Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The Vile Menagerie: THE TRICKSTER



Alter Ego: Tom Trent
Occupation: Former robber
Hair: Blond
Group Affiliation: The Ex-Convicts Club
Base of Operations: Middletown, U.S.A.
First Appearance: Detective Comics #292 (June, 1961)

History:
Tom Trent was a fantastic thief who used elaborate stunts as a distraction while he plied his trade. A typical trick might involve finely-made plastic balloon figures in the shape of lifelike armed robbers scaring customers in a jewelry store while Trent pocketed merchandise and snuck out. However, the Trickster was finally captured and sent to prison. After his release, Trent decided to go straight and join a rehabilitation program founded by Middletown Police Detective John Jones called "The Ex-Convicts Club." Unfortunately, gang leader Biff Benson needed the Trickster for a job he was planning, and so framed Benson by having a another crime committed using Trent's established method of operation. In order to clear his name, Trent and fellow ex-convict the Human Squirrel pretended to join Benson's gang in order to recover the loot from the frame-up job. With the help of the Martian Manhunter, both men were vindicated and Benson's gang took their place in prison.

Powers & Weapons:
The Trickster presumably had some degree of aptitude at invention in order to create his confidence devices, barring their originating from an outside party.

Quote: "I can't prove it, but I spent the whole evening here alone, watching TV!"

Created by Jack Miller & Joe Certa

6 comments:

mathematicscore said...

Wait, is this real? It sounds cool regardless.

Tom Hartley said...

Now we're getting somewhere.

Diabolu Frank said...

They're real, and they're spectacular.

will_in_chicago said...

An interesting villain who reformed. Thus, one of J'Onn's foes prefigured what would later happen with the Flash's foe the Pied Piper -- who was also known for being pretty creative.

It might be amusing to have some of J'Onn's old foes show up as people who reformed. In the case of the Trickster, he would probably be a grandfather by this point. (It might be amusing to have Jenny Quantum wonder how long J'Onn has been fighting crime and have the Martian Manhunter introduce her to him.)

LissBirds said...

I don't remember this guy...time to crack open Showcase Presents...

Diabolu Frank said...

Gosh Liss, the Human Squirrel is a pretty big clue where to find him. Poor Trickster just got outshined in the same story...