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The Vigilante Legacy |
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| Adrian Chase |
| Pat Trayce |
| Vigilance Inc. |
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Vigilante
Alias: Adrian Chase
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| VIGILANTE I: ADRIAN CHASE |
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Chase is revealed as The Vigilante in NEW TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #2 [1983]. |
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Adrian Chase grew up a son of an affluent and prominent family. Nonetheless, Adrian was an overachiever and didn't settle for having things handed to him. After matriculating with honors and graduating law school he looked for a job that would get him into the courtroom and out of the country clubs. With that in mind, Adrian sought and landed a job with a legal aid office on Manhattan's Lower East Side, resigning from his father's firm. It was there that Adrian met Doris Brinkley, a young paralegal, whom he would eventually marry. The couple married, and Adrian and Doris had two children, Adam (son) and Drew (daughter).
Seeing the control the mob had over the city of New York, the Manhattan District Attorney offered him a position on his staff. Adrian accepted with enthusiasm. Adrian's relentless pursuit of the city's criminal hierarchy won the tireless DA praise from the press and public but earned him many enemies in the underworld. Foremost among these was Anthony Scarapelli, head of one of New York's mob families against whom Adrian was gathering incriminating evidence. With the help of Robin of the Teen Titans, Chase went so far as to flaunt the very laws they both upheld in order to harass Scarapelli into a confession. Frightened that the DA would indict him, Scarpelli ordered Adrian Chase killed. A bomb placed in Adrian's apartment exploded as planned, but instead of killing him, it was his wife and children who died.
Anthony Scarapelli, who was responsible for the attack, was scheduled to be "disciplined" by his Mafia superior, Donna Omicidio. Despite a court order to the contrary, Robin began a campaign of harassment against the mob leader. Though they had misgivings about his attitude and methods, the other Teen Titans agreed to help Robin prove Scarapelli's guilt, and they began raiding the sites of his various illegal enterprises. Panicked, Scarapelli called on the aid of the Monitor, who provided him with six super-powered assassins (Scorcher, Spear, Bazooka, Slasher, Tanker, and Cheshire).
The Titans intervened to prevent Scarapelli's Monitor-provided troops from wiping out Donna Omicidio and her men. Robin himself went to Scarapelli's home, where the mobster, about to flee the country, had been attacked by the mystery man from the warehouse fight. The costumed avenger, who called himself the Vigilante, proved to be Adrian Chase in a new identity. When Robin confronted Chase, Scarapelli pulled a gun and shot both Robin and Vigilante a split-second before Chase returned fire. The police arrived to find Scarapelli dead, Robin wounded, and no sign of Scarapelli's assailant. Robin decided to remain silent regarding the Vigilante and his true identity.
Vigilante took his fight to the streets of the city, widening his focus to include many criminals who habitually preyed on the weak and defenseless. Eventually, Adrian Chase began to question his motives and work as Vigilante and tried to give up his Vigilante career on several occasions only to be pulled back into his obsessive never-ending crusade. Bruised by a year-long series of tragedies and guilt, Chase became plagued by his own personal demons. Adrian Chase eventually fell into a state of self-loathing and took his own life.
Adrian Chase takes his own life in VIGILANTE #50 [1988]. |
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Vigilante is skilled in the use of firearms and knives. He is in superb physical shape and practices several of the martial arts. Vigilante also possesses an advanced knowledge of certain Oriental meditative processes that allow him to overcome pain and facilitate tie healing of most non-fetal wounds and injuries.
New Teen Titans #23 [1982]: First Appearance of Adrian Chase.
New Teen Titans #33 [1983]: While Robin is casing Anthony Scarapelli's home with Adrian Chase, the other Titans puzzle over their encounters with a villain calling himself Trident; Starfire goes to Wayne Manor and learns that Dick doesn't live there anymore and that Jason Todd does; Starfire deduces that Trident is actually three different criminals who wear the same costume; Robin and Chase break through a window at Scarapelli's home.
New Teen Titans #34 [1983]: Terra is unhappy on her sixteenth birthday because she does not feel like a Titan; Robin helps Adrian Chase arrest Scarapelli; Robin confronts Chase at his apartment with the fact that they needlessly broke into Scarapelli's home when they had a warrant; Dick leaves, and there is an explosion in the Chases' building.
