The Whistler
The Whistler
Real-life History
Read the Whistler’s stories on Comicbookplus.com. He’s in National Comics 48-54.
The Whistler was a delightfully oddball flash-in-the-pan by Vernon Henkel, and if you know Vernon Henkel from anything, you probably know him from Chic Carter, Quality’s hard boiled private eye (every comic publisher had at least one, DC/National had Slam Bradley, for instance) who sporadically went as the masked superhero the Sword.
Debuting in National Comics 48 (Uncle Sam’s mag), the Whistler would run for only seven issues before going silent. The Whistler was obscure, and remains obscure. DC has made at least one reference to nearly all the Quality characters in their trophy case over the years, but they’ve done nothing with the Whistler, and that’s a shame, because the Whistler is such an encapsulation of the 1940’s. He’s not only one of the many, many imitators of the Spirit with his mask, fedora, and trench coat combo (in fact, he looks like a 2p palette swap of the Spirit, the Spirit’s Luigi, if you would), but his signature ability has deep roots in 40’s pop culture.
The Whistler can, as his name implies, whistle. You know how to whistle, don’t you?
You might be able to do it, but the Whistler can do it really well. It’s like all superheroes. You can probably throw a punch, but Batman throws a punch really well. You can probably jump, but the Hulk can jump really well. I’m certain some dumb-dumb somewhere has the Whistler on a list of “lamest superheroes” because “whistling is a lame superpower.” No. No no no no. Whistling, you see, is a cool power. Creepy whistles have a long and storied history in superhero and crime fiction. It probably starts with the Shadow back in the 1930’s. He didn’t have a creepy whistle, per se, but he had an eerie laugh that made crooks tremble in terror whenever they heard it, and naturally, when he got his own radio show in 1937, he opened his show by laughing. Following the Shadow, you the Whistler…no, not our Whistler, the host of the 1942 radio crime show The Whistler. This Whistler, who knew many things, for he walked by night, opened his show by whistling. And when the Saint, a pulp hero from the late 1920’s, got his own radio show in 1942, what opened it but whistling, though his whistling was meant to be swashbuckling and carefree instead of menacing and intimidating.
When the Quality Whistler showed up in 1945, pop culture understand whistling to mean mystery, adventure, and suspense. Whistling was a sound in the dark, an eerie invitation to adventure. It’s not a bad gimmick, and it certainly helps that Vernon Henkel stretches what could qualify as “whistling” to keep the Whistler from becoming just a musically inclined Spirit. The Whistler knew a three-note whistle that would chill the blood of even the stoutest heart, and by chill I mean that even guys holding him at gunpoint would have their muscles involuntary freeze up for a second allowing the Whistler to sock them in the face. The Whistler could also whistle these three notes at full lung capacity to cause people physical pain and do the classic “sing a note so high that glass shatters” trick.
The Whistler is no Sean Cassidy, but at least he didn’t name himself after a folkloric group of women.
In his second appearance in National Comics 49, the Whistler learns his coolest power–the ability to throw his voice. Now, this power is like real-life voice throwing like how Batman’s batarangs are like real-life boomerangs. The Whistler’s voice throwing works more like Superman’s super-ventriloquism (it was a thing, and very common during the silver age, look it up. Superman used it more than heat vision back in the day). The Whistler could make his whistle appear anywhere around him, even, somehow, behind himself. I like the simplicity of the Whistler’s powerset and its versatility. It’s based in surprise, misdirection, and setting people up. The Whistler is a magician’s superhero. I mean as in a stage magician, not one with real magic like Merlin or Zatara.
National Comics 48 gave us the origin of the Whistler. The Whistler was Mallory Drake, a devil-may-care crime reporter for the “Globe” who happens to be from a family of talented whistlers. His brother Jerry makes a living as a professional whistler at the Club Caravan, and though Jerry says that Mallory is even better at whistling than he is, Mallory insists that his heart is set on being a crime reporter.
As to be expected in these kinds of stories, racketeers lean on the Club Caravan and a brawl ensues resulting in Jerry’s death, but not before he tells Mallory to remember the three special notes. Naturally, Mallory vows to avenge his brother by using his whistling powers as–the Whistler!
In National Comics 50, the Whistler encounters the ever-common musical themed supervillain. These types were everywhere in the golden age, though while the typical version is patterned off the Pied Piper of Hamlin, this one is just an angry violinist who sets up booby traps that are triggered by vibrations, usually vibrations that break glass. Unfortunately for him, the Whistler can indeed whistle loud enough to shatter glass, so the death-trap he makes for the Whistler backfires on him. In 51, the Whistler finds himself in a plot that shouldn’t be unfamiliar to readers of early Spider-Man comics. His newspaper boss hates the Whistler, because he’s a vigilante, and works with the police to try and capture him. As far as I know, this is the first time in comic book history that a superhero’s civilian life boss tries to get him unmasked because he’s a dirty vigilante menace. His boss even puts up money for the unmasking of the Whistler, something J Jonah Jameson would do, whether it be throwing money behind spider slayers or the Scorpion. 52 also marked the debut of one of the Whistler’s favorite moves–escaping the police by turning out the lights.
