MASTER MAN, World's Greatest Hero!

The first appearance of Master Man, World's Greatest Hero!!! Another Superman wanna-be that disappeared (after 6 issues) when DC threatened a lawsuit.
Unfortunately, again, it's scanned from microfiche, which never gives a really clear picture. And the microfiche people scanned it from a low-grade copy, so it's equally thrashed. But you can still get the general idea!!

from
MASTER COMICS #1 (March 1940)
written by ?; art by Newt Alfred



You can download MASTER COMICS #1
and lots of other awesome golden-age goodness
from Golden Age Comics Downloads!

The (not so) Original WONDER MAN!

Here is the first and only appearance of the first hero to wear the name Wonder Man!!!
Unfortunately, it's scanned from microfiche, which never gives a really clear picture. And the microfiche people scanned it from a low-grade copy, so it's equally thrashed. But you can still get the general idea!!

from
WONDER COMICS #1 (May 1939)
written by Will Eisner; art by Will Eisner

DC thought that Wonder Man was a little to "Super" for their tastes and sued Fox to cease publication of Wonder Man. They won. Check out a side-by-side comparison of Wonder Man and Superman!

But wait there's more! On the last page, Wonder Man offers you a chance to win his ring!! The people over at Scoop (Where the Magic of Collecting Comes to Life!) have a picture of what has been accepted by collectors to be the Wonder Man ring!!! Go check it out!!

Read more about Wonder Man:
Wonder Man @ Toonopedia
Wonder Man @ Wikipedia
Wonder Man @ The Spirit Database

You can download WONDER COMICS #1
and lots of other awesome golden-age goodness
from Golden Age Comics Downloads!

The (third) Golden Age HERCULES!

Quality missed having the first (or second) Hercules character by one month!! They were beaten by Timely with MYSTIC COMICS #3 (June 1940) and Archie Comics with BLUE RIBBON COMICS #4 (June 1940)!!

Three Hercules heroes in 2 months!! Whoda thunk? This one is probably the funnest! And he's got to be the most flamboyant!

From International Hero:

First Appearance: HIT COMICS #1 (July 1940)

Joe Hercules grew up in the North Woods, and by the time he reached adulthood, he was incredibly strong. Naturally he got himself a job working at a local circus. After criminals illegally foreclosed on his widowed mother's house, causing her to die of a heart attack from the shock of being told her home was to be repossessed, Joe sought revenge. He tracked the villains to New York, where he beat up some of the gang, only to be thrown into jail for his trouble. There he chanced upon a comic telling of the exploits of Doll Man, which inspired him to break out, put on a costume, track down the leader of the gang, and force him to confess his crimes. Using just his mythic surname, Joe decided to continue his newfound career as a crimefighter.

Now let's read a fun story. "Wheee!" You go boy!

from
HIT COMICS #12 (June 1941)
written by ?; art by Reed Crandall; cover by Lou Fine



You can download HIT COMICS #12
and lots of other awesome golden-age goodness
from Golden Age Comics Downloads!

The Secret Origin of SAMSON! Plus DAVID!

Samson debuted in FANTASTIC COMICS #1 (December 1939), but that story didn't feature his secret origin. And I figured an origin is better than a first appearance. I may be wrong. But the story you're going to get is from SAMSON #1, because that does feature his origin.

We also see how Samson acquired his sidekick, David, in this story. Although David made his first appearance slightly earlier in FANTASTIC COMICS #10 (September 1940).

Okay, blah, boring, read:

from
SAMSON #1 (Fall 1940)
written by ? (as Alex Boon); art by Louis Cazeneuve

You can download SAMSON #1
and lots of other awesome golden-age goodness
from Golden Age Comics Downloads!

The Perilous Debut of MISS MASQUE!

Miss Masque was introduced to the world in EXCITING COMICS #51.

One interesting thing concerning her debut is that the story starts out: "Greed...begins a startling new chapter in the drama-packed life of Diana Adams...as once again she assumes the perilous role of Miss Masque..." The only problem being: this was her first appearance!

Can you imagine the poor kids of the time scrambling to try and find her earlier adventures? Miss Masque had been preceded by The Woman in Red, perhaps the writer had gotten the two confused.

Alrighty, now onto the story! The first adventure of Miss Masque!!!

from
EXCITING COMICS #51 (September 1946)
creators lost to the sands of time...

You can download EXCITING COMICS #51
and lots of other awesome golden-age goodness
from Golden Age Comics Downloads!