BROTHER BRIMSTONE

Real Name: Ross Archer

Identity/Class: Human psychopath

Occupation: Former actor

Group Membership: Strange Secrets cast

Affiliations: Formerly Jerry Jason, Ed Lawson, Lester Dant, Karen Page, Vince Sterling, Bill Wheeler

Enemies: Brother Brimstone, Daredevil, Jerry Jason, Ed Lawson, Karen Page, Vince Sterling, Bill Wheeler

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Los Angeles, California

First Appearance: Daredevil I#65 (June, 1970)

Powers/Abilities: Ross Archer was a large and had the strength of a madman. He was also an experienced actor, at least in fright roles.

History:
(Daredevil I#65 (fb) - BTS) - Ross Archer played the role of Brother Brimstone--a demon doomed to haunt the Earth forever--who was the villain on the television show Strange Secrets, serving as the opponent of the hero played by Vince Sterling. The show had begun to slip in the ratings.

(Daredevil I#65) - Brother Brimstone assaulted the character played by Karen Page during a shoot. Shortly thereafter, Archer went berserk when he learned that Brimstone's character was to be killed off. Only the efforts of several men on the set stopped him from attacking director Bill Wheeler. Leaving the set, Archer convinced himself that everyone was against him, including Ed Lawson, the writer-creator of the show. Karen Page happened upon Archer, wearing Brimstone's outfit but not his makeup, threatening to harm his stand-in, Jerry Jason, who was making him look bad. Page's scream distracted Archer, and Jason punched him, but Archer smashed him against a wall, knocking him out. Archer then went after Page, trying to silence the only witness to his attack, but Daredevil--in L.A. to check up on Karen--arrived to stop him. Archer fought back savagely, giving out and receiving several blows before he actually managed to stun Daredevil, but he fled before the police could arrive.

(Daredevil I#65 (fb) - BTS) - Archer was apparently arrested for his actions, but the network paid his bail so he could repeat the scene from the above episode, as the film had been ruined.

(Daredevil I#65) - Archer didn't show up for the next filming, leading the cast to go looking for him. They found Brother Brimstone running along the top of the set, carrying a human body. Daredevil swung up to stop him, but even though he allowed Brimstone to hurl the body to the set below (Daredevil knew that the body had no heartbeat), Brimstone dropped him with a single punch. Brimstone escaped, and the cast rushed over to the body...the body of Ross Archer, who had been strangled to death by somebody with a grip of iron.

Comments: Created by Roy Thomas, Gene "The Dean" Colan, and Syd Shores.

When Daredevil first fought Archer, it looked as if he had just taken off his makeup, but I couldn't tell the difference myself. Then again, this being art by Colan, most of the shots were in shadows...

Lester Dant was called Lester Leroy in Daredevil I#66. In the tradition of Robert Bruce Banner, and dub him Lester Leroy Dant.

"Strange Secrets" is probably a parody of the old TV gothic soap "Dark Shadows" and that demon "Brother Brimstone" is a take-off of vampire "Barnabus Collins"
--John Kaminski

I'm surprised no one noticed the similarities in motivation between the original Brother Brimstone and the original Clayface. Also check out the Golden Age Blonde Phantom foe Mister Stranger from Blonde Phantom#13 (Spring 1947) and Captain America & Bucky foe Scarface from Captain America Comics#54 (March, 1946).
--Gammatotem

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Ross Archer should be distinguished from:

• Brother Brimstone (Vince Sterling), his killer and successor, @ Daredevil I#65
  
  he has no known connection to:
   
• Baron Brimstone (Walter Theodoric) - criminal, used variety of technological devices and apparent magic in committing thefts--Machine Man I#16
• BRIMSTONE LOVE 2099 - seemingly demonic entity, director of Theatre of Pain--X-Men 2099#3
• other "Brother" or "Brimstone" characters

Ed Lawson has no known connection to:

• LAWSON, PROFESSOR - created device that empowered Miss America, killed in explosion--Marvel Mystery Comics#49d
• Lawson, Thomas - vampire, Legion of the Damned--Marvel Preview#3
• LAWSON, WALTER - expert in missiles and robotic guidance--Marvel Super-Heroes II#13
• LAWSON, WALTER impersonator - see CAPTAIN MAR-VELL--Marvel Super-Heroes II#13
• LAWSON, WILLIE - see LOKI. posed as leader of Maine branch of Church of Thor, lobster fisherman, inflamed conflict against other religious groups--Thor II#63

Bill Wheeler has no known connection to:

• Wheeler - Wakandan--Daredevil I#245
• Wheeler, Annie - see Wide Load Annie--US One#1
• Wheeler, Ed - see Poppa Wheelie--US One#1

images:
Daredevil I#65 (most of body)
        p12, panel 1 (face)

First Posted: 05/24/2005
Last updated: 06/23/2019

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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