Zog

Real Name: Prince Zog of Mars
First Appearance: Amazing Man Comics #15 (1940)
Original Publisher: Centaur
Created by: Unknown

Golden Age Origin: 

Prince Zog of Mars was a martian intent on conquering Earth after being transported from his planet by a strange race of island men. He could shoot lasers from his eyes which he uses to destroy the scientist who brought him to Earth. However, the hero known as the Shark and his father Neptune were also captured by the inhabitants of the island and prevent Zog from conquering the world by destroying him using his weakness, water. They discovered his weakness when Neptune doused him with it, causing Zog to dissolve.

Golden Age Appearances: 

Amazing Man Comics #15

Frost

Real Name: Unknown
First Appearance: Wham Comics #2 (1940)
Original Publisher: Centaur
Created by: Lew Glanzman

Golden Age Origin: 

Frost was a German saboteur who ingested a special pill which gave him ice powers. When Blue Fire attempts to stop him, Frost tries to shoot Blue Fire, but the bullets phase through him. Fire then tries to punch Frost, but he can not hit him while intangible. The two reach a stalemate and with Blue Fire's powers about to run out he left his foe. When he brought the police to capture Frost, the villain had escaped. Tanya Gerhst, a fellow German spy, and Frost were later confronted by Blue Fire at their hideout. Frost began to fight Fire, but lost control of his intangibility and plunged to the bottom floor of the building. Frost manages to escape capture by Blue Fire, but Fire stops him from freezing another ship.

Golden Age Appearances: 

Wham Comics #2

Minimidget & Ritty

Real Names: Unknowns
First Appearance: Amazing-Man Comics #5 (1939)
Original Publisher: Centaur
Created by: John F. Kolb

Golden Age Origin: 

Becoming the target of the mad scientist Barmell's shrinking ray, a young man and his girlfriend, Ritty, are both permanently rendered 6" tall, though they retain some of their respective mass/strength. Initially sent to murder the scientist's relatives with a poison needle (ala the horror film, The Devil Doll), the duo is freed when the scientist blows up his lab when cornered by the FBI. Minimidget is supposedly killed by a mousetrap in this story but is revived by a paramedic in the following issue.

Minimidget and Ritty make the best of their bad situation and become superheroes. They have no powers, but they make use of tiny sports cars and miniature airplanes. Minimidget also carries a tiny sword and rides a trained rabbit named Bucky.

Golden Age Appearances: 

Amazing Man Comics #5-7 (as Minimidget the Miniature Man)

Amazing Man Comics #8-13 (as the Super-Midget)

Amazing Man Comics #14-25

Stars and Stripes Comics #2-6

TNT Todd

Real Name: Todd
First Appearance: Keen Detective Funnies Vol. 2 #3 (1939)
Original Publisher: Centaur
Created by: Victor E. Pazmiño

Golden Age Origin:

Todd was both an F.B.I. field agent and a chemist. However during an experiment, a strange purple gas was released accidentally into his lab. Because Todd could not escape, he inhaled large amounts of the gas which he discovered had given him superpowers such as flight, telescopic vision, and disintegrating beams fired from his hands. Todd then donned a bulletproof costume to become TNT Todd of the F.B.I.

When a villain tried electrocuting him with high voltage wires, it only made Todd more powerful.

Golden Age Appearances: 

Keen Detective Funnies Vol. 2 #3-5, 7-8, 19-22

(Note: He appeared as a superhero in #21 and 22 only)

Sentinel

Real Name: None
First Appearance: Liberty Scouts #3 (1941)
Original Publisher: Centaur
Created by: George Wilson

Golden Age Origin: 

The ghost of a Revolutionary War minuteman, known only as the Sentinel, was released when a Revolutionary War cannon was fired for the first time in 150 years. He was created by the "Spirit of America." The Sentinel used his powers to fight both crime and the enemies of America. He possessed the power to control flames (including the ability to transform his body into a small flame), teleportation, flight, and intangibility. He is also transported to wherever America needs him most.

