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Avenging Twins. The Avenging Twins were created by Johnston McCulley (Bat (II), Black Star, Jim Bodney, Crimson Clown, Captain Goodwin, Green Ghost, Richard Hughes, Man in Purple, Mongoose, Peter Noggins, Peanut Pete, Spider (I), Thubway Tham, Thunderbolt (I), Terry Trimble, Whirlwind, Zorro) and appeared in eight stories and story serials in Detective Story Magazine from 1923 to 1926, beginning with “The Avenging Twins” (Detective Story Magazine, May 12, 1923); the stories were collected in The Avenging Twins (1927).
The Avenging Twins are Peter and Paul Selbon, two “tall, broad-shouldered, good-looking pictures of health” who were orphaned early in life and were raised by their kindly uncle, Ellis Selbon. The Twins graduated from college with honors, toured the world, and made their fortune on the pampas of South America. During this time Peter became the “amateur heavyweight champion of Argentina” and Paul became the toughest “rough and tumble fighter in all South America.” Unfortunately, back home in the States, in Gotham, Uncle Ellis was being driven to bankruptcy by six “leaders in the world of finance and politics.” Ellis dies in shame and disgrace, and the Twins return to the States to avenge him.
Their m.o. is simple. One twin commits a crime while the other twin remains public and visible during the time that the crime is committed. Unfortunately, at the end of their first adventure they are contacted by Aletha, who like the Tocsin of the Jimmie Dale stories knows all about the Twins’ actions and motives. Unlike the Tocsin, though, Aletha merely wishes the Twins well. Later, she takes a more active hand in helping the Twins, finally being revealed to be Betty Calwood, the niece of one of the six men who ruined Ellis Selbon. The six are variously forced to burn their money, give it away, or are swindled out of it, and everybody ends the series happily.
The Twins are assisted by Fornaser, an attorney who knew the Twins since they were infants and who provides them with legal help. The Twins are hunted by Detective Milton Griff, who is perpetually frustrated in his attempts to capture the Twins, despite his having dozens of men working under him and attempting to get the Twins.
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