The Unofficial Biography of...

The Crimson Avenger and Wing created by Jim Chambers?

Alter Ego: Lee Walter Travis
Occupation:Newspaper Publisher, The New York Globe-Leader
Marital Status: presumed single
Known Relatives: Winston W. Smythe,( grandfather, deceased )
Group Affiliation: Law's Legionaires, All-Star Squadron
Base of Operations: New York City, NY
Current Status: deceased
Height: 6'0" Weight: 180 lbs.
Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: brown
First Appearance: Detective Comics# 20, October, 1938.

.....All his young life, Lee Travis felt that his duty as a member of the upper class was to help his fellow man. Even in college, he felt a kinship with Wes Dodds, who voiced many of the same feelings. Joining up with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in war-torn Spain during 1936, he was injured coming off the boat and immediately shipped back to the US, unfufilled in his quest to help rid Spain of the Facists.

..... After graduating from college, he found that his grandfather had left a large portion of his personal fortune and a New York City newspaper to him. Taking the helm of the paper, he used its forums in the op-ed pages and molded the editorial content to that of social reform and aid for the downtrodden. Even with all that, he had those who felt that even that wasn't enough, one of which was Claudia Barker, a young socialite who had caught his eye on the cocktail circuit. He was going to a costume party that was raising funds to aid Chinese refugees from the invading Japanese, when he was quietly confronted by his chauffeur, Wing How. Travis was braced by Wing's quiet resignation that the social set would soon find another "worthy cause" and his family members in China would be left to suffer.

.....At the party, the guests were confronted by robbers disguised as Martians, capitalizing on the hysteria generated by the "War of The Worlds" broadcast that evening. Claudia, who was also there at the party, challenged the robbers and was gunned down by them. Travis, in his costume as a Highwayman, decided that he would avenge her and rescue the funds. As Wing gave chase, Travis fired his guns with amamzing accuracy and brought the fleeing crooks to a halt. Exacting his vengance, Travis continued his fight as The Crimson ( though he later changed his name to the Crimson Avenger ). Travis thought that as the publisher, he could further the mystique created by his other identity by offering a reward for the vigilante in his newspaper.

.....Several months passed, and Wing and The Crimson Avenger became involved with spies from Germany trying to get their hands on a 'gas-gun', which would aid the invading German troops. After getting the gun and modifying slightly, The Crimson Avenger added it to his arsenal, setting it to shoot a screen of heavy crimson fog to mask his movements.

.....The Crimson Avenger fought crime from the inside out, as many criminals considered him on the wrong side of the law, but as the tales of his crime-fighting spread, he became more of a traditional "mystery-man", even going as far as to adopting a stremlined crimson-and-gold costume, with Wing later adopting a gold-and-crimson costume. In mid 1941, The Crimson Avenger and Wing became founding members of The Law's Legionaires ( or Seven Soldiers of Victory, as they were better known ) while stopping The Hand in a plot to overthrow America. Both later joined the ALL-STAR SQUADRON, along with the other Legionaires, but spent most of his time operating either solo or with Wing.

.....As the years took their toll, the duo semi-retired in 1944, only coming out to adventure with their friends in the SSoV. When the group disbanded in 1945, their careers were all but over. In 1949, however, the group returned to battle The Nebula-Man, and were hurdled through time, the resulting explosion killing Wing. The Crimson Avenger spent several weeks in Precolumbian Central America. After being rescued by several members of the Justice League and Justice Society, Travis was returned more than 40 years after he had left, but still youthful.

.....Discovering that his holdings had prospered after he had been thrown through time, Travis began an around-the-world tour, hoping it would cure his depression, but cut it short when he discovered that he had an incurable disease that would kill him within weeks. Donning his costume one last time, he saved a young Hispanic infant from falling to his death and saved New York from disaster by stopping an exploding barge from detonating in a populated area at the cost of his own life. After several months, The Star-Spangled Kid had discovered his selfless deed and had monument erected in a Metropolis cememtary.

.....The Crimson Avenger was one of the many early "mystery men" that relied on their inborn abilities, rather than "super-powers". He used various technical devices, such as twin .44 automatic handguns until aquiring the "gas gun" from the Nazi bund The Black Cross. With this gun, he was able to project a thick red gas that clouded his movement and allowed him to move stealthily. perhaps this is why he changed his costume from a primarily black business suit to a skin-tight crimson costume. He was trained in Judo and karate by his associate, Wing. He used his wits more than his fists, solving problems and mysteries. In the early years, he rode in a modified Roll-Royce, complete with stealth gas and bullet-proof sides.

Chronological Listing of Comic Book Appearances

Golden Age Secret Files and Origins# 1 ( flashback )
Secret Origins(v3)# 5 October 30. '38
Detective Comics# 20-22
The Crimson Avenger# 1-4 of 4 December '38
Detective# 23-27
Detective# 33-50
World's Best Comics# 1
Detective# 51-53
World's Finest Comics# 2
Detective# 54-56
WFC# 3
Detective# 57-59
WFC# 4
Secret Origins(v3)# 7 June 10, 1940
Leading Comics# 1
Detective# 60-62
WFC# 5
Leading# 2
Detective# 63-65 Leading Comics# 3/All-Star Squadron# 29 December 11-12, '41
Detective# 66-67
All-Star Squadron# 31-32 February 22-23, '42
Detective# 68
All-Star Squadron# 64 March 31, '42
Leading# 4/All-Star Squadron# 55 April 8, '42
All-Star Squadron# 59-60 April 15, '42
Young All-Stars# 3 May 3, '42
Young All-Stars# 9
Detective# 69
Young All-Stars Annual# 1 May 23, '42
Detective# 70
Leading# 5/Young All-Stars# 27 June '42
Detective# 71-74
Leading# 6
Detective# 75-77
Leading# 7
Detective# 78-80
Leading# 8
Detective# 81-83
Leading# 9
Detective# 84-86
Leading# 10
Detective# 87-89
Leading# 11-14
Adventure Comics(v1)# 438-445
Stars 'n S.T.R.I.P.E.S# 9 ( flashback ) October '49
JLofA(v1)# 100-102
DCCP# 38
JLA:YO# 11-12 Not in continuity for this character

This Page was Created October 25, 1999.
This Page was last updated May 8, 2001.

All Characters and situations are copyright DC Comics, 2002

Thanks to "steveb" for appearance info!

© 2002 dotymo@webtv.net

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