Real name: Elias Strake
First appearance: All-American Comics#21 (December 1940)
Abilities: Manipulation
Worst act: Fraud, attempted murder
Created by: Bill Finger (script) Mart Nodell (art)
The main focus here is the con artist Mr. Strake. Upon hearing that the Blake family is searching for their lost son, Strake brings in hooligan Cub Brenner and passes him off as the presumably dead Tommy Blake.
As these stories tend to go it turns out that Cub actually is Tommy and the Green Lantern manages to bring Strake to justice.
Not terrible, but that the missing heir yarn was getting a bit old by 1940.
Friday, February 7, 2020
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Bring on the Bad Guys: Gates
Real name: Gates
First appearance: All-American Comics#20 (November 1940)
Abilities: Radio executive
Worst act: Murder
Created by: Bill Finger (script), Mart Nodell (art)
The issue we see the return of Irene Miller (last seen in All-American Comics#18) and Alan Scott going to work in radio, a job he'll be linked with for the rest of his existence.
When radio announcer Jim Telluem is murdered, Alan decides to investigate. Irene worked with Jim and gets Alan's foot into the door of the Apex Broadcasting Studio. From there he finds a gang of smugglers and their boss, Gates who as it turns out is the head of ABS.
Not bad, but I can't help but notice how many superheroes worked in either print or radio news. Although it does makes sense, since Alan's being an engineer hadn't been a plot point since his second appearance.
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Bring on the Bad Guys: Baron Von Zorn
Real name: Von Zorn
First appearance: All-Star Comics#2 (Fall 1940)
Abilities: Medical doctor
Worst act: Being a Nazi, kidnapping
Created by: Bill Finger (script), Mart Nodell (art)
Moving into the All-Star series, we focus on the Green Lantern story and the first Nazi GL ever fought.
The Baron here is the leader of the Robot Men, kidnapped souls he forcibly abducted and medically altered into living machines, only thinking of conquering the United States.
Thankfully Alan Scott happened to have gone to medical school for a bit, along engineering I assume, and is able to correct the baron's handiwork.
First appearance: All-Star Comics#2 (Fall 1940)
Abilities: Medical doctor
Worst act: Being a Nazi, kidnapping
Created by: Bill Finger (script), Mart Nodell (art)
Moving into the All-Star series, we focus on the Green Lantern story and the first Nazi GL ever fought.
The Baron here is the leader of the Robot Men, kidnapped souls he forcibly abducted and medically altered into living machines, only thinking of conquering the United States.
Thankfully Alan Scott happened to have gone to medical school for a bit, along engineering I assume, and is able to correct the baron's handiwork.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Bring on the Bad Guys: Slade
Real name: Slade
First appearance: All-American Comics#19 (October 1940)
Abilities: Running a gang
Worst act: Murder, insurance fraud
Created by: Bill Finger (script), Marty Nodell (art)
I'm shocked no one has tried to tie this guy to Deathstroke.
Mr. Slade deals in insurance. The Green Lantern gets involved when he first saves a man from a hit and run only for the man to die later in a suspicious accident.
Saving another man, the Emerald Gladiator discovers the man and the previous victim both signed large insurance polices, with Mr. Slade being the sole beneficiary. A coincidence surely?
GL infiltrates the underworld gambling scene and soon exposes Slade, who dies in the fight. Short but decent.
First appearance: All-American Comics#19 (October 1940)
Abilities: Running a gang
Worst act: Murder, insurance fraud
Created by: Bill Finger (script), Marty Nodell (art)
I'm shocked no one has tried to tie this guy to Deathstroke.
Mr. Slade deals in insurance. The Green Lantern gets involved when he first saves a man from a hit and run only for the man to die later in a suspicious accident.
Saving another man, the Emerald Gladiator discovers the man and the previous victim both signed large insurance polices, with Mr. Slade being the sole beneficiary. A coincidence surely?
GL infiltrates the underworld gambling scene and soon exposes Slade, who dies in the fight. Short but decent.
Monday, February 3, 2020
Bring on the Bad Guys: Murdock
Real name: Murdock
First appearance: All-American Comics#18 (September 1940)
Abilities: Kidnapping
Worst act: Kidnapping and blackmail
Created by: Bill Finger (script), Marty Nodell (art)
Going to the World's Fair this time out and also the first time the Green Lantern uses the oath.
