posted September 17, 2000 03:08 PM
"DC is turning the clock backwards on their SECRET FILES program with their first
'sourcebook' focusing on their Golden Age, in December's GOLDEN AGE SECRET
FILES #1. In addition to the usual profile pages of all their biggest Golden
Age stars, writer John Ostrander explores the origins of costume heroes in
the DCU through the eyes of a certain mild-mannered reporter for the Daily
Planet. Interviewing some of the still-living heroes from that time, Clark
Kent helps readers experience the events that inspired the first generation
of heroes through the eyes of those who were there to see it. Through his
investigation, Kent will overturn secrets of the surprising event that
inspired the DCU's first costumed hero, the Crimson Avenger." -- report in
the September 16 edition of Newsarama.
**********
In anticipation of this big event, I've prepared a bare bones file on the last known whereabouts of
most of DC's costumed and super-powered crimefighters of the 1940s.
Note that these are their last CHRONOLOGICAL appearances, not necessarily
their last published appearances.
Air Wave: Killed by an escaped convict roughly twenty years ago (DC COMICS PRESENTS # 40). Succeeded
by his son (GREEN LANTERN (second series) # 100).
Amazing-Man: Stricken with cancer when last seen (JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA # 87). Succeeded by his
grandson (# 91), who was later killed (STARMAN (current) # 38).
The Americommando: Killed in an explosion in February of 1945 (NATIONAL COMICS (1999) # 1).
The Atom: Killed by Extant (ZERO HOUR # 3). Represented in current JSA by godson Atom-Smasher.
Billy Gunn: Killed by the Spider in October 1948 (STARS & S.T.R.I.P.E. # 9).
Black Canary: Died of cancer (SECRET ORIGINS # 50). Represented in current JSA by her daughter, the
second Black Canary.
Black Condor: Appears as a spectral image,claiming to have moved on to "a higher plane of existence"
and working on behalf of an altruistic agency (BLACK CONDOR # 4, 10; RAY #
20-21). Connected in an unspecified manner to his successor, Ryan Kendall
(BLACK CONDOR # 1-12).
Bulletgirl: Died (POWER OF SHAZAM! # 43). Succeeded as a crimefighter by daughter Windshear (# 32).
Bulletman: Retired (POWER OF SHAZAM! # 8). Succeeded as a crimefighter by daughter Windshear (# 32).
Captain Triumph: Last seen in 1949 (CRACK COMICS # 42).
Captain X: Killed by Stalnoivolk (FIRESTORM # 71). Grandson Ron (Firestorm) Raymond continues to
operate as a crimefighter.
The Clipper: Disappeared in the early 1930s (FLASH (current) # 23).
The Clock: Reportedly murdered in 1941 (STARMAN (current) # 19).
Commander Steel: Killed by Eclipso (ECLIPSO # 13). Represented by grandson in Justice League of
America at one point (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA ANNUAL # 2), since slain by
Professor Ivo (JLA # 260).
Commando Yank: Last seen in 1948 (WHIZ COMICS # 102).
The Crimson Avenger: Killed in a tanker explosion (DC COMICS PRESENTS # 38). Unidentifed successor
recently spotted in Detroit (STARS & S.T.R.I.P.E. # 9).
The Cyclone Kids: Recently reactivated as the Cyclones, part of Old Justice (YOUNG JUSTICE #
16).
Destiny: Last seen in 1944 (POLICE COMICS # 36).
The Destroying Demon: Abandoned costume almost immediately in late 1940 (FEATURE # 40). Last seen,
as Bruce Blackburn in 1942(# 56).
Doctor Fate: Granted access to Heaven alongside his wife, Inza (FATE # 22). Both now reside within
the Fate amulet (JSA # 3). Numerous successors, including the late Jared
Stevens (whose glimpse of Heaven was replaced by a false memory of Kent and
Inza's demise). Currently represented in the JSA by Hector Hall.
Doctor Mid-Nite: Killed by Extant (ZERO HOUR # 3). Previously succeeded by Beth Chapel (INFINITY,
INC. # 21), later slain by Eclipso (ECLIPSO # 13). Currently represented in
the JSA by Pieter Anton Cross.
Doctor Occult: Merged with partner Rose Psychic in 1945 (SUPERMAN ANNUAL (current) # 7). Still active.
Seen most recently in DAY OF JUDGMENT # 1-5.
Doiby Dickles: Recently returned to Earth as part of Old Justice (YOUNG JUSTICE # 16). A return to
his adoptive planet of Myrg is imminent in YOUNG JUSTICE.
