# Mike Brixan — The Avenger character guide > Mike Brixan in The Avenger by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Michael Brixan, Captain Brixan, The Headhunter, Michael, Mike **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-headhunter ## Snapshot A former headhunter turned detective, Mike Brixan stalks a killer through English country houses, armed with nerve, a pistol, and an unsettling talent for guessing what men hide. ## Who they are Mike Brixan moves between two worlds: the colonial past that earned him the nickname 'the Headhunter' and the polite society of Chichester, where a murderer is quietly at work. He is cool under pressure and quick to read a lie, yet his interest in the case is not purely professional — Stella Mendoza's safety pulls him deeper than any puzzle should. His habit of acting alone, scaling walls and vanishing into the dark, makes him both the investigation's best hope and its most unpredictable element. ## Relationships ### [Sir Gregory Penne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/sir_gregory_penne) _rivalry_ Mike and Sir Gregory are locked in a bitter, high-stakes conflict, with Sir Gregory as the primary antagonist opposing Mike's goals. ### [Jack Knebworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/jack_knebworth) _friendship_ Jack is Mike's loyal and close friend, often working alongside him in dangerous situations. ### [Stella Mendoza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/stella_mendoza) _romantic_ Mike and Stella share a deep romantic bond, with strong emotional and physical attraction between them. ### [Bhag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/bhag) _friendship_ Bhag is a devoted friend and companion to Mike, providing loyal support and assistance. ### [Lawley Foss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/lawley_foss) _professional_ Lawley Foss works with Mike in a professional capacity, likely as a colleague or associate in their operations. ### [Sampson Longvale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/sampson_longvale) _friendship_ Mike and Sampson are friends and allies, with Sampson often aiding Mike in his endeavors. ### [Major George Staines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/major_george_staines) _professional_ Major Staines interacts with Mike in a professional or military context, likely as a superior or colleague. ### [Detective Inspector Lyle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/detective_inspector_lyle) _professional_ Detective Inspector Lyle interacts with Mike in an official law enforcement capacity, possibly as an ally or occasional collaborator. ### [Sir Gregory Penne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/sir_gregory_penne) _rivalry_ Mike and Sir Gregory are locked in a bitter, high-stakes conflict, with Sir Gregory as the primary antagonist opposing Mike's goals. ### [Lawley Foss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/lawley_foss) _professional_ Lawley Foss works with Mike in a professional capacity, likely as a colleague or associate in their operations. ### [Bhag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/bhag) _friendship_ Bhag is a devoted friend and companion to Mike, providing loyal support and assistance. ### [Stella Mendoza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/stella_mendoza) _romantic_ Mike and Stella share a deep romantic bond, with strong emotional and physical attraction between them. ## In the story ### [I: The Headhunter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/i-the-headhunter) Introduced as a superstitious but capable intelligence agent, recalled from Berlin to investigate the Headhunter murders. ### [III: The Niece](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/iii-the-niece) Posing as a reporter, he interviews Adele about her uncle and later investigates a news shop for clues. ### [IV: The Leading Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/iv-the-leading-lady) Encountering Adele in the garden, he reads a page of her script and recognizes the typewriter used by the Headhunter. ### [V: Mr. Lawley Foss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/v-mr-lawley-foss) Investigates the script page; reveals Adele's uncle was murdered. ### [The Master of Griff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/vi-the-master-of-griff) Joins the film as an extra to stay near Adele, showing protective interest and curiosity about Sir Gregory. ### [VII: The Swords and Bhag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/vii-the-swords-and-bhag) Accompanies Sir Gregory Penne alone; inspects the sword collection; maintains self-control when confronted with Bhag. ### [Bhag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/viii-bhag) Michael is introduced to Bhag, the orangutan, and is awestruck by its human-like behavior. He later defends Adele's autonomy by refusing to pressure her into dining with Penne. ### [IX: The Ancestor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/ix-the-ancestor) Arrives at the Dower House, observes the film shoot, feels an emotional pull toward Adele, is disturbed by the portrait of Charles Henry, and investigates a face at the window. ### [X: The Open Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/x-the-open-window) Visits Chichester for research, borrows a heavier pistol, and investigates reports of a lurking figure. ### [XI: The Mark on the Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xi-the-mark-on-the-window) Watches in the garden, fires