can read more info on Lorna here, and Greg Knight here.

And a BIG Thank You to Wolfs-Head Comics for scanning this story for me!

Profile by John Kaminski

CLARIFICATIONS:
"Crocodile Man"/Professor Logan has no known connections to:

• King Crocodile, giant crocodile @ Sub-Mariner I#33/5
• "Dog" Logan @ Wolverine: The Origin#1
• Gator, Earth-Battleworld, son of Lizard @ What If? II#114
• "Gator" Grant, former wrestler @ Thing I#29
• Golden Gator, form used by Khlog @ Strange Tales III#1
• Leaper Logan, Speedball foe @ Speedball#3
• Reptile, wore a similar costume @ Sub-Mariner Comics#23/4
• any other characters with similar names

Peter Dooley has no known connections to:

• Roger Dooley, SHIELD agent taken over by Cockroaches @ Sensational She-Hulk Graphic Novel

Logan's crocodiles

They were Professor Logan's "friends" and helped him protect the grave of his wife. At his command, they formed themselves into a living raft to give Knight, Dooley, and Lorna safe passage out of the swamp.

--Lorna, the Jungle Queen#2/2

Peter Dooley

A famous biologist and horticultural expert, he hired Greg Knight to be his guide into uncharted reaches of the jungle so he could search for a rare breed of orchid.

--Lorna, the Jungle Queen#2/2

images:
Lorna, the Jungle Queen#2/2, p4, pan8 (main image)