BENNY THE TORCH

Real Name: Benjamin "Benny" Mulhain

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: Arsonist

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Annie Antonelli, Joey Antonelli, Corky the dog, Charley Garzon, Marky Hoeppner, Video Vincenzo

Enemies: Daredevil (Matt Murdock)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: New York City, New York

First Appearance: Daredevil I#312 (January, 1993)

Powers/Abilities: Benny the Torch is an expert arsonist who used specialized equipment for maximum burn potential. He is physically imposing and not afraid to use force. Benny the Torch is available for hire.

Height: 6'2" (by approximation)
Weight: 200 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

History:
(Daredevil I#313 (fb) - BTS) - Benny Mulhain developed a reputation as a dedicated arsonist, known as Benny the Torch. With a long criminal record, he accepted contracts for arson.

(Daredevil I#312 (fb) ) - Benny the Torch showed up at Joey's restaurant and interacted with Annie Antonelli, but she said they weren't ready for him yet. Nearby, Lisa Rizzo and Marky Hoeppner sat at a table, Corky the dog sat on the ground, and Video Vincenzo and Charley Garzon were patrons in the establishment. The Antonellis chose to burn down the restaurant themselves to save money. Lisa Rizzo was arrested for the arrest and put on trial with Judge James H. Earle, bailiff Tony, and prosecutor Loran.

(Daredevil I#313) - Benny the Torch was setting fire to a Szechuan noodle place when Daredevil attacked him. Benny tried to run for it, but his bag of supplies ignited, badly burning the criminal. Daredevil saved Benny's life, putting the fires out, then called for medical help. The fire was investigated by Danny George.

Comments: Created by D.G. Chichester (writer), Scott McDaniel (penciler) & Bud LaRosa (inker).

Profile by Chadman.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Benny the Torch should not be confused with:


Joey and Annie Antonelli, and Corky the dog

(Daredevil I#312 (fb) - BTS) - Joey and Annie Antonelli opened "Joey's Original Best Italian Pizza", and he developed a popular reputation in Brooklyn for delicious pizza that would burn the customer's mouths.

(Daredevil I#313 (fb) - BTS) - Joey and Annie took care of their dog, Corky, watching him grow up as they ran their business.

(Daredevil I#312 (fb) - BTS) - Joey reached out to criminal Charley Garzon for a business loan. Annie reached out to Benny the Torch for a potential contract.

(Daredevil I#312 (fb) ) - Joey and Annie were making pizzas while Corky the dog sat nearby, Lisa Rizzo and Marky Hoeppner sat at a booth, Charley Garzon made demands, and Video Vincenzo entered. Joey told Charley he regretted reaching out in the first place, and Annie told Benny they weren't ready for him yet.

(Daredevil I#313 (fb) - BTS) - The night before the fire, Annie took all of the family photographs off the wall and put Corky up in a kennel. Later, Annie and Joey set fire to their own restaurant, not realizing that Lisa and Marky were in the bathroom.

(Daredevil I#312) - Daredevil burst in during the restaurant fire, saving the life of Lisa Rizzo and finding the corpse of Marky Hoeppner. As Danny George put out the fire, Daredevil held off Charley Garzon, and Video Vincenzo recorded events. Joey held Annie close as the building burned.

(Daredevil I#313) - Daredevil met with the Antonellis, asking them to not press charges while he tried to prove Rizzo's innocence, but they refused. Later, Daredevil confronted them with the truth, promising to hold them accountable even as he burned the insurance check they had received.

--Daredevil I#312 ([Daredevil I#312 (fb)], [313 (fb)], [312 (fb)], 312 (fb), [313 (fb)], 312-313


Judge James H. Earle

(Daredevil I#312) - In court, Judge James H. Earle presided over the case of Lisa Rizzo, a young woman accused of arson, with bailiff Tony while Assistant D.A. Loran made arguments. Matt Murdock arrived to provide counsel for Rizzo.

--Daredevil I#312


Charley Garzon

(Daredevil I#312 (fb) - BTS) - Joey Antonelli reached out to loan shark Charley Garzon for a business loan.