New Teen Titans Annual #2 [1983]: Scarapelli, who has posted bail, blows up the Chases' apartment and several others; Adrian Chase's wife and two children die, and Chase supposedly goes out of the country to recuperate; Robin uses the Titans to lean on Scarapelli; Raven is denied reentry into Azarath and is not using her powers because Trigon may be released; Kid Flash's super-speed powers are slowing down; Scarapelli gets the Monitor to sic several villains-for-hire on the Titans, including Cheshire and the Scorcher; Kid Flash almost dies from Cheshire's poisoned claws; Scarapelli is about to be executed by the mob for making a mistake, when the Titans arrive and save him; Scarapelli escapes, but the Vigilante makes his debut, claiming that Adrian Chase is dead; The Vigilante kills Scarapelli and his civilian identity remains intact. First appearance of Adrian Chase as Vigilante.
Vigilante #1 to #50 [1983-1988]: The Vigilante Series.
Vigilante #3 [1984]: Guest-starring Cyborg. Captain Hall asks Cyborg to escort a criminal named Stryker to Attica prison. Stryker was arrested for a laundry list of crimes from child slavery, prostitution to drug running. He got a light sentence on a technicality, prompting Vigilante to hunt him to mete out justice. Cyborg tries to reason with Vigilante as he engages him in combat. As Vigilante defeats Cyborg, he aims his gun at Stryker, but is unable to pull the trigger. Vigilante coerces a taped confession, which Nightwing believes will provide enough leads to nail Stryker. Vigilante sends Cyborg a 'get well' card, that reads, "Please get better. Thanks to you, I have."
Vigilante #20-21 [1985]: Nightwing appears in a two-parter. The day Adrian Chase became a judge, he quit being the Vigilante. In the meantime, the Vigilante continues his midnight prowls, far worse than ever. He's going around killing people right and left. Adrian is having nightmares, finds it very hard to sleep, and wakes up incredibly tired. He's not quite sure what's going on. All he knows is that the Vigilante is killing people and he doesn't remember. Nightwing tracks down an increasingly more violent Vigilante. Meanwhile, Adrian Chase continues to suffer from nightmares and is unsure whether he is committing the acts or someone else has assumed the Vigilante identity. Nightwing tracks down Chase, and as they fight, Nightwing sees a live-action report of the violent Vigilante - which seemingly clears Chase. Nightwing allows Chase to find the answer himself, but vows to return if the matter is not settled.
Vigilante #50 [1988]: Bruised by a year-long series of tragedies and guilt, Chase became plagued by his own personal demons. Adrian Chase eventually falls into a state of self-loathing and takes his own life.
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Vigilante
Alias: Pat Trayce
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A New Vigilante In Town
Pat graduated as a cop on Gotham Police force and protected and served with a passion. She met and fell in love with a fellow officer named Paul, and the two married shortly afterward. Paul eventually was killed in the line of duty. Pat's patrol partner, Luis, was also killed a short time after that. Ironically, Pat had a harder time dealing with Luis' death than her husband's. Luis left an orphaned son, Luis Jr., who was left in the care of Pat.
Pat became frustrated with the city's revolving door justice system. When mob assassin Jeremy Barker became a federally protected witness, Pat was particularly infuriated; She had been working for years to bring in Barker, the man responsible for the death of her partner. Meanwhile, a masked figure was hunting Barker in an attempt to kill him, and Deathstroke became unwittingly implicated in the plot. After Pat Trayce's behavior intensified, Commissioner Gordon was forced to put her on suspension. In the meantime, Deathstroke had kidnapped Barker to question him.
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Pat Trayce asks Slade to train her as the new
Vigilante in DEATHSTROKE #10 [1992].
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Detective Trayce left to clear her name and find out who was attempting to kill Barker. Trayce did some investigating on her own and was led to an informant known as Scoops, who had worked with Deathstroke and the former Vigilante, Adrian Chase. Scoops was able to tell her of Deathstroke's involvement and where he was holding Barker. Scoops gave Pat the old Vigilante costume, which he kept as a memento from his dealings with Chase. Pat wore the costume to give her an edge.
