Celebrating diversity in culture, myth and history

Category Archives: Comic Book Histories

Fifties Superheroes: Origins, Powers and Villains

Fifties Superheroes in comic books represent an intriguing interim between the superhero booms of the 1940s and 1960s.

Shazam Family Characters and their Appearances

Look to the skies. Shazam Family characters charmed readers of comic books through out the 1940s and 50s. Continue Reading

Fawcett Superheroes and Villains

Fawcett superheroes are among the most fondly remembered of 1940s comic books with memorable rogues galleries as well. Continue Reading

Pow-Wow Smith, Indian Hero of the Old/New West

Pow-Wow Smith is an intriguing figure in the history of comic books, an educated Sioux/Lakota Indian who became the sheriff of a predominantly White community. The first four years of his stories were set in the present, thereafter set in the Old West. The reasons for the shift are explored as well as the narrative… Continue Reading

Jimmy Woo, Marvel’s First Asian American Hero: A History

Jimmy Woo is Marvel’s first Asian American hero, debuting in comic books in 1956. Woo has gradually emerged from being repeatedly linked in culturally stereotyped settings to become an endearing and consequential character in his own right. Continue Reading

Chuck Clayton, Race and Riverdale

Chuck Clayton was the first Black character introduced into the Archie universe of comic books in 1971. Continue Reading

Rural Home Superheroes and Villains 1944-1945

Detailed profiles of Rural Home superheroes are provided here. But for the story behind these idiosyncratic heroes and the scoundrel who published them, check out my 30+ page article in Roy Thomas’ Alter Ego #164, on sale now, by clicking on this link. Continue Reading

Prize Superheroes and Villains 1940-1948

The Prize superheroes of the Golden Age made their first appearances in Prize Comics 1, issued in March 1940. Prize Comics was published by Teddy Epstein and Mike Bleier and was one of the smaller comic book operations of the 1940s. Prize Comics continued to be home to the major figures of this realm: the Black… Continue Reading

Ace Superheroes and Villains 1940-1948

An in depth history of Ace superheroes and the publishing company behind them is available in Roy Thomas’ Alter Ego #144 and can be purchased by clicking on this link. Continue Reading

Golden Age Holyoke Superheroes 1940-1948

Holyoke superheroes are an eccentric mix, Cat-Man and Captain Aero first among them. They actually represent a mix of characters either published by an attorney named Frank Temerson or a printing company named Holyoke. Continue Reading

Golden Age Nedor Superheroes 1940-1949

A successful publisher of pulp magazines, the Phantom Detective and the Black Bat among them), Ned Pines entered the comics arena late in 1939 developing what came to be known as the Nedor superheroes. Continue Reading

Golden Age Harvey Superheroes 1940-1951

The Green Hornet and the Black Cat are among the stars of the colorful universe of the Harvey superheroes. Before Richie Rich and Casper the Friendly Ghost, in the 1940s the Harvey brothers published the adventures of Shock Gibson, the Human Meteor and Captain Freedom among others. Continue Reading

Golden Age Chesler Superheroes 1941-1947

The Chesler superheroes operated in a world of waking nightmare. Continue Reading

Chinese Superheroes and Villains in 1940s Comic Books

Chinese superheroes are rare in the 1940s. While several comic book heroes are listed here, only three qualify as superheroes, Continue Reading

Kevin Keller–A Gay Teen in Archie’s Riverdale

Kevin Keller is an openly gay teenager in Archie Comics’ Riverdale, the first to be featured in the company. Continue Reading

Northstar, Marvel’s First Gay Superhero

Jean-Paul Beaubier, alias Northstar, is a mutant capable of moving at incredible speeds. Writer-artist John Byrne first hinted at Northstar’s sexuality in Alpha Flight # 7(2/84), in which Jean-Paul is reunited with an old, presumably gay friend named Raymonde. Continue Reading

Midnighter and Apollo

Midnighter and Apollo, two members of a clandestine global watchdog group of heroes known as the Authority, are lovers. Continue Reading

Maggie Sawyer–DC’s First Lesbian Heroine

Maggie Sawyer is part of a trio of prominent lesbian heroines in the DC Universe, Continue Reading

Heroes and Villains

This page provides links to articles about comic book and comic strip heroes and villains, including those of differing ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, genders, and gender identities. Diverse Superheroes, Villains and Others African Heroes and Villains in Comic Books African American Heroes and Villains in Comic Books Chinese Heroes and Villains in Comic Books Heroes and Villains… Continue Reading