Real
Name: Pat Murphy
Vagabond
Real
Name: Pat Murphy
Identity/Class: Normal human
Occupation: Initially he may have been either a cop or FBI agent - later he was a hobo
Affiliations: Rockman, Whizzer, Jack Frost, the Defender, Rusty, Captain Terror, Major Liberty
Enemies: Creeper
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Chauncey Throttlebottom III
Base of Operations: Initially Middleton, later active across the U.S.A.
First Appearance: U.S.A. Comics #2 (Timely, November 1941)
Powers/Abilities: Good fighter
History: Frustrated at the crime plaguing his hometown of Middleton, U.S.A., a prominent citizen created an alter ego for himself who did not need to be restrained by society's laws when it came to punishing evil-doers. Disguised as a hobo called Chauncey Throttlebottom the Third, a.k.a. The Vagabond, he went out and fought crime. Eventually it appears his role-playing of a homeless person overtook his original personality, as he seemed to become a hobo for real.
(Avengers/Invaders #12) Vagabond was amongst a number of heroes who battled Nazi supervillains.
Comments: It was suggested in the Vagabond's first appearance
that he was really either a police officer called Murphy, or an FBI agent
called Walter Carstairs. However a text story in U.S.A. Comics #2 confirms
that he is Pat Murphy. In costume he only refers to himself using the Chauncey
name - it is the text of the story that calls him the Vagabond. The character
seemed to take his alter ego very seriously once in the role, not slipping
from the persona for a second. Perhaps this is why in later appearances the
crime fighting side of him abruptly vanished, and he was portrayed as genuinely
being down and out. Maybe his mind snapped from the continuous strain of
maintaining a second identity.
Vagabond made his modern day return in Avengers/Invaders #11, where his legs (and only his legs) are visible amongst heroes murdered and pinned to a wall by the Red Skull; luckily this was a Cosmic Cube created altered timeline, and the heroes were restored come #12.
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
The Vagabond, from the Fiascoverse
Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.
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