When Captain America did not throw his mighty shield...

Captain America was a different bird when it came to introductions. He debuted in his own title with four stories, one of which was his origin. One of my favorite memories was of reading that initial story in "The Greatest Comic Book Heroes". Here was Captain America, thin and sinewy, an amazing fluidity to the art. Yet there were two big differences to the Cap I was reading at the time. One was his half cowl, almost a cap with a mask, exposing his ears. And then of course his shield.

We all know Cap's colorful circular shield, emblazoned with a star and stripes. However in his first issue the shield is a triangular shape with stars and stripes, which would make it great for protection but difficult to throw. As of issue #2 the round shield is introduced. It is used for protection and as a weapon only when Cap strikes a villain with it on his arm. I could not find any instance in the first issues where he throws the shield and he may not have until the Frisbee craze of the early sixties inspired the concept, with all the ricochet possibilities. So, when did Captain America start to throw his mighty shield?.....

A "hard water" man

Why are their origin stories in comics? After all this was a child's medium, comic books. And its fantasy! Yet there is always the need to explain why someone or something can perform feats that no other human can. Does Dr. Seuss need explain the origin of Whoville and the Whos to make the story more exciting or meaningful?

No, he did not. But here we are in 1939-1940 with powerful beings being created for consumption by a (according to sales records) voracious little reading public. Superman and Captain Marvel sold in excess of a million copies per issue. Check today's figures and see if any company sells a million comics per week period. Still, why the need to explain why Superman is super, how the Hawkman flies, why the Torch burns and especially why the Batman dresses as a bat! I mean it's in their names!

Again it starts with superhero number one, Superman. Action #1 contains a one page explanation of this hero's backstory, along with scientific facts as to how a man could perform such incredible feats. This was later expanded into a true origin in the first 2 pages of Superman #1. Batman waited until 7 issues into his run at Detective, #33 to be exact, to explain his origin, which is one of the greatest of the era and perhaps the greatest comic origin ever (I will expound on it in a future post).

One of the stranger origins is that of the Flash from Flash Comics #1. In this issue always late and slow college student Jay Garrick (football player, tennis player and scientist) gains his super speed by inhaling the "deadly fumes of hard water". While working late in the laboratory separating the elements of hard water, Jay takes a break to have a smoke (ahh the forties comics), knocks over the chemicals and they crash on the metal floor. While cleaning the floor, Jay passes out from the fumes and is found hours later by his professor. After several weeks of hospitalization, Jay finally regains consciousness. His doctor then explains something curious to the professor as follows...

and so we have the superhero of speed, the Flash. A bit corny for the origin and the chemical part of it was held over for Silver Age Flash, Barry Allen, but Jay is truly a "hard" act to follow.