As Pat tracked down Deathstroke and Barker, it led to a final confrontation with Pat, Deathstroke, Batman and the masked assailant. The masked assailant gunning for Barker was revealed to be FBI agent, Lorna Gaines. Pat Trayce shot Gaines as Gaines tried to kill Deathstroke. Barker was taken into custody.
Pat left her job as a detective behind her and asked Deathstroke to train her as the new Vigilante. Slade initially refused but later accepted. As Slade trained Pat in the arts of urban warfare, the two became lovers. Thus began a tumultuous on again/off again relationship. With her new calling as Vigilante, Pat left Luis Jr. in the care of his aunt, Louisa.
Love Is A Battlefield
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Pat Trayce takes over Searchers Inc. in DEATHSTROKE #55 [1996]. |
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Pat and Deathstroke clashed several times after this - sometimes as allies, sometimes on opposite sides - but their mutual attraction was never in question. Pat was continually frustrated with the fact that she was hopelessly in love with Slade Wilson.
Pat Trayce later salvaged what was left of Adeline Kane's company, Searchers, Inc., and created her own search & rescue operation - Vigilance, Inc. Pat kept the Vigilante identity, but adopted a new approach that was less violent and confrontational.
Pat came into contact with Slade once again, but Slade had undergone some startling changes. An explosion at the Capital Dome had a strange effect on his immortal rebirth: Slade awoke as a man 20 years younger. Also, he had no recollection of his past life. His personality attributes were pure Slade Wilson, but his memories were dim.
After that, on a routine mission with Vigilante, Slade was caught in yet another explosion, this time involving volatile chemicals. The explosion 'killed' Slade and triggered another regeneration. After that incident, Slade's actions became somewhat erratic, and he cut ties with both Pat Trayce and Wintergreen, claiming they were no longer part of his life, since he did not remember them. Pat Trayce continued running Vigilance, Inc., with Wintergreen as her right hand man.
Search & Rescue
Vigilance Inc. accepts various search and rescue missions from various groups and organizations, including the US Government. On one such mission, Pat was sent to retrieve the new Hawk (Sasha Martens ) & Dove (Wiley Wolverman). The costumed adventurer Vixen assisted her on this mission. Vigilante and Vixen eventually learned that they were being manipulated by a government agent named Freitag. Vigilante and Vixen assisted Hawk & Dove and cleared the young adventurers' names.
Pat still dons the Vigilante costume from time to time; She assisted Resurrection Man with a new incarnation of the group of 'Forgotten Heroes' and assisted the JSA during the "Our Worlds at War" galactic crisis.
Deathstroke #6-9 [1991-1992]: "City of Assassins" parts 1-4: Detective Pat Trayce becomes frustrated with the city's revolving door justice system. When mob assassin Jeremy Barker becomes a federally protected witness, Pat is framed for an attempt on his life. Pat dons the Vigilante identity and clears her name. First appearance of Pat Trayce in issue #6. First appearance of Pat Trayce as Vigilante in issue #9.
Deathstroke #10-11 [1992]: Pat Trayce leaves her job as a detective behind her and decides to become the new Vigilante. She asks Deathstroke to train her; he initially refuses but later accepts. Deathstroke trains Pat in the arts of urban warfare and the two become lovers. With her new calling as Vigilante, Pat leaves her stepson Luis Jr. in the care of his aunt, Louisa.
Deathstroke: The Hunted #0, 41-45[1994-1995]: THE HUNTED STORYLINE. Deathstroke is implicated in a presidential assassination attempt, making him a wanted man. Crimelord plots against Slade. Addie Kane begins a vengeance campaign against Pat Trayce. Bronze Tiger and Deadshot hunt Deathstroke, seemingly killing him. Slade awakens in the morgue [the first hints of his immortality] and battles Guy Gardner, Warrior. Meanwhile, a mystery assailant murders Slade's friends Maurice, Frannie and Squirrel and attacks Wintergreen. Slade encounters Sweet Lili and during the confusion, discovers her daughter, Rose, has been kidnapped by the mystery assailant [now calling himself the Ravager]. The Ravager holds Rose hostage & reveals Slade is her father. Sweet Lili and Wintergreen mount a rescue attempt. As Slade once again awakens from death, he is attacked by Crimelord's agents as well as Hawkman. The Titans hunt and capture Deathstroke; Wintergreen rescues Rose Wilson but Sweet Lili [Rose's mother] dies. Hunted storyline concludes with issue #45.
