| Avenging Twins | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Peter and Paul Selbon |
|
First Appearance |
Detective Story Magazine, May 12 (1923) |
|
Original Publisher |
Street & Smith |
|
Created by |
Johnston McCulley |
Origin[]
The Avenging Twins were identical brothers Peter and Paul Selbon. The Twins were college graduates who toured the world, and made their fortune on the pampas of South America. During their travels, Peter became the “amateur heavyweight champion of Argentina” and Paul became the toughest “rough and tumble fighter in all South America.”
After returning to the States, the pair set out to get revenge on the six rich men who bankrupted their Uncle Ellis Selbon, who raised them after they were orphaned, causing him to die in shame. They did not were a mask, but instead would use their incidental looks to impersonate the each other to give each other alibis.
At the end of their first adventure they are contacted by women called Aletha, who knows all about the Twins’ actions and motives. Unlike the Grey Seal's Tocsin, she merely wishes the Twins well and later took a more active hand in helping them. Eventually it was revealed her true identity was that of Betty Calwood, the niece of one of the six men who ruined their uncle. The brothers are also assisted legally by Fornaser, an attorney who has known the Twins since they were infants.
Detective Milton Griff tried to hunt down the Twins, but ended up perpetually frustrated in his failed attempts to capture them regardless of how much manpower he used.
By the end of the series, the Avenging Twins had forced their six rich targets to burn their money, give it away, or be swindled out of it, and everybody ends the series happily.
Public Domain Appearances[]
- *"The Avenging Twins", Detective Story Magazine, May 12 1923, short story
- "The Avenging Twins Try Again", Detective Story Magazine, June 16–30, 1923, serial
- "The Avenging Twins' Third Trick", Detective Story Magazine, August 25 – September 8, 1923, serial
- "Pearls of Great Price", Detective Story Magazine, November 10, 1923, short story
- "The Avenging Twins' Fifth Victim", Detective Story Magazine, February 23, 1924, short story
- "The Avenging Twins' Last Bow", Detective Story Magazine, April 5–12, 1924, serial
- "The Avenging Twins Return", Detective Story Magazine, October 17, 1925, short story
- "The Avenging Twins Collect", Detective Story Magazine, May 2, 1926, short story