The Green Cobra
Created by:
Marv Channing and Gray Marrow
Real Name:
Jerry Burton
Joined Mighty Crusaders:
The Cobra is not a member of the Mighty Crusaders
First Appearance:
Red Circle Sorcery #8, August 1974
Origin:
Jerry Burton, a pulp collector, collected the 1930's adventures of
the
Cobra. In an odd coincidence, the advertising agency he worked for
hired Malcolm Northridge, author of the Cobra. Jerry and Malcolm
were
assigned the Northern Airlines account and began working together.
While working together Malcolm confided in Jerry that it was as if
the
Cobra was controlling his mind when he was writing the pulps.
On night while walking home Jerry witnessed a mugging and in his
desire to see justice done, the Cobra entered his consciousness and
began talking to Jerry, convincing him to take on the role of the
Cobra. The Cobra took control of Jerry mind dispensing justice with
a
.45 slug to the brain of evil doers. Jerry's wife, concerned about
the
hold the Cobra had taken over his life, burned his collection of
Cobra
pulps. Upon seeing the sight of his burring collection Jerry
murdered
his wife. The Cobra demanded justice for this murder and made Jerry
kill himself.
History:
For fans of costumed heroes and masked crime-fighters, the most
enjoyable story to appear during Red Circle Sorcery's nine issue run
was "Die in the Name of the Law!" (RCS #8) Scripted by Mary Channing
(who wrote a number of stories for the Red Circle Comics Group and
other publishers in the early and mid-'70s and has since vanished
from the comics one) with art (and most likely by Gray Morrow, this
five page tale was about an art director for an advertising agency
who became possessed by the spirit of a 30s pub fiction mystery man
called the COBRA. This was the only time in the '70s that the Red
Circle Comics Group came anywhere nay publishing anything resembling
a superhero during its existence, and it was suspected by some
readers at the time that "Die in the Name of the Law!" was meant as
a test to see if there was any interest in a superhero series in
general or a COBRA series in particular. As Red Circle had planned
to release a costumed crime fighter title, we knew that they must
have felt there was some interest in them publishing one.
Unfortunately as the 70s Red Comics Group folded six months after
the appearance of the COBRA, we'll never know for sure if they had
any future plans for the COBRA.
Powers & Weapons:
Two Handguns and the voice of the Cobra.
Checklist:
Red Circle Sorcery #8, August 1974
TEXT BY:
Jonathan A. Gilbert
The Groovy
Age: Mystery Days at Riverdale High
ART BY: Gray Morrow
MICRO BY: Rik Offenberger