Doll Girl: Last seen in 1953 (DOLL MAN # 46). Connection to new Doll Girl (TITANS SECRET FILES # 2)
is unknown.
Doll Man: Last seen over a decade ago during the Appellaxian invasion (JLA: YEAR ONE # 11-12).
Connection to new Doll Man (TITANS SECRET FILES # 2) is unknown.
Dyna-Mite: Recently returned to costume as part of Old Justice (YOUNG JUSTICE # 16).
Fatman: Last seen in June of 1942 (YOUNG ALL-STARS # 27).
Fireball: Last seen in June of 1942 (YOUNG ALL-STARS # 26).
Firebrand I: Succeeded by his sister as Firebrand. Last seen on April 1, 1942 preparing to ship out for
combat in World War Two (ALL-STAR SQUADRON # 50).
Firebrand II: Met an uncertain fate at the hands of the Dragon King (STARS & S.T.R.I.P.E. #
12). Represented in current JSA by godson Atom-Smasher. The Firebrand name
was recently appropriated by Alejandro "Alex" Sanchez (FIREBRAND #
1-9).
The Flash: Still active in the JSA.
Flying Fox: Last seen in June of 1942 (YOUNG ALL-STARS # 31). Connection to the villainous Arak of
Helix (INFINITY, INC. # 17) is unknown.
Fury: Recently rejuvenated and granted sanctuary on Themyscira (LEGENDS OF THE DCU # 30-32).
Represented in Infinity, Inc. by her daughter, the second Fury (INFINITY,
INC. # 1-3).
General Glory: Suffered a fatal heart attack. Succeeded by police officer Donovan Wallace (JLI
QUARTERLY # 16).
Genius Jones: Last seen in 1947 (MORE FUN # 126).
The Ghost of Flanders: Last seen in 1942 (HIT COMICS # 25).
The Ghost Patrol: Last seen in 1949 (FLASH COMICS # 104).
Gimmick Girl: Believed dead for years (INFINITY, INC. # 3, 9) but recently surfaced as part of Old
Justice (YOUNG JUSTICE # 16). Represented in Infinity, Inc. by Brainwave, Jr.
(INFINITY, INC. # 1-3), now confined to a sanitarium (GREEN LANTERN/ SENTINEL: HEART OF DARKNESS # 1-2).
The Great Defender: Last seen in 1944 (HIT COMICS # 34).
Green Lantern: Still active as Sentinel in the JSA.
The Grim Ghost: Last seen in 1945 (SENSATION # 38).
The Guardian: Still active in a youthful cloned body as head of security at Project Cadmus (seen
regularly in SUPERBOY).
The Harlequin: Retired and married to Alan (Sentinel) Scott. Seen most recently in GREEN LANTERN
(current) # 110.
Hawkgirl I and Hawkman I: Merged with Katar Hol into a single being (HAWKMAN (third series) # 13).
Status to be determined in a forthcoming JSA storyline. Represented in JSA by
their son, Hector (Doctor Fate) Hall.
Hercules: Suffering from Alzheimer's Disease (STARMAN (current) # 35).
Hourman: Killed by Extant (ZERO HOUR # 3). Succeeded by son Rick (INFINITY, INC. # 21). Represented
until recently in JSA by the Hourman of the 853rd Century.
The Human Bomb: Retired (DAMAGE 2, 0, 8, 11,18).
Ibis the Invincible: Still active. Last glimpsed during the Mageddon crisis (JLA # 38).
The Invisible Hood: Presumed dead after the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor (SECRET
ORIGINS # 26) but survived until 1974 when he was murdered by the Icicle and
the Mist (STARMAN (current) # 2). It has been speculated the he is the
grandfather of Tyson (Blindside) Gilford (RELATIVE HEROES # 1).
Iron Munro: Semi-retired but still youthful and active as circumstances warrant (DAMAGE # 2-6, 0,
8-12, 18-20).
The Jester: Retired in 1952 (STARMAN (current) # 46).
Johnny Quick: Killed during a battle with Savitar (IMPULSE # 11). Represented in the current
Titans by daughter Jesse Quick.
Johnny Thunder: Afflicted with memories of other realities (SPECTRE (third series) # 20) and diagnosed
with Alzheimer's Disease (FATE # 22; FLASH # 134).
Judomaster: Kept young thanks to decades in Nanda Parbat, recently returned to Western civilization
(THE L.A.W. # 1-6).
