Tony Sardo (Earth-616)

## Tony Sardo

### Deathplace

Sardo's Lab, Sardo's Estate, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States of America

### Occupation(s)

* Mobster
* Gang Leader

## Locations

### Residences

* Sardo's Estate, New York City, New York, United States

### Base(s) of Operation

* Sardo's Estate, New York City, New York, United States

## Personality

### Likes

* Red's Stupidity
* His Mob

### Goals

* Use the Human Torch in his Racket (Temporarily succeeded)
* Escape from the Human Torch (Failed)
* Kill the Human Torch (Failed)

## Real World Information

### Creators

Carl Burgos

**Anthony "Tony" Sardo** was an American criminal and racketeer active in 1939. Sardo was notable for attempting to use the Human Torch in his scheme, however he died and his gang fell apart.

## Biography

Tony Sardo was a mobster and racketeer active in New York City. Sardo had a large estate in Brooklyn. In 1939, Sardo was reading a newspaper about the escape of the Human Torch when his assistant Red alerted him that the grass around the pool is on fire. While Sardo was initially incredulous about this fact, he made a connection to the escape of the Human Torch and the fire around the pool and ordered Red to cover the pool with a glass sheet and drain the water and air out. Sardo saw the Torch for himself and he came up with a plan to use the Torch in his racket. Sardo explained to Red that he planned to try to get Acmen Warehouses to pay protection money and if they refused then they would use the Torch to burn down the steel storage. Sardo had Red drive him to Acmen Warehouses and told the secretary that he has a business opportunity for the president of the company, Mr. Harris. Sardo tried to get Harris to pay the protection money but Harris chased Sardo out. Sardo and Red returned home and Sardo then arranged for the pool to be filled once again and for a diving suit to be delivered to him so he could place the Torch in a sealed glass case. Sardo then ordered for the Torch to be driven to the steel house owned by Acmen and broke the case there which let the Torch free and began a fire. Sardo and his goons then drove home. Sardo later saw the Torch arrive on his premises, and realized that the Torch did not like being used as a tool for the mob. Sardo then ran inside his house and hid in his underground lab. While Sardo was hiding, his gang began fleeing and Red died due to the fire the Torch was creating. The Torch then found Sardo's lab and burned his way through the steel doors. Sardo then donned a gas mask and threw a gas bomb at the Torch, but the heat caused the bomb to go off prematurely. Sardo, having gone half insane from fear, then grabbed a tank of chemicals to throw at the Torch, but stopped when he heard the sounds of fire engines. The Torch went to investigate and came back down with his fire doused from a tank of nitrogen upstairs. Sardo made the connection and attempted to barter for his life with a large canister of nitrogen, but the Torch simply took it and began trashing Sardo's lab. Sardo saw an opportunity to kill the Torch and grabbed a tank of sulfuric acid and threw it at the Torch, but the heat caused the tank to explode and kill Sardo.

## Personality

Sardo was an average criminal of the 1930s. He wanted money and was crafty enough to create a complicated plan to get him to that goal. He was evidently scientifically minded.

## Appearance

Sardo was an average caucasian man. He seemed to be an older man due to the presence of gray hair, although it is sometimes colored as brown. He had a lanky build and appeared to have black eyes. He was clean shaven and had a standard hair cut.

## Attributes

### Skills

**Scientific Knowledge**: It is likely that Sardo had some form of knowledge in chemistry due to the presence of his secret lab and the fact he connected the tank of nitrogen to the Torch's fire going away.

### Abilities

**Craftiness**: Sardo was a street smart and crafty individual capable of organizing a mob and coming up with a plan to gain wealth quickly.

## Paraphernalia

### Equipment

**Diving Suit**: Sardo had access to a diving suit which he used to put the Torch in a glass tube.

### Weapons

**Pistol:** Sardo is depicted with a pistol in the cover of Marvel Comics #1

**Gas Bomb**: Sardo has gas bombs in his lab. Their effect is unknown as they fizzled out before they were used.

### Transport

**Armored Car**: Sardo had an armored car which he used to traverse the city.

## Relationships

### Allies

**Red**

Red was Sardo's right hand man. Sardo often mocked and diminished Red by saying that Red was an idiot, which Red repeatedly said he did not like. Despite this Red was loyal to Sardo until his death.

### Enemies

**Human Torch**

Sardo initially attempted to use the Torch in his racket but the Torch turned against him. As a result Sardo did everything in his power to either escape or kill the Torch however he ultimately failed.

**Mr. Harris**

Sardo attempted to get Harris to pay the protection fee, but Harris chased him out. Sardo then had the Torch burn down the Acmen steel house.