Hop Harrigan

Last updated
Hop Harrigan
Hop Harrigan.jpg
Hop Harrigan as depicted in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #10 (December 1985). Art by Terry Beatty.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance All-American Comics #1 (April 1939)
Created byJon Blummer
In-story information
Alter egoHop Harrigan
Notable aliasesThe Guardian Angel; Black Lamp
Abilities Aviation

Hop Harrigan (also known as The Guardian Angel and Black Lamp) is a fictional character published by All-American Publications. He appeared in American comic books, radio serials and film serials. He was created by Jon Blummer, and was a popular comic book character in 1940s, during the events of World War II.

Contents

Publication history

The character first appeared in the anthology comic book series All American Comics #1 (April 1939) by the All-American Publications publishing company, as one of the early aviation heroes in comic history. [1] [2] He was a recurring character, appearing in many magazines including anthology magazines like All-Flash , All-Star Comics , Green Lantern , Mutt & Jeff , Wonder Woman , Comic Cavalcade , Sensation Comics and Flash Comics . [3]

For a brief period in 1941, Blummer considered turning Hop Harrigan into a superhero, as many other strips were converting to follow the new trend. Harrigan appeared in costume from March to July, and then Blummer dropped the idea. [4]

Fictional summary

Hop Harrigan had been orphaned by his father, a legendary pilot, who disappeared on a flight to South America to see his wife. Hop's story begins with him being raised by his neighbor, the cruel farmer Silas Crane, who gets legal guardianship of him to obtain Hop's inheritance.

When Hop Harrigan is a teenager, Crane tries to destroy a biplane that had once been in the possession of Hop's father. Seeing this, Hop angrily knocks the old man to the ground and escapes in the biplane, not planning to return. He arrives at an airport where he saves the life of mechanic Tank Tinker, who became his friend and companion. [5] Tank gives Harrigan his nickname when he said, "Some hop, Harrigan".

Later, Hop, Tank and Prop Wash (the pilot who accidentally endangers Tank), along with help from an heiress (who later becomes Hop's girlfriend), set up the All-American Aviation Company, and they have a variety of exciting adventures. Hop briefly takes on the costumed identity of the Guardian Angel. [6]

By the time World War II comes, as with most other comics of the time, the Hop Harrigan comic has World War II themed adventures as Hop, Tank and Prop join the US Army Air Corps in service of the war effort.

Shortly after the war, the character appears for a while under the alias the Black Lamp. [7]

21st century

Hop Harrigan returns in the pages of Batman: The Brave and the Bold vol. 2 #1-3 when a mysterious package containing a ring & a map with the secret message 'Save Me' is sent to Clark Kent, who as Superman travels to the coordinates, finding a hidden mountain fortress known as the Eidos Citadel. After infiltrating the citadel, Superman is incapacitated within a Kryptonite dungeon with Harrigan, who apparently hasn't aged. Harrigan reveals he and Tank crashed while pursuing a villain named Robomb, and while Hop survived, Tank perished from his injuries in the crash. [8] The capture of Harrigan and Superman is revealed to be the plot of Dr. Anthelme, who intend to erase Superman from the memory of the world the same way he erased Harrigan (who at the time of his disappearance had a popular TV series including toy 'decoder rings' that fans would wear). While Superman is being tortured by Anthelme, Harrigan uses the ring returned to him by Superman to escape, rescuing a still-weak Superman from Anthelme before taking off in a plane. However, it is revealed that he has forgotten how to fly due to manipulation from Dr. Anthelme and the plane crashes in the ocean. Superman survives, but with no memory of Harrigan or even what he was doing before being rescued by a cargo ship. [9]

In other media

Hop Harrigan appears in a self-titled radio series, voiced by Chester Stratton. [10]

Hop Harrigan appears in a self-titled film serial, portrayed by William Bakewell.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<i>All-American Comics</i> American anthology comic book series

All-American Comics is a comics anthology and the flagship title of comic book publisher All-American Publications, one of the forerunners of DC Comics. It ran for 102 issues from 1939 to 1948. Characters created for the title, including Green Lantern, the Atom, the Red Tornado, Doctor Mid-Nite, and Sargon the Sorcerer, later became mainstays of the DC Comics line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Beetle</span> Name of multiple DC Comics superheroes

Blue Beetle is the name of three superheroes appearing in a number of American comic books published by a variety of companies since 1939. The most recent of the companies to own rights to Blue Beetle is DC Comics, which bought the rights to the character in 1983, using the name for three distinct characters over the years.

