97 – New Whiz Kid on the Block

In December 1939, we finally get a new company, that is not DC, creating a superhero character that has an impact outside of comic books, with the introduction of Captain Marvel in Whiz Comics #1 (actually #2 because of the ash-can edition) by Fawcett Comics. Captain Marvel, sometimes confused with the wizard Shazam, who gave […]

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96 – Bat with a Gat

In Detective Comics #35 (December 1939), Bob Kane decided to show the provocative image of Batman holding a smoking gun in the splash page of the story, even though Batman never uses a gun in the story itself! But more importantly… wtf is going on with Batman’s body below the belt?!? Also, the cover of […]

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95 – Doll Man!

Doll Man debuted in November 1939 in Feature Comics #27 (November 1939), published by Quality Comics. Doll Man was created by Will Eisner under the pseudonym “William Erwin Maxwell” and is now owned by DC. Darrel Dane, a scientist, invented a formula to shrink himself to 6 inches tall, giving him super strength. He was […]

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94 – Now Namor Be Nice

In Marvel Mystery Comics #3 (November 1939), Namor the Sub-Mariner meets Betty Dean the Undercover Police Officer. Bill Everett did a great job illustrating and writing this new character, giving her the right amount of heart and sincerity which she used to try and steer our fiery anti-hero to the side of us poor surface […]

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93 – The Shield, G-Man Extraordinary

The Shield was the first over-the-top-patriotic superhero, arriving at least a year before Captain America. Debuting in Pep Comics #1 (November 1939), he was a G-Man who designed his own costume that gave him a dizzying array of powers: bulletproof, flameproof, super speed, super strong, he could scale walls and he had radio gadgets to […]

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92 – She’s Got Gerard Shugel Eyes

In Action Comics #20 (November 1939), Superman discovers that Hollywood actress Dolores Winters is acting rather strangely the day after acting so nicely to Clark Kent. After Dolores gives him the stink eye, Superman makes the intuitive leap that the Ultra-Humanite has placed his brain inside Dolores’ body. But it’s comforting to know that Superman […]

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91 – So You Cei-U Want Wish Fulfillment?

Johnny Thunder(bolt) also debuted in Flash Comics #1 (November 1939). Like the other two heroes he shared the book with (Flash and Hawkman), Johnny Thunder was a one-gimmick wonder. This time, the gimmick was that he didn’t know he was a hero. Most of this time, this played like somewhat unfunny comedy. In this first […]

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90 – How About A Superhero With Wings?

Hawkman also debuted in Flash Comics #1 (November 1939). He was created by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville. Carter Hall, a research scientist and collector of weapons, has a dream of a past life as Prince Khufu, he discovers the Ninth Metal, creates wings which defy gravity and decides to use “weapons of the past” […]

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