King Standish
| King Standish | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Flash Comics#3 (March 1940) |
| Created by | Gardner Fox(writer) William Smith (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Team affiliations | All-Star Squadron Office of Strategic Services |
| Notable aliases | The King |
| Abilities | Master ofdisguise Masterillusionist Skilled hand to hand combatant Occasional use of guns |
King Standish(a.k.a. Man of 1000 Faces) is a fictional character in theDC ComicsUniverse.The character first appeared inFlash Comics#3 (March 1940) and was created byGardner Foxand William Smith.[1]
Fictional character biography
[edit]Wealthy, sophisticated King Standish was a master of disguise who wanted to stop crime.[2]He was considered a criminal by both the police and the underworld, but he was a crime-fighter. He used hand-to-hand combat and occasionally guns. Over time, his reputation improved. King Standish always remained in disguise, allowing no one to know what he looked like. His actual face and name are never revealed. He wore atuxedo,an opera cape, atop hatand adomino mask,whenever making an appearance not in disguise.[3]
His most frequent adversary was the Witch who rivaled his ability to disguise himself. He finally convinced her to switch sides and help him in his fight against crime.[4]
During World War II, he was contacted by Control to become a member of theOffice of Strategic Services(OSS), which he remained the war was over.
Later, he helped theJustice Society of Americawhen Jacob Tolzmann became a supernatural threat. WithSandmanand theStar Spangled Kidknocked out, King teamed up with their sidekicks,SandyandStripesy.The King disguised himself as Tolzmann's father to distract him, allowing the sidekicks to defeat him.[3]
InJustice Society of America(vol. 3) #29, a new recruit to the team,King Chimera,reveals a little bit about himself, saying his father was King Standish and that he met with a member of a secret order on a distant island to perfect the art of illusion. King Chimera mentioned his mother had a thing for older men, hinting that he was much older than she.[5]
King Standish's current activities and whereabouts were not recorded.
Powers and abilities
[edit]King Standish is a master ofdisguise,a masterillusionist,and is a skilled hand-to-hand combatant.
Equipment
[edit]King Standish has made occasional use of guns.
In other media
[edit]King Standish appears in theStargirlepisode "Frenemies: Chapter Twelve - The Last Will and Testament of Sylvester Pemberton", portrayed by Allen Andrews. This version is a socialite who is killed byDelores Winters(who at the time possessedUltra-Humanite's brain) after attempting to make out with her.
References
[edit]- ^Thomas, Roy (2006).The All-Star Companion: Vol. 2.TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 88.ISBN978-1893905375.
- ^Markstein, Don."The King".Don Markstein's Toonopedia.Retrieved22 April2020.
- ^ab"The King".Comic Vine.RetrievedOctober 10,2019.
- ^Nevins, Jess (2013).Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes.High Rock Press. pp. 150–151.ISBN978-1-61318-023-5.
- ^Justice Society of America(vol. 3) #29 (July 2009). DC Comics.