Spirit of '76 (Harvey Comics)
The Spirit of '76 is a fictional superhero character published by Harvey Comics, who debuted in Pocket Comics in 1941, and became a long-running feature in Green Hornet Comics.
Publication history
Patriotic
After Pocket Comics folded, the Spirit of '76 moved to a backup feature in Green Hornet Comics. Issue #7 (June 1942) was a reworking of the character's origin story, partially a paste-up from Pocket #1.[3] Later Green Hornet backup stories were produced by Harry Fisk, Arturo Cazenueve and Ernie Schroeder.[1] The character last appeared in Green Hornet #37 (Dec 1947-Jan 1948).[3]
Fictional character biography
Gary Blakely is the latest in a long line of patriotic Americans, one of his ancestors having served with General Washington. Educated abroad, he excels in his studies as well as various sports like boxing, fencing, rowing and rugby. Convinced that
According to Jess Nevins' Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes, "they battle Germans, crooked yogis, the femme fatale mesmerist Satana, traitorous cadets, and a monster ape".[5]
In Green Hornet #35, Blakely helps out Tommy Downes, a newsboy kid who's framed for murder by the crook Dapper Duke using Downes' run-ins with a kid gang called The Society of the Black Skull, led by Kip Roland. While Blakely reconciles Tommy with the gang, his civilian identity gets in trouble for being AWOL and is threatened with expulsion. Tubby tells the kids Gary's identity and they vouch for him, giving him an alibi and form a new gang, The Spirit of '76 Boys Club.[4]
Reception
In Secondary Superheroes of the Golden Age, Lou Mougin lauds the Spirit of '76, writing that Bob Powell "returned to the feature [in Green Hornet] both as artist and writer, and did a bang-up job with his rapidly developed talent. The stories never skimped on the action, but Powell's talent for humor, his penchant for sending the characters to foreign locales, and the backup characters Tubby and Gary's girlfriend Susan, helped things along considerably. On special assignment, Gary and Tubby racked up an impressive series of adventures. The Spirit of '76 survived the war... For his quality, we salute him".[3]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1629331737.
- ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ ISBN 9781476638607.
- ^ a b "Spirit of 76". Mystery Men & Mystery Women. Golden-Age Comic Book Superheroes & Villains Encyclopedia. http://www.herogoggles.com/Heroes/S_heroes.htm
- ISBN 978-1-61318-023-5.