White Terror

Real Name: Mr. Fredericks
First Appearance: Wonderworld Comics #33 (January, 1942)
Original Publisher: Fox
Created by: Bob Farrow and Louis Cazeneuve

Golden Age Origin: 

Mr. Fredericks, manager of the Blue Socks baseball team, was secretly murdering factory workers using poison gas. However, one of his best players found out about the murderous secret of their manager, so the White Terror disposed of him. The clues left by the deceased player help super hero U.S. Jones in finding the killer before he could strike again.

Powers and Abilities: 

The White Terror was equipped with a dagger and vials of poisonous gas. He also wore a domed helmet like an astronaut or deep sea diver that was used to protect him from his poisonous gases. He had no powers but was a skilled chemist and climber.

Notes: 

The White Terror was also called the White Killer.

Golden Age Appearances: 

Wonderworld Comics #33

Scarecrow

Real Name: Unknown
First Appearance: The Eagle #4 (January, 1942)
Original Publisher: Fox
Created by: Unknown

Origin: 

The Scarecrow was an assassin and gang leader who worked for the Nazis during World War II. He usually operated on US soil. He almost always carried a whip, which he could use to trip and strangle his victims. He also carried a variety of firearms. He was good at getting away and possessed the strength of a maniac. He battled The Eagle on several occassions.

Golden Age Appearances: 

The Eagle #4

Thor

Real Name: Grant Farrel
First Appearance: Weird Comics #1 (1940)
Original Publisher: Fox
Created by: Pierce Rice

Origin: 

Believing that the world needed a defender, Thor, son of Odin and supreme ruler of Valhalla, bestowed upon the human Grant Farrel his own powers, which Grant used to become a crime fighter. When he transformed into Thor, Farrel could fly, throw lightning bolts, and generate storms. He wielded Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, which could be thrown hard enough to smash through multiple tanks but, like a boomerang, would return to his hand.

Public Domain Appearances: 

Weird Comics #1-5

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

Gorilla with a human brain

Real Name: Jack Castle
First Appearance: Blue Beetle #9 (October, 1941)
Original Publisher: Fox
Created by: Harry Graves

Golden Age Origin: 

Jack Castle was both a drunk and assistant to a mad scientist. He is knocked unconscious by the mad doctor, so Castle would not reveal the nature of the doctor's experiments to Elsa, the doctor's niece. Castle's brain is removed and then placed into the body of a gorilla. When he awakens from his operation, he seeks revenge. First, he kills the mad doctor, and then goes after his assistants hoping to be cured of his affliction.

Golden Age Appearances: 

Blue Beetle #9-10

Flame

Real Name: Gary Preston
First Appearance: Wonderworld Comics #3 (July 1939)
Original Publisher: Fox Features
Created by: Will Eisner & Lou Fine

Origin:

When Gary was a baby, his father, Charteris Preston, worked as a missionary in China. The elder Preston was washed away in a flood but managed to save baby Gary by placing him in a basket. The basket was washed downstream to Tibet, where Gary was rescued by a group of lamas. They raised Gary in the lamasery, where they trained him in their mystical ways. Through this training, Gary obtained the ability to control fire and heat. He can raise his own body temperature to the point where he can burst into flames or melt bullets. He can control and direct any flame in his presence. He can also teleport from place to place by appearing inside of any fire source, no matter how small. The Flame's one weakness is water, which can severely weaken him. In order to provide fire whenever he needs it, the Flame carries a small, pistol-sized flame thrower.

After the Flame was injured battling the Octopus, he instructed Linda Dale, his girlfriend, to use a secret formula that gave her the secret powers of the flame people, making her into Flame Girl.

Public Domain Appearances: 

Big 3 #1-7

Flame #1-8

Wonderworld Comics #3-33

Notes: 

In the real world, Tibet is located in mountains, so a flood couldn't carry anything "downstream" to Tibet.

Eagle

Real Name: Captain Bill Powers
First Appearance: Science Comics #1 (1940)
Original Publisher: Fox Features
Created by: Lester Raye

Origin: 

Wealthy scientist and American patriot, Bill Powers first fought the Nazis as a spy and then put on a patriotic costume and battled them as the Eagle. He was assisted by his sidekick, Buddy.

The Eagle battled many foes, including the likes of the Beast, the Gimp and the Scarecrow. The Eagle was willing to kill his enemies if need be.

