Number 1902: Masked Marvel to the rescue

Crooks threaten to blow up 10,000 people and some buildings. Yet instead of getting after the terrorists and thwarting their evil plans, the police chief allows the Masked Marvel to go after them. “I’d hate to lose ten thousand people,” says the chief. “Maybe I’m foolish, Marvel, but I’m betting on you -- the lives of ten thousand people are in your hands!” Gee, shouldn’t the chief notify the mayor, or the FBI or somebody? I think that top cop may be overstepping his bounds.

But of course the Masked Marvel comes through. Without trying to ruin the story for anyone, you can see how this one is going to end long before the last page.

The Masked Marvel was created by artist Ben Thompson in 1939 for Keen Detective Funnies. This story, reprinted from Keen Detective Funnies #24, comes from the Marvel’s own comic book, Masked Marvel #1 (1940). Like the Fantom of the Fair, who we showed in April,* the Masked Marvel has no origin, no discernible reason for wearing a mask, and what powers he has are ambiguous. As Toonopedia.com explains: “ . . . he didn't even have a wimpy secret identity or, in fact, any secret identity at all. He just showed up out of nowhere, did a good deed or two, and went back where he'd been. Since he had no outside life, it's a mystery why he even bothered to hide his face . . .  The character got around by flying, but not under his own power — he used an ordinary-looking airplane . . .  He also wasn't particularly invulnerable. In fact, he had no defined super powers at all. He was occasionally seen to carry a gun.”

With that sort of lead-in I’ll bet you readers can’t wait to read this pulse-pounded thriller! The best I can offer, in my feeble attempt to justify posting this, is that Masked Marvel, although short-lived, was one of the very early costumed heroes.

*Pappy’s #1878.

Posted in: Pappy Comics