Disabled heroes in comic books? They’ve been around since the beginning of the industry, but especially as World War II was finally drawing to a close. A national organization for the handicapped (as folks with disabilities were called then) approached the publishers of DC Comics about publishing an issue advocating for respectful treatnent of people with disabilities.

Disabled Heroes and the Justice Society

With the knowledge that many soldiers would be returning from the war with serious injuries, some of them permanent, the time was ripe to educate young people about people with disabilities. The product of that request appeared late in 1945, in All Star Comics 27, the home of the Justice Society of America. The cover featured a soldier who had lost an arm. As written by Gardner Fox, the cover boasted the story title, “A Place in the World.”

In the story, Fred Monday returns home from the war having lost an arm. His wheelchair bound brother–Jimmy, the younger sibling he has always pitied–encourages him to keep going. Fred recognizes the expressions of pity in his midst, and is suddenly ashamed he felt the same way about his brother. Fred decides to approach the Justice Society about helping the handicapped boys his brother had been writing, hoping to prove their capability. Hawkman then comes up with the unlikely idea that each Justice Society member should take along a handicapped youth on one of their crime fighting missions to do just that! In successive chapters of the story, youth who are paralyzed, blind, deaf, missing an arm, stuttering, or dealing with cerebral palsy all show remarkable courage or cleverness.

At the end of the story, Jimmy suggested the Junior Justice Society–a club readers of All-Star Comics could belong to–should have a code of conduct regarding how they should treat the handicapped. The final page featured the document Hawkman produced. It read:

“We, the people of a united nation, aware that all human beings are created equal, and realizing that some of us are more fortunate than another, are resolved: 1. that we shall meet those among us who are physically handicapped as fully our equals…, 2. that we shall control our feelings of pity, as they would would want it controlled, and treat them as they want to be treated: not as people apart, but as people normal and intelligent, and desirous of making their way in life as a result of their own efforts. May we have understanding and wisdom, and the power to carry out our pledge, the pledge of a free people.”

It may have been the prospect of returning soldiers with disabilities that prompted the story. But any reader of comic books who was paying attention could have told you that it was high time for comic books to start treating characters with disabilities more respectfully, What follows is a list of characters with disabilities in super-hero comic books of the 1940s. While there are moments of positive treatment, it will soon become evident that All Star Comics 27 was the exception, not the rule. Be advised that what follows includes many examples of insensitive and ill advised portrayals. They are described here as a historical source of social attitudes, both admirable and deplorable, in American comic books in the 1940s.

BLIND HEROES

Most “blind” heroes in 1940s comic books are only temporarily blind in their origin stories, ala Dr. Mid-Nite and the Mask and then often pretend to be blind while they fight crime fully sighted. The idea of an actual blind super hero would have to wait until the sixties and Marvel’s Daredevil. The stories of Dan Baxter and Joe Arago, however, remain worth noting.

   Dan Baxter, owner of Rex the Seeing-Eye Dog

“Blind Dan Baxter, veteran circus owner, is guided by the uncanny brain of his seeing eye dog, Rex. As his master’s devoted companion and fearless bodyguard,” the two stalwart companions solve mysteries and fight crime under the big top. It must be noted, however, that Rex and not Dan Baxter was the clear hero of the feature that bore his name. Choice Comics 2-3 (active 1942).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mid-Nite

Everyone believes that the scientist Dr. Charles McNider was blinded by a gangster thrown hand grenade. But Dr. McNider, who takes on a second career as a pulp crime novelist, soon discovers that he can see in the dark but not in the light. That would have been an intriguing premise, but Dr. McNider soon invents infra-red goggles that also allow him to see during daytime. Nonetheless, McNider takes on a crime-fighting career that involves mostly nocturnal case, hence his secret identity as Dr. Mid-Nite. Origin story All-American Comics 25 DC (1941).

Joe Arago

Famous for his knife throwing act prior to the war, Joe is blinded in combat. The lovely Black Venus helps him regain his confidence by having him help her on a case. When the lights go out, his enhanced powers of hearing are critical and he regains his confidence. An electronic contraption also allows him to safely practice knife throwing again as well. Contact Comics 9 HOLYOKE (1945).

