Challenger

Real Name: Bill Waring

Identity/Class: Normal human

Occupation: Law student

Affiliations: None

Enemies: League of Crime, Lizard

Known Relatives: Unnamed father (deceased)

Aliases: Master of a Thousand Weapons

Base of Operations: Active worldwide

First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics #7 (Timely Comics, April 1941)

Powers/Abilities: Skilled swordsman, boxer, martial artist, and masksman. He can fly a plane and he is knowledgable in the sciences. Perhaps the most unusual ability he has is that he is immune to painful stimuli, having learned nerve control in India.

History: (Daring Mystery Comics #7, Mystic Comics #6-10, ga) After his father is murdered by the mob for daring to give evidence against them, timid law student swears to gain revenge. He travels the world preparing himself for the task at hand, learning a variety of useful skills, before returning to America to claim his vengeance. He adopts the identity of the Challenger, confronting criminals and challenging them to duels with their own weapons.

(She-Hulk) The Challenger was flung into the future, arriving unaged in the modern era.

Comments: The Challenger's existence in the modern Marvel Universe was confirmed when he was mentioned in Marvel Premiere #29.

Most people seem to believe that the Challenger's true identity was never revealed. However Jeff Nevins states that it was Bill Waring, and I have no reason to doubt him on this.

Thanks to Jess Nevins for allowing me to use information from his excellent Golden Age Heroes Directory and his Guide to Golden Age Marvel Characters. Thanks also to Richard Boucher & Darrin Wiltshire @ PR-Publications for permission to use information from their equally brilliant collection of Golden Age Sites, PR Publications. Their knowledge of Golden Age characters far outstrips my own.

CLARIFICATIONS: Not to be confused with

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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