ST. VALENTINE

Real Name: Valentinus (original Roman name)

Identity/Class: Human, supernatural being (Roman) (3rd century, also Post-World War II Era)

Occupation: Agent of Heaven (apparently);
    former priest

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Asterius, Jane

Enemies: Claudius Gothicus;
    slighted by Mary and Sarah

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Possibly Heaven;
    formerly Rome

First Appearance: Journey into Mystery I#27 (October, 1955)

Powers/Abilities: As a mortal man, Valentine performed the supernatural miracles of restoring sight and hearing to people afflicted with blindness or deafness.

Post-death, as a supernatural being, he could alter a person's physical beauty.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6'0")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 170 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown

History:
(historical information) - Valentine was a Christian believer in Rome in the 3rd century at a time when the Christian faith was heretical, particularly for those who tried to convert Roman citizens to their faith. Valentine was said to be particularly kind towards young lovers and assisted them in becoming married, possibly also helping lovers to deliver love messages (some were perhaps in a heart-shape). In Umbria, he performed the miracle of curing the blindness of Asterius the judge's daughter, convincing Asterius to convert to Christianity. He was ultimately arrested by the Roman emperor Claudius Gothicus for the crimes of marrying Christians and assisting persecuted Christians. Claudius imprisoned Valentine. In prison, Valentine performed miracles, such as restoring sight and hearing to the daughter of the prison jailer. Claudius started visiting him, beginning to admire him, but when Valentine tried to convert Claudius to Christianity, Claudius ordered his death. On February 14, 270, he was beaten with clubs and stones then beheaded.

Pope Gelasius I commemorated Valentine as a martyr, conferred sainthood upon him and made February 14 his feast day. In the centuries that followed, February 14 became popularly called "St. Valentine's Day" in the western world and the custom of sending messages to loved ones became widespread.

(Journey into Mystery I#27/4) - Now a supernatural being, St. Valentine returned to Earth on February 14, 1955 and assumed the form of a poor man, venturing to Gus's diner where a woman named Jane worked. Because of his shabby clothes and unkempt appearance, the other waitresses didn't want to wait on him but Jane accepted the task, as she was accustomed to being rejected and in him thought he was like her: "a poor, unwanted soul." St. Valentine ordered the special, a $3.00 meal. After eating it, he told Jane he had no money and couldn't pay the bill. Jane told him not to worry about it, as she would pay for it and wished him a Happy Valentine's Day then gave him $30 and encouraged him to get a haircut, shave and a cheap suit to replace the one he was wearing. St. Valentine thanked her.

Later that day after rush hour, St. Valentine returned to Gus's diner, now appearing as a sharply-dressed young man with a shaved face and slick haircut. Going to Jane, he reintroduced himself as the man she had helped that morning and handed her a Valentine's Day card, saying "You're the only girl on Earth who was kind to me and took time to think of someone other than yourself!" Through supernatural power, he then changed Jane's appearance, making her beautiful. He promised her he would return every year on February 14th to see Jane. Reading the card, Jane saw it read "To Jane, my valentine on this, my day. St. Valentine."

Comments: Adapted into Marvel Comics by an unidentified writer and Jay Scott Pike.

    The tradition is that Valentine died in Rome on February 14 (either 269 or 270) but the histories of Valentine are a little uncertain about who exactly he was - it appears there are references to three men of that time with the same name who might all be the same person but then again, might not. Valentine's Day presents didn't really show up as a custom 'til around the 17th century.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
St. Valentine should not be confused with:

Gus

Gus was the owner and head cook of his own diner, which was dubbed "Gus's." Jane, Mary and Sarah were three of at least four waitresses who worked on his staff. Gus was proud of the attention Jane paid to her work and tried to convince the others to follow her example.






--Journey into Mystery I#27/4

Jane

Jane was a waitress at Gus's diner. Jane was considered unattractive by her co-workers, who thought her unhappy facial expression was the source of her trouble. On February 14, 1955, Jane didn't receive any Valentine's Day cards unlike the other waitresses at the diner. When St. Valentine entered the diner in the form of a poor man and Sarah refused to wait on him, Jane took his table, thinking he was like her: "a poor, unwanted soul." When he was unable to pay for his $3.00 meal, Jane covered the check and gave him $30, telling him to get a shave, haircut and cheap suit. She justified this because she was never happy on Valentine's Day but hoped her actions might make someone else happy. Later that day, St. Valentine returned, now in the appearance of a well-dressed handsome man, and he gave Jane a valentine card. When Jane accepted it, she was supernaturally transformed, becoming beautiful. St. Valentine told her he would return to see her on every February 14. His card to her read: "To Jane, my valentine on this, my day. St. Valentine."




--Journey into Mystery I#27/4

Mary

Mary was a waitress at Gus's diner. She received several Valentine's Day cards on February 14, 1955. Noting that Jane didn't receive any cards, Mary opined that she could be attractive "if she didn't look so unhappy all the time!" When St. Valentine came to Gus's, Mary looked down on him, declaring he was "off the reservation, isn't he? This isn't the Bowery!" Later, she was amazed when St. Valentine returned to the diner as a handsome man and rewarded Jane with beauty for her kindness towards him.





--Journey into Mystery I#27/4

Sarah

Sarah was a waitress at Gus's diner. She received several Valentine's Day cards on February 14, 1955. Noting that Jane didn't receive any cards, Sarah opined that if "she'd only try to look happy, maybe she'd get some attention, too!" When St. Valentine came to the diner in the appearance of a poor man, Sarah dismissed him as a "wreck." Although he sat at one of her tables, Sarah refused to serve him, forcing Jane to wait on him. When she heard he ordered a $3.00 meal, she was certain he wouldn't pay the check and took a smug attitude when later proved correct. She admonished Jane for not only paying for his meal but also giving that "tramp" $30. Later that day, she was amazed to see the man return now a handsome figure but he was only interested in Jane, rewarding her kindness by making her beautiful.





--Journey into Mystery I#27/4

images: (without ads)
Journey into Mystery I#27/4, page 4, panel 5 (St. Valentine, main)
Journey into Mystery I#27/4, page 2, panel 4 (St. Valentine, disguised)
Journey into Mystery I#27/4, page 2, panel 1 (Gus)
Journey into Mystery I#27/4, page 2, panel 6 (Jane)
Journey into Mystery I#27/4, page 4, panel 7 (beautiful Jane)
Journey into Mystery I#27/4, page 1, panel 2 (Mary)
Journey into Mystery I#27/4, page 2, panel 5 (Sarah)

Appearances:
Journey into Mystery I#27/4 (October, 1955) - unidentified writer, Jay Scott Pike (artist), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 02/14/2023
Last updated: 02/14/2023

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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