The Mask

“Blinded by gangsters, District Attorney Tony Colby regains his sight through the aid of pretty Carol Smith. Still pretending to be a blind man, in secret he is the Mask, arch-enemy of crime.” He is also wanted by the police. As the Mask, Colby wears a purple hood, initially horned, that reveals his nose, mouth and jawline. The Mask is assisted by Carol, whose father was killed by the same gangsters who blinded Colby, Butch, a two-fisted, action-loving taxi driver, and a smooth-talking fellow named Silk. Exciting Comics 1-20 ABC (active 1940-42).

Nightro

Hugh Goddard, a young scientist. As Nightro, the hero is also called the “the streamlined Robinhood,” for no apparent reason. While in Alaska, Goddard discovers a rich vein of radium. He is then attacked and left for dead in the frigid wildnerness. Rescued by friendly Eskimos, he discovers he is permanently snowblind. But a Dr. Frank Millert, a world reknown eye specialist, develops goggles for him made from poloroid glass that allow him to see. Nightro is a good fighter. Nightro wears forest green trousers, gloves and cowl, black goggles, a white shirt and a red cape. “Set apart from society by his ghoulish glasses, what else to do, but acquire a similar attire and adopt a spirit of crime prevention as his urge to live.” Goddard, true to this description, lives in a small, secluded apartment. Blackie, Goddard’s seeing-eye dog often leaps into action as well. Daredevil 2-8 (1941-42).

BLIND VILLAINS

The Eye

Posing as a blind man complete with cane and seeing eye dog, Sol Lang is secretly the scheming criminal, the Eye. He wears dark, round sun glasses and a yellow hat, ala Dick Tracy. He is opposed by an adventurer named Rance Keane. Feature 39, 40 QUALITY (1940-41).

Frau von Sade. A blind German Nazi with tightly braided gray hair and gray slits where her eyes would be, Frau von Sade lost two sons in World War I. In her first encounter with Captain Midnight she operates out of a Norwegian castle. As the villainess explains, “I had the courage to destroy my own eyes, so that I could train my other sense and work in the night while the world sleeps … My acute perceptions tells me of every move you make.” A brilliant scientist, von Sade senses that she is in turn with Captain Midnight’s inventiveness, though they are motivated by different moral wavelengths. Frau von Sade declares her goal is to “bring all man-kind under my ruling hand!” In her second encounter with Midnight, she reveals her creation of giant man-eating plants. Captain Midnight 20, 21 FAWCETT (1944).

The Mole

Also called the Mole-Man, a German saboteur who resides in underground tunnels hidden beneath London. The Mole can see in the dark, but normal light blinds him. Opposed by Captain America. Captain America 32 TIMELY (1943).

DEAF HEROES

Deafness is almost never addressed in 1940s comic books. The lone exception was also a hunchback, which seemed the more dominant aspect of his portrayal. The story of Caredodo is included under both categories of disability. As is often the case with disabled heroes, their disability is often “cured” and once again made invisible.

Caredodo

Caredodo is a loyal and courageous deaf hunchback in the service of Camilla, the queen of a lost jungle empire. Enlisted to slay Camilla, Caredodo kills his master rather than see the queen slain. When Camilla dispatches Satan himself by fashioning a crude cross in Jungle 7, the Angel of Faith appears before her to grant her a wish for her service. Camilla wishes Caredodo transformed into an upright and handsome man as befits his character. Camilla renames Caredodo Sir Champion and makes him her prime minister. His deafness is apparently cured as well, as it is never mentioned again. Jungle 6-7 FICTION HOUSE (1940).

MUTE HEROES

Somewhat surprisingly, there were two mute heroes in 1940s comic books. Unfortunately, one of them—Daredevil—was immediately restored to full speaking ability after his first appearance. The second mute hero, Zulu, was a child sidekick.

Daredevil

In his original appearance only, Daredevil is portrayed as mute. The narrative explains, “Bart’s father was an inventor. Both of his parents were ruthlessly murdered by a gang of crooks out to get his father’s invention. During the attack, the thugs branded Bart’s chest with a hot iron shaped like a boomerang. The torture caused the boy to lose his voice. Because of the brand, he always played with a boomerang. He handled the weapon so well that people belived he controlled it by magic … Bart Hill grew into manhood possessed with the determination to destoy the forcs of crime and evil.” Unfortunately, this unique origin was reversed the very next issue, with Bart Hill now portrayed as a wealthy playboy with intact powers of speech. In his first appearance, Daredevil wore a striking half-black, half yellow uniform, with a mask that covers his entire face. In subsequent appareances, the yellow portions of his costume were now red. Over twenty years later, Stan Lee at Marvel would create his own Daredevil who, coincidentally or not, was blind. Silver Streak 6 GLEASON (1940).

