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Firebrand (I). Firebrand (I) was created by “George Challis,” the pseudonym of Frederick Faust (Dan Barry, Blackie & Red, Border Bandit, Angus Campbell, Dave Clovelly, Jim Curry, Ronicky Doone, James Geraldi, Anthony Hamilton, Bull Hunter, Kid Montana, Doctor Kildare, King Charlie, Reata, Red Hawk, Silvertip (II), Thunder Moon), and appeared in four stories and story serials in Argosy in 1934 and 1935, beginning with “The Firebrand” (Argosy, Nov. 24, 1934).

Tizzo is English, but he is orphaned in Italy at a young age. He is adopted by the great condottiere Luigi Falcone and raised by him. The neighborhood calls Tizzo “Firebrand” because “his hair was flame red and his eyes were flame blue.” Falcone trains Tizzo in all the martial arts, but although Tizzo can make anyone love him, from animals to humans, he rarely does so, and is quick with both indifference and often cruel jests. When Tizzo reaches manhood, he leaves Falcone’s service and joins up with the Englishman, the Baron of Melrose. They ride off to restore Melrose’s fortune, which after swashbuckling adventures they succeed in doing. After that Tizzo has encounters with cruel neighbors of the Borgias. Tizzo is young, light-hearted, and has a pleasant, constant laugh and an easy, quick wit. Although he is only 5'10" he is a ferocious swordsman.

* I've included Firebrand (I) in the Best of the Encyclopedia category because his stories are fun to read. The author of the Firebrand (I) stories, Frederick Faust, is better known as "Max Brand," which is a name that should be familiar to you. Faust was a skilled professional writer who knew how to tell a rollicking story (in addition to more sentimental stuff like the Bull Hunter stories), and boy do the Firebrand (I) stories rollick. Swashbuckling adventure in Italy during the Renaissance are my bag, baby, and Frederick Faust wrote this series of stories just for me and people like me. Thanks, Mr. Faust!

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