Publisher: Lev Gleason
Publication Dates: July 1941 – September 1956
Number of Issues Published: 134 (#001 – #134)
Color: Color
Dimensions: Standard Golden Age US
Paper Stock: Glossy cover; Newsprint interior
Binding: Saddle-stitched
Publishing Format: Was ongoing series
Pages 68 Indicia Frequency monthly
Note:
First issue titled Daredevil Battles Hitler.
The character Daredevil is gradually phased out of the comic that bears his name. He stops appearing on the cover first, then all together as the Little Wise Guys take over top spot in the comic.
Authors:
Script:
Victor PazmiƱo,
Charles Biro [as Biro] (signed), Dick Wood, Bob Wood (signed), Jerry Robinson (signed),
Pencils
Charles Biro [as Biro] (signed), George Roussos [as Inky Roussos] (signed), Bernard Klein [as Bernie Klein] (signed), Bob Wood (signed), Jerry Robinson (signed),
Jack Cole, Victor PazmiƱo, Harry Anderson [as Anderson] (signed)
Inks
Charles Biro [as Biro] (signed), George Roussos [as Inky Roussos] (signed), Bernard Klein [as Bernie Klein] (signed), Bob Wood (signed), Jerry Robinson (signed),
Jack Cole, Victor PazmiƱo, Harry Anderson [as Anderson] (signed)
Colors
Charles Biro, Bob Wood (signed), Jerry Robinson (signed)
Letters
Charles Biro, Bob Wood (signed), Jerry Robinson (signed)
With the main character Daredevil
Name: Daredevil
A.K.A.: n/a
Secret ID.: Bartholomew ‘Bart’ Hill
Type: Costumed Hero
Affiliation/Team: The Little Wise Guys
1st Appearance: Silver Streak Comics #6
Year: 1940
Publisher: Lev Gleason Publications
Country of origin: USA
Created by Jack Binder & Jack Cole
As a child, Bart Hill was witness to his parents’ brutal murder. The murderer also branded Bart with a hot iron, leaving a boomerang-shaped scar on the left side of his chest. This traumatic experience left the boy mute. He trained his entire life in the art of the boomerang, eventually becoming a master boomerang marksman. He then developed a costume and took to the streets as the vigilante crime-fighter Daredevil.
With Bart Hill/Daredevil speaking in his second appearance (Silver Streak Comics #7), his origin story needed to be ret-conned. In the new origin, Bart Hill’s parents were killed while in Australia. Bart was then raised by a tribe of aborigines who taught him the art of using boomerangs. As an adult, he returned to the U.S. and fought crime as Daredevil.
Daredevil fought an epic war against the Claw in the 1940s. Prior to the U.S. being involved in World War II, the Claw allied himself with Adolf Hitler. This prompted Daredevil to team up with the Silver Streak, Lance Hale, Cloud Curtis, Dickie Dean and the Pirate Prince. Later on, Daredevil found himself a group of sidekicks called the Little Wise Guys. In addition to the Claw, Daredevil also battled The Bolt, The Deadly Dozen, The Scarlet Skull and Wolf Carson, among others.
Some other characters:
13 and Jinx
Name 13
A.K.A. n/a
Secret ID. Harold Higgins
Type Costumed Hero
Affiliation/Team Jinx (Side-Kick)
1st Appearance Daredevil Comics #3
Year 1941
Publisher Lev Gleason Publications
Country of origin USA
Harold Higgins is a very lucky child, up until his fifteenth year, when his parents are murdered. From then on he dedicated himself to capturing murderers, first as a private investigator and then as a costumed superhero. He is assisted by Jinx. He is very, very lucky though it’s not clear whether this is an actual superpower or not.
Name Jinx
A.K.A. n/a
Secret ID. Darrel Creig
Type Costumed Side-Kick
Affiliation/Team 13
1st Appearance Daredevil Comics #5
Year 1941
Publisher Lev Gleason Publications
Country of origin USA
Darrel Creig is the 16-year-old sidekick of 13. He is very lucky, like 13, although it’s unclear whether this is a superpower or not.