Zulu

An African ally of a white jungle lord named Kaanga, Zulu is a mute boy who—having lost his tongue—communicates messages of warning on his small “danger drums.” He is rescued by Kaanga from a ritual sacrifice, and not knowing the boy’s name, Kaanga and his mate Ann name him Zulu. Appearing to be about ten years old, Zulu wears small devil-like horn on his head. Zulu is ultimately revealed to be Tolu, the lost prince of the Lake People. Kaanga installs him on his rightful throne, thus ending their association, though not their friendship. Jungle Comics 117-153; Kaanga 4-14 FICTION HOUSE(1949-1953).

HEROES MISSING LIMBS or Other Body Parts

The relatively few heroes who are missing limbs or other body parts reflects a vision of most heroes as being physically handsome and whole and rarely disabled or even marginally overweight. As will be seen, the large number of villains missing body parts suggests an unfortunate association of villainy with physical flaws.

Barney Finn

Returning war veteran who lost an arm, a friend to the kids of Our Gang. Our Gang 13 DELL (1944).

Captain Battle

World War I veteran John Battle lost his left eye in World War I. Battle rejoined the fight against global threats to peace as the patriotically garbed Captain Battle. Battle’s curvoscope allowed him to “see anywhere on earth” (see Spirit Man). His luce-flyer allowed him to fly while his dissolve gun could “melt down nerve and bone tissue into a gelatinous mass.” Silver Streak Comics 10-21; Captain Battle 1-3, 5 GLEASON (1941-42),

 The Legless Ace

The Legless Ace is Douglas Bader, an actual Canadian pilot for the R.A.F. who lost both of his legs in a crash. Unstoppable, Bader went on to fly in World War II, downing more German planes than most of his peers. These comic book stories were inspired by his life story. Pioneer Picture Stories 1-8 STREET and SMITH (1941-43).

Lt. Bill Evans

Formerly a pursuit pilot, Lt. Evans lost a leg in the war. He is nursed, both physically and emotionally, back to health by armed services entertainer Mary Roche, alias Black Venus. Now a physically vital man with a prosthetic leg, Evans sets his sights on winning the heart of Mary. Unfotunately he never appears again. Contact Comics 8 HOLYOKE (1945).

The Steel Fist

When Tim Slade, a steel plant worker, discovers foreign agents at his place of work, they put his right hand into a vat of molten steel. The doctors fret that there’s no way to remove the hardened steel from his wrist. But while recuperating in the hospital, a woman clad in red, white and blue appears in a vision and transforms the attached steel into a fully functional fist to use in pursuit of justice.  Thereafter fighting saboteurs as the Steel Fist, Slade wears a yellow costume with blue boots, trunks, cape and mask. His skull is covered by a steel helmet with yellow studded trim. Blue Circle Comics 1-5; Roly Poly Comics 6, 15 (1944-46).

VILLAINS MISSING LIMBS or Other Body Parts

The preponderance of disabled villains can hardly be considered evidence of equal opportunity. Most of these disabled villains have missing hands which are replaced, ala Captain Hook, with nasty instruments of destruction.  Their disability is typically used to mark them as grotesques, thus visually marked as villains as well as by their actions.

The Beast

Foe of the Eagle, this hooded, brown robed figure with bulging eyes wields an iron claw in place of his right hand. The Beast has a monstrously strong, bald, half-witted giant servant named Suwak who assists him. Weird 9, 11-15 FOX (1941).

The Black Hand

A devious agent of foreign powers with a deadly claw-like hand. As the villain himself once explained when removing his glove, “You see my hand? It is black… diseased! A disease easily capable of being transmitted by penetrating the skin with my claws.” When he does so, the skin of dead victims turns a ghastly gray-black. In his first and last two encounters with Captain Flag, wears a purple hooded robe with a black hand insignia on its back and front. His complexion is ghastly white and he sports fangs. But the Black Hand has also appeared (presumably in make-up) with a mustache and normal skin color. The Black Hand, adopting a strategy of piracy in his final appearance, is hanged at sea for his murderous crimes. Blue Ribbon 16-18, 21-22 MLJ (1941-42).

