Created by:

Bill Dubay & Carmine Infantino

Real Name:

Steven Dickering

Joined Mighty Crusaders:

The Hangman is not a member of the Mighty Crusaders.

First Appearance:

Comet 1, October 1983

Origin:

Steve Dickering son of the original Hangman adopted the secret identity of the Hangman to prove himself to his father.

History:

The Comet No. 1
1983
Story: [untitled] (10 pages)
Editor, writer: Bill DuBay
Penciller: Carmine Infantino
Inker: Rudy Nebres
Letterer: ?
Colorist: Barry Grossman
Feature Character: The Hangman II (Steve Dickering; first appearance)
GS: Hangman I (last appearance in MIGHTY COMICS #48)
Supporting Characters: Thelma Gordon Dickering, Lori (first appearance)
Intro: Timmy Carpenter
Villains: A gang of thugs, Mrs. Carpenter (first appearance for all)
Comment: Story continues in the Comet story in next issue.
Synopsis: The Hangman’s son, who despises his geriatric father, tries to take over in his stead, but gets beaten up and unmasked for his efforts.

The Comet No. 2
1983
Cover: Comet, cops, and Lisa looking at Hangman holding body //Carmine Infantino / Rudy Nebres
Story: [untitled] (30 pages)
Editor, writer: Bill DuBay
Penciller: Carmine Infantino
Inker: Alex Nino
Letterer: Adam Kubert
Colorist: Barry Grossman
Feature Character: The Comet (origin details revealed)
GS: The Hangman II (next appears in MIGHTY CRUSADERS #?), Hangman I (dies in this story), Shield
Supporting Characters: Lori, Thelma Dickering, Naija (in flashback; dies in this story)
Other Characters: Flavius (in flashback), Timmy Carpenter (last appearance)
Villains: Mecks (in flashback; destroyed in this story), Mrs. Carpenter (last appearance)
Comment: This story explains how the Comet survived his apparent death in PEP COMICS #16.
Even though this series is billed as a six-part mini-series, this is the last published issue.
Synopsis: At his brother’s deathbed, the Comet relates how he was taken back to Altrox after being shot, was saved by their science, married, and lost his wife there to a robot attack. Meanwhile, the Hangman’s son tries and fails to save a young patient from his mother’s abuse.

Mighty Crusaders (2nd series) No. 1
March 1983
Cover: Black Hood II, Jaguar, Comet, Shield I, Fly Girl, Fly, Web, Shield (Lancelot Strong) vs. villains //Rich Buckler (signed)
Story: “Atlantis Rising”: Chapter 1 (25 pages)
Editor, writer, penciller: Rich Buckler
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Letterer: Vic Gorelick
Colorist: Barry Grossman
Feature Characters: The Mighty Crusaders (the Fly (last appearance in FLY MAN #39), Fly Girl, the Comet (last appearance for both in MIGHTY CRUSADERS #6), Shield I (Joe Higgins; last chronological appearance in issue #9 (flashback)), Shield II (Lancelot Strong; last appearance in ADVENTURES OF THE FLY #9), Jaguar (last appearance in MIGHTY CRUSADERS #5), Web (last appearance in MIGHTY COMICS #50), Black Hood II (last appearance in ARCHIE’S SUPER-HERO DIGEST #2)
Supporting Character: Dr. Malcolm Reeves (first appearance)
Intro: Officer Penella (only appearance)
Villains: The Brain Emperor (last appearance in MIGHTY CRUSADERS #1), Cincinnatti Red (dies in this story; next appears, as a ghost, in issue #9), Locke, Lumetta, Penatale, Smiley Laumic, Duke, Bennie the Gip, Fast Fingers, the Mafia (of Earth-MLJ; first and only appearance for all), Eterno (last appearance in FLY MAN #32)
Comments: Story continues in next issue.
This issue also contains a five-page section written and drawn by Rich Buckler, retelling the origins of Shield I, the Comet, the Web, the Black Hood, the Jaguar, the Fly, and the Shield (Lancelot Strong).
It is revealed in issue #9 that the current Web is the son of the original Web, but this is probably an error, since he is still shown as married to Rose Wayne Raymond in BLUE RIBBON COMICS V. 2 #50. Therefore, we will assume that this is the same Web who appeared in 1940’s MLJ and 1960’s Mighty Comics.
Synopsis: The Mighty Crusaders band together again (including new members the Web, the Jaguar, the original Shield, and the second Shield, Lancelot Strong) to take on the combined menace of Eterno and the Brain Emperor.