The Claw
Name Claw (The)
A.K.A. n/a
Secret ID. Unknown
Type Costumed Villain
Affiliation/Team None
1st Appearance Silver Streak Comics #1
Year 1941
Publisher Lev Gleason Publications
Country of origin USA
One day Mei Ting came to see Zola for her hand in marriage. Furious at his proposal, Zola tried to stab him to death; during the fray he yanks off her veil, revealing the woman’s fangs. To keep her deformity a secret, she married Mei Ting. Disappearing for many months, they shocked the villagers by jumping off a cliff. Searching the dead couples mansion the villagers found a horrible infant inside. The decided to bring him up as one of their own. Named the Claw because of his deformed hands, the Claw was a terror, brutalizing other children and adults alike. He ended up in prison in Tibet. there he grew stronger and larger each day until he reached the height of 100 feet. Breaking out and slaying his captors, he found he could control his height, becoming human-sized or gigantic at will.
Little Wise Guys
Name Little Wise Guys
A.K.A. n/a
Secret ID. Curly, Scarecrow, Jocko, Peewee and Meatball
Type Non Costumed Team
Affiliation/Team Daredevil
1st Appearance Daredevil Comics #13
Year 1942
Publisher Lev Gleason Publications
Country of origin USA
Charles Biro introduced popular supporting characters the Little Wise Guys, A “kid gang” similar to DC Comics’ Newsboy Legion and many others. The group consisted of Jocko (glasses), Peewee (small), Scarecrow (scruffy and tall) and Meatball (short and fat) — the latter of whom, with remarkable daring, was killed two issues later. Then Curly (bald) was added (Daredevil #16). By the late 1940s, with superheroes going out of fashion, the Little Wise Guys took centre stage, edging out Daredevil altogether with issue #70. They had no powers, but were handy with a boomerang.
London
London
A.K.A. n/a
Secret ID. Marc Holmes
Type Costumed Hero
Affiliation/Team None
1st Appearance Daredevil Comics #2
Year 1941
Publisher Lev Gleason Publications
Country of origin USA
Marc Holmes, a radio newscaster, is covering the Blitz when he sees the need to inspire his fellow Brits in their struggles against the Germans. He becomes the costumed ‘London’ to do so and to take the battle to the German spies in England. He has no superpowers.
Nightro
Name Nightro
A.K.A. n/a
Secret ID. Hugh Goddard
Type Costumed Hero
Affiliation/Team None
1st Appearance Daredevil Comics #2
Year 1941
Publisher Lev Gleason Publications
Country of origin USA
Hugh Goddard is blind and can only see at night with the help of special glasses. He turns his disability to good use and begins fighting crime at night with the help of his dog Blackie.
Pat Patriot
Name Pat Patriot (America’s Joan of Arc)
A.K.A. n/a
Secret ID. None
Type Costumed Heroine
Affiliation/Team None
1st Appearance Daredevil Comics #2
Year 1941
Publisher Lev Gleason Publications
Country of origin USA
“America’s Joan of Arc” is a singing, dancing engine of righteous fury and destruction for the Germans and for those who scheme against America and Americans. She has no superpowers but her patriotism and two fists obviate the need for any.
Real American #1
Real American #1
A.K.A. Bronze Terror
Secret ID. Jeff Dixon
Type Costumed Hero
Affiliation/Team None
1st Appearance Daredevil Comics #2
Year 1941
Publisher Lev Gleason Publications
Country of origin USA
Jeff Dixon, a lawyer and Apache, returns to the reservation after graduating from law school. He discovers that his father has been framed for murder and puts on a costume to fight for his father, and then later for the rest of the Apache against those who would oppress them. He has no powers but is a good fighter and good with his weapons.
Information thanks to the Grand Comic Database
Character Information and pictures thanks to the Golden Age Hero Directory
Information thanks to the //goldenagecomicheroes.wordpress.com
Links: (#001 – #134) ⇲⇲