Black Jack

This modern-day pirate is ambitious, egotistical and vain. Black Jack fancies himself the greatest pirate that ever lived and frequently declares he’d be the king of the seven seas if it weren’t for Aquaman. He sports a short black beard and initially was portrayed with an eye-patch over his left eye. He variously wears a head scarf or a skipper’s hat. Black Jack has a gang who initially travel by way of a traditional pirate ship named the Jolly Roger. But in More Fun 89, Black Jack adopts a gasoline powered pirate ship that can fly. It also has an “electrified smokescreen” that can fool radar. In his final skirmish with Aquaman, Black Jack kidnaps a writer to do a biography of his wonderful career. More Fun 74, 75, 77, 80, 83, 86, 89; Adventure 107, 112, 114, 115, 125, 127, 134, 137, 138, 141, 143, 146, 148, 150, 151 DC(1941-43, 1946-50).

Blitz

Blitz is an independent agent and gang leader who hires out his services to the highest bidder. A gaunt figure, Blitz wears a lavender-gray suit and matching eye-patch over his left eye. As told in Wonderworld 21, he has the city mayor and police commissioner in his back pocket. Later, he schemes with the head of of an American communist to steal munitions from a Nazi group. But soon afterwards, Blitz opts to work for the Nazis. Not a skilled fighter, Blitz is still a tenacious adversary who comes back from numerous injuries to fight the Black Lion in every one of his recorded adventures. Wonderworld Comics 21-27 FOX (1941).

The Claw

A metal-clawed mad scientist and saboteur. With an egg-shaped, largely bald head (save for a single swirl of white hair), the Claw also sports a monocle and smokes using a cigarette holder. When one of his gang calls Cynthia a dame, he comments, “A dame perhaps, but also an   … shot.” The Claw has numerous insidious schemes, including using animal hormones to turn men into beastlike creatures.  Arch foe of the Press Guardian. Pep 6-10 MLJ (1940).

Colonel Kamikaze. A top Japanese official, Suku Yamo lost both of his legs. Now a pilot who feels he has little left to lose, the Colonel’s exceptional flight skills make him nearly invincible. On the ground, Kamikaze is confined to a wheelchair and more than willing to torture his enemies. He even tries to cripple Captain Wings in one harrowing encounter. The Colonel has a Fu Manchu style mustache and is assisted in his efforts by an aide named Suga. Opposed by Captain Wings. Wings 70-72 FICTION HOUSE (1946).

Hammerfist

“A monstrous hulk of a man (and) master criminal,” the bald-headed Hammerfist replaced an injured right hand with an iron ball. Hammerfist works as part of a larger criminal conspiracy headed by the crime boss nicknamed Mighty Mite. Opposed by Target and the Targeteers. Target v1/11-v2/1 NOVELTY (1940-41).

Iron Jaw

Killer of Chuck Chandler’s parents. As told in Boy Comics 6, Iron Jaw was originally a soldier in World War I named Sgt Von Schmidt, whose “sidekick” was Corporal Schicklegruber, AKA Adolf Hitler! When Schmidt’s jaw was blown off by an enemy grenade, Hitler left him to die. His hideously deformed lower face was subsequently masked with jagged iron jaws, hence his name. Iron Jaw possesses an almost supernatural strength and ferocity and even intimidates der Fuerher. Finally, Hitler hires a fellow named the Rodent to kill Iron Jaw in Boy Comics 15. But years later, (as revealed in Boy Comics 62), it emerges that Iron Jaw faked his demise by slowing down his own heartbeat to appear dead. He thereafter opposes Crimebuster on a regular basis, his schemes became increasingly less menacing. With Boy 80, Iron Jaw is duped by a conman named Sniffer for the first time and he quickly becomes the villain’s primary obsession. With Boy 87, Iron Jaw devotes himself exclusively to trying to best Sniffer and never again faces Crimebuster again. Boy 3-4, 6, 8, 10-11, 13-15, 60-62, 68-69, 72-86 GLEASON (1942-44, 1950-5 ).

