King Standish
{{Infobox comics character
|image= King Standish (JSA panel).jpg
|converted= y
|caption=
|character_name=King Standish
|publisher=DC Comics
|debut=Flash Comics #3 (March 1940)
|creators=Gardner Fox (writer)
William Smith (artist)
|alter_ego=
|species =
|homeworld =
|alliances=All-Star Squadron
Office of Strategic Services
|partners =
|aliases=The King
|powers= Master of disguise
Master illusionist
Skilled hand to hand combatant
Occasional use of guns
|supports =
}}
King Standish (a.k.a. Man of 1000 Faces) is a fictional character in the DC Comics Universe. The character first appeared in Flash Comics #3 (March 1940) and was created by Gardner Fox and William Smith.{{cite book |last1=Thomas |first1=Roy |title=The All-Star Companion: Vol. 2 |date=2006 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1893905375 |page=88}}
Fictional character biography
Wealthy, sophisticated King Standish was a master of disguise who wanted to stop crime.{{cite web |last1=Markstein |first1=Don |title=The King |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/theking.htm |website=Don Markstein's Toonopedia |access-date=22 April 2020}} He was considered a criminal by both the police and the underworld, but he was a crime-fighter. He used hand-to-hand combat and occasionally guns. Over time, his reputation improved. King Standish always remained in disguise, allowing no one to know what he looked like. His actual face and name are never revealed. He wore a tuxedo, an opera cape, a top hat and a domino mask, whenever making an appearance not in disguise.{{cite web |title=The King |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/the-king/4005-61635/ |website=Comic Vine |access-date=October 10, 2019}}
His most frequent adversary was the Witch who rivaled his ability to disguise himself. He finally convinced her to switch sides and help him in his fight against crime.{{cite book |last1=Nevins |first1=Jess |title=Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes |date=2013 |publisher=High Rock Press |isbn=978-1-61318-023-5 |pages=150–151}}
During World War II, he was contacted by Control to become a member of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which he remained the war was over.
Later, he helped the Justice Society of America when Jacob Tolzmann became a supernatural threat. With Sandman and the Star Spangled Kid knocked out, King teamed up with their sidekicks, Sandy and Stripesy. The King disguised himself as Tolzmann's father to distract him, allowing the sidekicks to defeat him.
In Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #29, a new recruit to the team, King Chimera, reveals a little bit about himself, saying his father was King Standish and that he met with a member of a secret order on a distant island to perfect the art of illusion. King Chimera mentioned his mother had a thing for older men, hinting that he was much older than she.Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #29 (July 2009). DC Comics.
King Standish's current activities and whereabouts were not recorded.
Powers and abilities
King Standish is a master of disguise, a master illusionist, and is a skilled hand-to-hand combatant.
=Equipment=
King Standish has made occasional use of guns.
In other media
King Standish appears in the Stargirl episode "Frenemies: Chapter Twelve - The Last Will and Testament of Sylvester Pemberton", portrayed by Allen Andrews. This version is a socialite who was killed by the Ultra-Humanite via Delores Winters.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=king The Unofficial King Biography]
- [https://comicvine.gamespot.com/the-king/29-61635/ The King at Comic Vine]
- [https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/King_Standish_(New_Earth) The King at DC Wikia]
{{All-Star Squadron}}
{{GoldenAge}}
{{Gardner Fox}}
Category:Golden Age superheroes
Category:Comics characters introduced in 1940