Mr. Scarlet andPinky the Whiz Kid are two duocomic booksuperheroes connected to each other, and first introduced inWow Comics. The superheroes were originally published byFawcett Comics and later byDC Comics. The original Mister Scarlet wasBrian Butler debuting inWow Comics #1 (cover-dated Winter 1940-41), and was created byFrance Herron andJack Kirby whilePinky Butler (Brian's son) became his sidekick, Pinky the Whiz Kid. After Brian's death, Pinky takes over the role as Mr. Scarlet in DC's continuity. Pinky Butler premiered in the fourth issue ofWow Comics.[1]
Mr. Scarlet, created by writerFrance Herron and artistJack Kirby debuted inFawcett Comics'Wow Comics #1 (Winter 1940-41) and was the cover feature for five issues of that anthology comic.[2] He later appeared in Fawcett'sMary Marvel #9 (February 1947). After the Fawcett properties were acquired byNational Comics Publications, the futureDC Comics, Mr. Scarlet appeared inJustice League of America #135-137 (Oct.-Dec. 1976).
| Brian Butler | |
|---|---|
 Mister Scarlet fromWow Comics #2, artistJack Binder. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Fawcett Comics DC Comics |
| First appearance | Wow Comics #1 (Winter 1940-41) |
| Created by | France Herron (writer) Jack Kirby (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Brian Butler |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Squadron of Justice All-Star Squadron |
| Notable aliases | Mr. Scarlet |
| Abilities | Olympic level athlete Keen investigative skills Use of utility belt |
Mr. Scarlet isdistrict attorney Brian Butler, who along with his adopted son Pinky the Whiz Kid, fought evil in his city for several years. His success was such that his employment was frequently in jeopardy due to a lack of crime.[3] As a result throughout his series, he took up several odd jobs to supplement his family's income. He used inventive devices to help him apprehend criminals, and had great acrobatic and hand-to-hand combatant skills.[4]
In his first appearance inWow Comics #1, Brian was based inGotham City. This may be the first use of the name of this city in comics. Laterretcons established Mr. Scarlet's base in eitherNew York City orFawcett City.[5]
The heroes tangle with a wide variety of villains, including the sinister Death Battalion, who plan the assassinations of top government officials. The Battalion's members include Dr. Death, the Ghost, the Horned Hood, the Black Thorn, the Black Clown, the Laughing Skull, and their leader known as "the Brain" is actually the warden of El Catraz prison.[6]
Although initially appearing in the 1940s, Mr. Scarlet and Pinky were revealed to still be active and at relatively the same age level in the 1970s during a team-up with theJustice League of America andJustice Society of America inJustice League of America 135-137. It was during this team-up that the two crime-fighters joined with several other heroes from Earth-S to form Shazam'sSquadron of Justice.[7]
| Pinky Butler | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Fawcett Comics DC Comics |
| First appearance | Wow Comics #4 (Winter 1941-42) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Pinkerton "Pinky" Butler |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Squadron of Justice All-Star Squadron |
| Notable aliases | Pinky the Whiz Kid Mr. Scarlet II |
| Abilities | Olympic level athlete Keen investigative skills Use of utility belt |
Pinky was the adopted son of district attorney Brian Butler, also known asMr. Scarlet, who fought evil in his city for several years. His father's success was such that his employment was frequently in jeopardy due to a lack of crime. As a result, he throughout his series took up several odd jobs to supplement his family's income.
Although initially appearing in the 1940s, Mr. Scarlet and Pinky were revealed to still be active and at relatively the same age level in the 1970s during a team-up with theJustice League of America andJustice Society of America. It was during this teamup that the two crimefighters joined with several other heroes to form Shazam'sSquadron of Justice, becauseKing Kull had capturedShazam and the Elders that gave theMarvel Family their powers, and was trying to wipe out humanity on all three Earths. Scarlet and Pinky helped defeat the Weeper andEarth-2Joker while they committed crimes onEarth-S and turned people into diamonds, although no further adventures of this team were chronicled thereafter.[7]
After theCrisis on Infinite Earths, Pinky Butler is revealed to have taken over the identity of his father Mr. Scarlet after his death, having been active inFawcett City for several years. It is also revealed how they retained their youth since the 1940s, as the wizardShazam provided a protective field around the city for decades allowing its inhabitants to age slower than their contemporaries in other cities.
Pinky first appeared as Mr. Scarlet inThe Power of Shazam #44.
Mr. Scarlet later rescuesFreddy Freeman fromPrometheus' captivity, alongside theBulleteer.[8]
In "The New Golden Age", Pinky was shown to be a captive of a Time Scavenger called Childminder on Orphan Island. His voice can be heard coming from the same cell asBlue Beetle's sidekickSparky.[9] Pinky the Whiz Kid and Sparky are among those freed byRed Arrow andBoom. After Time Master and Childminder are defeated, Pinky and the Lost Children are brought to the present day, as returning them to their own time would cause atime paradox.[10]
