V is for Vile

V-Man's cape is very excited to see you:

Other parts apparently share that enthusiasm, all outlined in at-attention vertical red and white stripes. Just in case you were tempted to look away at all.

You might think this schwinging accessory is the byproduct of V-Man leaping down or the wind blowing or possibly Catwoman entering the room. But no, it is literally always like this. I don't know if his little V-Boy or V-Lad or whatever his sidekick's name is has the job of standing around with a giant fan to get it that way or what, but the cape is always standing straight up.

My alternate theory is that the cape is some sort of Venom-like alien symbiote who is actually the hero, and the human to which it's attached itself is just a mindless host. Hence the well-stocked patriotic granny-panties.

(From "V-Comics" number 1, 1942.)

11 Responses to V is for Vile

  1. Myro says:

    Are you sure it’s his cape? Maybe it’s just an incredibly high popped collar, and V-Man is the biggest d-bag in the world.

  2. Gero says:

    Maybe it has wires in it, like how they had to wire the flag on the moon to make it stay straight out with no wind. Also, I can’t believe you didn’t mention how the giant “v” acts like an arrow pointing straight to his crotch…

  3. Doornik1142 says:

    Perhaps this was Todd MacFarlane’s inspiration for Spawn’s cape.

  4. Susie Q says:

    Oh, wait– that’s the whole cape? What are those cascading lines behind him for? I am so confused but what I’m seeing here.

  5. Dan says:

    Myro:
    Are you sure it’s his cape?Maybe it’s just an incredibly high popped collar, and V-Man is the biggest d-bag in the world.

    As usual, you crack me up sir. Maybe V-Man was the inpiration for all of the 80’s movie bad guys?

  6. Trekkie says:

    Some characters, like Captain America, can pull off the patriotic look. Some, like our friend V-Man here, really can’t.

  7. Frankie says:

    What dies again? Hope? Faith in humanity?

    Or is that just V-Man’s appearance trick? Instead of shouting ‘SHAZAM’, something dies, and as the panel states, there stands V-Man.

  8. FRM says:

    having nothing to do with V-Man(but i dont know where to post it), i think, jeff, there should be a sharing day where everyone shows off their personal compendiums of heromachine drawings. what do you think?

  9. Skarchomp says:

    Frankie:
    What dies again?Hope?Faith in humanity?

    Or is that just V-Man’s appearance trick?Instead of shouting‘SHAZAM’, something dies, and as the panel states, there stands V-Man.

    Not just dies, dies “again”! Maybe he’s powered by Jean Grey.

  10. Dan Gonzalez says:

    I think fashion sense dies every time he shows up.

    Ironic that someone with such a prominent protuberance is named after female parts…

  11. knight1192a says:

    Was this the forerunner of the Trojan Man?