BEAST-MEN
Classification: Humanoid (approximately 200,000 B.C. to Old West era),
(possibly offshoot of Neanderthal - see
comments)
Location/Base of Operations: Mystery Mountain, Texas, USA
Known Members: Approximately 11 (names
unrevealed)
Affiliations: None
Foes: Black Rider (Matthew Masters), Marie
Lathrop, other wayward humans to their domain
First Appearance: Western Winners#6/5 (August, 1949)
Powers/Abilities: Beast-Men are athletically
strong. They are isolationist and self-sufficient in nature, remaining
only on one mountain, and use primitive tools and weapons, such as
stone axes. They have mastered fire and wood carving. Beast-men have
smaller eyes than a human and extended incisors.
Traits: Beast-Men maintain population control
to remain isolated on their mountain, killing those who enter their
territory. They worship a god (or one dominant god) as represented by a
totem pole and sacrifice wayward humans using fire, although sometimes
humans are cast down with evidence of bruising and bites (there was no
evidence that they ate humans). They are self-sufficient with
capabilities in tool-making, wood-carving, rope-making and controlling
self-started fire.
Type: Bilaterally symmetric humanoid bipeds
Eyes: Two
Fingers: Five
Toes: Five
Skin color: Brown
Average height: 5'10" (by approximation)
History:
(Western Winners#6/5 (fb) - BTS) - The Beast-Men lived during the prehistoric era, a group forming an enclave at the top of what became known as Mystery Mountain in modern-day Texas, USA. Although primitive, they used tools and worshiped a god represented on a totem pole, but would sacrifice by fire a wayward human who happened to climb the mountain, despite its dark reputation. A human corpse would sometimes be found battered and bitten at the base of the mountain.
At one point during the Old West era,
Marie Lathrop wandered near Mystery Mountain and followed what seemed
to be a rough path up, despite its dark and creepy legend.
(Western Winners#6/5) - Marie's younger brother Jim,
fearful for his sister's safety, rode into town and alerted the locals,
especially his friend Matthew Masters, whom he knew was secretly the
adventurer Black Rider. A Beast-Man lookout watched as Black Rider
approached and climbed the mountain to the peak where Marie was tied
ready for sacrifice. The Beast-Men jumped Black Rider and tied him next
to Marie. Black Rider used the sacrificial fire to burn the ropes and
break free, then released Marie and used his two handguns to gun down
and kill every Beast-Man. Black Rider justified it by saying they were
the last of a dead race and the two humans clambered down, leaving the
exposed corpses behind.
Comments: Created by uncredited writer & John Severin (see comments).
These Beast-Men may have been offshoots of
Neanderthals. Given their many millennia of isolation and inbreeding,
they may well be considered their own species (so Black Rider
effectively committed genocide). Neanderthals are named after the
valley their remains were first discovered, so maybe these
semi-intelligent humanoids deserve something more respectful than
"Beast-Men."
John Severin is listed as artist as per the Grand Comics Database,
although this is unconfirmed as Syd Shores was artist for many/most Black Rider stories.
This profile was completed 09/06/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary's celebratory event.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Beast-Men have no known connections to
images: (without ads)
Western Winners#6/5, p4, pan2 (main image)
p2, pan6 (headshot)
Appearances:
Western Winners#6/5 (August, 1949) - uncredited writer, John Severin(?)
(pencils & inks), Stan Lee (editor)
First posted:
09/15/2021
Last updated:
09/14/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
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