Deathstroke #55-57 [1996]: Slade awakes in the hospital as a man some 20 years younger than he had been, with no recollection of his past life. Pat Trayce, Vigilante, has salvaged what was left of Adeline Kane's company, Searchers, Inc., and created her own search & rescue operation – Vigilance, Inc. On a mission for Sarge Steel, Slade learns of Steels' involvement in covert chemical warfare experiments to create meta-humans. Slade severs all government ties with Steel and walks out. First Vigilance Inc. in issue #55.
Deathstroke #59-60 [1996]: On a routine mission with Vigilante, Slade is caught in yet another explosion, this time involving volatile chemicals. The explosion ‘kills' Slade and triggers another regeneration. After that incident, Slade's actions become somewhat erratic, and he cuts ties with both Pat Trayce and Wintergreen; Pat Trayce continues running Vigilance, Inc., with Wintergreen as her right hand man.
Hawk & Dove #1-5 [1997]: a five issue mini series. Vigilante [Pat Trayce] and Vixen track down Hawk & Dove at the behest of Checkmate. As Vigilante tries to convince the duo she is trying to help them, Suicide Squad arrives and incites a battle. Hawk & Dove, with the help of Vigilante, Vixen, and Colonel Martens, are able to repel the Suicide Squad and expose Government Agent Freitag's duplicity.
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Vigilance Inc.
Sometime after her divorce from Slade, Adeline established her own organization, Searchers, Inc. - a worldwide information network that passed itself off as a detective agency. Searchers, Inc. provided espionage services for a number of clients.
Addie later went insane from a blood transfusion from her ex-husband, Slade. She was presumed dead when she was shot in the head. Actually, Addie had received Slade's immortality through the blood transfusion, woke up in the morgue, and wandered off. Pat Trayce (the Vigilante) salvaged what was left of Adeline Kane's company, Searchers, Inc., and created her own search & rescue operation known as Vigilance, Inc., with Wintergreen as her right hand man.
Vigilance Inc. accepts various search and rescue missions from various groups and organizations, including the US Government. On one such mission, Pat was sent to retrieve the new Hawk (Sasha Martens ) & Dove (Wiley Wolverman). The costumed adventurer Vixen assisted her on this mission. Vigilante and Vixen eventually learned that they were being manipulated by a government agent named Freitag. Vigilante and Vixen assisted Hawk & Dove and cleared the young adventurers' names.
Deathstroke #55-57 [1996]: Slade awakes in the hospital as a man some 20 years younger than he had been, with no recollection of his past life. Pat Trayce, Vigilante, has salvaged what was left of Adeline Kane's company, Searchers, Inc., and created her own search & rescue operation – Vigilance, Inc. On a mission for Sarge Steel, Slade learns of Steels' involvement in covert chemical warfare experiments to create meta-humans. Slade severs all government ties with Steel and walks out. First Vigilance Inc. in issue #55.
Deathstroke #59-60 [1996]: On a routine mission with Vigilante, Slade is caught in yet another explosion, this time involving volatile chemicals. The explosion ‘kills' Slade and triggers another regeneration. After that incident, Slade's actions become somewhat erratic, and he cuts ties with both Pat Trayce and Wintergreen; Pat Trayce continues running Vigilance, Inc., with Wintergreen as her right hand man.
Hawk & Dove #1-5 [1997]: a five issue mini series. Vigilante [Pat Trayce] and Vixen track down Hawk & Dove at the behest of Checkmate. As Vigilante tries to convince the duo she is trying to help them, Suicide Squad arrives and incites a battle. Hawk & Dove, with the help of Vigilante, Vixen, and Colonel Martens, are able to repel the Suicide Squad and expose Government Agent Freitag's duplicity.
