Bulletman and Bulletgirl
Bulletman and Bulletgirl | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Fawcett Comics (1939–1953) DC Comics (1976–present) |
First appearance | Nickel Comics #1 (1940, historical) The Power of Shazam! #8 (1995) (canon) |
Created by | Bill Parker Jon Smalle |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | James "Jim" Barr and Susan Kent-Barr |
Team affiliations | Squadron of Justice All-Star Squadron Justice League |
Abilities | Chemically-induced superhuman strength and intelligence Gravity Regulator Helmet grants them: Flight Bullet deflection |
Bulletman and Bulletgirl are
Publication history
Created by Bill Parker and Jon Smalle, Bulletman first appeared in Nickel Comics #1 (May 1940).[2] This comic was distinct from others on the market at the time, because it cost five cents (as opposed to the usual 10-cent price), was half as long as the standard 64-page comic, and came out every two weeks instead of every four.[3]
Fictional character biography
Jim Barr was the son of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty and as a result took it upon himself to fight crime.[4] He was rejected from the police academy for physical reasons, but got a job in ballistics. Like many characters of the time, he used chemistry to develop powers for himself, in his case greater muscle mass and brain power using his "crime cure". He also invented a bullet-shaped Gravity Regulator Helmet which allowed him to fly and deflect bullets.[5] His first case involved capturing a gangster in his hideout.[6] He has fought the supercriminal Blackmask, the rat-man Black Rat and the devious Mara Myle.[7]
Shortly after Bulletman began his crime-fighting career, he created a second helmet for his girlfriend and later wife Susan Kent, daughter of Police Sergeant Kent who adopted the name Bulletgirl.[8][9] His formula was shown to make him strong enough to smash a tank. In addition to being bullet-shaped, their helmets also make the characters bulletproof.[10] The helmet is shown to be so strong that once when Bulletgirl was run over by a Nazi tank she was only knocked out.
After Bulletgirl's arrival, the pair fought a variety of weird, supernatural-themed villains including the Unholy Three, the Son of Dracula, the Man Without a Face, the Black Spider and the Limping Mummy.[11] They also fought criminal fashion plate the Dude.[12]
Bulletman and Bulletgirl were Fawcett Comics' second-most-popular characters after Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family. They were leased by DC Comics along with the rest of Fawcett Comics' stable of characters in 1972. However, the characters lapsed into public domain prior to the said acquisition, which later allowed AC Comics to reprint their Golden Age adventures.
During this period of time, Bulletman and Bulletgirl appeared with fellow Fawcett heroes to form Shazam's
Bulletman and Bulletgirl were eventually retrofitted into DC Universe continuity, and have been speculated to be members of the
Windshear
In
Bulleteer
In 2005, a new Bulletgirl known as Bulleteer was introduced as one of the Seven in Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers of Victory. She is unrelated to these older heroes, though her costume is to some extent inspired by theirs. In issue #3, Susan Barr appeared in a brief cameo visiting her successor.
Infinite Crisis
Bulletman and Bulletgirl later re-appeared in the pages of Infinite Crisis on the newly reborn Earth-S along with the other Fawcett superheroes.
Powers and abilities
After injecting themselves with a chemical, Bulletman and Bulletgirl gained superhuman strength and intelligence. They also wear a bullet-shaped helmet which allows them to fly and deflect bullets.
Rogues gallery
Appearances
Bulletman and Bulletgirl appeared in:[5]
- Nickel Comics #1–8 (May–Aug 1940)
- Master Comics #7–82, 84–106 (Oct 1940 – Aug 1949)
- Bulletman #1–16 (Summer 1941 – Fall 1946)
- America's Greatest Comics #1–8 (Fall 1941 – Summer 1943)
- Mary Marvel #8 (Dec 1946)
- Whiz Comics #106 (Feb 1949)
Other versions
In the late 1970s, the Hasbro toy company produced an apparently unlicensed Bulletman action figure as part of its G.I. Joe toy line. This foot-tall toy was similar in appearance to the classic Fawcett character, except that it had vacuum-metalized silver arms, and bare legs.
Bulletman and Bulletgirl also appeared in
In other media
Television
- A Bulletman-like character credited as "Golden Age Hero" appears in a flashback in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Joker: The Vile and the Villainous!", voiced by Yuri Lowenthal. Although not identified as Bulletman, the character displays a near-identical costume and refers to himself as "the ballistic force of justice."
References and parodies
- In the animated series The Tick, an homage to Bulletman appears as The Human Bullet.
- The Irish rock band Bullet Girl are named after the Bulletgirl character.
References
- ^ Markstein, Don. "Bulletman". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ISBN 978-1605490892.
- ISBN 978-1631407451.
- ^ ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1
- ISBN 978-1-61318-023-5.
- ^ Master Comics #13 (April 1941)
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1
- ISBN 978-1594749322.
- ISBN 978-1605490892.
- ISBN 978-1594749322.
External links
- Biography of the two heroes
- Toonopedia entry
- Bulletman Chronology Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine
- Earth-S Bulletman Index[permanent dead link]
- Free Download from Digital Comic Museum
- Golden Age Comics
- Read Bulletman issues at Fury Comics
- Read Master Comics issues at Fury Comics
- Read America's Greatest Comics issues at Fury Comics
- Read Mary Marvel #8, guest-starring Bulletgirl, at Fury Comics