In August 1939, Shock Gibson appeared in Speed Comics #1 by Brookwood Publications (later absorbed by Harvey Comics). Lightning struck chemicals which splashed on poor Charles Gibson, gifting him with incredible strength (and apparently invulnerability). The next logical step, of course, in the Golden Age of Superheroes is to don a skin-tight red costume, and a yellow finned helmet. Throw on yellow slippers, belt and gloves if you got ’em.
This is a long story (26 pages!) and features no less than three full-page panels demonstrating Shock’s adventure which ranges all over the place. From helping a builder escape grafters to fighting a madman scientist in an extinct volcano who has no less than five death rays (because why just invent one?) to getting tossed into a pit with lions to rescuing a kidnapped movie star (this madman was bizzay!).
Shock Gibson is basically another attempt to cash in on the popularity of Superman, just like Fox’s Wonder Man. His costume is pretty reminiscent of the Golden Age Flash (who is still several months away from his first appearance).