January 1940 also saw the debut of DC’s latest superhero, The Spectre in More Fun Comics #52. The Spectre was created by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily. Although the Spectre appears in full “costume” on the cover and on the splash panel, in this first story we don’t get to see him in his green […]
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Timely Comics (the company that became Marvel Comics) debuted a new comic book in January 1940, Mystic Comics, with the improbably-named character of Flexo the Rubber Robot (or Flexo the Rubber Man). That’s right, this was a robot that could stretch, which makes Flexo the first superhero with that power! It’s hard to believe I’ve […]
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The Flash gained a new power in Flash Comics #3 (January 1940) by learning how to vibrate rapidly to appear invisible!
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Speaking of bald, evil geniuses with misshapen heads, Batman gets his own version with Hugo Strange in Detective Comics #36, January 1940.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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