WINKEN SMYTHEWINKEN SMYTHE
Real Name: Winken Smythe
Identity/Class: Human
Occupation: Foreign spy
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Bruiser Byrns, Gimpy O'Toole
Enemies: Captain America (Steve
Rogers), the CIA
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mobile
First Appearance: Marvel Mini-Books: Captain
America (1966)
Powers/Abilities: Winken Smythe had no superhuman powers but he was a skilled foreign intelligence agent.
He also wore a monocle capable of firing the Monocle
Beam, a special light beam designed to blind law officers. He also had
access to a helicopter capable of dropping gas pellets to knock out
enemies.
Height: Unrevealed (see comments)
Weight: Unrevealed (see
comments)
Eyes: Unrevealed (see comments)
Hair: Unrevealed (see comments)
History: (Marvel Mini-Books: Captain America
(fb) - BTS) - Winken Smythe and two other foreign spies, Gimpy O'Toole
and Bruiser Byrns, made a name for themselves in their field, creating
trouble with the United States CIA.
(Marvel Mini-Books: Captain America) - Summoning Captain America to assist against Smythe and his allies, a CIA operative showed Captain America photos of Smythe, Byrns and O'Toole and briefed him on their individual skills and weapons. Informed that the three spies were after the USA's atomic secrets, Captain America staked out an atomic laboratory for days until one night, Winken Smythe arrived in a helicopter that he used to drop gas pellets, knocking out the lab's guards. Descending from the helicopter, Smythe encountered Captain America and attempted to dazzle him with his Monocle Beam. Having been warned of Smythe's monocle ahead of time, Cap used his shield to deflect the Monocle Beam back at Smythe before shattering O'Toole's ray-firing cane and taking down Byrns in a fistfight. Rendered helpless following their beating at the hands of Captain America, Smythe, Byrns and O'Toole surrendered and willingly went to a jail for their own safety.
Comments: Created by Denny O'Neil and Carl Hubbell (?) (see comments).
The Marvel Mini-Books were VERY small comic books
that were sold inside plastic eggs dispensed from gumball machines for
a nickel in the 1960s. Each book was only about the size of a quarter
and contained a very basic story. Six Marvel Mini-Books were made,
including the Amazing Spider-Man, the Mighty Thor, the Incredible Hulk,
Captain America and surprise inclusions Sgt. Nick Fury and Millie the
Model.
Since the comic was in black and white, it was impossible to determine Winken's eye and hair color.
The Marvel Comics Mini-Books hardcover box set's Marvel Comics Mini-Books: A Mini-History book confirms via an interview with Denny O'Neil that he was the writer on the Captain America Mini-Book with Marvel production artist Carl Hubbell suspected as the likely artist on the book based on Mini-History writer Mark Evanier's analysis. For what it's worth, Mark Evanier also suspects that Morrie Kuramoto was the letterer on all of the Mini-Books.
Despite the image notations below mentioning the images being photos of the characters, all three spies did actually appear in the Captain America Mini-Books outside of photographs but the photos were the best images of them.
This profile was completed 01/18/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Proto-Man.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Winken Smythe has no known connections to:
A karate expert, Bruiser Byrns made a name for himself as a foreign spy.
Attempting to retrieve the United States' atomic secrets, Byrns worked with Winken Smythe and Gimpy O'Toole to attack an atomic laboratory, only to encounter Captain America. After Cap defeated Smythe and O'Toole, Captain America delivered Byrns a serious beating, and Byrns ultimately surrendered alongside Smythe and O'Toole for their own safety. The trio was then carted off to jail.
--Marvel Mini-Books: Captain America
A foreign spy, Gimpy O'Toole made a name for himself using a cane that could fire rays.
Working with fellow spies Winken Smythe and Bruiser Byrns, O'Toole attempted to raid an atomic laboratory to steal the United States' atomic secrets but the trio encountered Captain America, who defeated O'Toole by shattering his cane. Fearing for their safety, O'Toole and his allies quickly surrendered and willingly went to jail.
--Marvel Mini-Books: Captain America
images: (without ads)
Marvel Mini-Books: Captain America, p38, splash page (Winken Smythe
using Monocle Beam, main image)
Marvel Mini-Books: Captain America, p18, splash page (Winken Smythe
headshot photo)
Marvel Mini-Books: Captain America, p22, splash page (Gimpy O'Toole
photo)
Marvel Mini-Books: Captain America, p26, splash page (Bruiser Byrns
photo)
Appearances:
Marvel Mini-Books: Captain America (1966) - Denny O'Neil (writer), Carl
Hubbell (art?), uncredited editor
First Posted: 01/18/2021
Last updated: 08/30/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and
© 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you
like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!
