February 1941: The Powers That Fade

Super-powered superheroes suffered some attrition in MLJ comics as their inspiration seemed to shift away from Superman toward Batman.

Let’s take February 1941 as a representative sample.

True, MLJ’s anthology titles did offer readers such super-powered characters as the Shield, the Comet, the Fireball, the Firefly, the Wizard, Bob Phantom, Kardak, Mr. Justice, Steel Sterling and Zambini the Miracle Man. And they clearly outnumbered the costumed mystery men: the Black Hood, the Fox and the Scarlet Avenger.

But already, the Black Hood was dominating the Top Notch Comics covers where the Wizard and his clairvoyant “super brain” had reigned supreme.

By July 1941, the flying, death ray-visioned Comet would be dead, murdered by criminals and replaced by his non-superpowered brother, the Hangman (an even grimmer version of Batman).

In September 1941, the cover of Blue Ribbon Comics was taken over by the non-superpowered Captain Flag, despite the fact that the previous star, Mr. Justice, could go toe-to-toe with Satan himself.

By July 1942, the non-superpowered Web would replace the invulnerable flying champion Steel Sterling as the cover feature in Zip Comics. That same month, the Shield would lose his scientifically induced super powers, which had once rivaled the early Superman’s. He’d decide to crusade on without them.

Why this evolution from extraordinary to ordinary? I suspect it was because the publisher thought such extravagantly powered avengers might appear to be in questionable taste while Allied troops were risking their lives to fight the fascist forces of darkness without the help of any such advantages.

In fact, when he lost his powers, the Shield suggested as much.

Addressing readers, the Shield said, “(J)ust as American soldiers are inspired to strong battle by their losses, instead of being discouraged by them — my fight is going to be stronger and stronger.”

But the final indignity for the Shield would come in 1944, when he’d lose his Pep Comics cover spot to — of all things — a red-headed, girl-crazy teenager.

February 1941: A Ghostly Double Appears

When has a superhero made it onto the “A-list?”

Well, my rule of thumb is this: when a character inspires direct imitations, it’s nearing top rank. And by that reckoning, the Spectre made the grade.

Because a year after the Spectre debuted in More Fun Comics 52 (Feb. 1940), MLJ’s ghostly clone Mr. Justice bowed in Blue Ribbon Comics 9 (Feb. 1941).

As comics historian Don Markstein noted, “Superheroes often come in distinct sub-genres, many of which are epitomized by a single character. For example, The Flash is the exemplar of the super-speedster, Batman of the mysterious creature of the night and Captain America of the patriotic-style hero (despite the fact that The Shield beat Cap to the stands by more than a year). The Spectre is the template upon which the ‘avenging spirit as superhero’ is based. Others (include) Mr. Justice and the Vision.” 

One of the comparatively few MLJ mystery men who had super powers, Mr. Justice could fly, sense evil intentions, shape-shift and swallow bullets “like gumdrops.”

Writer Joe Blair and artist Sam Cooper supplied his origin. Slain by Scottish rebels in the 18th century, Prince James’ spirit remained trapped in his ancestral castle until that fortress was dismantled for shipment to America. When a Nazi U-boat sank the ship, Prince James was freed to fight evil.

I only got one brief, tantalizing glimpse of the character in the 1960s, when Archie’s Mighty Crusaders 4 (April 1966) was throwing superheroes at the wall to see who might stick.

In addition to the Crusaders (Fly-Man, Fly-Girl, the Black Hood, the Shield and Comet) we got a couple of panels of the Ultra Men (the Fox, Captain Flag and the Web) and the Terrific Three (Mr. Justice, the Jaguar and the Steel Sterling). The Three presumably and literally looked down on the Ultra Men because the latter could not fly.

And after that the Royal Wraith simply vanished again, as ghosts are wont to do.