The Marksman

The Marksman debuted only several issues after another Quality archer’s feature ended (the Spider, in Crack #30). It’s unclear whether “Baron” was the Marksman’s name or title. It was spoken as his name. Fred Guardineer added a dramatic but temporary “M” symbol to his shirt when he took over in Smash #40. The Marksman’s outfit changed slightly over time but he usually sported a dark reddish cloak, light brown pants and a yellow or white shirt.

It’s not known how Baron Povalski came to infiltrate the Nazi army. The Polish patriot disguised himself with a monocle and moustache to pass as a Nazi, Major Hurtz, but he always kept his red cape folded tightly in his uniform. As the Marksman, Baron terrorized the Nazis and left a symbolic red feather in his wake. He managed to work in secret from high in a tower in the Baron’s own castle—which was taken over by the German army. His manservant, Vorka, was an indispensable aide who also served the Nazis in the castle. (Smash #33)

In order to get out of a Nazi function, Povalski purposely crashed a plane and had Vorka declare he was medically unfit for duty. Then as the Marksman, he met the general with TNT-laden arrows, blowing his train off the rails. He also saved his ally, the young woman Zita, whom he sheltered in his secret place. (#35)

The Marksman found no end to the ways he could use his Nazi connections against them. As “Hurtz,” he appeared to kill the Marksman so that he would be invited to Berlin. There he freed a Polish inventor, Wakovsky, and smuggled him to Africa in a bomb casing. When the Marksman freed Wakovsky, Hitler himself reprimanded Major Hurtz. (#36) The next time he went to Berlin, he actually had Hitler on the run, but the Führer escaped in an autogyro. (#43)

Povalski had many connections within the European underground like the Three Shadows, whom he helped smuggle Nazi plans to the British. (#37)

The Marksman even met his match in a Nazi arch-foe called Cross Bow, who wore a helmet that covered his face. Cross Bow killed several members of Povalski’s resistance and the Marksman took a bolt to the stomach from his enemy’s weapon. He was saved by a protector made of cork, under his costume, and the fight came down to fisticuffs, in which Baron won out. (#40) Another German agent was the athletic Fraulein Halunke, who suckered him in to her web and discovered his dual identity. She was mistakenly killed by her own men. (#48)

Baron gradually spent less time as Major Hurtz and inevitably discovered for himself the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto. The Marksman went so far as to hunt down a particularly hated Nazi officer all the way to China. (#46) 

Our hero continued his globe-trotting in Mexico. Povalski found love in that unlikely setting, catching up with an old friend, Anna. (#49) Anna traveled fearlessly with him across South America to Brazil. (#50) From there they followed a Nazi map into the Andes to a Japanese nest and destroyed a hydrogen zeppelin, (#51) through Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, and on to Nomua Island, where the Marksman and Anna battled one last time with Japanese Major Sinushi. With the aid of their friends among the locals, they survived Sinushi when a great typhoon struck. The lovers were last seen waiting for their rescue, in a rare moment of solitude, there on the tropical isle. (#58)

DC

The Marksman was mentioned once in passing by the original Mr. Terrific, who said he knew of two mystery men who were operating undercover as S.S. Officers (the other being DC’s Americommando). This story took place in February 1945, at the time of the Allied firebombing of Dresden, Germany.

Notes

The Marksman was the inspiration for the character of the same name in John Arcudi’s 2002 Elseworlds series, JLA: Destiny.