Master Man (Quality Comics)
Encyclopedia
Master Man was a Kid Eternity
villain who made his first appearance in Kid Eternity #15. He is a type of reverse polarity Kid Eternity, similar to the way Ibac
is to Captain Marvel
. Kid Eternity's opposite number, Master Man was given powers similar to the Kid's by a figure heavily implied to be the Devil
. When Master Man said "Stygia", he could summon any evil historical or mythological figure from Stygia. He was an average sized man with black hair, who wore a green cape and a military type uniform with a Skull and Crossbones on the front. He was also a smoker.
, who defeats some convicts, although some others will soon be at the prison gates. Knute then gets the idea of him and the Kid riding horses to help keep the convicts in, which they succeed in. The two main villains escape, Kid sends Knute back to Eternity, and although the Kid sees those behind the prison break, Mr Keeper tells him Rasputin is in Stygia till he plays the penalty for his crimes. Meanwhile in the dismal plains Rasputin is sinking into a pool of flame for failing, and the shadowy figure tells Master Man not to fail a second time. Master Man decides to get rid of Kid Eternity. Later, while Kid Eternity and Mr Keeper are sitting on a roof, Master Man seizes the Kid from behind and gags him without Mr Keeper noticing. Keeper finally realises Kid has gone and sees he has been kidnapped and is being taken inside a castle. Keeper flies in, thinking Kid will really need his magic word now, but 'it is not Kid Eternity who speaks a magic word.' Master Man has tied to a chair and gagged Kid Eternity and summons the cruelest of torturers, Torquemada
, who used his talents during the Spanish Inquisition
, and by the power that made him appear Torquemada summons his torturer's equipment. He asks if the torture should kill Kid Eternity, but Master Man tells him not to, as only Mr Keeper can remove his power. He shows knowledge of the Kid's origin, and says his new existence will be made so painful that he will willingly request eternal death. The torturer says many cried for death, he spared none of them, but will make an exception for the Kid. The Kid is untied from the chair and placed on a wooden board, then tortured with a device that screws tightly around his neck. Mr Keeper knows he cannot materialise to defeat the villains, and only the Kid can see him, so he tells Kid to pretend to be unconscious as he cannot say Eternity while wearing the gag. The Kid does so, putting the villains of guard while they prepare more torture that will make him beg for eternal death, and hits his torturer, and after ungagging himself he summons Will Rogers a lasso expert, he lassos Torquemada's legs, and sends him out of a window. The Kid and Charles agree that the torturer deserved what he got. Master Man summons Batu Khan
, leader of a horde of Mongols
that once overran Europe
. He cuts through Will's lasso, so Kid summons Charles Martel
, who stopped an invasion of Europe at the Battle of Tours
. Martel makes racist comments and stabs Batu Khan through the chest. Master Man sens his men back to Stygia, but is then attacked by the Kid, and while he tries to escape a strange shadow falls over him, and the ground opens beneath his feet. Kid sees it goes down for miles and ends with a pool of fire. Keeper tells him he has seen enough and should send the men he called back to Eternity, and leave here. Moments later the fissure is gone and the two are flying back to Eternity. When Kid wonders whose shadow it was, Keeper says he thinks he knows, and cannot wait to get back to a nice safe cloud in Eternity. However, he makes several later appearances.
Kid Eternity
Kid Eternity is a comic book superhero who first premiered in Hit Comics #25, published by Quality Comics in December, 1942. The character - as well as all of Quality's intellectual properties were sold to DC Comics in 1956...
villain who made his first appearance in Kid Eternity #15. He is a type of reverse polarity Kid Eternity, similar to the way Ibac
Ibac
Ibac is a fictional Fawcett Comics and DC Comics supervillain, and a foe of Captain Marvel. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist C.C. Beck, he first appeared in Captain Marvel Adventurs #8 .-Fictional character biography:...
is to Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
. Kid Eternity's opposite number, Master Man was given powers similar to the Kid's by a figure heavily implied to be the Devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
. When Master Man said "Stygia", he could summon any evil historical or mythological figure from Stygia. He was an average sized man with black hair, who wore a green cape and a military type uniform with a Skull and Crossbones on the front. He was also a smoker.