at Bhag, explains the ape's purpose, and confronts Foss about the marked window. ### [A Cry from a Tower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xii-a-cry-from-a-tower) Investigates Griff Towers at dawn, confronts Penne about Bhag's attack, and reveals his detective identity. ### [XIII: The Trap That Failed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xiii-the-trap-that-failed) Investigates Penne's house, fires at a shutter lock to thwart an ambush, warns Penne about Nemesis, and returns to the Dower House for breakfast. ### [Mendoza Makes a Fight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xiv-mendoza-makes-a-fight) Mentioned as having identified Foss's role in the kidnapping plot. ### [Two from the Yard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xv-two-from-the-yard) Receives Scotland Yard officers and gives instructions for Adele's protection. ### [XVI: The Brown Man from Nowhere](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xvi-the-brown-man-from-nowhere) Seen in Chichester helping a policeman communicate with a brown-skinned native from Borneo; guesses the man may be a new servant for Sir Gregory Penne. ### [Mr. Foss Makes a Suggestion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xvii-mr-foss-makes-a-suggestion) Thought of by Adele; she wonders why he is staying in Chichester and if he is investigating the Headhunter. ### [XIX: The Midnight Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xix-the-midnight-visit) Breaks into Griff Towers using a hook-ladder, explores the tower, observes the imprisoned woman, and later hides in the drawing-room while overhearing Penne and Stella's argument. ### [XX: A Narrow Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xx-a-narrow-escape) Narrowly escapes Bhag, retrieves his pistol, doubts his initial theory, and receives a visit from Major Staines. ### [The Erasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxi-the-erasure) Investigates the erased manuscript entry and questions Foss's whereabouts. ### [XXII: The Head](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxii-the-head) Accompanies Stella Mendoza to her house, receives a telegram about a discovered head, and identifies the head as Lawley Foss's. ### [XXIII: Clues at the Tower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxiii-clues-at-the-tower) Investigates Foss's murder, confronts Penne, and searches Griff Towers. ### [The Marks of the Beast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxiv-the-marks-of-the-beast) Investigates the crime scene at Griff Towers, reconstructs the struggle, and searches the grounds with police. ### [XXV: The Man in the Car](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxv-the-man-in-the-car) Fails to meet Adele for tea, later calls Jack Knebworth to report the discovery of Foss's head. ### [XXVI: The Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxvi-the-hand) Investigates Foss's murder, interviews Stella Mendoza, and learns of Penne's past. Later meets Adele and discovers the escaped couple at Longvale's house. ### [The Caves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxvii-the-caves) Investigates local caves and history with Mr. Scott; dines with Jack Knebworth and Adele Leamington; examines Adele's finds. ### [XXVIII: The Tower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxviii-the-tower) Perturbed by the closed car incident, reinstates guard on Adele's house, examines clues, joins film shoot at Griff Tower, and spots Bhag emerging from the tower. ### [Bhag's Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxix-bhag-s-return) Investigates Bhag's reappearance, pursues the ape, and later questions Sir Gregory about the handcuffs and a possible past murder. ### [The Advertisement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxx-the-advertisement) Leads the investigation, traces the advertisement letters, and interviews Longvale about the caves. ### [XXXI: John Percival Liggitt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxi-john-percival-liggitt) Absent from the studio; a tramp waits with a letter for him; mentioned as having left London. ### [The Trap That Failed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-trap-that-failed) Disguised as a tramp, Brixan attempts to capture the Headhunter but is foiled by a chemical spray. ### [XXXIV: The Search](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-search) Disguised and attacked with ammonia; leads the search for Adele at Griff Towers; shoots at Bhag. ### [XXXVIII: The Cavern of Bones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxviii-the-cavern-of-bones) Called upon by Penne in his desperate plea for help. ### [Michael Knows for Sure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxix-michael-knows-for-sure) Pursues Penne, confronts Longvale, and is captured and lowered into a cave. ### [The Widow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xl-the-widow) Observes the guillotine in the cave with fascination; later implied to be in the Dower House, possibly in danger. ### [XLI: The Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xli-the-death) Witnesses Bhag's execution of Longvale, rescues Adele, and explains Longvale's criminal methods to Inspector Lyle. ### [XLII: Camera!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xlii-camera) Visits the film studio, jokes about arresting Adele, and declares his love for her. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/mike_brixan - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters