MIKE
Real Name: Michael (full name unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Human (World War II era)
Occupation: Bar owner
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Ali, Christine DeGroot, Josef DeGroot, Sam Sawyer, Wilhelm Steuben
Enemies: Pasha Omar Bey, Captain Eric Leroux, Major Schmidt
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mike's Chicago Bar, Marrakech, Morocco
First Appearance: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#72 (November, 1969)
Powers/Abilities: Mike's abilities are not known, but he seemed knowledgeable in the world of espionage.
History: (Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#72 (fb) - BTS) - In 1935, Mike was living in New York City and was in love with Christine DeGroot. Their favorite song was "No Matter if we Part." However, Christine left him to go help her father in Denmark, and her departure made Mike cynical about love. He eventually opened Mike's Chicago Bar in Marrakech.
(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#72 (fb)) - When Sam Sawyer, an American aiding the British government, came to Marrakech in 1940 in search of scientist Wilhelm Steuben, he came to Mike's bar hoping that he would help him, but Mike refused.
Later, Mike was reunited with Christine because she and her father had helped Steuben escape to Marrakech. Mike convinced Christine that she and her father needed to leave Marrakech for their own safety, and he helped Sawyer get Steuben out. After the DeGroots left, Mike brought down Pasha Omar Bey's criminal underworld.
Comments: Created by Allyn Brodsky, Dick Ayers and John Severin. If you didn't get that is an homage to the classic 1942 movie Casablanca, go rent it already!
Mike is, of course, an homage to Humphrey Bogart's character Rick Blaine. The song "No Matter if we Part" is a takeoff on the song "As Time Goes By," which was featured in Casablanca.
Mrrutsala@aol.com says: "According to Alter Ego no.6(Autumn 2000) this story was originally supposed to be a straight retelling of "Casablanca" It was written by Gary Friedrich. Stan Lee , however, was afraid of a lawsuit and had it rewritten (by Allyn Brodsky) and somewhat redrawn (by Dick Ayers) Note that Casablanca and Marrakech are both cities in Morocco.
by Prime Eternal
CLARIFICATIONS:
The name "Eric Leroux" is a reference to Erik, the Phantom of the Opera, created by Gaston Leroux (Claude Rains starred in the 1943 movie version)"
Mike should not be confused with:
Wilhelm Steuben was a German scientist who was smuggled to Marrakech by Josef DeGroot, with the intent of defecting over to England. Sam Sawyer came to Marrakech to help him, but Steuben refused to leave until Sawyer arranged for the DeGroot's escapes as well.
Charly Ming was a gunman hired by an unknown person (possibly Eric Leroux) to kill Sam Sawyer to prevent him from interfering in his employer's plans. The attempt on Sawyer's life failed, and Charly surrendered quickly, being terribly afraid of death. Shortly afterward, Leroux killed Charly and attempted to pin his death on Sawyer.
--Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#72
Charly Ming was the story's counterpart to the Casablanca character Ugarte, portrayed by Peter Lorre.
Captain Eric Leroux was a French officer stationed in Marrakech who attempted to remain neutral in the midst of World War II, only looking out for himself. When Sam Sawyer came to Marrakech, he killed Charley Ming and attempted to pin the death on Sawyer. He tried to prevent Sawyer from helping Wilhelm Steuben and the DeGroots escape Marrakech, but failed. Major Schmidt had Leroux executed for his failure.
--Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#72
Eric Leroux was the story's counterpart to the Casablanca character Louis Renault, portrayed by Claude Rains, although Rains' character was much more sympathetic.
Josef DeGroot was one of the most wanted men in Europe during World War II because of his work in the Danish underground. He and his daughter Christine helped smuggled Wilhelm Steuben to Marrakech, where Mike helped father and daughter escape the Nazis.
--Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#72
Josef DeGroot was the story's counterpart to the Casablanca character Victor Laszlo, portrayed by Paul Henreid, except that he is the lead female's father instead of husband.
Christine DeGroot was Mike's lover in New York City around 1935, but she went back to Denmark to help her father in the underground. She and Mike were reunited in Marrakech in 1940, but he convinced her that she had to leave for the safety of herself and her father.
--Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#72
Christine DeGroot was the story's counterpart to the Casablanca character Ilsa Lund, portrayed by Ingrid Bergman.
Pasha Omar Bey was the head of the black market in Marrakech, and received Wilhelm Steuben when he came there then tried to extort him for money from Sam Sawyer, but failed. After Steuben and the DeGroots had been evacuated from Marrakech, his criminal empire was brought down by Mike.
--Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#72
Pasha Omar Bey was the story's counterpart to the Casablanca character Signor Ferrari, portrayed by Sydney Greenstreet.
Ali was the piano player at Mike's Chicago Bar, and constantly played the song "No Matter if we Part," despite Mike's avowed distaste for it, but when Mike was reunited with Christine, Ali played it for the both of them.
--Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#72
Ali was the story's counterpart to the Casablanca character Sam, portrayed by Dooley Wilson.
Major Schmidt was the ranking Nazi officer in Marrakech, and oversaw the work of Captain Eric Leroux. When Leroux failed to prevent the escapes of Steuben and the DeGroots, he had Leroux killed.
--[Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#72]
Major Schmidt was the story's counterpart to the Casablanca character Major Strasser, portrayed by Conrad Veidt.
Images taken from: Last updated: 05/28/06
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
Sgt. Fury#72, page 3, panel 5
Steuben- Sgt. Fury#72, page 12, panel 6
Ming- Sgt. Fury#72, page 5, panel 2
Leroux- Sgt. Fury#72, page 8, panel 3
Josef- Sgt. Fury#72, page 19, panel 4
Christine- Sgt. Fury#72, page 15, panel 4
Omar- Sgt. Fury#72, page 12, panel 2
Ali- Sgt. Fury#72, page 10, panel 5
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