King of Crime and the Air-Devils
Context
This character appeared in an early 1968 issue of Wonder Woman. Back then the book was just terrible, nonsensical and kitsch (but not the good kind of kitsch).
Yet we wrote a small number of characters from this era, as an inexplicable runup to writing the much better “karate mod era” reinvented Wonder Woman.
Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Marital Status: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Leader of the Air Devils.
- Base Of Operations: “A small island”.
- Height: 5’7” Weight: 135 lbs.
- Eyes: Grey Hair: Grey-white
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Powers and Abilities
Not really.
History
The mayor of Capital City had four statues erected in various points of the city. These were stone statues of Superman, Batman and the Flash, plus a gold statue of Wonder Woman. The latter looked about five meters tall. I’ll let you calculate the weight of gold that went into this, even if it’s just plating.
Angry, the King of Crime wrote the mayor, telling him he intended to destroy the Superman statue. He even gave him the date and hour… and the Air Devils arrived right at the announced time, attempting to bomb the statue to smithereens. They were stopped by Wonder Woman, as planned. She arrested two of the Devils, and the rest fled.
Then the King wrote when he would destroy the Batman statue, and the Air Devils attacked. Wonder Woman again stopped them before it was too late.
Air wheels within air wheels
But it was actually a startlingly clever ruse from the King of Crime. As she was distracted, the King was stealing the priceless Wonder Woman statue ! He also kidnapped Steve Trevor, who was conveniently guarding it “for sentimental reasons” (creep !).
However, Wonder Woman cunningly saw through that ruse as she… well, simply stumbled on the King’s plane while flying. She followed them to his hideout, but the King had strapped explosives to Trevor. He threatened to detonated them if she got any closer. Utterly defeated, WW went home to play football.
As the football match was over, a meteor shower was announced over the area. Cleverly disguising herself as a meteor, WW crashed on the King of Crime’s island. Emerging from the aerolith, she swiftly lassoed the detonator off the King of Crime’s hands, thus defeating him. Ola !
Description
See illustrations.
Personality
It’s all in the quote, really. His men treat him as if he were actually a mighty and unquestionable king.
Quotes
“Now you will land and learn of my battle plan ! To destroy the statues of Superman, Batman and Flash set up in different locations all over Capital City ! I shall show the world that I, the King of Crime, is the one who should be honored — not that collection of comic characters !”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
King of Crime
| Dex: 03 | Str: 02 | Bod: 03 | Motivation: Power |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 04 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Criminal, I guess |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 03 | Resources {or Wealth}: 009 |
| Init: 010 | HP: 010 |
Skills:
Military science (demolition, field command): 04
Advantages:
None demonstrated.
Connections:
Air-Devils (High), possibly other criminal contacts.
Drawbacks:
SIA toward Jealousy.
Equipment:
AIRPLANE [STR 10 BODY 10, Flight: 08, Radar sense: 17, R#02] w/ KAL-EL BARNA MKII WINCH [STR 10, BODY 08, Misc.: includes a 6 APs long line].
The daring Air Devils !
The Air Devils are a half-dozen pilots with jet fighter-bombers. They are pretty good pilots.
| Dex: 03 | Str: 02 | Bod: 03 | Motivation: Mercenary |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 03 | Min: 03 | Occupation: Criminal pilot |
| Inf: 02 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 03 | Resources {or Wealth}: 004 |
| Init: 008 | HP: 005 |
Skills:
Vehicles (air): 05, Weaponry (bombs): 05
Connections:
Air-Devils (High), King of Crime II (Low).
Equipment:
TWIN-ENGINES ONE-SEATER ATTACK BOMBER [STR 06 BODY 09, Flight: 11, Radar sense: 18, R#02] with two Bombs [BODY 03, Bomb: 10, Grenade drawback].
Source of Character: Wonder Woman v1 #174.