456 – Marvel Boy 2

A panel from Marvel Boy #1, August 1950
A panel from Marvel Boy #1, August 1950

In August 1950, Timely (Marvel) Comics gave superheroes one more shot with the introduction of Marvel Boy #1, created by Stan Lee and Russ Heath. Marvel Boy was Robert Grayson, the son of a Jewish scientist who fled the Earth during World War II when his wife was killed and ended up in Uranus. This Marvel Boy completely ignores the Marvel Boy of 1942. Marvel Boy had mental telepathy and could “run faster and fight a little harder”, but was weaker on Earth and had to take pills once every 24 hours to give his himself a boost. He also had a jewel that could blind people.

In this first issue, Marvel Boy defends the new continent of Atlantis from squabbling pirates.