Powers and Abilities: 

At one time, he had wings and could fly. Later, he developed an anti-gravity solution which he soaked his cape in before every adventure. He also possessed great strength.

Public Domain Appearances: 

Science Comics #1-8

Weird Comics #8-20

Eagle #1-4

Black Lion

Real Name: George Davis
First Appearance: Wonderworld Comics #21 (January 1941)
Original Publisher: Fox Features
Created by: Jerome Peters

Golden Age Origin:

George Davis, a very successful (and therefore bored) big game hunter, decides to go after the most dangerous game and begins hunting criminals. He is never specifically said to have superpowers, but the stories show him surviving otherwise mortal wounds in superhuman fashion. He is cat-like in his agility and strength and is a good fighter. He is helped by his side-kick, Cub.

Black Lion battled Blitz, the notorious super-criminal.

Golden Age Appearances: 

Wonderworld Comics #21-27

Bird Man

Real Name: Unknown
First Appearance: Weird Comics #1 (1940)
Original Publisher: Fox Features
Created by: Unknown

the Raven

Golden Age Origin:

The Bird Man, winged hunter of the plains and descendant of an ancient Native American god, was gifted with the ability to fly and the keenness of a bird of prey. His wings were said to be as durable as steel. He carried with him a hunting knife and a bow and quiver.

Golden Age Appearances:

Weird Comics #1-4

Moth

Real Name: Unknown
First Appearance: Mystery Men Conics #9 (April, 1940)
Original Publisher: Fox Features
Created by: Jim Mooney

Crimson Moth suit

Golden Age Origin: 

The mysterious Moth was a superhero who, whether through his own power or because of a special suit, could fly. He used his talents and abilities to fight crime. During his adventures, he stopped a kidnapping and prevented a group of villains who were trying to control the weather called the Weather Kings. He also fought various mad scientists such as one who could drain life force and another who was a Dr. Frankenstein-like grave robber called the Doc.

Golden Age Appearances:

Mystery Men Comics # 9-12

Yarko the Great

Real Name: Yarko
First Appearance: Wonder Comics #2 (1939)
Original Publisher: Fox
Created by: Will Eisner

Origin: 

Yarko the Great was a talented stage magician but, secretly, also a real mage. Using his vast magical abilities, he battled criminals and supernatural forces such as the Devil and the personification of Death.

Powers and Abilities: 

Yarko possessed force field projection, duplication, shape-shifting, invisibility, intangibility, exorcism, telekinesis, levitation, and whatever else the plot required.

He had one weakness, though - he could not use his magic unless he could see.

Public Domain Appearances: 

Wonder Comics #2

Wonderworld Comics #3-33

Blue Beetle #1

Samson #4-5

Notes:

Mr. Mystic apparently started out as a character inspired by Yarko the Great (from the same creator).

Wraith

Real Name: Gary Kennedy
First Appearance: Mystery Men #27 (1941)
Original Publisher: Fox Features Syndicate
Created by: Paul Devlln

Golden Age Origin: 

Gary Kennedy and his brother were shot down by criminals. He vowed to return from the dead to avenge his brother's death - and he did, becoming a ghost with the ability to be super strong when solid and fly or possess people as a ghost. He used his new ghostly powers to fight crime.

Golden Age Appearances: 

Mystery Men Comics #27-31

U.S. Jones

Real Name: Unknown
First Appearance: Wonderworld Comics #28 (1941)
Original Publisher: Fox Features
Created by: Bob Farrow & Louis Cazeneuve

Origin:

U.S. Jones was a patriotic crime fighter with no powers. His real name, if he had one, was never stated. He was assisted by a friend called the Grumbler. He eventually became a government-sponsored Secret Service agent. His enemies included the White Killer and Black Snake.

Public Domain Appearances: 

Wonderworld Comics #28-33

U. S. Jones #1-2

Flame Girl

Real Name: Linda Dale
First Appearance: Wonderworld Comics #30 (Nov. 1941)
Original Publisher: Fox Features
Created by: Will Eisner & Lou Fine

Origin:

After Linda Dale's boyfriend,  the Flame, was injured battling the Octopus, she use a secret formula that gave her the secret powers of the flame people, making her into Flame Girl.

Public Domain Appearances:

Wonderworld Comics #30-33