Mighty Crusaders (2nd series) No. 2
May 1983
Cover: Comet, Jaguar, Fly Man, Fly Girl, Shield I, Web, and Shield (Lancelot Strong) vs. false Captain Flag, Bob Phantom, Steel Sterling, Hangman, Blackjack, Fox, and Firefly //Rich Buckler / Frank Giacoia (signed)
Story: “The Genesis Conspiracy”: Chapter 2 (15 pages)
Chapter 3: “No More Heroes” (5 pages)
Editor, writer, penciller: Rich Buckler
Inkers: Frank Giacoia and friends
Letterer: Victor Gorelick
Colorist: Barry Grossman
Feature Characters: The Mighty Crusaders (Black Hood II, Comet, Fly, Fly Girl, Jaguar, Shield I, Shield (Lancelot Strong), Web)
Supporting Character: Dr. Malcolm Reeves
Villains: Eterno, the Brain Emperor, the Malevolent Legion of Juggernauts (false versions of Captain Flag, Bob Phantom, Steel Sterling, Hangman, Blackjack, Fox, and Firefly; first appearance)
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: Eterno creates a super-powered army based on costumed heroes of the past and sets them against the Mighty Crusaders.

Mighty Crusaders (2nd series) No. 3
July 1983
Cover: False Hangman vs. Shield (Lancelot Strong), Jaguar, Fly, Fly Girl, Shield, and Darkling //Rich Buckler (signed)
Story: “The Darkling Ingredient” (19 pages)
Editor, writer, penciller: Rich Buckler
Inker: Ricardo Villagran
Letterer: Rod Ollerenshaw
Colorist: Barry Grossman
Feature Characters: The Mighty Crusaders (Black Hood II, Comet (regains original powers and costume in this story and resigns from team), Darkling (first appearance; joins the Mighty Crusaders in this story), Fly, Fly Girl, Jaguar, Shield I, Shield (Lancelot Strong), Web)
Supporting Character: General Smith (last appearance in DOUBLE LIFE OF PRIVATE STRONG #2)
Villains: Eterno, the Malevolent Legion of Juggernauts (last appearance for all), the Brain Emperor (next appears in BLUE RIBBON COMICS V. 2 #6)
Synopsis: The Mighty Crusaders face off against the Malevolent Legion, Eterno, and the Brain Emperor with the help of a new member, Darkling.

Mighty Crusaders (2nd series) No. 9
September 1984
Cover: Shield in handcuffs as Jaguar, Fly Girl, Web, Darkling, and Fly face protestors //Rich Buckler / Chic Stone (signed)
Story: “Old Legends Never Die” (21 pages)
Editor, penciller: Rich Buckler
Writer: David Singer
Inker: Dick Ayers
Letterer: Rod Ollerenshaw
Colorist: Barry Grossman
Feature Characters: Mighty Crusaders (Black Hood II, Comet (also appears in flashback, chronologically between MIGHTY CRUSADERS (1st series) #6 / issue #1) Fly, Fly Girl, Jaguar, Shield I (also appears in flashback, between FLY MAN #34 / issue #1), Web)
GS: Fox II (last appearance in BLUE RIBBON COMICS V. 2 #6; next appears in issue #11), Hangman (last appearance in MIGHTY COMICS #48), Steel Sterling, Firefly, Captain Flag, Mr. Justice (last appearance in BLUE RIBBON COMICS V. 2 #2; last appearance)
Intro: Mario Cuomo (of Earth-MLJ)
Cameo appearance: Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Villains: Brain Emperor (last appearance in BLUE RIBBON COMICS V. 2 #7; next appears in issue #11), various crooks (first and only appearance), Cincinnatti Red (as a ghost; last appearance in issue #1; last appearance)
Comment: The appearance of the “original” Web, who is revealed to be the “father” of the current Web in this issue, is probably erroneous, as the current Web is still shown to be the husband of Rose Wayne Raymond in BLUE RIBBON COMICS V. 2 #14.
Synopsis: The Shield is on trial for killing a crook by accident, and the Mighty Crusaders must prove he was set up by the Brain Emperor.

Powers & Weapons:

The Hangman has no superpowers. He is in peak physical condition.

Checklist:

Red Circle & Archie Comics:
Comet 1, 2
Mighty Crusaders (vol. 2) 1-3, 9

TEXT BY: DarkMark