Adrian Chase, aka the Vigilante, is a member of Project Butterfly and a devoted follower of Peacemaker in DC and HBO Max's Peacemaker series currently streaming on the app. Vigilante stands out compared to the other members of his team, as he is the only one wearing a full costume that covers his entire body. He's also not the brightest and has a pretty odd obsession with Peacemaker.
Like Peacemaker himself, the Vigilante's origins come from DC Comics, and his costume in the show is surprisingly loyal to Chase's comics' costume. Peacemaker is Vigilante's live-action debut, so many are likely wondering who exactly Adrian Chase is.
He First Appeared In 1982
Adrian Chase made his comic book debut in New Teen Titans #23 by George Perez and Marv Wolfman. He didn't show up as a costumed hero or villain. He actually started off as the Manhattan District Attorney who often worked with the Teen Titans to help put criminals behind bars.
Everything changed for Adrian after his family was killed in a bombing orchestrated by a mob family called the Scarapellis. This put Adrian on the path to shirking the rule of law and becoming the Vigilante. His origins and methods are markedly similar to that of Frank Castle, aka the Punisher. However, Chase's time as the Vigilante would take him in a very different direction than that of the Punisher.
He Had His Own Comic Book Title Through The 1980s
Adrian Chase would receive his own comic book title in 1983 with creators Marv Wolfman and Keith Pollard. Other creators such as Paul Kupperberg, Tod Smith, Steve Erwin, Denys Cowan, Chuck Patton, Joe Brozowski, and Ross Andru would join the title over the years.
The series would end with Vigilante #50 in 1988. Somewhat ironically, writer Paul Kupperberg would launch three spin-off series from Vigilante, including a Peacemaker miniseries with artists Tod Smith and Pablo Marcos. The other two were Doom Patrol with artist Steve Lightle and Checkmate with artist Steve Erwin.
His Predecessor Was Greg Sanders, A Would-Be Cowboy And Relative Of Hawkgirl
Adrian Chase wasn't the first to use the Vigilante moniker in DC Comics. The original was a man by the name of Greg Sanders who first popped up in Action Comics #42 in 1941 by Mort Weisinger and Mort Meskin. His aesthetic is more of a cowboy than a costumed assassin.
He was a member of the Seven Soldiers of Victory team alongside other members such as Green Arrow, Speedy, Batgirl, and the Star-Spangled Kid. He was also a member of the All-Star Squadron, a World War II-era superhero team that included many members of the Justice Society and even Plastic Man. He was also a relative to both of the women who used the name Hawkgirl, Shiera, and Kendra Saunders.
He's Actually Dead In The Comics These Days
The end of the Vigilante series was actually pretty tragic. Adrian Chase had become disgusted with himself and the fact that he abandoned the law. He became ashamed of his actions.
The series ended with the Vigilante taking his own life. This was the end of Adrian Chase and the Vigilante series that came around with him. However, it was not the end of masked crusaders using the name Vigilante.
But He's Had Four Successors To The Vigilante Name
Four more individuals took up the name Vigilante. The first was Alan Welles, who actually became the Vigilante while Adrian was still alive. He first appeared in Vigilante #7 and was created by Marv Wolfman and Chuck Patton. He took up the name while Chase was retired. Welles was mentally unstable and actually killed innocents and police officers in addition to criminals. Adrian felt responsible for inspiring this Vigilante and killed Welles in Vigilante #27.
David Winston was the next to take up the name and was the bailiff under Judge Adrian Chase. He first appeared in Vigilante #23 and was created by Paul Kupperberg and Tod Smith. After the Welles incident, he wanted to show Chase that the city needed a Vigilante. Winston became the Vigilante with Vigilante #28 but was killed by Peacemaker while the two attempted to stop an airplane hijacking.
The next Vigilante was Patricia Trayce, and she first appeared in Deathstroke the Terminator #6 by Marv Wolfman and Steve Erwin. She ran an organization called Vigilance Inc. She actually aided the Justice Society during the Imperiex invasion. Unlike the prior three Vigilantes, her life never came to a violent end. Unfortunately for Trayce, she never really received any ending and seemed to be largely forgotten.
The final and most recent Vigilante was Donald Fairchild, who first appeared in Vigilante: Southland #1 by Gary Phillips and Elena Casagrande in 2016. He took up the name after his girlfriend was killed. Fairchild hasn't been seen much since his miniseries came to an end, and he seems to be forgotten as well.
Peacemaker is currently streaming on HBO Max