(Daredevil I#312 (fb) ) - Joey and Annie were making pizzas while Corky the dog sat nearby, Lisa Rizzo and Marky Hoeppner sat at a booth, Charley Garzon made demands, and Video Vincenzo entered, while Annie talked to Benny the Torch. Garzon demanded payment, and Joey regretted ever asking for help in the first place.

(Daredevil I#312) - When Joey's restaurant burned, the fire department broke through Charley Garzon's car to put the fire out. Garzon grabbed an axe to attack, but Daredevil held him back. Daredevil later confronted Garzon, as he'd been muttering about wanting revenge on the Antonellis. Garzon gave Daredevil information, but promised he didn't set the fire. Garzon blamed Benny the Torch.

(Daredevil I#313) - With the help of criminal Pete London, Daredevil questioned Garzon, threatening to drop an engine block on his head if he didn't cooperate.

(Daredevil I#315 - BTS) - Looking for a culprit, Daredevil listened into Charley Garzon on the street.

--Daredevil I#312 ([Daredevil I#312 (fb)], 312 (fb), 312-313, [315]


Danny George

(Daredevil I#312) - Captain Danny George, of the fire department, responded to the scene of a fire at Joey's restaurant in Brooklyn. Finding a car in the way, he smashed the windows to get the fire hoses through, angering criminal Charley Garzon, who attacked with an axe, but Daredevil held Garzon off while they put the fire out.

(Daredevil I#313) - Danny George investigated the burnt husk of a Szechuan restaurant after Daredevil battled Benny the Torch. George later reviewed the cases of the pizza place fire with Daredevil, and he had to believe Rizzo was behind it.

--Daredevil I#312 (Daredevil I#312-313


Mark "Marky" Hoeppner

(Daredevil I#312 (fb) ) - Joey and Annie were making pizzas while Corky the dog sat nearby, Lisa Rizzo and Marky Hoeppner sat at a booth, Charley Garzon made demands, and Video Vincenzo entered, while Annie talked to Benny the Torch.

(Daredevil I#313 (fb) ) - Rushing up to the bathroom, Lisa felt ill and confessed to Marky that she was pregnant. As he comforted her, the restaurant closed and the Antonellis set fire to the place. An explosion went off and Marky was badly wounded, soon dying from the burns.

(Daredevil I#312) - Daredevil burst into Joey's restaurant and found Lisa cradling Marky's body. Daredevil pulled Lisa free and got her to safety as the building collapsed on Marky. After the fire was put out, Marky's body was taken by the coroner.

(Daredevil I#312 - BTS) - Lisa didn't go to Marky's funeral, but she did show up at the grave later.

--Daredevil I#312 (Daredevil I#312 (fb), 313 (fb), 312, [312]


D.A. Loran

(Daredevil I#312) - Assistant district attorney Loran prepared a case against Lisa Rizzo, a young woman accused of arson. Loran presented her case before Judge James H. Earle, then Matt Murdock arrived to provide counsel for Rizzo.

(Daredevil I#312 - BTS) - Loran promised a media circus at the funeral of Mark Hoeppner, but Lisa Rizzo didn't attend.

--Daredevil I#312 (Daredevil I#312, [312]


Lisa "Lee" Rizzo

(Daredevil I#313 (fb) - BTS) - Against her mother's wishes, Lisa "Lee" Rizzo started spending time with Marky Hoeppner. Lisa learned she was pregnant.

(Daredevil I#312 (fb) ) - Joey and Annie were making pizzas while Corky the dog sat nearby, Lisa Rizzo and Marky Hoeppner sat at a booth, Charley Garzon made demands, and Video Vincenzo entered, while Annie talked to Benny the Torch.

(Daredevil I#313 (fb)) - Rushing up to the bathroom, Lisa felt ill and confessed to Marky that she was pregnant. As he comforted her, the restaurant closed and the Antonellis set fire to the place. An explosion went off and Marky was badly wounded, soon dying from the burns.

