This article refers to the fictional character. For the album by the Swedish band Amon Amarth, see The Avenger (album). For the Middle-Earth location commonly known as Mount Doom, see Orodruin. ... The Avenger is the second full-length album released by the melodic death metal band Amon Amarth. ...

The Avenger is a fictional character whose original adventures appeared from 1939 to 1942 in The Avenger magazine, published by Street and Smith Publications. Five additional short stories were published in Clues Detective magazine from 1942 to 1943, and a sixth novelette in The Shadow magazine in 1943. Newly-written adventures were commissioned and published by Warner Brother's Paperback Library from 1973 to 1974. The Avenger was a pulp hero who combined elements of Doc Savage and The Shadow though he was never as popular as either of these characters. Street & Smith book department in 1906 Street & Smith composing room circa 1905-1910 Street & Smith bindery in 1910 Street & Smith or Street & Smith Publications, Inc. ... In comic books, first appearance refers to first comic book to feature a character. ... Paul Frederick Ernst (1899 - 1985) was an American pulp fiction writer. ... Benjamin Hanby Nellie Gray is a 19th c. ... Alice, a fictional character based on a real character from the work of Lewis Carroll. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Street & Smith book department in 1906 Street & Smith or Street & Smith Publications, Inc. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Time Warner Inc. ... Paperback Library was a paperback book publisher established in 1961. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Pulp magazines, often called simply the pulps, were inexpensive text fiction magazines widely published in the 1920s through the 1950s. ... Doc Savage is a fictional character, one of the most enduring pulp heroes of the 1930s and 1940s. ... The Shadow is a fictional character created by Walter B. Gibson in 1931 with the first story title The Living Shadow. The character is one of the most famous of the pulp heroes of the 1930s and 1940s -- made even more famous through a popular radio series originally played by...

The authorship of the pulp series was credited by Street and Smith to Kenneth Robeson, the same byline that appeared on the Doc Savage stories. The "Kenneth Robeson" name was a house pseudonym used by a number of different Street & Smith writers. Most of the original Avenger stories were written by Paul Ernst. Kenneth Robeson is the house name used by Condé Nast Publications as the author of their popular character Doc Savage. ... Doc Savage is a fictional character, one of the most enduring pulp heroes of the 1930s and 1940s. ... Street & Smith book department in 1906 Street & Smith composing room circa 1905-1910 Street & Smith bindery in 1910 Street & Smith or Street & Smith Publications, Inc. ... Paul Frederick Ernst (1899 - 1985) was an American pulp fiction writer. ...

History

The Avenger is actually Richard Henry Benson, a globe trotting adventurer who decided to settle down and raise a family. In his first adventure, Benson's plans for a peaceful life are shattered when his wife and young daughter are killed by a criminal conspiracy. The shock of this loss has a bizarre effect on Benson. His hair and the skin of his face turn white, and the flesh of his face became malleable, like clay. Towards the end of the original series, the author was directed to eliminate Benson's facial affliction in the hopes of keeping the dwindling audience for the magazine.

In #13, Murder On Wheels, Cole Wilson was introduced. First an opponent of The Avenger before he joined his band in the same issue, Wilson trapped The Avenger in a machine which turned his flesh back to normal and his hair black. The Avenger still disguised himself after this but could not mold his now normal flesh as before. Nevlo (17), House of Death (15) and Death in Slow Motion (18) were all written before this and almost all references to the earlier condition of The Avenger were written out, though the odd one remains. Cole Wilson played a greater part in the last dozen books written by Ron Goulart.

Benson vows to avenge himself on the villains, and to fight for all those who have suffered at the hands of criminals. His strange facial condition is actually an advantage for he can sculpt his face into a likeness of any person. With skin and hair dyes, and colored contact lenses, Benson becomes the world's greatest master of disguise, within limits. A soft contact lens A contact lens (also known as contact, for short) is a corrective or cosmetic lens placed on the cornea of the eye atop the iris. ... Deception is providing intentionally misleading information to others. ...

