BRADLEY BRENTON

Real Name: Bradley Brenton

Identity/Class: Human (1950s era)

Occupation: Corporate executive

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: His servants, Julia, Shaggy Creature

Enemies: None

Known Relatives: Mr. & Mrs. Brenton (parents)

Aliases: Brad (as called by Shaggy Creature)

Base of Operations: His mansion

First Appearance: Strange Tales I#38/2 (September, 1955)

Powers/Abilities: Possessing no paranormal abilities, Brenton was one of America's most successful businessmen, and one of the world's richest men. He made his fortune with the assistance of a most unusual financial advisor -- his teddy bear.

Height: Unrevealed (6'; by approximation)
Weight: Unrevealed (170 lbs.; by approximation)
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Brown

History:
(Strange Tales I#38/2 (fb)) - When he was a baby, Bradley Brenton's parents were pushing his carriage through the city, and little Bradley saw a teddy bear in a store window; he reacted excitedly, so his parents bought the stuffed toy for him -- although it meant they could only afford to have beans for supper that evening, the joy that the teddy bear brought to their baby made it worthwhile, because Bradley loved the toy, and he spent hours playing and chattering away with it. As Bradley grew, he got other toys, but the teddy bear was always his favorite, even though it was old and shaggy.

   When Bradley was eleven years old--and other boys were playing baseball--he still carried the stuffed toy, which he treated with all the kindness of a human being; the other kids made fun of him and called him a "sissy" because he still played with teddy bears.

   One day, while the Brentons were at the park, some kids sicced their dog on young Bradley and had it snatch his teddy bear from him. But before his father could intervene, Bradley fearlessly ran up to the dog, pried its jaws open, and ordered it to release his toy. Afterward, Bradley's father told him it was a brave thing that he did, but he could have been hurt; Bradley responded that his teddy bear would have otherwise been destroyed, and even though everyone laughed at the old stuffed plaything because it wasn't beautiful, he still loved the teddy bear. Then his father said something that Bradley remembered for the rest of his life: "Keep on loving him, son! Love and kindness for a person, an animal, or even a stuffed teddy bear is wonderful, and someday you'll be rewarded for it!"

(Strange Tales I#38/2 (fb) - BTS) - The events of Bradley Brenton's life in the intervening years are unrevealed, but by the time he reached adulthood, he was rewarded -- the teddy bear secretly began to give him financial advice, and subsequently, Brenton became a very wealthy man!

(Strange Tales I#38/2 (fb)) - Brenton and his teddy bear were inseparable, and--despite the scorn and ridicule of others--he always carried the shaggy old toy with him wherever he went. Whenever Brenton and the teddy bear didn't go out, they stayed in the den of Brenton's mansion far into the night, where the shaggy creature came up with ideas for Brenton to expand his business interests. When Brenton went to bed, he always took his teddy bear with him, just as he had done since he was a child.

(Strange Tales I#38/2) - Brenton took his teddy bear with him for an important corporate meeting with his board of directors. After taking the time to place the stuffed toy in a comfortable chair (much to the chagrin of the others present), Brenton told them "his" idea for a business proposal, which the others found to be brilliant (...little did they suspect that it was actually the work of the old teddy bear!).

Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and Bob Forgione.

What was the deal with this teddy bear? Was he possessed, a shapeshifter, an extraterrestrial or extradimensional being?
--Markus Raymond

Profile by Ron Fredricks.







CLARIFICATIONS:
Bradley Brenton has no known connection to:

The Shaggy Creature/teddy bear has no known connection to:

Bradley Brenton's parents

A married couple of modest means, Mr. and Mrs. Brenton (first names unrevealed) were pushing their baby son Bradley in his carriage through the city. When they passed by a rummage sale store, little Bradley became quite excited when he saw a teddy bear in the store's window, so his parents bought him the stuffed toy.

Bradley loved the teddy bear, and he would continue to carry it with him well beyond his childhood; his father told him that someday he would be rewarded for his love of the shaggy toy.

--Strange Tales I#38/2 (fb)

Bradley Brenton's mansion

Located somewhere in New York City, it was the luxurious home of the millionaire businessman and his teddy bear. The mansion was staffed by a butler, a housemaid, and a chauffeur.

(Comment: Just a thought -- Since it has a slight resemblance, you don't suppose that maybe Brenton's home eventually became Avengers Mansion?)

--Strange Tales I#38/2

Bradley Brenton's servants

The employees of the millionaire businessman, they included Hotchkins (first name unrevealed) the butler, James (last name unrevealed) the chauffeur, and an unidentified housemaid.

They thought highly of Brenton, and loyally served his needs in his mansion; but they found his behavior to be a bit eccentric, because the wealthy man took his teddy bear with him everywhere he went, and even talked to the shaggy creature!

--Strange Tales I#38/2

Julia

The romantic-interest of Bradley Brenton, Julia (last name unrevealed) loved the millionaire businessman, but she complained because he always brought his teddy bear with him on their dates.

--Strange Tales I#38/2

It was a seemingly ordinary teddy bear that Bradley Brenton's parents bought for him when he was a baby. Although others disdainfully referred to the old stuffed toy as "that shaggy creature," Brenton affectionately addressed it as "Teddy".

Brenton carried the teddy bear with him everywhere he went, and despite the ridicule and scorn he faced, he loved and protected the shaggy old toy all his life; consequently, Teddy showed his gratitude by giving Brenton financial advice, which made him a very wealthy man.

--Strange Tales I#38/2

images: (without ads)
Strange Tales I#38/2, p1, pan5 (Main Image - at business meeting, Bradley Brenton places his teddy bear in chair)
Strange Tales I#38/2, p2, pan7 (Headshot - Bradley Brenton and teddy bear in bed)
Strange Tales I#38/2, p2, pan4 (in the den of his mansion, Bradley Brenton sits in chair with teddy bear; Hotchkins (right))
Strange Tales I#38/2, p4, pan3 (Bradley Brenton takes his teddy bear with him everywhere he goes)
Strange Tales I#38/2, p3, pan1 (Brenton's parents push baby Bradley in carriage by store; Bradley sees teddy bear in window)
Strange Tales I#38/2, p3, pan8 (Bradley Brenton in bed, dreaming about his parents)
Strange Tales I#38/2, p2, pan6 (Bradley Brenton's mansion; two unidentified policemen)
Strange Tales I#38/2, p1, pan1 (Hotchkins and unidentified housemaid)
Strange Tales I#38/2, p2, pan5 (Hotchkins speaks with James)
Strange Tales I#38/2, p2, pan3 (Julia on date with Bradley Brenton and Shaggy Creature/teddy bear)
Strange Tales I#38/2, p4, pan5 (Shaggy Creature/teddy bear)
Strange Tales I#38/2, p4, pan4 (Bradley Brenton asks for advice from Shaggy Creature/teddy bear)

Appearances:
Strange Tales I#38/2 (September, 1955) - unidentified writer, Bob Forgione (pencils), Jack Abel (inks), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 09/09/2022
Last updated: 09/09/2022

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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