Plot
On a dismal plain a figure whose shadow is the only thing the reader can see of him tells Master Man to serve his ends and reminds him of the price of failure with a pit of fire. He passes through the mists that divide the world and tries to start gaining Lost Souls from Hartmore Prison. Master Man summons the evil monk Rasputin, who uses a device that amused Czar Nicholas but gave him power over his thoughts, on a guard while pretending to ask for directions. Master Man and Rasputin gain entrance to the Control Tower and Master Man pulls the Master Switch, releasing all the prisoners. Kid Eternity and Mr Keeper happen to be strolling down a nearby street and hear the alarm. The Kid becomes visible, but gets beaten up by some convicts while trying to fight them, so he summons the footballer Knute RockneKnute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
, who defeats some convicts, although some others will soon be at the prison gates. Knute then gets the idea of him and the Kid riding horses to help keep the convicts in, which they succeed in. The two main villains escape, Kid sends Knute back to Eternity, and although the Kid sees those behind the prison break, Mr Keeper tells him Rasputin is in Stygia till he plays the penalty for his crimes. Meanwhile in the dismal plains Rasputin is sinking into a pool of flame for failing, and the shadowy figure tells Master Man not to fail a second time. Master Man decides to get rid of Kid Eternity. Later, while Kid Eternity and Mr Keeper are sitting on a roof, Master Man seizes the Kid from behind and gags him without Mr Keeper noticing. Keeper finally realises Kid has gone and sees he has been kidnapped and is being taken inside a castle. Keeper flies in, thinking Kid will really need his magic word now, but 'it is not Kid Eternity who speaks a magic word.' Master Man has tied to a chair and gagged Kid Eternity and summons the cruelest of torturers, Torquemada
Torquemada (comics)
Tomás de Torquemada is the fictional main villain from the comic strip Nemesis the Warlock in British comic 2000 AD, who eventually appeared in 7 episodes of spin-off adventures of his own...
, who used his talents during the Spanish Inquisition
Spanish Inquisition
The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
, and by the power that made him appear Torquemada summons his torturer's equipment. He asks if the torture should kill Kid Eternity, but Master Man tells him not to, as only Mr Keeper can remove his power. He shows knowledge of the Kid's origin, and says his new existence will be made so painful that he will willingly request eternal death. The torturer says many cried for death, he spared none of them, but will make an exception for the Kid. The Kid is untied from the chair and placed on a wooden board, then tortured with a device that screws tightly around his neck. Mr Keeper knows he cannot materialise to defeat the villains, and only the Kid can see him, so he tells Kid to pretend to be unconscious as he cannot say Eternity while wearing the gag. The Kid does so, putting the villains of guard while they prepare more torture that will make him beg for eternal death, and hits his torturer, and after ungagging himself he summons Will Rogers a lasso expert, he lassos Torquemada's legs, and sends him out of a window. The Kid and Charles agree that the torturer deserved what he got. Master Man summons Batu Khan
Batu Khan
Batu Khan was a Mongol ruler and founder of the Ulus of Jochi , the sub-khanate of the Mongol Empire. Batu was a son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan. His ulus was the chief state of the Golden Horde , which ruled Rus and the Caucasus for around 250 years, after also destroying the armies...
, leader of a horde of Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
that once overran Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. He cuts through Will's lasso, so Kid summons Charles Martel
Charles Martel
Charles Martel , also known as Charles the Hammer, was a Frankish military and political leader, who served as Mayor of the Palace under the Merovingian kings and ruled de facto during an interregnum at the end of his life, using the title Duke and Prince of the Franks. In 739 he was offered the...
, who stopped an invasion of Europe at the Battle of Tours
Battle of Tours
The Battle of Tours , also called the Battle of Poitiers and in Battle of the Court of the Martyrs, was fought in an area between the cities of Poitiers and Tours, located in north-central France, near the village of Moussais-la-Bataille, about northeast of Poitiers...
. Martel makes racist comments and stabs Batu Khan through the chest. Master Man sens his men back to Stygia, but is then attacked by the Kid, and while he tries to escape a strange shadow falls over him, and the ground opens beneath his feet. Kid sees it goes down for miles and ends with a pool of fire. Keeper tells him he has seen enough and should send the men he called back to Eternity, and leave here. Moments later the fissure is gone and the two are flying back to Eternity. When Kid wonders whose shadow it was, Keeper says he thinks he knows, and cannot wait to get back to a nice safe cloud in Eternity. However, he makes several later appearances.