Like Doc Savage, Benson relies on a variety of special gadgets to help him overcome criminals. These include knockout gas bombs, miniature radios, and his special pistol "Mike" and throwing knife "Ike". Benson's trick was to shoot someone so that his bullet just touched their heads and knocked them out. Doc Savage is a fictional character, one of the most enduring pulp heroes of the 1930s and 1940s. ... For other uses, see Gadget (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Incapacitating agent. ... Miniaturization is a continuing trend in technology toward ever-smaller scales for first mechanical, then optical and most recently electronic devices. ... A Browning 9 millimeter Hi-Power Ordnance pistol of the French Navy, 19th century, using a Percussion cap mechanism Derringers were small and easily hidden. ... Knife throwing is an art, or variously an entertainment technique, involving an artist skilled in the art of throwing knives, the weapon(s) s/he is throwing, and a target. ...

Benson also gathers a number of assistants to help him in his adventures. These are all people who have suffered loss because of criminals, and who have specialized skills:

• Fergus MacMurdie (known as "Mac") is a stereotypical Scotsman who is also a gifted pharmacist and chemist. His family was killed by racketeers, leaving Mac embittered and vengeful.
• Algernon Heathcote Smith (known as "Smitty") is a gigantic man of incredible strength. Smitty looks slow and stupid but he is actually a genius with electronics. He was framed for a crime he did not commit.
• Nellie Gray is a beautiful, delicate-looking young woman who is actually an expert at jujutsu and other martial arts. Her archaeologist father was killed by criminals for a treasure he had found.
• Josh and Rosabel Newton are an African American couple whose employers were killed by criminals. They often go undercover as domestic servants, making use of the stereotypes of the time to hide their investigative abilities. The Avenger series is notable its presentation of minorities. Many of the pulp magazines of the time are well known for racist stereotypes, but Josh and Rosabel are always presented as brave, intelligent people of good character.
• Cole Wilson joins the group near the end of the series. He is much less distinctive than Benson's other assistants and has a light hearted manner that contrasts the Avenger's serious tone.

The original Avenger pulp novels were re-released as books by Warner Brothers Paperback Library in the 1970s. These were successful enough that new adventures were written by Ron Goulart. There have also been several attempts to revive the Avenger as a comic book character but these have not been very successful. In modern usage, a stereotype is a simplified mental picture of an individual or group of people who share a certain characteristic (or stereotypical) qualities. ... Benjamin Hanby Nellie Gray is a 19th c. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... In sociology and in voting theory, a minority is a sub-group that is outnumbered by persons who do not belong to it. ... This box:      Racism has many definitions, the most common and widely accepted is that members of one race are intrinsically superior or inferior to members of other races. ... For the term used in computing, see stereotype (UML). ... Paperback Library was a paperback book publisher established in 1961. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... Ron Goulart (born 1933) is an American pop-culture historian and mystery, fantasy, and science fiction author. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ...

The Avenger is mentioned by author Philip José Farmer as a part of his Wold Newton family. In an essay found in Myths for the Modern Age: Philip José Farmer's Wold Newton Universe, author Chuck Loridans provides an article entitled The Daughters of Greystoke wherein he constructs a family tree linking Nellie Gray to Tarzan and Jane Porter. Philip José Farmer (born January 26, 1918) is an American author, principally known for his science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories. ... The Wold Newton family. ... For other uses, see Tarzan (disambiguation). ... Jane Porter, from The Ladies Monthly Museum Jane Porter (1776-1850), was born in the Bailey in Durham City. ...

Avenger Novels and Short Stories

Novels written by Paul Ernst and published in The Avenger magazine

1. Justice, Inc., published September 1, 1939
2. The Yellow Hoard, published October 1, 1939
3. The Sky Walker, published November 1, 1939
4. The Devil's Horns, published December 1, 1939
5. The Frosted Death, published January 1, 1940
6. The Glass Mountain, published February 1, 1940
7. The Blood Ring, published March 1, 1940
8. Stockholders in Death, published April 1, 1940
9. Tuned for Murder, published May 1, 1940
10. The Smiling Dogs, published June 1, 1940
11. River of Ice, published July 1, 1940
12. The Flame Breathers, published September 1, 1940
13. Murder on Wheels, published November 1, 1940
14. Three Gold Crowns, published January 1, 1941
15. House of Death, published March 1, 1941
16. The Hate Master, published May 15, 1941
17. Nevlo, published July 1, 1941
18. Death in Slow Motion, published September 1, 1941
19. Pictures of Death, published November 1, 1941
20. The Green Killer, published January 1, 1942
21. The Happy Killers, published March 1, 1942
22. The Black Death, published May 1, 1942
23. The Wilder Curse, published July 1, 1942
24. Midnight Murder, published September 1, 1942

