Atomaster

Real Name: Barry Dale
First Appearance: New World #1 (1950)
Original Publisher: Metropolitan Publishing Co.
Created by: Jerry Robinson

Golden Age Origin:

While working as a nuclear scientist at the "Atomic Institute," Barry Dale absorbs the "power of the atom" through unconscious exposure to nuclear materials and gains superpowers as a result. As described by Barry himself: "Evidently my body is so geared as a result of working on radium and uranium that it can explode atoms and give me atomic strength." He uses his new abilities -- such as super strength, flight, speed, invulnerability, "atomic vision," and the ability to heat his body so that he can weld metal with his hands -- to fight crime.

Atomaster is a re-colored and re-named version of Atoman from Spark Comics.

Golden Age Appearances: 

New World #1

Zzed

Real Name: Unknown
First Appearance: Airboy Comics vol. 6 #12 (January 1950)
Original Publisher: Hillman
Created by: Ernest Schroeder

Origin: 

Zzed was an immortal who had been present at all the greatest human tragedies in history for the last 2000 years. It seems that he could not die until the world came to an end, and he hoped to hasten the process.

Eventually, in the 20th century, he mastered technology that allowed him to control the "star brain" or the collected energies of all the brains of the world over the ages. With this power, he gained all knowledge, and the ability to control, at least to a limited degree, the minds of all people on Earth. From a secluded mansion in Swampheart, Georgia, he used this power to initiate violent riots all over the world. However, the machine he used to control the star brain was smashed during a confrontation with Airboy.

Even without the power of the star brain, Zzed had accumulated great knowledge in his centuries of life, and he frequently spoke ancient incantations of some unknown language. Although he could be killed temporarily, he seemed to have rapid regenerative abilities that would bring him back to life.

Public Domain Appearances: 

Airboy Comics vol. 6 #12

Black Tarantula

Real Name: Count Zoraster Rorret
First Appearance: Feature Presentation #5 (April, 1950)
Original Publisher: Fox
Created by: Unknown

Origin: 

Count Rorret was born in the year 1101, but he somehow managed to cheat death, returning to the land of the living with vast new powers, that he developed over time. His mission in the world of the living was to kill anyone he deemed too good or beautiful. He hates goodness and warmth. Other people he killed in order to make them his allies in the underworld.

For several centuries, Count Rorret was imprisoned in a tomb beneath the Minnerville Castle, bound within a casket with a hood over his head so that he could not see. However, he eventually managed to escape this prison.

Powers/Abilities: 

The Black Tarantula's powers included hypnosis and the ability to transform into a huge black tarantula with an instantly fatal bite. He could also summon spirits and man-eating demons, who obeyed his commands. He could control fire, turn people to stone and turn people into various kinds of animals. He also had the ability to reverse the effects of any of these enchantments. However, The Black Tarantula's powers were limited to what he could physically see, so blinding him robbed him of all of his abilities.

Golden Age Appearances: 

Feature Presentations #5