Wild Boy of the Woods

Real Name: Derek Foster

Identity/Class: Normal human

Occupation: Resistance fighter

Affiliations: Unnamed hermit, Kong

Enemies: Jed Harkins, Bagshot, German soldiers

Known Relatives: Mr. & Mrs. Foster (parents, deceased), Pauline Foster (cousin), Mr. & Mrs. Foster (uncle and aunt), unidentified male cousin

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: The woods near Barchester;
   formerly Portford

First Appearance: Beano #1 (D.C.Thomson, 30 July 1938-42; 1947-49)

Powers/Abilities: Skilled woodsman. He is able to charm virtually any animal using his pipes, and thus convince them to do as he wishes; he can control some animals, such as birds, without the pipes. Extremely fit and agile, he can brachiate from tree branch to tree branch and make prodigious leaps. The hermit seems to be some sort of scientific genius as he outfitted Derek with a Gyro-Flier at one point.

History: Orphaned after his parents died in an air raid when he was a baby, young Derek Foster grew up in the woods near the small town of Barchester. When he was still very little he was discovered by a hermit who raised the lad for the next six years, living in a secret cave accessible through a hollow tree. He came to consider the elderly man his grandfather, and to be friends with the animals of the forest, learning to charm them with the music from a small set of pipes. When the War started, he became the "deadliest foe Germany ever had." Eventually the hermit died of old age, but not before he discovered Derek's identity, enabling Derek to locate his father's brother and so be reunited with his family.

Comments: Created by Richard Baines.

CLARIFICATIONS: Not to be confused with:

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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