Super Heroes 2nd Edition 11/1/11 7:31 PM Page i About the Author Gina Misiroglu—also known by her code name, the Taskmistress—has authored or edited more than three dozen books in the popular culture, biography, American history, folklore, and women’s studies genres. She is the editor of the three-volume reference work American Coun- tercultures: An Encyclopedia of Nonconformists, Alternative Lifestyles, and Radical Ideas in U.S. History (2009—winner of the 2010 RUSA Award for Outstanding Reference Source) and the Encyclopedia of Women and American Popular Culture (2012), which explores women’s contribu- tions to film, television, comics, music, fashion, and graphic art. Misiroglu was the co-editor of the first edition of The Superhero Book and its companion title The Supervillain Book, both of which received numer- ous accolades from the comics and film communities, including a Top Picks selec- tion from SCOOP. She is a frequent speaker at the San Diego Comic Con, where she moderates panels for the Comics Arts Conference, a gathering of scholars who pub- lish in the American studies and popular culture genres. Super Heroes 2nd Edition 11/1/11 7:31 PM Page ii Also from Visible Ink Press American Murder: Real Miracles, Divine Intervention, and Criminals, Crime and the Media Feats of Incredible Survival by Mike Mayo by Brad Steiger ISBN: 978-1-57859-191-6 and Sherry Hansen Steiger ISBN: 978-1-57859-214-2 Conspiracies and Secret Societies: The Complete Dossier, 2nd edition Real Nightmares: True and Truly Scary by Brad Steiger Unexplained Phenomena and Sherry Hansen Steiger by Brad Steiger ISBN: 978-1-57859-368-2 eBook only The Dream Encyclopedia, 2nd edition Real Vampires, Night Stalkers, by James R. Lewis and Creatures from the Darkside and Evelyn Dorothy Oliver by Brad Steiger ISBN: 978-1-57859-216-6 ISBN: 978-1-57859-255-5 The Handy Psychology Answer Book Real Zombies, the Living Dead, by Lisa J. Cohen, Ph.D. and Creatures of the Apocalypse ISBN: 978-1-57859-223-4 by Brad Steiger ISBN: 978-1-57859-296-8 Hidden Realms, Lost Civilizations, and Beings from Other Worlds The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia by Jerome Clark of the Undead, 3rd edition ISBN: 978-1-57859-175-6 by J. Gordon Melton ISBN: 978-1-57859-281-4 Real Aliens, Space Beings, and Creatures from Other Worlds The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia by Brad Steiger of Shape-Shifting Beings, 2nd edition and Sherry Hansen Steiger by Brad Steiger ISBN: 978-1-57859-333-0 ISBN: 978-1-57859-367-5 Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Places by Brad Steiger ISBN: 978-1-57859-146-6 Please Visit Us at www.visibleinkpress.com. Super Heroes 2nd Edition 11/1/11 7:31 PM Page iii The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Comic-Book Icons and Hollywood Heroes Second Edition GINA MISIROGLU Detroit Super Heroes 2nd Edition 11/1/11 7:31 PM Page iv The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Comic-Book Icons and Hollywood Heroes SECOND EDITION Copyright © 2012 by Visible Ink Press® All illustrations are copyright by their respective copyright holders (according to the original copyright or publication date as printed in the comics) and are reproduced strictly for historical purposes. Any omission or incorrect information should be submitted to the publisher, so that it can be corrected in any future edition of this book. All DC Comics characters, logos, and related indicia are trademarks of DC Comics, Inc. All Marvel comic book characters and Marvel comic book material featured herein: ™ & © 2004, 2006, 2012 Marvel. Characters, Inc. SUPER HERO is a co-owned trademark. All such material is used with permission. This publication is a creative work fully protected by all applicable copyright laws, as well as by misappropriation, trade secret, unfair competition, and other applicable laws. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, or Website. All rights to this publication will be vigorously defended. Visible Ink Press® 43311 Joy Rd. #414 Canton, MI 48187-2075 Visible Ink Press is a registered trademark of Visible Ink Press LLC. Most Visible Ink Press books are available at special quantity discounts when purchased in bulk by corporations, organizations, or groups. Customized printings, special imprints, messages, and excerpts can be produced to meet your needs. For more information, contact Special Markets Director, Visible Ink Press, www.visibleinkpress.com, or 734-667-3211. Managing Editor: Kevin S. Hile Art Director: Mary Claire Krzewinski Typesetting: Marco Di Vita Proofreader: Chrystal Rozsa Indexing: Larry Baker Front cover images: The Kobal Collection. Back cover images: Comic-book cover credits, from left to right: Captain America #106 © 1968 Marvel Comics; Wonder Woman #22 © 1988 DC Comics; Hellboy #1 ™ & © 1994 Michael Mignola, published by Dark Horse Comics, Inc. ISBN 978-1-57859-375-0 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The superhero book : the ultimate encyclopedia of comic-book icons and Hollywood heroes / edited by Gina Misiroglu. — 2nd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-57859-375-0 1. Comic books, strips, etc.