Tom Burke (Werewolf)

TOM BURKE

Real Name: Tom Burke

Identity/Class: Human werewolf;
pre-modern era (last seen active in 1973)

Occupation: Big game hunter

Group Membership: Unidentified hunting group

Affiliations: Formerly Troy Ferman, Austin Whelton;
the unidentified werewolf who transformed him could be considered an ally or an enemy

Enemies: Troy Ferman, Austin Whelton;
the unidentified werewolf who transformed him could be considered an ally or an enemy

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Unrevealed

First Appearance: Chamber of Chills#7 (November, 1973)

Powers/Abilities: Tom shifted between human and werewolf form during a full moon (at least); his werewolf form was savage and more than willing to prey on others (especially those hunting him).

His werewolf form apparently possessed super-human strength, speed, durability, agility, reflexes, stamina, and senses; the limits of these abilities are unrevealed.

He was presumably vulnerable to silver and magical assaults, and possibly to wolfsbane, etc. He is resistant to injury from conventional injury, such as a lead and/or steel bullet.

His bites and scratches transformed other into werewolves within minutes. If is unclear whether this is only true of those who survive his attacks, or whether his victims can return from death to become a werewolf. Ferman thought Whelton was dead, but his abilities and thoroughness in making such an assessment is unrevaled.

Tom Burke was otherwise an experienced big game hunter, skilled at tracking and in the use of a rifle.

Height: Unrevealed (no one of known height for reference; he appeared comparable in height -- maybe slightly shorter -- to two other hunters)
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Apparently light blue
Hair: Brown

History:

(Chamber of Chills#7 (fb) - BTS) - Tom Burke was hailed as the greatest big game hunter alive.

(Chamber of Chills#7 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe hardcover#13: Werewolves entry) <1972> - Tom Burke was mauled by a werewolf during a hunt, though he was reported to have been mauled by a wolf. Hospitalized due to his injuries, he was unable to compete in the annual big game competetion, during which Austin Whelton and Troy Ferman took the trophy, bagging the largest cat in the competition's history.

(Chamber of Chills#7 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe hardcover#13: Werewolves entry) <1973> - Despite Whelton and Ferman's championship, others questioned whether Burke might have won had he been able to compete. Tired of Burke's ongoing ranking as the greatest despite their recent successes and seeking to hunt the most dangerous game (a human), Whelton and Ferman invited Burke to their hunting lodge with the plan to prove their superiority by hunting him.

(Chamber of Chills#7) - Though suspecting treachery, Burke traveled to the hunting lodge, where Whelton and Ferman revealed their true intentions and -- at gunpoint -- sent Burke running into the woods with a 10 minutes.

(Chamber of Chills#7 (fb) - BTS) - Burke ran hard before turning into his werewolf form.

(Chamber of Chills#7 - BTS) - Seeing the bootprints turn to non-human footprints and then hearing a howl, Ferman told Whelton it must have been a werewolf that mauled Burke. Whelton was skeptical, and ultimately, Ferman rushed back to the outpost alone to fashion a silver bullet, while Whelton continued the hunt.

(Chamber of Chills#7) - The werewolf Burke confronted Whelton, ignoring his efforts to explain the hunt as a joke. As Burke leapt at him, Whelton fired his gun.

(Chamber of Chills#7 - BTS) - Whether the bullet struck him soldily or not, the werewolf Burke was unaffected and tore into Whelton, leaving him incapacitated.

(Chamber of Chills#7 - BTS) - Hearing the shot fired, Ferman rushed out and found the fallen Whelton.

(Chamber of Chills#7 - BTS) - Shortly thereafter, Ferman was confronted by a werewolf, whom he slew with his sole silver bullet. However, the werewolf turned out to be Whelton, who then heard Burke's howl and realized he had no way to defend himself.

Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe hardcover#13: Werewolves entry) - Ferman was "presumably either slain or transformed" into a werewolf.

Comments: Created by Doug Moench, Ron Wilson, and Jack Abel.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Tom Burke should be distinguished from:

"BURK" - Former right leg pilot for Quintronic Man--Incredible Hulk II#213
BURKE - External/Highlord, slain by Selene?, precognitive powers, black hair, dressed in suit with tie--X-Force#10
BURKE, Mr. of Earth-??? - stablehand for the Clennons, pretended to be deaf, sought to sell info on Myles to Portia, killed by agents of the Kingpin--Kingpin II#4
BURKE, ELTON - former boyfriend of Amy Pope--Howard the Duck I#19
BURKE, ANNE - wife of Henry, pleaded with him to help stop threat of Sserpo--Amazing Adventures I#6/1
BURKE, GWYNETH - wife of Jack, adoptive mother of Job--Man-Thing III#1
BURKE, HENRY - great-grandson of Thomas, stopped threat of ever-growing lizard Sserpo by having Jupiterians take it away--Amazing Adventures I#6/1
BURKE, JACK - husband of Gwyneth, adoptive father of Job--Man-Thing III#1
BURKE, Dr. JENNY - see SUNSTREAK--Nightwatch#5
BURKE, JOB - child of Ellen Brandt and Ted Sallis, conceived shortly before his transformation into the Man-Thing, given up for adoption, adopted by Jack and Gwyneth Burke, later abducted by Mr. Termineus--Man-Thing III#1
BURKE, KEVIN - former marine serving in Iraq; Archstone--Battle Scars#3
BURKE, MARY ALICE - see MARY ALICE ANDERS--Spider-Man Unlimited#3
BURKE, THOMAS - 19th century, great-grandfather of Henry, biochemist, developed growth formula much later ingested by lizard that became threat of Sserpo--Amazing Adventures I#6/1
BURKE, TRACY - editor of Tech Support magazine, photojournalist and former co-worker of Carol Danvers at Now magazine--Ms. Marvel#8
BURKE, Dr. - psychologist? at Burke Wellness Center, examined Violet Lightner, associated with Henry Gyrich--Avengers: The Initiative Annual#1
BURKE, Mr. and Mrs. - Upper West Side Community Association members--Bizarre Adventures#25
BURKE, Mr. - former head of security of Metro Stadium, rendered obsolete after they purchased a new security system, attempted to convince them of his need via terrorist acts, exposed and defeated by Paladin--Marvel Comics Presents#86/4
BURKE of Reality-1191 - mutant--Uncanny X-Men I#282

images: (without ads)
Chamber of Chills#7/2, pg. 1, panel 2 (human face);
        pg. 2, panel 2 (at gunpoint);
        pg. 3, panel 1 (full body, running);
        pg. 6, panel 2 (leaping at Whelton);
            panel 4 (shot in chest)

Appearances:
Chamber of Chills#7 (November, 1973) - Doug Moench (writer), Ron Wilson (penciler), Jack Abel (inker); unlisted editor

Last updated: 02/26/15

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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