Golden Age Appearances: 

Liberty Scouts Comics #3

Man of War Comics #1-2

Liberty Guards Comics

Super Ann

Real Name: Ann Star
First Appearance: Amazing Man Comics #24 (1941)
Original Publisher: Centaur
Created by: Martin Filchock

Superstar suit

Origin:

When Ann Star was a child, she was caught outside in a fierce snow storm. She managed to survive by taking refuge in a cave until the storm was over. In the cave, she discovered and old hermit from another planet who could not stand the light of day. He taught her secrets that gave her super strength and increased resistance to damage. Now known as Super Ann, she is depicted as always running on tiptoes, ballerina style, and as having many Superman-like powers. These powers include super speed, super strength, and the ability to leap tall buildings. Starting in 1941, Super Ann was aided by Mighty Man in his later appearances, but for some reason, he deliberately made sure the young heroine never actually saw him face-to-face.

Public Domain Appearances:

Amazing Man Comics #24-25

Stars and Stripes Comics #5-6

Mighty Man

Real Name: Unknown

First Appearance: Amazing Man Comics #5 (1939)
Original Publisher: Centaur
Created by: Martin Filchock

Battle suit

Origin: 

Some time in the late 1800s, a group of pioneers entered a secret valley where everything was several times the normal size. They were unable to find their way out, so they settled. While most of them seem to have died out, one of their children survived. Because he was born within the valley, he was as tall as everything else there. He stood about 15 feet high and possessed incredible strength, even for his gigantic size. He became known as Mighty Man. He was trapped in the valley until a pair of prospectors discovered him and helped him enter the outside world. At first, he adventured throughout American west, overpowering his opponents through his strength and natural size. Eventually, he submitted to an experiment by his friend, the professor. The experiment gave him the ability to shrink to the size of a mouse or expand over a hundred feet tall, and he could also change his features.

Mighty Man aided Super Ann in his later appearances, but for some reason, he deliberately made sure the young heroine never actually saw him face-to-face.

Public Domain Appearances: 

Amazing Man Comics #5-23

Amazing Man Comics #24-25

Stars and Stripes Comics #2-4

Stars and Stripes Comics #5-6

Plymo the Rubber Man

Real Name: Unknown
First Appearance: C-M-O Comics #1 (1942)
Original Publisher: Centaur
Created by: Unknown

Golden Age Origin:

Plymo the Rubber Man was a circus performer and crime fighter who, according to the introductory text, was somehow able to use internal vulcanization to make his body elastic and durable. He is not to be confused with the Iron Ace villain called Rubberman.

Golden Age Appearances:

C-M-O Comics #1

Historical Note:

C-M-O Comics were commissioned by Chicago Mail Order Company. The characters wore clothes and used various products that could be ordered from the company. Many pages contained ads that specifically explained where some of those items could be ordered using Chicago Mail Order Company's catalog.

Iron Skull

Real Name: Unknown
First Appearance: Amazing-Man Comics #5 (1939)
Original Publisher: Centaur
Created by: Carl Burgos

Origin:

The Iron Skull was originally a soldier who was gravely injured during World War II (which, in this timeline, was fought partially on American soil well into 1950s). He was brought to Chicago, where Dr. Watson, a surgeon at "Chicago Hospital," worked to replace his flesh and bones with metalic components. The resulting cyborg was super-strong, resistant to bullets and capable of limited telepathy. His new face was missing a nose, giving him a skull-like appearance.

By the year 1960, the Second World War wound down and reconstruction began. This year also saw a rise of rampant crime that the police struggled to contain. The cyborg decided to use his abilities to fight crime in Chicago as the Iron Skull.

In Amazing Comics #9, the story jumped forward to 1970, when America was once again threatened with war. The spies working for an unnamed country "spread terror throughout United States," forcing the Iron Skull to intercede. Two issues later, in 1971, war broke out in Europe and spy activities intensified.

In Amazing Comics #14, the Iron Skull set up operations in New York City. The next issue, he developed a mental link with D.A. of New York. The D.A. used that ability to alert the Iron Skull of any crime in progress.

Stars and Stripes #3, saw Iron Skull wearing a costume for the first time (a pair of trunks). The next issue, he inexplicably lost his hair and gained an ability to fly (not to mention a skull-and-crossbones logo on his chest).

Iron Skull wore a ring that he would use to stamp a skull and crossbones symbol on the foreheads of his vanquished foes.

