ALEX MARKS
Real Name: Alex Marks
Identity/Class: Normal human
Occupation: Race car driver
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Human Fly (Rick Rojatt), Harmony Whyte (loose)
Enemies: Cyrus T. Barker
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Nevada, USA;
formerly North Carolina
First Appearance: Human Fly I#2 (October,1977)
Powers/Abilities: Alex Marks was an excellent
high-speed car racer until an accident gravely injured him and
destroyed his self-confidence.
Height: 6'2"
(by approximation)
Weight: 155 lbs (by
approximation)
Eyes: Reddish-brown
Hair: Blue
History:
(Human Fly I#2 (fb)) - Alex Marks was an Indy car
racer until he blew a tire at high speed and crashed into spectators,
killing several. He lay in a North Carolina hospital for months
recovering from multiple bone fractures, blaming himself for those
killed, yet also suspecting the race promoter Cyrus Barker was behind
the crash. The Human Fly found Marks and encouraged him to walk again,
but could not restore the racer's confidence.
(Human Fly I#2 (fb) - BTS) - Despite shaky hands,
Marks entered the dangerous "Doomsday Race" on the Nevada Flats for the
prize money, but the Human Fly, suspicious about the event's promoter
(again Cyrus Barker), asked to take his place in the race and that he
keep an eye on Barker.
(Human Fly I#2) - Investigative reporter Harmony
Whyte sought the Human Fly's true identity and saw the masked hero
enter Marks' caravan. She mistakenly thought Marks was the Human Fly
and confronted him. Whyte refused to believe his story when he related
his past to her. Marks stayed hidden while the race continued.
Excepting the Human Fly (masquerading as Marks) and Johnny Blaze
(empowered as Ghost Rider), all
the contestants were wiped out by lethal traps set by Barker. Seeing
the two complete the race as winners, Barker tried to flee with the
takings, but was stopped by
Marks and Whyte; Marks knocked out the corrupt promoter. Marks' anger
and defiance restored his confidence and he rejected the prize money,
passing it to charity, as
he intended to race again. Seeing Marks and the Human Fly together,
Whyte conceded that Marks was not the secretive stuntman.
Comments: Created by Bill Mantlo (writer), Carmine Infantino (pencils), Dan Green (inks).
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Alex Marks has no known connections to:
Cyrus T. Barker was an unscrupulous race promoter who
didn't care if anyone was killed in one of his scams. Marks suspected
that Barker may have been responsible for his near-fatal race car
crash. Barker continued with his rigged race promotion, catching the
attention of the heroic Human Fly, but also luring Marks back into
racing in a daredevil "Doomsday Race" with a prize money of $500,000;
however, Barker tried to prevent participants from winning with a
series of lethal traps. When the Human Fly and Ghost Rider finished the
race, Barker ran for the $700,000 takings for the race, but was
confronted by the watchful Marks and reporter Whyte. Barker pulled a
handgun he had in the safe, but was knocked out by the swift Marks.
--Human Fly I#2
images:
(without ads)
Human Fly I#2, p6, pan4 (main image)
p6, pan5 (headshot)
p8, pan6 (Barker)
Appearances:
Human Fly I#2 (October,1977) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Carmine Infantino
(pencils), Dan Green (inks), Archie Goodwin (editor)
Last updated: 10/03/15
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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