Kid Eternity: Killed by Mordru (JSA # 1).
The King: Last seen in February of 1945(STAR SPANGLED COMICS (1999) # 1).
Kuei: Last seen in June of 1942 (YOUNG ALL-STARS # 26).
Lando, Man of Magic: Last seen in 1942 (WORLD'S FINEST # 7).
Liberty Belle: Semi-active (THE FINAL NIGHT # 2) but largely retired since the death of her
ex-husband, Johnny Quick (WONDER WOMAN PLUS # 1). Represented in the current
Titans by daughter Jesse Quick ... and soon slated to appear there herself.
Little Boy Blue & The Blue Boys: Retired. Briefly succeeded by their offspring (FLASH (current) #
12; INVASION! # 2).
Madam Fatal: Dead (JSA # 1).
Magno: Killed at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 (SECRET ORIGINS # 26).
Manhunter I: Retired. Last seen at wedding of Hector and Lyta Hall (INFINITY, INC. # 51).
Manhunter II: Killed in conflict with the Council (DETECTIVE # 443).
The Marksman: Last seen in 1945 (SMASH COMICS # 58).
Merlin: Killed by a supernatural conclave in February of 1945 (ALL STAR COMICS (1999) # 1).
Midnight: Last seen in 1949 (SMASH COMICS # 85). Connection with Robert Avery, the recent Midnight
(MS. TREE QUARTERLY # 1-7), if any, is unknown.
Minute-Man: Still active as a federal agent (POWER OF SHAZAM! # 19).
Minute-Man Martin: Last seen in 1941(ADVENTURE # 73-74).
Miss America: Retired. Last seen at the wedding of her adoptive daughter Lyta (Fury)Trevor and
Hector Hall (INFINITY, INC. # 51).
Miss X: Last seen in 1940 (ACTION # 30).
Mister Scarlet: Retired at some point after 1955 (POWER OF SHAZAM! # 12, 44). Succeeded by his
partner, Pinky.
Mister Terrific: Killed by the Spirit King (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA # 171). Represented in current
JSA by Michael Holt.
The Mouthpiece: Last seen in 1942 (POLICE # 13).
Nadir, Master of Magic: Strangled into unconsciousness in mid-1938 (NEW ADVENTURE COMICS # 30). Fate
unknown.
Neon the Unknown: Killed at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 (SECRET ORIGINS # 26).
Neptune Perkins: Currently a United States senator. Succeeded as a crimefighter by daughter
Deep Blue (AQUAMAN (current) # 23-25) a.k.a. Indigo (# 55).
Phantasmo: Last seen in June of 1942 (YOUNG ALL-STARS # 26) but his post-war activities have been
hinted at (TEEN TITANS SPOTLIGHT # 11).
Phantom Eagle: Last seen in 1948 (WOW COMICS # 69).
Phantom Lady: Retired. Now serving as dean of the Universte Notre Dame des Ombres (ACTION COMICS #
636; DAMAGE # 11-12). Succeeded by Dee Tyler (ACTION # 636-641).
Pinky: Still active as the second Mister Scarlet (POWER OF SHAZAM! # 44).
Plastic Man: Still active with the JLA.
Quicksilver: Currently known as Max Mercury. Fate to be determined in IMPULSE # 66.
The Ray: Still semi-active and, until recently, manipulative of his son and successor. Last
seen in THE RAY # 27-28.
The Red Bee: Killed by Baron Blitzkrieg in February of 1942 (ALL-STAR SQUADRON # 35, reaffirmed in
ALL STAR COMICS (1999) # 2).
The Red Tornado: Dead (according to YOUNG JUSTICE # 16). Represented in Old Justice by her
partners, the Cyclones, and in Young Justice by her android namesake.
The Red Torpedo: Killed at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 (SECRET ORIGINS # 26).
Robotman: Retired, thanks to his acquisition of human body (DC COMICS PRESENTS # 31). Most recently
seen in STARS & S.T.R.I.P.E. # 8. Cliff Steele later used Robotman as his
alias with the Doom Patrol.
The Sandman: Killed by Mordru (JSA SECRET FILES # 1). Represented in current JSA by Sanderson "Sand"
Hawkins. Numerous others have taken the Sandman name, most recently Daniel
Hall, grandson of Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Fury and Miss America.
Sandy: Still youthful and active in current JSA as Sand.
Sargon the Sorcerer: Killed (SWAMP THING # 50), resurrected (# 143) and killed again (# 150).