Alan Scott gets dragged into this when he prevents a woman from murdering a fellow fair goer. She has her reasons though, as the gentleman in question is the mobster Murdock who framed her brother.
In short order the Green Lantern also learns that Murdock has kidnapped a judge's daughter in order to blackmail the man. Short fight ending with Murdock facing the consequences of his crimes.
First appearance: All-American Comics#18 (September 1940)
Abilities: Kidnapping
Worst act: Kidnapping and blackmail
Created by: Bill Finger (script), Marty Nodell (art)
Going to the World's Fair this time out and also the first time the Green Lantern uses the oath.
Alan Scott gets dragged into this when he prevents a woman from murdering a fellow fair goer. She has her reasons though, as the gentleman in question is the mobster Murdock who framed her brother.
In short order the Green Lantern also learns that Murdock has kidnapped a judge's daughter in order to blackmail the man. Short fight ending with Murdock facing the consequences of his crimes.
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Bring on the Bad Guys: Cyrus Gorson
Real name: Cyrus Gorson
First appearance: All-American Comics#17 (August 1940)
Abilities: Graft
Worst act: Graft and corruption
Created by: Bill Finger (script), Mart Nodell (art)
For this story, Alan Scott apparently moved to Metropolis. No Superman though; no, Alan Scott must deal with the most insidious of foes, a public employee!
Cyrus Gorson is the Commissioner of Public Works for Metropolis, but he's also in deep with racketeer Muller. He undertakes the building of city projects but he makes sure his good buddy Muller gets the contracts for a small fee.
Alan Scott, as a mild mannered engineer, confronts the crooked duo but gets shots for his efforts. Deciding to use the magic ring after all, the Green Lantern confronts them again and Gorson takes a shot from his partner.
He dies, but its enough to bust Muller. A boring but corrupt figure, common at the time.
First appearance: All-American Comics#17 (August 1940)
Abilities: Graft
Worst act: Graft and corruption
Created by: Bill Finger (script), Mart Nodell (art)
For this story, Alan Scott apparently moved to Metropolis. No Superman though; no, Alan Scott must deal with the most insidious of foes, a public employee!
Cyrus Gorson is the Commissioner of Public Works for Metropolis, but he's also in deep with racketeer Muller. He undertakes the building of city projects but he makes sure his good buddy Muller gets the contracts for a small fee.
Alan Scott, as a mild mannered engineer, confronts the crooked duo but gets shots for his efforts. Deciding to use the magic ring after all, the Green Lantern confronts them again and Gorson takes a shot from his partner.
He dies, but its enough to bust Muller. A boring but corrupt figure, common at the time.
Saturday, February 1, 2020
Bring on the Bad Guys: Dekker
Real name: Dekker
First appearance: All-American Comics#16 (July 1940)
Abilities: Manipulation, cheap builder
Worst act: Murder
Created by: Bill Finger (script) and Mart Nodell (art)
This year we'll be taking a look at the Golden Age Green Lantern and who better than his first foe?
Mr. Dekker and his thugs are officially in the construction business. Engineer Alan Scott gets a bridge contract instead of him, so he naturally wrecks the bridge while Scott travels on it. Scott survives and in the wreckage finds a glowing green lantern. You can guess the rest.
So, as far as first villains go, Dekker is a pretty bland fellow. He dies of a heart attack at the end, which was typical for stories at the time period.
First appearance: All-American Comics#16 (July 1940)
Abilities: Manipulation, cheap builder
Worst act: Murder
Created by: Bill Finger (script) and Mart Nodell (art)
This year we'll be taking a look at the Golden Age Green Lantern and who better than his first foe?
Mr. Dekker and his thugs are officially in the construction business. Engineer Alan Scott gets a bridge contract instead of him, so he naturally wrecks the bridge while Scott travels on it. Scott survives and in the wreckage finds a glowing green lantern. You can guess the rest.
So, as far as first villains go, Dekker is a pretty bland fellow. He dies of a heart attack at the end, which was typical for stories at the time period.
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