You got to love a superhero so blue collar that his version of Batman’s smoke bombs is to throw a brick at the nearby lamp.
In 52, the police are again actively hunting down the Whistler, and I got to wonder if the focus on the police as antagonists might be indication that the Whistler might have taken more from the Saint, who gleefully played cat and mouse with the police, than just his whistling? In 54, the Whistler had his final adventure in which he solved the murders of the Namesake Club, a club for people sharing the names of famous people. For instance, they had a Cleopatra and a Julius Caesar. I’m 60% sure this was the plot of some movie or paperback mystery novel, but for the life of me I can’t name it.
The Whistler was a fun little read. With only a few appearances, reading though him is no big investment. I recommend him to golden age veterans and new readers alike looking for a superhero with an interesting powerset. And listen to some Saint stories, they’re really fun. And they got Vincent Price!
Eternal Universe History
Sentinels of the Multiverse Cards
In 1945, at the every end of the WW2, young crime reporter for the Globe, Mallory Drake, witnessed his brother Jerry gunned down by racketeers that wanted to lean on the club Jerry performed in. As Jerry lay dying in his arms, he reminded his younger brother of three notes they had discovered that when whistled could fill even the stoutest heart with fear. Using this uncanny ability, Mallory became the Whistler, and began hunting the criminals that were out of the reach of the law.
Mallory’s ability was more than a spooky sound. The precise vibrations of the notes he whistled produced involuntary muscle spasms in those that heard them. A gunman that had Mallory dead to rights turned into a helpless statue as soon as he heard him whistle. As Mallory captured criminals and evaded the police who wanted him almost as much as the men he apprehended, he learned a new trick–how to throw his voice, though he could it with more precision than any man could. He could make his signature whistle appear from behind him or across a room. It never failed to draw attention away from him and allowed him to turn the tables on bad guys on more than one occasion.
Interested in utilizing Mallory’s abilities, the FBI sent their top agent Plastic Man to capture the Whistler. Once unmasked, the Whistler was offered a job in exchange for clemency and he accepted. He joined the superteam codenamed Police, the only one of America’s superteams solely under the command of the FBI. The Police team was tasked with keeping America’s criminal element to a minimum and rooting out 5th Columnists. They were the only superteam not to be deployed overseas.
Mallory was a much-beloved member of the team. He was outgoing and personable and as the last member to join he was treated as the team’s little brother. Mallory didn’t mind. He found being on the Police was like having several Jerrys watching over him. Everyone liked him, but especially Chic Carter, a grizzled private eye who went by the codename of the Sword while he worked on the Police. Chic found Mallory’s optimism inspiring. The young man reminded Chic of himself at that age. He had a certain playful, swashbuckling swagger that Chic could only imitate by consciously putting on a persona. The Whistler was just Mallory in a mask, but the Sword was a completely different man from jaded private eye Chic Carter. On a team of men that wore masks, the Whistler seemed like the realest man.
Between 1945 and 1955, the NBI, the corrupt intelligence organization born from the merger of the CIA and FBI, began assassinating superheroes and blaming the Russians in an attempt to get the community to start World War 3 on behalf of the United States. The Whistler was one chosen for assassination. NBI agents poisoned his drink with a substance that caused his throat to close. The Whistler died not with a whistle, but with a death rattle.
In 1957, Plastic Man, who feigned loyalty to the NBI so he could destroy the organization from within, freed a necromancer named Zero from the NBI’s “Project Silence.” Zero would summon the ghosts of those that died on the Police team and bound them to who they believed was the most reliable of them all–Chic Carter. Chic and his ghostly teammates would take revenge upon the NBI and expose their wrongdoings for all the world to see.
While bound to Chic Carter, the Whistler could physically manifest as a whistle that could paralyze foes to an even greater extent than before. Men that heard his whistle fell down and entered a deep sleep from which nothing could wake them. Only another whistle could rouse them. Chic Carter, due to the Whistler being bound to him, was immune from the affects of the whistle and could not so much as hear it.
When Chic Carter passed away in 2006, the Whistler bound himself to a new host–the third Manhunter, Sam Shannon.
Character Cards
The Whistler
Power: On my Signal…
Deal 1 target 1 sonic damage. 1 player plays a card.
Defeat: Interrupted Whistle
–Deal 1 target 1 sonic damage and 1 psychic damage.
–One player heals 1 and plays a card.
–Destroy one ongoing
Tales of the Whistler
This version of the Whistler hails from a universe based on public domain film serials and radio dramas. In this world, Captain Marvel fought against the Scorpion for control of an ancient superweapon, Grant Gardner, Captain Republic, fought against the Scarab, and the Whistler fought against Dr. Henkel, a mad German scientist with a booby trapped castle for a headquarters.
Unlock Condition:
Use four powers in one turn (tip: have Whistler use his power to get someone to play a card that will let him use another power).