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The Vigilante Series
The Vigilante Series Begins
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A George Pérez sketch
of Vigilante from 1982. |
The series: Vigilante #1 [1983] to Vigilante #50 [1988]
Marv Wolfman on the VIGILANTE concept: " I think people simply assumed I was going to send the Vigilante off to kill everyone in creation who was ever served a parking summons or found littering. No way, folks! The Vigilante is obviously a protagonist whose methods are questionable, but he does not use his gun unless he has to. The character, his unique perspective of the law - having once been a District Attorney - and his method of operations make him different from virtually all the other characters of this type in pulp novels or in comics. "
"We hope this difference will make him more interesting than those other one-note characters. I'm also working extra hard on my plotting of this book as is Keith Pollard on the art. We don't have super-hero action to save us. The fights must be fairly realistic and yet must be more than something TV or the movies can give you."
After Marv Wolfman left the title, Paul Kupperberg assumed the writing.
Some Titans characters appeared during the course of the series. Cyborg appears in #3 and Nightwing appears in a two-parter in #20-21. Captain James Hall is featured as a supporting character throughout.
Vigilante Q & A with Marv Wolfman
Question: Is THE VIGILANTE DC's answer to "Death Wish?"
Answer: Not at all. Vigilante is not after muggers, petty criminals or other assorted street typos. He goes after those already declared guilty in a court of law who are then released on technicalities having nothing to do with their innocence or guilt.
Question: Doesn't the Vigilante simply go around killing criminals?
Answer: Definitely not! In fact, he, personally, does not kill anyone in issues two to four (the only ones plotted so far).
Question. How could a political liberal write the adventures of an obvious right-wing extremist?
Answer: I get as angry at violent crime as does anyone. I get tired of seeing basic laws (the Golden Rule?) violated. Also, Vigilante is not a right-wing extremist. His politics have nothing to do with his decision to fight crime. Also, I dislike political labels whether left wing, right wing, liberal or conservative. Everyone is a little part of all the above.
Question: Doesn't The Vigilante offer a poor role model? He's a super-hero who kills.
Answer: The Vigilante isn't a role model. He's one man who has made a drastic and what will ultimately prove a fatal decision in how to conduct his life.
Question: But the very name Vigilante indicates he is going against the law. Should a comic book hero be presented as a law breaker?
Answer: Frankly. I don't know. My goals with THE VIGILANTE are to present well-plotted stories, solid characterization and an exciting and entertaining magazine. I've worked very hard on this book. Knowing the Vigilante is not your typical super-hero forced me to delve deeply into his psyche. Unlike many other heroes of this kind, Vigilante knows he is not above making mistakes. How he will deal with this should make THE VIGILANTE an interesting book to read.
Question: What age group is THE VIGILANTE intended for?
Answer: THE VIGILANTE is aimed at the more discriminating reader no matter his or her age.
Question.' Is THE VIGILANTE a mini, midi or maxi series?
Answer: We hope THE VIGILANTE will be a permanent comic with no end in sight. But that is up to the readers.
The Death of Vigilante: Why Adrian Chase Must Die
Letter Column: Vigilante #50 Feb. 1988
Once again, I'm going to have to ask you to read this issue's story before you read this page.
The conclusion to this issue's story was preordained, ever since Adrian threw that policeman off the fire escape back in #37. When we started working on VIGILANTE together. Paul Kupperberg and I have approached this run as a multi-part story. Whereas sales on this book weren't setting the world on fire, it was the two of us who asked for the cancellation of this book in order to tell this story. Don't worry; there will be a couple of important follow-ups.
Keeping to a set of laws is the only thing that keeps a society sane. We don't always play by the rules, but the difference between a super-hero and a vigilante is that the government condones, or at least needs, the activities of the super-hero. In our story, Adrian Chase was not a sane men. He was driven by a strong sense of right and wrong, but, as Paul has shown time and time again, there's a thin line between the super-hero and the vigilante, a line Adrian was incapable of seeing. It is easy to understand how he got that way, but motivation alone is not an excuse.
Suicide is not a solution to one's problems. I spent years working in the social services field, and I talked with hundreds of would-be suicides. I never talked with one who ever thought suicide was going to resolve anything. It would just make the issue moot. Inside each of us lurks a potential vigilante who wants to strike back at evil. Luckily, we keep that vigilante in check. Adrian Chase could not. His desire to commit suicide, his actually pulling the trigger, is understandable if not acceptable: he had become the evil he was fighting. Adrian Chase has paid the price of his actions, as he understood it.
- Mike Gold, editor
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