Avenger
Real
Name: Roger Wright
Identity/Class: Human technology user
Occupation: Millionaire scientist
Affiliations: Claire Farrow
Enemies: Igor Larsen, Sergei Viroshonsky, Communists
Known Relatives: Ralph Wright (brother, deceased), unidentifed sister-in-law (deceased)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: An unidentified U.S. city, but active worldwide
First Appearance: Avenger #1 (Magazine Enterprises, February-March 1955)
Powers/Abilities: Armed with various gadgets of his own invention, mostly located in his belt. His favoured mode of transport is the Starjet, which has an atomic motor and can fly right round the world without needing refueling.
History:
In 1948 Ralph Wright was an American colonel stationed in Berlin, a city
divided between East and West Zones, run by the Soviets and the Western powers
respectively. Ralph's brother Roger was a famed scientist, and upon hearing
that he had developed a new type of advanced airplane, Soviet agent Sergei
Viroshonsky arranged for Ralph and his wife to be kidnapped while they were
out for an evening stroll, and forced Ralph to write a letter to Roger, asking
Roger to hand over his diagrams and blueprints or see the two abductees killed.
Unwilling to do so, but not wishing to endanger his brother, Roger was inspired
by a Ghost Rider mask his secretary
Claire Farrow had bought for her young nephew to assume a costumed identity
in order to move against the Communists holding Ralph without prompting them
to slay their hostages. Roger became the Avenger, and using the already completed
plane, the Starjet, he secretly flew to the German capital and broke into
Communist headquarters to confront Viroshonsky, but learned that both the
hostages had been murdered as soon as Ralph wrote the letter, to ensure they
could never reveal that they had been kidnapped. Hearing this, the Avenger
realised that no man could be complacent while men such as Viroshonsky were
bent on enslaving all mankind and committing crimes that cried out for vengeance.
He vowed to league himself with men of good will everywhere in the world
to exact satisfaction for the harm the Communists had done, and to prevent
the future crime and oppression such men planned to bring upon the innocent
people of the Earth.
Comments: Created by Dick Ayres.
CLARIFICATIONS: Not to be confused with
the Avenger, leader of Justice, Inc, one of the seminal pulp heroes
Avenger, avian sidekick of Birdman
the Avengers, a Marvel superhero team
Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.
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