Short stories written by Emile C. Teppermen and published in Clues Detective magazine Justice, Inc. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Yellow Hoard is the 2nd pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Sky Walker is the 3rd pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Devils Horns is the 4th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. ... is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Frosted Death is the 5th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Frosted Death is the 6th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Blood Ring is the 7th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. ... is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Stockholders in Death is the 8th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tuned for Murder is the 9th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Smiling Dogs is the 10th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The River of Ice is the 11th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Flame Breathers is the 12th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Murder on Wheels is the 13th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... The House of Death refers to a serial killing site in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico where executions were committed by members of the Juárez Cartel, some with the knowledge and participation of a United States agent (Lalo) who had infiltrated the cartel. ... is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... is the 135th day of the year (136th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• Death to the Avenger, published September 1, 1942
• A Coffin for the Avenger, published November 1, 1942
• Vengeance on the Avenger, published January 1, 1943
• Calling Justice, Inc!, published March 1, 1943
• Cargo of Doom, published May 1, 1943

Short story written by Emile C. Teppermen and published in The Shadow magazine is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• To Find a Dead Man, published August 1, 1944

Novels written by Ron Goulart and published by Warner Paperback Library is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ron Goulart (born 1933) is an American pop-culture historian and mystery, fantasy, and science fiction author. ...

• 25. The Man from Atlantis, published June 1, 1974
• 26. Red Moon, published July 1, 1974
• 27. The Purple Zombie, published August 1, 1974
• 28. Dr. Time, published September 1, 1974
• 29. The Nightwitch Devil, published October 1, 1974
• 30. Black Chariots, published November 1, 1974
• 31. The Cartoon Crimes, published December 1, 1974
• 32. The Death Machine, published January 1, 1975
• 33. The Blood Countess, published February 1, 1975
• 34. The Glass Man, published March 1, 1975
• 35. The Iron Skull, published April 1, 1975
• 36. Demon Island, published May 1, 1975

is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Demon Island, also called Piñata: Survival Island, is a 2002 horror film that stars Nicholas Brendon and Jaime Pressley. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Other media

Street & Smith published stories of the Avenger in their Shadow Comics in the 1940s. The Shadow is a fictional character created by Walter B. Gibson in 1931 with the first story title The Living Shadow. The character is one of the most famous of the pulp heroes of the 1930s and 1940s -- made even more famous through a popular radio series originally played by...

In 1975, DC Comics published a comic called Justice, Inc. which starred the Avenger. This was during the time they were also publishing The Shadow. The Avenger also appeared in issues #11 of the Shadow. The first two issues were based on stories from the pulp magazine. Issues #2-4 were drawn by Jack Kirby. The comic only lasted 4 issues. DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company. ... The Shadow is a fictional character created by Walter B. Gibson in 1931 with the first story title The Living Shadow. The character is one of the most famous of the pulp heroes of the 1930s and 1940s -- made even more famous through a popular radio series originally played by... Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg, August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994) was one of the most influential, recognizable, and prolific artists in American comic books, and the co-creator of such enduring characters and popular culture icons as the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the Hulk, Captain America, and hundreds...

In the 1980s, when DC Comics was again doing the "The Shadow", an 'updated' version of the Avenger showed up briefly, as well as in a 2 issue miniseries from the same period (both by Andy Helfer and Kyle Baker) titled Justice, Inc.. The mini-series revealed the 'truth' behind the Avenger's origin. DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company. ... Kyle Baker (born 1965 in Queens, New York City, United States) is an American writer and illustrator of comic books as well as an animator. ...

External links

• A Chronology For The Avenger
• Dr. Hermes's Reviews for The Avenger
• The Avenger Index (of appearances in all media)
• Avenger page at International Catalog of Superheroes