Rutland in Rutland County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)
Tom Fagan
Rutland Journalist Tom Fagan, with help from comic book authors and illustrators, made the Rutland Halloween parade into an international phenomenon featured in more than two dozen comic books worldwide. DC's Batman was an early parade favorite, and Fagan, dressed as Batman, appeared with the Caped Crusader in Batman 237 in 1971.
Fagan launched a superhero theme the second year of the parade and his friends in the comic book industry traveled from around the country to attend, bringing rare superhero costumes to the downtown spectacle.
The sculpture, designed by Jiannan Wu and carved by Alessandro Lombardo, is one in a series honoring regional history and planned through a collaboration by The Carving Studio and Sculpture Center, MKF Properties, Vermont Quarries, and Green Mountain Power. It was funded by Heritage Family Credit Union, GMP, Asplundh Tree Expert Company, Davey Tree Expert Company, Downtown Rutland Partnership, Four Seasons Sotheby's International Realty, PEGTV, Channels 1075, 1085 & 1095, Rob and Colleen Mitchell, Russ and Renee Marsan, Rutland Blooms, Sara and Greg McClallen, Steve and Jane Costello, and TPW Management.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce • Notable Events. A significant historical year for this entry is 1971.
Location.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Vermont’s Green Mountains. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ann Story (a few steps from this marker); Redfield Proctor (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Rotary (about 400 feet away); Dr. Charles Caverly (about 400 feet away); A Tribute to the Brilliance of Christo & Jeanne-Claude (about 500 feet away); Why Trains? (about 600 feet away); Kipling in Vermont (about 600 feet away); The 54th Regiment (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rutland.
Additional keywords. Intellectual Property
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 20, 2026
2. Tom Fagan marker and sculpture
The marker stands on the grounds of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rutland, historically known as St. Paul's Universalist Church.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 26, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
