164 – The Ringmaster

A new Marvel Comics villain debuts in Captain America #5 (May 1941): The Ringmaster! The Silver Age version of this character was a bit more well-known, but both were co-created by Jack Kirby. Both Ringmaster characters were tall, lean, wore a top hat, had a long face and a mustache. This version was a Nazi […]

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163 – First Jimmy Olsen?

Continuing my streak of hard-hitting investigative comic book journalism, is the elevator boy in Action Comics #38 (May 1941) the first true appearance of Jimmy Olsen? We have red hair, bowtie and green coat! At this point in history, Jimmy Olsen existed as a character in the Superman radio show for about a year and […]

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162 – Superman Flies, Finally!

In Superman #11 (May 1941), it seems that Superman finally has the ability to defy gravity and truly fly. Brian Cronin debunks the myth that the Fleischer Superman cartoons were the first place Superman deliberately flew and he believes that Superman actually first flew in the comics in Superman #10 (March 1941). However, while inspecting […]

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161 – The Human Bomb

The final hero that was introduced in Police Comics #1 (May 1941), was the Human Bomb, created by Paul Gustavson. Roy Lincoln swallowed an explosive capsule his father was invented to prevent it falling into the hands of spies, and became explosive. As a kid, I first met members Uncle Sam, the Phantom Lady and […]

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160 – The Phantom Lady

The second superhero introduced in Police Comics #1 (May 1941) by Quality was the Phantom Lady, created by Eisner & Iger studio. Sandra Knight moonlights as a costumed adventurer with a black lantern that shines darkness onto her targets – and she has a vehicle that shines the same darkness beams out of the rear. […]

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159 – Plastic Man!

In May 1941, Police Comics #1 by Quality was launched, featuring several new heroes that would eventually find their way into DC canon. The first, and by far most popular, was Plastic Man, created by Jack Cole. A petty crook who accidentally swallowed some acid that caused his body to stretch to any shape he […]

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158 – Doiby Dickles

DC and National Comics seem to be upping their “supporting character” game in mid-1941. In All-American Comics #27 (April 1941), Green Lantern introduces a comic relief supporting character named Doiby Dickles. I agree with this article that Doiby is one of the worst sidekicks of all time. I’ve never been a fan of mixing slapstick […]

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157 – Hawkgirl!

After years of showing women as helpless romantic interests posed in alluring dresses, someone gets the idea to get women into the action. In All-Star Comics #5 (April 1941), Shiera jumps from being a simple love interest to becoming DC’s first costumed super-heroine, Hawkgirl. In reality, this first story doesn’t really have Hawkgirl doing anything […]

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155 – Bat-Man, Bad-Ass

Although Batman #5 (April 1941), features another tale of Bat-silliness with dragons, giants and flying carpets, it also features a separate story in which Batman finds the near-lifeless body of Robin, beaten up by criminals. He experiences terrible feelings of rage and vengeance; a dramatic departure from his silent, mysterious, and almost dispassionate first year […]

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