Religion: indeterminate
Name: Mel Lansing
Classification:
supporting character
Publisher(s): 
First Appearance: Captain America (vol. 1) #164 (Aug. 1973): "Queen of the Werewolves!"
Creators: Steve Englehart, Alan Weiss, John Romita
Number of Appearances: 1
Enemy of: Nightshade
Ally: Falcon
Employer: Grimrock Prison
Defended or Helped by: Captain America
Occupation: convict, criminal, prisoner
Race: white
Gender: male
Note: childhood friend of Falcon
Mel Lansing, identified by the Falcon as a childhood friend, was used as a practice victim by Dr. Nightshade and Yellow Claw to test their artificial werewolf serum.
The Falcon received an urgent letter from his childhood friend Mel Lansing. He explained his relationship to Mel.
On pages 4 and 5 in Captain America (vol. 1) #164, the Falcon told Cap: "I'd be back in the city by now-- if I hadn't gotten that letter from Mel... Mel is my friend! He lived eight blocks from me when I was a kid-- back when blocks weren't barriers. We played stickball-- rooted for the Yankees-- and one day, I talked him into stealing some apples from Mr. Werner's deli. I'm not gonna give you a whole guilt rap, 'cause I don't honestly feel it-- there's no real correlation-- but the fact remains that while I, Sam Wilson, went on to become a social worker and superdude, Mel Lansing became a crook. Anyway, he's in the backwater prison, where he wrote from, and Cap-- He's scared out of his mind!"
Captain America
Suggested links for further research about this character:
- http://marvel.wikia.com/Captain_America_Vol_1_164
- http://www.captainamericalibrary.com/superhero-library/captain-america/captain-america-comic-details.aspx?id=CA1&issue=164