MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 894: BLUEBEARD

(Wow Comics 004, 1941) 

The piratical Bluebeard and his gang of fake sea dogs crash the costume ball of the wealthy van Hoffs and make off with Mrs van Hoff, demanding a ransom of one hundred thousand dollars for her return.

Since Bluebeard had already tried to do extortion on the van Hoffs by sending them threatening notes, Mr Scarlet and Pinky were already on hand to swiftly track down the kidnappers and beat them senseless. 

The post-beating unmasking reveals that Bluebeard is in fact Tom, possibly van Hoff, cousin to one or the other of the couple (or... both? Are the van Hoffs that kind of rich?), who has fallen on hard times and turned to costumed kidnapping as a means to scare up some quick cash. Some notes for Cousin Tom:

- It is a bold choice to choose a false chinstrap beard when you have a real mustache.

- Running around going "THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT IN THE CASTLE" when they are, in fact, in the castle is a really good way to draw suspicion down on yourself. Better to not mention the castle at all.

- It is very annoying to call yourself Bluebeard and hang out in a castle while sticking to a strict pirate theme when there is in fact a character called Bluebeard, famously castle-based, who is a direct threat to women, and who I personally think would make for a better theme.

In other words: make better choices next time. 

NOTES - OCTOBER 2025

Cops Shooting Fleeing Suspects in the Back: 

I'll grant these cops this: Steel Sterling did just steal one of their motorcycles. I still don't think that that warrants a  "SHOOT TO KILL!" and three bullets in the back. (Zip Comics 001, 1940)

Even less of a reason to shoot someone in the back: because you heard a different person shooting at them and assumed that they were a thief. Both because you are wrong and the person you are shooting at is actually super-hero Mr Satan and because theft is not punishable by death. (Zip Comics 007, 1940) 

Not only do the cops try to blow the Scarlet Avenger away here, but they also allow real culprit Mr Nimbus to make a getaway. (Zip Comics 009, 1940) 

Honours: 

Rambunctious pilots Tim and Tom Shane, aka the Devils Twins, are decorated for valour. (Zip Comics 001, 1940)

Super-Heroes Going to Costume Parties as Themselves: 

Dudley Bradshaw, aka Mr Satan, attends a very costume-heavy Mardi Gras parade in costume as himself. (Zip Comics 005, 1940)

Both Mr Scarlet and his enemy Bluebeard attend the same costume party in character. (Wow Comics 004, 1941)

(Pinky is there too, of course) 

Vigilante also attended a costume party as himself in 1941 and I completely neglected to note it before now. (Action Comics v1 042, 1941)