Public Domain Appearances:

Amazing Man Comics #5-11, 14-20, 22

Stars and Stripes Comics #2-6

Notes:

The first two appearances of Iron Skull did not give any dates, nor did they reveal Iron Skull's origin. The story in Amazing Man Comics #7 revealed his origin and explained that his adventures were set in the future. The subsequent issues moved the story forward until Amazing Comics #14, when all references to future dates were dropped, and the technology got noticeably less futuristic (though a few pieces of advanced technology still occasionally showed up). Later stories included topical references to American military build-up and "the Fuhrer." This shift in setting may be due to the fact Issue 14 was when artist-writer Sam Gilman replaced the feature creator Carl Burges. Gilman either didn't know the story was supposed to be set in the past or didn't care.

Doctor Mystic

Real Name: Dr. Mystic
First Appearance: Comics Magazine #1 (1936)
Original Publisher: Centaur
Created by: Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

Golden Age Origin:

Dr. Mystic is a powerful magician and occult detective who, after responding to to an attack from a masked giant, uses his magic to grow to the giant's size and do battle. However, when he unmasks the giant, he discovers it is in fact his friend Zator. After explaining that he feigned being a menace to get Mystic's attention, Zator informs him they must travel to India and seek the Seven. The two fly off for their destination faster than the speed of light through the spirit world, but they are stopped by monsters from the netherworld who seem to have taken a young woman hostage. However, this was all a trap set by the villainous Koth, who invites Mystic and Zator to join him in opposing the Seven. The heroes refuse and lunge headlong into battle against Koth's forces. The story then ends with Koth sending his monsters to combat Mystic and with the words "To be continued." Dr. Mystic can do many things thanks to his magic, but only super speed, flight, and growth are demonstrated in this story.

Golden Age Appearance:

Comics Magazine #1

Dash the Human Meteor

Real Name: Dash (Dashford) Dartwell
First Appearance: Amazing-Man Comics #22 (1941)
Original Publisher: Centaur
Created by: Harry Francis Campbell

Golden Age Origin:

Dash Dartwell was a college athlete at Dravrah University. He was given Metabo-tablets by his bio-chemistry professor, Dr. Drew Moss. The pills gave him powers such as superhuman speed and recovery. Each tablet's effect only lasted for a comparatively short time. He used the pills to win an inter-college track meet against rival school Elay University, breaking four world records at the same time. The press dubbed him the Human Meteor, a name he later used when he decided to use his new abilities to fight criminals such as Slug.

Golden Age Appearances:

Amazing-Man Comics #21-22

Stars and Stripes Comics #2

The Arrow #3

Blue Lady

Real Name: Lucille Martin
First Appearance: Amazing-Man Comics #24 (1941)
Original Publisher: Centaur
Created by: Frollo

Bluebird

Origin:

Lucille Martin, an adventurous novelist, was returning from a vacation in China when she met an elegant Chinese lady. This lady asked Lucille to safeguard a package for her. In the event that she should be meet with foul-play, she was to deliver the package to Chin Liang in Washington, DC. The lady also gave her a bluebird-shaped ring which was said to grant superpowers to the wearer.

One night, the power went out, and Martin knew that people had come for the package. While hiding in her bedroom, she began playing with the Bluebird Ring, but it fell off and she then stepped on it in the dark. This released some of the gas within it, which Lucille breathed in, not noticing until it was too late. The gas she inhaled gave her the strength of ten men, heightened reflexes and possibly resistance to up to 38 caliber bullets. In her second adventure these powers could be neutralized by the villains covering the ring on her finger with oil (although depriving her of the ring entirely would supposedly bring bad luck). By her third adventure she had learned to release the blue gas as a mist that made her temporarily invisible which came in useful against the Trigger and his gang of white-hooded thugs.

Public Domain Appearances:

Amazing Man Comics #24-26

Airman

Real Name: Drake Stevens
First Appearance: Keen Detective Funnies #23 (1940)
Original Publisher: Centaur
Created by: George Kapitan & Harry Sahle

Origin:

Professor Claude Stevens, a renowned ornithologist, was senselessly murdered. His son Drake was outraged and received no justice from the police. So Drake put together a costume consisting of a pair of gas-filled wings and some bombs and went hunting for criminals. The gas made his wings lighter than air. Later, he added a jet pack that allowed him to travel over long distances at much faster speeds. He also used a gun in several adventures.

Public Domain Appearances: 

Detective Eye #1-2

Keen Detective Funnies #23-24