Scarab: Possibly stripped of his power by Mordru (JSA # 3-4).
Sgt. Glory: Collapsed in dementia and took the current identity of the Glory Shredder (IMPULSE # 37,
65).
# 711: Killed by racketeer Oscar Jones in 1942 (POLICE COMICS # 15).
The Shining Knight: Still active and seen most recently in STARS & S.T.R.I.P.E. # 10-13. Name
briefly used by Gardner Grayle (SILVER AGE: SHOWCASE # 1; SILVER AGE 80-PAGE
GIANT # 1).
The Sniper: Last seen in 1944 (MILITARY COMICS # 34).
The Spectre: Jim Corrigan retired to Heaven (THE SPECTRE # 62). The ghostly mantle is presently worn by
Hal Jordan.
The Spider: Exposed as a villain and killed by the Shade in 1951 (THE SHADE # 3). Succeeded by a son
who continues his evil ways (STARMAN # 63-71).
Spy Smasher: Retired (POWER OF SHAZAM! # 8).
The Squire: Took the guise of the Knight in the 1950s, continuing for an undetermined length of time
(INFINITY, INC. # 34). His Squire persona was assumed by his son, Cyril,
known today as the new Knight (JLA # 26).
Stalnoivolk: Now a villain. Last seen fighting the Khmer Rouge and the vampiric Schrek in
Vietnam (SUICIDE SQUAD # 57).
Starman: Largely retired since the Zero Hour incident (ZERO HOUR # 1). Fate to be determined shortly
in STARMAN. Numerous claimants to the name, most recently his sons David
(killed in STARMAN # 0) and Jack.
Star-Spangled Kid: Killed by Solomon Grundy and the Harlequin sometime after taking the new alias of
Skyman (INFINITY, INC. # 51). Represented in current JSA by his namesake
Courtney Whitmore.
Stripesy: Still active in the robotic form of S.T.R.I.P.E.
Stuff I: Murdered in November of 1944 by "Bugsy" Siegel (VIGILANTE: CITY LIGHTS, PRAIRIE
JUSTICE # 1). Succeeded by his brother, Victor (STARS & S.T.R.I.P.E. #
9).
Stuff II: Retired. Now in partnership with the former Vigilante as part of Round-Up, Inc. (EL DIABLO #
12).
The Sword: Abandoned his costumed persona in 1941 (POLICE # 5). Last seen, as Chic Carter, in 1945
(NATIONAL # 47).
The Tarantula: Retired (NIGHTWING # 14, 16, 21, 31, 40).
Thorndyke Tompkins: Recently returned as Second Sweep, a member of Old Justice (YOUNG JUSTICE #
16).
Tiger: Now a villain known as Avatar (THE L.A.W. # 1-6).
The Tigress: Became the Huntress in 1947 (SENSATION # 68) and still operates under that name today
(YOUNG JUSTICE # 25). Represented in the Injustice Society by her daughter,
now known as the Tigress herself.
TNT: Killed in an auto accident in April of 1942 (YOUNG ALL-STARS # 1).
Tor, the Magic Master: Killed by a supernatural conclave in February of 1945 (ALL STAR COMICS (1999)
# 1).
Tsunami: Semi-active. Succeeded as a crimefighter by daughter Deep Blue (AQUAMAN (current) # 23-25) a.k.a.
Indigo (# 55).
Uncle Sam: Reincarnated as the Patriot (THE SPECTRE # 50).
USA, the Spirit of Old Glory: Last seen in 1941 (FEATURE # 48).
The Vigilante: Semi-retired. Seen most recently in EL DIABLO # 12 and IMPULSE ANNUAL # 2. Multiple
unsanctioned claimants to his name, most of them now dead.
The Voice: Last seen in 1940 (FEATURE # 37).
The Whip: Last seen in 1945 (SENSATION # 43).
Wildcat: Still active with the JSA. Previously succeeded by Yolanda Montez (CRISIS # 6), later
slain by Eclipso (ECLIPSO # 13).
Wildfire: Last seen in 1942 (SMASH # 37).
Wing: Sacrificed his life to destroy the Nebula-Man (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA # 100, 102).
Wonder Boy: Last seen in 1942 (NATIONAL # 26).
Zatara: Killed during a spiritual conflagration (SWAMP THING # 50). Succeeded by his daughter,
Zatanna.
Zero, Ghost Detective: Last seen in 1943 (FEATURE # 72).