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Inferno

Originally a circus fire-eater, Inferno the Fire Breather. When fellow performer Twisto the Rubber Man figured out John Sterling was really the hero Steel Sterling, Inferno teamed up with Twisto and Hefto the Strongman to kill him. Steel faked his death and caught the trio mid-heist. Inferno blasted Steel in the face with his fire breath, allowing the criminals to escape. However, each villain later faces their untimely demise… Hefto fell to his death and Twisto was shot by the police after impersonating another criminal, Pig Pan Wood. When Pig Pan was declared dead, he took on a new identity, the Rattler. Sterling went undercover as a criminal panhandler to catch the real Pig Pan Wood, and convinced Inferno to join forces with him. During the heist, they encounter the Rattler, who has killed the guard using his poison syringes. When Rattler attacked Steel, Inferno came to his partner’s aid. Unfortunately, Inferno was poisoned. Steel rushed him to a hospital. When Inferno awakens, Steel Sterling reveals that he was the panhandler and thanks Inferno for risking his own life to him. Inferno decides to fight for justice with Steel instead of against him. Together they foil the Rattler’s attempt to break into the treasury. When the police arrive, Inferno turns himself in, in order to make up for his crimes. Steel also gets himself arrested as the panhandler in order to foil a sinister plot. While in jail, they learn of a jail break. Inferno and Steel go along with the plan in order to save Dora Cummings and her father. After the other criminals were caught, Steel Sterling suggests to the authorities that Inferno should be put up for parole, but he declines, wanting to fulfill his debt to society. After he returned to prison, another prison break occurs and Inferno sabotages it by saving the criminals intended victims Judge Sands and his daughter. Judge Sands tells him that Inferno has been ordered to be shot on sight; but the judge felt Inferno had proven himself and told him to run. While Inferno was now a fugitive, he was inspired by Steel Sterling’s example and became a crime fighter. Inferno could breathe flames, which he used to melt through steel and bullets.
Alias Inferno the Flame-Breather
Real Names/Alt Names Unknown
Characteristics Circus, MLJ Universe, Firestarter, World War II Era
Creators/Key Contributors Joe Blair, Paul Reinman
First Appearance Zip Comics #10 (January 1941)
First Publisher Archie / MLJ [CB+] [DCM] [GCD]
Appearance List Zip Comics #10-13
Sample Read Zip Comics [DCM] [CB+]
Description Originally a circus fire-eater, Inferno the Fire Breather. When fellow performer Twisto the Rubber Man figured out John Sterling was really the hero Steel Sterling, Inferno teamed up with Twisto and Hefto the Strongman to kill him. Steel faked his death and caught the trio mid-heist. Inferno blasted Steel in the face with his fire breath, allowing the criminals to escape. However, each villain later faces their untimely demise… Hefto fell to his death and Twisto was shot by the police after impersonating another criminal, Pig Pan Wood. When Pig Pan was declared dead, he took on a new identity, the Rattler. Sterling went undercover as a criminal panhandler to catch the real Pig Pan Wood, and convinced Inferno to join forces with him. During the heist, they encounter the Rattler, who has killed the guard using his poison syringes. When Rattler attacked Steel, Inferno came to his partner’s aid. Unfortunately, Inferno was poisoned. Steel rushed him to a hospital. When Inferno awakens, Steel Sterling reveals that he was the panhandler and thanks Inferno for risking his own life to him. Inferno decides to fight for justice with Steel instead of against him. Together they foil the Rattler’s attempt to break into the treasury. When the police arrive, Inferno turns himself in, in order to make up for his crimes. Steel also gets himself arrested as the panhandler in order to foil a sinister plot. While in jail, they learn of a jail break. Inferno and Steel go along with the plan in order to save Dora Cummings and her father. After the other criminals were caught, Steel Sterling suggests to the authorities that Inferno should be put up for parole, but he declines, wanting to fulfill his debt to society. After he returned to prison, another prison break occurs and Inferno sabotages it by saving the criminals intended victims Judge Sands and his daughter. Judge Sands tells him that Inferno has been ordered to be shot on sight; but the judge felt Inferno had proven himself and told him to run. While Inferno was now a fugitive, he was inspired by Steel Sterling’s example and became a crime fighter. Inferno could breathe flames, which he used to melt through steel and bullets.
Source Inferno – Public Domain Super Heroes Wiki
Top: Zip Comics #11 (Feb 1941); Bottom: Zip Comics #10 (Jan 1941) | Joe Blair, Charles Biro
Top: Zip Comics #11 (Feb 1941); Bottom: Zip Comics #10 (Jan 1941) | Joe Blair, Charles Biro