The Vile Menagerie: MARCO XAVIER

Alter Ego: Marco Xavier
Occupation: Playboy; Sportsman; Crime Czar
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: None
Group Affiliation: Vulture
Base of Operations: The Mediterranean
First Appearance: House of Mystery #160 (July, 1966)
Height: Approx. 6"
Weight: Approx. 170 lbs.
Eyes: Dark
Hair: Black

History:
Little is know of the past life of the wealthy mystery man, Marco Xavier. Behind the high iron gates of his posh Mediterranean villa, he lived alone, with neither friend nor relative. Called by some a "very stubborn... lone wolfer," Xavier maintained his fortune by working with illicit operations, but never as a dedicated member. Still, his reputation of being reliable in performing "extra-legal chores" was "well known in underworld circles." The internationally famous playboy was eventually linked to such shady figures by a special security department, which in fact appeared to be their only lead in investigating the most sinister criminal organization on Earth, Vulture. Mr. Steele brought in J'onn J'onzz, the Manhunter from Mars, to pursue this lead. However, as soon as the Alien Ace began observing Xavier, he bore witness to a seemingly fatal car accident, as the playboy careened through guardrails on a winding mountain road and plunged to a fiery explosion below. Thinking quickly, the shapeshifting Martian assumed the guise of Marco Xavier, dangling from an outgrowth to be "saved" by local authorities.

Xavier appeared to have at least one named servant, a gentleman named Jeffers, who ushered in agents of Vulture to meet with "Xavier" the morning after the accident. Despite the assertions of Mr. Steele, Xavier had a highly desirable number of associates and friends, whom Xavier would be paid to spy upon or otherwise sabotage-- among them, notable magnates such as Apollo Magnus, Miklos Agar, Aldo Szuzi, and Pierre Carré. Marco Xavier appeared to have been quite the ladies man, often followed by a "bevy of beauties;" from doting socialites to dating secret agents, who he referred to frequently as "chicks." These assets seemed to help the faux Xavier maintain high value with the Faceless leader of Vulture, Mr. V.

After some time with J'onn J'onzz active under the guise of Marco Xavier, assisting Vulture in various plots, he received his final assignment. Manhunter/Xavier stole "the ultimate weapon" prototype pistol from The Carré Company, swapping it for a replica, but the deception was soon detected. Marco Xavier was finally wanted by the police for a specific crime, limiting his usefulness to Vulture, who still owed him a million dollars for the heist. After repeatedly evading authorities, Manhunter/Xavier was picked up by Vulture operatives, and taken to a tiny island on the opposite side of Mediterranean from his villa. This was a different location from where the pistol had been taken, and another high-tech underground Vulture base, which explained why the Manhunter had not detected it in prior surveys.

"Xavier" was led to Mr. V, who unmasked to reveal "Faceless" as Marco Xavier. Supposedly, one of Vulture's men had posed as the gendarme who had pronounced Xavier dead after the accident. It was declared that Vulture had been toying with the Manhunter from Mars the entire time, until they could deduce his secret weakness of fire. This Marco Xavier had continued the masquerade until he could lure Manhunter into "the perfect trap!" Rather than simply roast the Martian alive, and apparently "insane with power," this Xavier targeted Manhunter with the purloined prototype. It immediately exploded, wrecking the Vulture base, and presumably killing Marco Xavier before the Manhunter's eyes a second time.

Quote: "HA-HA! And now, while there still remains a breath of life in you, I shall test the ultimate weapon-- on my favorite target-- you!"

Created by Jack Miller & Joe Certa