A
super-hero published by
DC Comics. He first appeared in
Crack Comics #1 in August 1940.
The origin of the Black Condor begins in Mongolia in the early
part of the 20th century. A young archaelogist named Richard
Grey, his wife, and new-born son are part of an expedition
that is attacked by bandits. The bandits killed all of the
members of the group except the infant. He is left to die, but
is rescued from certain death by a group of highly intelligent
condors. Not only is it amazing that the condors took the
human child in and raised it as their own, but it is equally
amazing that they were in Asia at all, as condors are native
to the mountain ranges of North and South America.
Despite their obvious misplacement in central Asia, the condors
raise young Grey as their own. The child possessed the ability of
flight in another unexplained turn of events, so he grew as a
member of the flock like any other. Only his odd appearance ever
gave the young man any idea that he was not a condor, until the day
that he met Father Pierre, a friendly hermit.
Father Pierre taught the young Grey to speak English, despite being
French, taught him to act like a human, and told him of his
tragic past. When Pierre was killed by the same group of
bandits that had slain Grey's parents 20 years earlier, Grey was overcome by
the implausibility of his own origin and wreaked havoc upon the
villains, taking solace in his revenge.
Grey then traveled to the United States as Richard Grey, Jr., but soon
became embroilled in trying to foil a plot to kill U.S.
Senator Thomas Wright. Along the way, Grey adopted Wright's
identity and defeated those who sought to kill Wright. Again,
in another odd turn of events, Grey kept Wright's identity and
continued to serve in the U.S. Congress, showing that the
people in Wright's district really don't keep up with national
politics. While serving as a Senator, Grey/Wright also
adventured as the Black Condor.
The Black Condor became a member of both the All-Star Squadron
and the Freedom Fighters.