HUTSU
Real Name: Hutsu (full name unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Normal human (Japanese
citizen) (World
War II era)
Occupation: Spy, cult leader
Group Membership: Leader of a sleepwalking cult
Affiliations: His henchmen (names unrevealed),
drugged sleepwalkers (pawns; names unrevealed)
Enemies: Angel (Tom Halloway), U.S. military
(Captain Corbin, Colonel Gardner, others), Dorothy Ray, taxi driver (name unrevealed)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: House of Evil Dreams, New
York City, USA;
formerly Japan
First Appearance: Sub-Mariner Comics I#5/4
(spring, 1942)
Powers/Abilities: Hutsu is a clever but
sadistic man trained in espionage. He utilizes a distinctly perfumed
drug that forces victims to reveal truths and can brainwash them into
performing even brutal tasks. He is armed with a sleep gas handgun and
backed by strong henchmen armed with scimitars. He requires spectacles
for
clear vision and is eloquently bilingual in Japanese and English.
Height: 5'1"
Weight: 110 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Bald
History:
(Sub-Mariner Comics I#5/4 (fb) - BTS) - Hutsu was
sent as a spy by Imperial Japan to gather military intelligence from
enemy U.S. during WWII. He set up the House of Evil
Dreams in New York City with a giant
statue of the (Roman) "god of sleep" Morpheus,
using a distinctly perfumed drug that forced kidnapped victims to reveal
truths, as well brainwash them into performing tasks as sleepwalkers
that they would otherwise never do. The drugged sleepwalkers remained
in Hutsu's base, joining him in worshiping the sleep god Morpheus while
dressed in togas. Captain Corbin and U.S. agent Dorothy Ray were
amongst those kidnapped. Corbin was arrested and court-martialed, but,
having been brainwashed, had no recollection. Hutsu further brainwashed
him into jumping off a skyscraper ledge.
(Sub-Mariner Comics I#5/4) - Coincidentally passing
nearby, the heroic Angel was too late to save sleepwalking Corbin.
Investigating, he passed Hutsu in formal attire as he left Corbin's
building, noting his distinctive fragrance. Further examination led the
Angel to the House of Evil Dreams where he tried to rescue Dorothy Ray
just as she was being forced to inhale the perfumed drug. However,
Hutsu and his henchmen rushed in and the two were eventually
overwhelmed, falling to Hutsu's sleep gas gun. Hutsu bound the Angel
and used the perfumed gas to brainwash the hero into believing he was a
Japanese officer ordered to kill Colonel Gardner, the Chief of Military
Intelligence. Hutsu voyeuristically watched the sleepwalker Angel
attempt this task, but ran away when Gardner found out and woke up the
Angel with a bucket of cold water. A car chase ensued wherein Hutsu
murdered the taxi driver so he could take control of the car and he
fired his sleep gas gun at the pursuing U.S. military, causing those
chasing to crash. Hutsu went back to his base and joined his followers
in worshiping Morpheus. Meanwhile, the Angel and Gardner were able to
locate the House of Evil Dreams and sent a military raid. The Angel
chased Hutsu up the Morpheus statue and captured him, while the
henchmen surrendered to U.S. soldiers. Hutsu quickly confessed and was
led off to jail.
Comments: Created by uncredited writer & Al Gabriele.
He's referred to once as Hutsu the Japanese Sandman,
but I don't consider this an alias.
Main image cleaned up by Ron Fredricks.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Hutsu no known connections to:
Miss Dorothy Ray was a counter-espionage agent for
the U.S. Government. She was captured by Hutsu, who used his perfumed
drug to force her to reveal state secrets. The Angel tried to rescue
her but the duo were overwhelmed by Hutsu and his henchmen. Ray was
drugged again and joined his sleepwalker cult in Hutsu's House of Evil
Dreams. She ran off in drugged fright when the U.S. military later
raided Hutsu's base, but she soon recovered to full consciousness.
--Sub-Mariner Comics I#5/4
images:
(without ads)
Sub-Mariner Comics I#5/4, p9, pan4 (main image)
p11, pan5 (headshot)
p8, pan4 (Dorothy Ray)
Appearances:
Sub-Mariner Comics I#5/4 (spring, 1942) - uncredited writer, Al
Gabriele (pencils & inks), Stan Lee (editor)
First posted: 08/29/2023
Last updated:
08/29/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
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and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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