Sunday, November 6, 2022

MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 200: THE CRIMSON VULTURE

(Crack Comics 015, 1941)


The Crimson Vulture is a prime example of a character who could be so much better with just a little more oomph put behind him. His real name is Sarada, and he is a genius mechanical engineer who is back for revenge after being sent to prison. All well and good, but his actions - attempting to extort money from a series of rich men via mechanical vultures and then blowing them up when they refuse - have no in-story link to his motivation. They easily could, if, say, they were responsible for his incarceration or had profited from his genius while he was away, but no dice. Even if it was made clear that he was striking out at society in general, that would be more of a satisfying motivation.

He gets blown up by Madam Fatal, a suitably ignominious end for our less-than-satisfying 200th minor super-villain.

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