—Encyclopedias. 2. Heroes in mass media— Encyclopedias. I. Misiroglu, Gina Renée. PN6707.S87 2012 741.5'03—dc23 2011042669 Super Heroes 2nd Edition 11/1/11 7:31 PM Page v Contents Contributors ix Introduction xiii Camp and Comedy The Superhero Century Heroes . .73 Golden Age (1938–1954) . .1 CC Captain Action . .80 Silver Age (1956–1969) . .7 Captain America . .81 Bronze Age (1970–1980) . .11 Captain Atom . .86 Late Bronze Age (1980–1984) . .14 Captain Marvel . .88 Modern Age (1985-Present) . .15 Captain Marvel Jr. .90 Captain Marvel/Shazam! . .91 Adam Strange . .21 Catwomanv . .94 Alpha Flight . .22 Challengers of the Unknown . .96 Charlton Heroes . .98 A Alternative Superheroes . .24 A America’s Best Comics The Creeper . .100 Heroes . .26 Ant-Man and the Wasp . .28 Daredevil I . .103 Aquaman . .30 Daredevil II . .105 Archie Heroes . .32 D Dark Horse Heroes . .109 Astro City . .33 Deadman . .112 The Atom . .34 Deadpool . .113 The Authority . .36 The Defenders . .114 The Avengers . .37 “Dial ‘H’ for Hero” . .116 Doc Savage . .117 The Badger . .43 Doctor Fate . .119 Bartman . .44 Doctor Strange . .120 Doom Patrol . .122 B Batgirl . .46 B Batman . .48 Batwoman . .54 Eclipse Heroes . .125 Birds of Prey . .55 Elektra . .127 Black Canary . .56 E Elementals . .129 The Black Cat . .58 Elongated Man . .130 Black Knight . .60 Eternals . .131 Black Panther . .61 Black Terror . .62 Fantastic Four . .133 Black Widow . .64 Femforce . .137 Blue Beetle . .65 FF Fighting American . .139 Buffy the Vampire Slayer . .67 Firestorm . .140 Bulletman . .70 The Flash . .142 Freedom Fighters . .145 Funny Animal Heroes . .147 The Superhero Book v Super Heroes 2nd Edition 11/1/11 7:31 PM Page vi Contents Gen 13 . .151 Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers . .235 Ghost Rider . .153 Milestone Heroes . .237 G Green Arrow . .155 Miracleman . .239 Green Hornet . .156 Miss Fury . .241 Green Lantern . .158 Moon Knight . .242 Guardians of the Galaxy .161 Ms. Marvel . .243 Multiculturalism . .244 Hanna-Barbera Heroes . .165 The Hawk and the Dove .167 The New Gods . .251 H Hawkeye . .168 New Warriors . .253 Hawkman . .169 Nightwing . .254 Hellboy . .171 N Nova . .256 Heroes . .174 Heroes for Hire . .176 The Hulk . .177 The Human Torch . .184 The Outsiders . .259 The Huntress . .186 OO Image Comics Heroes . .189 The Incredibles . .191 I The Inferior Five . .193 I The Inhumans . .194 The Phantom . .261 The Invaders . .195 Phantom Stranger . .263 Invincible . .196 Planetary . .264 Iron Fist . .198 P Plastic Man . .265 Iron Man . .200 Power Man . .267 Irredeemable . .203 Power Pack . .270 The Powerpuff Girls . .272 Justice League of The Punisher . .273 America . .205 Justice Society of Quicksilver and the J America . .207 Scarlet Witch . .277 Q Kirby: Genesis . .213 K Real-Life Superheroes . .279 Rising Stars . .280 RR Robin . .281 Robot Heroes . .283 League of Extraordinary The Rocketeer . .286 Gentlemen . .215 L Legion of Super-Heroes .217 L . Lobo . .219 Sandman 289 The Savage Dragon . .290 The Sentry . .292 S The Shadow . .293 Madman . .223 ShadowHawk . .295 Manhunter . .225 The She-Hulk . .296 M Martian Manhunter . .226 The Silver Surfer . .298 Marvel Boy . .228 Space Heroes . .300 Mary Marvel . .230 Spawn . .302 The Mask . .231 The Spectre . .305 Metal Men . .233 Spider-Man . .307 Metamorpho . .234 Spider-Woman . .313 The Spirit . .316 vivi The Superhero Book Super Heroes 2nd Edition 11/1/11 7:31 PM Page vii Contents Squadron Supreme . .319 Watchmen . .389 Starman . .320 WildC.A.T.S . .391 Sub-Mariner . .321 W WildStorm Heroes . .392 Super Friends . .324 W Wolverine . .394 Superboy . .327 Wonder Woman . .397 Supergirl . .329 Superhero Cartoon Shows . .331 X-Men . .403 Superhero Role-Playing and X-Men: Excalibur . .407 Video Games . .335 XX X-Men: Generation X . .409 Superheroines . .338 X-Men: New Mutants . .412 Superman . .345 X-Men: X-Factor . .414 Supernatural Heroes . .351 X-Men: X-Force/X-Statix . .415 Superpatriots . .354 Supervillains . .357 Young Justice . .419 Teen Titans . .365 Y Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles . .368 T Thor . .370 T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents . .373 Zatanna and Zatara . .421 Zorro . .422 Ultraverse Heroes . .377 Z UU V for Vendetta . .381 Valiant Heroes . .382 V Vertigo Heroes . .384 The Vigilante . .386 Resources 425 Photo Credits 428 Index 429 The Superhero Book vii Super Heroes 2nd Edition 11/1/11 7:31 PM Page viii Acknowledgments he list of people who made this book possible is too long to reproduce here.