The only wrecks in this subway will be Nazis– not trains!
We read about Marvel’s original Marvel Boy from 1940, and now we jump ahead almost 3 years. Online sources differ as to whether this is the character’s second appearance, or the first appearance of a new character with the same superhero name.
There is textual evidence to support and refute both positions.
I have my own opinion, but let’s read the issue and consider the evidence.
To remind us of the previous Marvel Boy for comparison: Hercules was a master of the Egyptian art of reincarnation and a staunch defender of America and its ideals. When he died, his soul went to Valhalla, which is presided over by Jupiter. When Hercules realized the threat Hitler posed to America, he had himself reincarnated as young Martin Burns. Martin Burns was a very strong baby, and on his 14th birthday, he learned his true identity and purpose, and was given a name and costume to enable him to battle Germany spies and saboteurs: Marvel Boy.
Hypothesis A: These are the same character. Hypothesis B: These are different characters.
Do not be sad, for I do not really leave you– I shall be back– when America needs me the most–
Well, that’s an unfortunately racist cover from Jack Kirby and Joe Simon.
When we met Marvel Girl in X-Men #1, we took the excuse to meet Marvel Boy from 1950. That was actually not Marvel’s first character named Marvel Boy, and perhaps we should have met the other(s) then. We didn’t.
We’ll read about him/them now due to his/their connections to Hercules. (Join me in the next post to see why I seem so confused about singular vs. plural pronouns.)
This Marvel Boy is a creation of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, before the same team created Captain America, and before Jack Kirby and various collaborators would go on to create… a lot of famous superheroes.
I think there is a case to be made this might be Kirby’s first superhero co-creation, which makes Marvel Boy quite notable in itself. Moreso because you can see elements that made their way into Captain America, including the basic mask shape, the boots and gloves, using Hitler as an enemy.
Two notes against that point. Kirby had previously co-created with Martin Burstein the feature “Mercury in the 20th Century”. This was about the classic god Mercury. Not precisely a superhero, but if Thor counts, perhaps he should too. (We’ll probably read that Mercury story in the near future when we are ready to meet Pluto.)
That same issue introduced Jack Kirby’s science fiction hero Comet Pierce. In the Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers mold. Again, not exactly a superhero.
Marvel Boy is Kirby’s first standard superhero co-creation.
Except the second note is I have no idea who created Marvel Boy. Harry Mendryk explains the creation of this issue as follows on the Kirby Museum blog. He credits Joe Simon with the initial 3 pages which introduce the character and lay out his origin, and then Kirby with the rest. It’s thus quite possible that Joe Simon created the character on his own, and then gave the partially completed issue to Kirby to finish.
Often, history doesn’t tell us with much certainty what the division of labor going into an issue was. So I usually find it easiest to credit the writers and artists of a character’s inaugural issue as co-creators. By my normal intentionally naive standards, I would say Marvel Boy was a co-creation of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.
But there is probably room for disagreement and assertion this was a Joe Simon creation.
The character only lasts one issue, though there is a sort-of revival 3 years later we will consider in the next post.
I’ve expressed before my opinion that initials are generally the worst logo for a superhero uniform. Imagine that chest with a better logo, like say a star. And imagine he wore pants. Now lose the cape and add some little wings to the cap. You’re getting closer to a good superhero design.
Featuring: Marvel Boy Release: August 24, 1950 Cover: December 1950 10 cents Credits: Russ Heath 12 pages
No credits are given in the issue. The art is generally recognized as being by Russ Heath.
I was thinking of waiting a long time to introduce Marvel Boy. He’ll show up in the Marvel Age in the pages of What If…? in 1978. The following year, a new hero named Quasar will be introduced, a character modeled partly after Marvel Boy. But it’s going to be a long time before I get to those comics. We’re still in 1963, after all.
And Marvel Boy is a significant superhero. Introduced in 1950 at a time when the company was starting to shy away from superheroes. Plus, his very name will have some significance to the company. Marvel Boy.
So let’s read his origin now, on the pretense that we’ve just been introduced to Marvel Girl.
The origin is a pretty good one, though if you squint a bit, you’ll see some resemblance to Superman’s origin. Marvel Boy’s father, Professor Matthew Grayson, was an early atomic scientist, able to build an atomic rocket in 1934. (Hey… maybe this allows us to add 5 years to Xavier’s age if people were experimenting with atomic power as early as 1934). When his wife and daughter are killed by Nazis, he retreats to space with his son, ending up on the planet Uranus, and discovering an advanced utopian society.