(Daredevil I#312) - Daredevil burst into Joey's restaurant and found Lisa cradling Marky's body. Daredevil pulled Lisa free and got her to safety as the building collapsed on Marky.

(Daredevil I#312 - BTS) - Lisa was arrested for the fire. Prosecutors surmised she and Marky had been playing a prank, but they got caught in their own fire. Lisa refused to tell anyone, including her mother, what she'd been doing in the restaurant.

(Daredevil I#312) - In court, Mrs. Rizzo begged Lisa to tell her the truth. Judge James H. Earle sat at the bench while Assistant D.A. Loran made arguments. Matt Murdock arrived to provide counsel for Rizzo.

(Daredevil I#312 - BTS) - Lisa was not able to attend Marky's funeral.

(Daredevil I#312) - Lisa was allowed a brief visit to Marky's grave.

(Daredevil I#313) - During an interview, Matt Murdock guessed that Lisa was pregnant, and she finally came clean with the truth in front of her mother.

--Daredevil I#312 ([Daredevil I#313 (fb)], 312 (fb), 313 (fb), 312, [312], 312, [312], 312, 313


Mrs. Rizzo

(Daredevil I#313 (fb) - BTS) - Mrs. Rizzo didn't approve of her daughter Lisa's relationship with Marky Hoeppner.

(Daredevil I#312 (fb) - BTS) - Mrs. Rizzo got news that her daughter, Lisa, had been involved in a restaurant fire, one that resulted in the death of Lisa's boyfriend, Marky Hoeppner. Lisa was arrested for arson, and Lisa refused to say why she had been there in the first place.

(Daredevil I#312) - Mrs. Rizzo begged Lisa in court to tell her the truth, but Lisa refused. Mrs. Rizzo blamed Marko for everything.

(Daredevil I#313) - Mrs. Rizzo was crying when Matt Murdock confronted Lisa, guessing that she was pregnant. Lisa finally came clean with the truth about the night of the arson and she was proven innocent.

--Daredevil I#312 ([Daredevil I#313 (fb)], [312 (fb)], 312-313


Tony

(Daredevil I#312) - Bailiff Tony introduced Judge James H. Earle in the court trial for Lisa Rizzo.

--Daredevil I#312


Video Vincenzo

(Daredevil I#312-313 (fb) ) - Joey and Annie were making pizzas while Corky the dog sat nearby, Lisa Rizzo and Marky Hoeppner sat at a booth, Charley Garzon made demands, and Video Vincenzo entered, seeing Annie talk to Benny the Torch.

(Daredevil I#312) - Video Vincenzo recorded the blazing fire at Joey's restaurant.

(Daredevil I#312 - BTS) - Daredevil contacted Vincenzo, wanting information about the fire. Vincenzo agreed if the hero let to record Vincenzo punching him.

(Daredevil I#312) - During the record punch, Vincenzo used a roll of quarters to deliver greater force. Daredevil questioned him about events, then punched Vincenzo for the quarters.

--Daredevil I#312 (Daredevil I#312-313 (fb), 312, 312-BTS


images: (without ads)
Daredevil I#313, p4, pan4 (main)
Daredevil I#313, p2, pan1 (face)
Daredevil I#313, p12, pan1 (Joey and Annie Antonelli, Corky the dog)
Daredevil I#312, p13, pan2 (Judge James H. Earle)
Daredevil I#312, p7, pan1 (Charley Garzon)
Daredevil I#312, p6, pan4 (Captain Danny George)
Daredevil I#313, p16, pan2 (Marky Hoeppner)
Daredevil I#312, p13, pan1 (Assistant D.A. Loran)
Daredevil I#313, p16, pan1 (Lisa Rizzo)
Daredevil I#312, p12, pan3 (Mrs. Rizzo)
Daredevil I#312, p12, pan5 (Tony)
Daredevil I#312, p14, pan5 (Video Vincenzo)


Appearances:
Daredevil I#312-313 (January-February, 1993) - D.G. Chichester (writer), Scott Macdaniel (penciler), Bud Larosa (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)


First Posted: 06/29/2019
Last updated: 06/29/2019

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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