The Master Mind

Enemy of Mighty Man, the Master Mind lost his legs when he was shot during a police raid. Now he seeks vengeance by trying to kill any police officer. The Master Mind explains his mental powers: “While in India I made a great discovery of the criminal brain. By looking at a photo of a criminal I can send him thought messages and make him my slave.” The Master Mind also wields a ray gun that “can kill an elephant a mile away.” He wears a long goatee and a pencil thin mustache. The Master Mind doesn’t appear to travel by wheel chair, perhaps relying on his mesmerized criminal aides to carry him. Amazing Man 18 CENTAUR (1940).

Mr. Atlantis

Mr. Atlantis’ face is hideously deformed, lacking even the remnants of a nose. He wears a flexible rubber covering over his face that, while covering his scars, lends him an eerie, sinister appearance. The villain is head of Atlantis Products Enterprises (Apex), which provides a cover for global dealings in munitions and sabotage. It is, however a genuine corporation, complete with an executive board of directors. Mr. Atlantis obtains his financing through the mysterious Miss Areia. Mr. Atlantis is paid a great deal of money to see to it that America’s moon base plans never come to fruition. Opposed by Captain Wings. Wings 85-93 FICTION HOUSE (1947-48).

The Tiger Man

Armless German man who lost his limbs in a factory accident. Subsequently he built up his physique and agility to a formidable level. However, he so often used his teeth to grip objects that he warped the structure of his face and developed fangs. Tears into human necks without remorse. The Tiger Man is obsessed with destroying machines, which he has hated ever since his accident. Opposed by the Angel. Marvel Mystery 26 TIMELY (1941).

Zahinda the Legless

A legless slave owner, Zahinda rides a zebra for mobility as he seeks wealth from his gold mines and dominance over jungle life. Opposed by Kaanga. Jungle 87 FICTION HOUSE (1947).

MOBILITY-CHALLENGED VILLAINS

The Gimp

Foe of the Eagle, this bald, gaunt-faced villain who dresses in a suit. His indelicate name is derived from his missing lower right leg which can be replaced by a wooden peg or a lethal wooden spike. The Gimp is a criminal rival of the Beast, who scarred his face with a swipe of his claw. The Gimp returns the favor later by fatally stabbing the Beast’s servant with his spike. In their final confrontation, the Beast settles the feud by throwing the Gimp out a window, apparently killing him. Weird 9, 11, 13-15 FOX (1941).

Karno, the Mad Chessman

A master strategist confined to a wheelchair, the Chessman operates out of an active volcano. After a protracted struggle, Dr. Fung and Dan end up saving him from a torrent of molten lava. Thereafter, the thankful Chessman expresses willingly offers to go to prison for his crimes. But Dr. Fung generously conceives an alternative. “Your mind is too brilliant to be confined behind bars. We shall take you to a sanatorium so that you may become a force for good instead of evil in the world.” Wonderworld 9-10 FOX (1940).

The Lash

Being confined to a wheelchair doesn’t stop this whip-wielding bad guy from being a tough costumer, nearly a match for the Vigilante. He teams with another Vigilante foe, the Dummy, in his second battle with the modern cowboy hero. Action Comics 48, 75 DC (1942, 1944) .

The Limping Man

“A master of disguise, he cannot be recognized except his limp!”  The Limping Man is also called “the king of escape artists.” Is he actually the wheelchair bound Dr. Riddel, “lame, retired neurologist”? Opposed by Yank and Doodle. Prize 30-33 (1943).

The Limping Nazi

German agent who killed the heroic Grenade’s brother. Captain Flight 5 DYNAMIC (1944).

Mr. Pupin

Head of a foreign terror organization, Mr. Pupin’s plane is shot down by Captain Wings at the end of Wings 98. But the tenacious Pupin returns, initially controlling the actions of his minions from an iron lung. Only his nearly unlimited resources allow him to develop a modified device that allows him to walk, but only when the transparent lung covers him completely his head and torso from the waist up. Naturally Pupin blames Captain Wings for his situation and is relentless in seeking both his vengeance and global domination. Wings 98-103 FICTION HOUSE (1948-49).

