Hobo superhero from the golden age of comics

"Again With the Comics" has an article about a hobo superhero named "The Vagabond," who debuted in U.S.A. Comics #1 in 1941.

Like many handsome millionaire playboys/crusading district attorneys/ frustrated beat cops of comics’ Golden Age, Murphy decided to fight crime anonymously by taking on the dramatic secret life of a costumed crime fighter. Unlike those others, a mere domino mask and opera cape would not be sufficient. Apparently, to fight crime in Middleton, one must become more retarded than crime.

“I need a disguise that will strike terror into criminal hearts! I shall become a creature of the night! I shall become...a comical, roly-poly cartoon hobo!!”

Thus was born the Vagabond, a.k.a. Chauncey Throttlebottom III, the first bumfighter. With a fake gut, rosy-red nose and clown lips, smoking a cigar, this utter fucking lunatic took on the city’s crime wave.

Marvel has an anthology of U.S.A Comics, which includes the Vagabond, along with other Golden Age characters including The Defender, Major Liberty, Rockman, Rusty, the Young Avenger, the Whizzer, and Jack Frost. Link

[#1 posted by xadrian , September 28, 2007 10:44 AM]

Koford's gonna have a field day with this.

[#2 posted by fredorl , September 28, 2007 11:09 AM]

oh-my-god its like Mr.Barragan http://barragan.tv
I always knew he was a hero...

[#3 posted by Dave Hecht , September 28, 2007 11:09 AM]

Without even looking I bet it was Aloysius. Somehow.

[#4 posted by Dave Hecht , September 28, 2007 11:12 AM]

Anyone see any H's? Or does the sign mean no hobo would approve...

[#5 posted by am , September 28, 2007 11:30 AM]

"The Whizzer." Awesome. That's what my dad used to call the elderly gentleman we frequently spotted pissing on the side of the road back in the late 70s and early 80s, before my town got taken over by rich people. I guess he was a working man's hero after all.

[#6 posted by orville , September 28, 2007 11:42 AM]

And now, with a powerful laser at his disposal, the soused and rollicking Hobo will be utterly unstoppable:

http://electricstorytime.blogspot.com/2006/08/hobo-laser.html

[#7 posted by Ape Lad , September 28, 2007 11:57 AM]

If Marvel ever wants to resurrect this character, they know who to call.

[#8 posted by gabu , September 28, 2007 12:01 PM]

Three words for you:

CHAUNCY THROTTLEBOTTOM III.

[#9 posted by The Unusual Suspect , September 28, 2007 12:40 PM]

Makes you wonder what became of Chauncy Throttlebottoms I and II.

Ne'erdowells perchance?