Power: Sponsored by Kooba Kola!
One player draws a card, plays a card, and heals 1.
Defeat: Canceled!
–Destroy one ongoing
–Destroy one environment card
–Reveal the top two cards of a deck. Place one on top of the deck and one on the bottom.
Ongoings
Singing in the Rain
Ongoing
Power: Heal each hero 1.
I always found something to be happy about. Even after Jerry. Even after I was shot in the back. The last sound I made was a whistle. That’s the story of my life, if there’s any story to it.
At the Sound of the Bell
Ongoing, Limited
The first time sonic damage is dealt each turn, The Whistler may deal 1 target 1 melee damage.
It’s Pavlovian. I’ve gotten so used to my “freeze them with a whistle, punch them” trick that I jab at any sharp sound.
Eerie Whistle
Ongoing
Power: Deal 1 target 1 sonic damage and 1 psychic damage.
Some vibration of those notes has the power to put terror in the stoutest heart!
–The Whistler, National Comics 48
Piercing Whistle
Ongoing
Power: Deal all targets 1 sonic damage. Destroy 1 ongoing.
Sorry about this, everyone, but I need that glass to break.
Thrown Whistle
Ongoing
Power: Decrease damage dealt by one target by 1 until the start of your next turn.
I can make my whistle come from anywhere. It never fails to make them look away for a second. Even when they know I can do it, they still fall for it. It’s a reflex thing.
Carry a Tune
Ongoing
You may use an additional power during your turn.
I can carry a tune to save my life, but I’m not sure about the rest of you, so keep your heads down!
Oneshots
Optimism
Heal each hero 1. Each hero draws a card. Prevent all psychic damage that would be deal to heroes until the beginning of your next turn.
Well, you know what they say, whistle while you work and all that.
Full Power Whistle
Deal 1 target 3 sonic damage. Prevent all damage that would be dealt by that target until the start of your next turn.
Here’s something that’s going to last in your head for awhile!
Harmonize
Deal 1 target 1 sonic damage. Use a power.
Me me me meeeeee…
Detective Work
Reveal the top card of every deck. Draw a card. Use a power.
I was never a Midnight or a Manhunter, but I could pick up a trail alright.
Whistle in the Dark
Deal all villain targets 1 sonic damage. Prevent all non-radiant damage dealt by those targets until the start of your next turn.
To this day I’m kicking myself for telling the cops “Such lies should be whispered only in the dark” instead of “Such lies should be whistled only in the dark.”
Sow Discord
Each villain target deals a target 1 melee damage.
Poot-tee-weet.
Chilling Sound
Deal 1 target 1 sonic damage and 1 psychic damage. Increase damage dealt to that target by 1 until the start of your next turn.
The Voice told me that there was more I could do with sound, a lot more. Like hypnotizing people. I’m kind of glad I didn’t live long enough to find out if I could do it or not.
Hey Guys, Over Here!
All players may draw a card. One player may play a card. You may use a power.
WHEEET! Heads up!
It’s him, the Whistler’s over there!
Select a target. Deal that target 1 sonic damage. Select another target. The next time the second target deals damage, redirect that damage to the first target.
My favorite trick.
Heroclix
Precision Strike: Some vibration of those notes has the power to put terror in the stoutest heart!
Stealth: I’ll spend the rest of my life smashing these rats who hide behind the loopholes of the law to prey on innocent people.
VS Battle Information
The Whistler can be reliably matched up to any of your half-detective half-superhero characters from the 40’s. Think the Spirit, Midnight, Sandman, Green Hornet, all the guys that wore a fedora, trench coat, and domino mask. I feel like an interesting matchup, albeit one that’s every one sided against Whistler, would be the Shadow. Eerie, blood-curdling laugh vs strange, paralyzing whistle.
Powers and Abilities: The Whistle, as his name suggests, can whistle, and he’s a master of the craft, even impressing people that teach whistling for a living (National Comics 52). His bread-and-butter is producing three notes that momentarily lock the muscles of those that hear them, perfect for turning the tables when he’s held at gunpoint. That was all he could do in his first appearance, but he gradually learned how to use his whistling powers in different ways. In National Comics 53, he learned how to throw his whistle so that it would manifest from far away and decoy targets. This wasn’t simply throwing one’s voice, this was more like Superman’s old super-ventriloquism power. He could a sound appear from across a room without an echo. In 49, the Whistler uses his whistle at maximum power and it’s strong enough to cause a man pain and bring him to his knees, in additional to the typical involuntary muscle paralysis bit. In 50, he reveals that he can whistle a note so loud that it does the old glass shattering trick.
Strength: As standard for a two-fister. He’s able to clear a room of men with nothing but his fists.
Speed: Whistled at an asps to paralyze it before it struck, grabbed a knife thrust and turned it on his attacker (both National Comics 54).
Misc: Was a remarkably good sport about the whole “dead brother” business, first reporter superhero whose boss tries to get him unmasked.
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