Real Name: Zoro
First Appearance: Reg'lar Fellers Heroic Comics #1 (Aug 1940)
Original Publisher: Eastern Color Printing
Created by: Tarpe Mills
Golden Age Origin:
Created by Doctors Malinsky and Hale, the Purple Zombie was intended by Dr. Hale to be used to prolong life, not to revive the dead. However, the evil Dr. Malinsky wanted to create zombie armies and become "ruler of the living and the dead." Malinsky shoots Hale but is then strangled to death by the zombie, who, in his own words, is "without a conscience...but not without a brain." The Purple Zombie then destroys Malinsky's allies.
The rampaging zombie was then captured by the police and sentenced to death. But when he was taken to the electric chair ("This'll be the first time I ever saw a guy die twice!") it would not die because its skin does not conduct electricity. Luckily, Hale turned out not to dead after all and the Purple Zombie, who Hale called "Zoro," was still obedient to him. The court released the zombie into his custody. But notorious gangleader Joe Coroza saw the zombie as a potential asset and kidnapped him. Hale fought the gangsters and the Mechanized Skeleton to recover him.
In later adventures they traveled back in time together. On one trip, they battled Saracens and met King Richard, The Lionheart. On another trip, they travelled to Rome during the reign of Nero, where they narrowly escaped the Great Fire.
Powers and Abilities:
He possesses super-strength, is bullet-proof, and is immune to electricity.
Golden Age Appearances:
Reg'lar Fellers Heroic Comics #1-12