HEROES with HUNCHED BACKS

Caredodo

Caredodo is a loyal and courageous deaf hunchback in the service of Camilla, the queen of a lost jungle empire. Enlisted to slay Camilla, Caredodo kills his master rather than see the queen slain. When Camilla dispatches Satan himself by fashioning a crude cross in Jungle 7, the Angel of Faith appears before her to grant her a wish for her service. Camilla wishes Caredodo transformed into an upright and handsome man as befits his character. Camilla renames Caredodo Sir Champion and makes him her prime minister. His deafness is apparently cured as well, as it is never mentioned again. Jungle 6-7 FICTION HOUSE (1940).

The Hunchback

Pampered playboy Allan Lanier dons mask and a hunchbacked, green costume to become the Hunchback. Strong, agile, able to scale walls with ease: the Hunchback unnerves criminals with his misshapen appearance and beats them down with his steely strength and wooden walking cane. Wow Comics 2-5 FAWCETT (active 1941-42).

VILLAINS with HUNCHED BACKS

Chico

Hunchbacked inventor who wears striped suits. He has created “a radio controlled mechanical skeleton who walks.” Opposed by the Purple Zombie. Heroic 3-4 EASTERN (1940).

Dr. Riddle

Murderous, hunchbacked villain who leaves riddles at the scene of his murders to tease authorities with hints of future mayhem. Opposed by Bulletman and Bulletgirl. Years later, Dr. Riddle teams with the son of the Weeper to do battle with Bulletgirl and Mary Marvel. Bulletman 5, 7; Mary Marvel 8 FAWCETT (1942, 1946).

King Questionmark

Carlos is a tall and thin hunchbacked man who seeks revenge on all those who treated him poorly because of his misshapen body. He is aided in his efforts by a madman named Goebells. The Questionmark appears to die in an explosion intended for his arch enemy, a hero known simply as 13. Daredevil 6-9 GLEASON (1941-42).

Zadar. A small, hunchbacked hypnotist that Satan derisively refers to as “squirt.” It is while under the control of Zadar that the Comet kills an innocent. When Satan attempts to cheat Zadar out of his cut of their ill-gotten gains, the hypnotist orders the Comet to kill him. The hero does exactly that. Ironically, the mind-numbed Comet then turns to look at his master and accidentally obliterates him as well. Pep 3 MLJ (1940).

A WELL-INTENTIONED  COMPOSITE DISABLED HERO

The Justice Society story of 1945 marked a high water point in the treatment of people with disabilities in comic books of that era. Public service announcements, like the one featured her from the late forties, would be featured in DC comics for many years to come championing progressive values. Progressive instincts had occasionally surfaced in years prior but often had some element in the story that felt misguided. This was nowhere more in evidence than in the 1941 origin of one Yankee Doodle Jones.

Yankee Doodle Jones

Jones is actually the composite of three crippled veterans “of different faiths” from World War I willing to give up their individual lives to create a super soldier. One of the soldiers is blind, another crippled and the third has a disfigured face. An unnamed “eminent surgeon” spends hours transplanting various organs to create a single, fully functioning man now named Yankee Doodle Jones. He proceeds to give Jones “the invincibility injection,” a fluid that holds within it the strength of an army. Immediately after the injection, the surgeon is killed by saboteurs. The surgeon’s adolescent son, who witnesses his father’s death, immediately injects himself with whatever remains of the serum in the syringe. Jones possesses the strength of dozens of men and now is “the greatest living thing the world has ever seen.” Jones wears a long-sleeved blue shirt adorned with white stars and red and white striped tights. His prematurely white hair makes him resemble a younger, beardless Uncle Sam. Yankee Doodle Jones and Dandy vow to honor the sacrifice of the boy’s father. Jones is prone to whistling “Yankee Doodle.” Yankee Comics 1 DYNAMIC (1941).

Disabled heroes of different faiths all heroically give their up their lives for a greater cause. One senses a writer of progressive instincts. But the underlying message is that their lives as are, each with a separate disability, are lives without sufficient value to allow them each to be heroes in their own right. It will be decades before this general attitude is challenged in comic books, and then only rarely.

Mark Carlson-Ghost

Images of All Star Comics and the Buzzy public service announcement are copyright DC comics, all rights reserved.

Other images are courtesy of the Digital Comics Museum.