CORPORAL "RICKETS" JOHNSON

Real Name: Johnson (first name unrevealed)

Identity/Class: Human (World War II era)

Occupation: Ranger

Group Membership: Maulers

Affiliations: Howling Commandos, Ilsa Koenig, Cliff Powers

Enemies: Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Able Company base, England

First Appearance: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#33 (August, 1966)

Powers/Abilities: Johnson was an able ranger, and wielded a machine gun on missions.

History: (Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#33) - When McGiveney insulted Fury in front of the Howling Commandos, he and the Maulers wound up in another fight with the Howlers, and Captain Sawyer had to break them up and demand that they learn how to cooperate.

(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#35) - Bull and "Rickets" of the Maulers were assigned to join Fury and former Nazi Eric Koenig on a mission to Berlin to rescue the other Howling Commandos. Bull and Rickets were reluctant to work with Koenig because he had been a Nazi, and Bull even got into a fight with him, but Eric remained honest in his desire to defect. Eric flew them to Germany in a plane, and they met up with his sister Ilsa to help steal into Berlin. The rescuers were able to free all of the Howlers and return to England, by which time Eric, Ricekts and Bull had become fast friends.

(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#46) - McGiveney and Johnson sabotaged a munitions factory in France, but Nazi troops overwhelmed them, and they were both wounded. Eric Koenig came to their rescue in a plane, but the Nazis shot him down. He got the Maulers to a farmhouse and radioed aid. The rest of the Howling Commandos came with a plane, and medic Cliff Powers. Powers saw to McGiveney's injuries, and risked his own life to retrieve his lost medical kit so that McGiveney could get the morphine he needed. Powers was wounded himself, and wound up in a bed next to McGiveney in a hospital in England. Knowing that Powers had wanted to be a soldier, he offered him a place in the Maulers, but Powers declined, now proud to be a medic.

Comments: Created by Roy Thomas, Dick Ayers and John Tartaglione.

Frank Lovece notes that on at least one occasion (Sgt. Fury#46), Rickets is spelled "Ricketts."

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
"Rickets" Johnson should not be confused with:

• Mrs. Johnson, wife of David Johnson, @ Marvel Comics Presents#149
• Cal Johnson, son of Frank Johnson, @ Fantastic Four Unlimited#7
• Warden C.J. Johnson, involved in plot of the Absorbing Man possessing others, @ Incredible Hulk III#55
• Billy Johnson, son of David Johnson, @ Marvel Comics Presents#149
• Daisy Johnson, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, @ Secret War#2
• David Johnson, NYPD, stole money to pay for son's operation, @ Marvel Comics Presents#149
• Frank Johnson, creator of Zzutak, @ Strange Tales I#88
• Frank Johnson, false identity of Bill Bradley, @ X-Men Unlimited I#7
• Henry Johnson, soul consumed by Satana, @ Haunt of Horror#2
• Jenn Johnson, false identity of Cathy Bradley, @ X-Men Unlimited I#7
• John JOhnson, science fiction writer surpassed by Peters, @ Uncanny Tales#23
• "Knuckles" Johnson, thug, fought the Ferret, @ Marvel Mystery Comics#4
• Mike Johnson, S.H.I.E.L.D., field agent, @ Secret War: From the Files of Nick Fury
• Randall Johnson Jr., associate of Tony Stark, @ Iron Man III#51
• Richard Obadiah Johnson, politician suppported by Seymour the All-Seeing, @ Solo Avengers#10
• Rose Johnson, false identity of Marion Bradley, @ X-Men Unlimited I#7
• Simon Johnson, blackmailed by Spider-Man, @ Marvel Fanfare I#42
• "Slugger" Johnson, the Brain of "Earth 1958", @ Fantastic Four I#136
• Timmy Johnson, son of Daily Bugle employee, @ Tangled Web#20
• Willie Johnson, bully, enemy of Delayne Masters, @ Marvel Fanfare#25
• Colonel Johnson, fought the Gunhawks, @ Gunhawks#2
• Major Johnson, servant of Mr. X, @ Wolverine II#159
• Johnson, U.S. government, agent of General Ryker, @ Incredible Hulk III#14
• Johnson, Daily Bugle employee, @ Tangled Web#20