<i>Enemy Ace</i> Fictional character

Enemy Ace is a DC Comics property about the adventures of a skilled but troubled German anti-hero and flying ace in World War I and World War II, Hans von Hammer, known to the world as "The Hammer of Hell". Debuting in 1965, the comic was written by Robert Kanigher and drawn by Joe Kubert and the character has been revived several times since by other writers and artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ambush Bug</span> Fictional character

Ambush Bug is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. His real name is supposedly Irwin Schwab, but he has mental problems that prevent him from truly understanding reality around him, so even his true identity might be no more than a delusion on his part. His origin is disputed, although the most commonly accepted origin is that Brum-El of the planet Schwab sent his clothes from his supposedly doomed planet, hoping that his wardrobe would survive, only to have it intercepted by a giant radioactive space spider. In the resulting crash, only two articles of clothing survived: the Ambush Bug suit, which was subsequently found by Irwin Schwab; and "Argh!Yle!", an argyle sock with a Doctor Doom-like complex, complete with metal mask.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inferior Five</span> DC Comics parody superhero team

The Inferior Five are a parody superhero team appearing in books by the American publisher DC Comics. Created by writer E. Nelson Bridwell and artist Joe Orlando, the team premiered in the DC Comics title Showcase #62.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slam Bradley</span> Fictional comic book character

Samuel Emerson "Slam" Bradley is a fictional character that has appeared in various comic book series published by DC Comics. He is a private detective who exists in DC's main shared universe. The character concept was created by DC Comics founder Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson and developed by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who both later became more well known as the co-creators of Superman. As one of the first ever DC characters, the character first appears in the Golden Age of Comic Books in the anthology title Detective Comics, being introduced in the first issue. He later commonly was associated with Batman and other spinoff Batman characters when revived.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uncle Sam (comics)</span> Comic book character based on the mascot

Uncle Sam is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Based on the national personification of the United States, Uncle Sam, the character first appeared in National Comics #1 and was created by Will Eisner.

<i>Sugar and Spike</i>

Sugar and Spike is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1956 through 1971, named after its main protagonists. The series was created, written, and drawn by Sheldon Mayer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultra-Man</span> Comics character

Ultra-Man is the name of two fictional comic-book superheroes, father and son, that first appeared during the 1940s, the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books. Both were characters of All-American Publications, which merged, in 1946, with DC Comics-predecessor National Periodical Publications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthro (comics)</span> Comics character

Anthro is a fictional superhero character published by DC Comics, presented as the "first boy", a caveman born to Neanderthal parents. Anthro was created by cartoonist Howard Post; he first appeared in Showcase #74.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultra the Multi-Alien</span> Comics character

Ultra the Multi-Alien is a science fiction superhero featured in comics published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Mystery in Space #103 (1965), pushing out Adam Strange and Space Ranger from that title. He was created by writer Dave Wood and artist Lee Elias.

Space Cabbie is a science fiction character in DC Comics.

The Viking Prince is a fictional Viking hero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #1, and was created by Robert Kanigher and drawn by Joe Kubert. He was one of three historical fiction characters to premiere in the first issue.

George Edward Papp was an American comics artist best known as one of the principal artists on the long-running Superboy feature for DC Comics. Papp also co-created the Green Arrow character with Mort Weisinger and co-created Congo Bill with writer Whitney Ellsworth.

<i>Hop Harrigan</i> (serial) 1946 film by Derwin Abrahams

Hop Harrigan (1946) is a Columbia film serial, based on the Hop Harrigan comic books by DC Comics. The serial comprised 15 two-reel chapters with Derwin Abrahams as the director, and Sam Katzman, the producer. Columbia Pictures was one of the last Hollywood studios to continue in postwar years with the serial format. By 1947, Universal Pictures discontinued their serials, with only Republic Pictures and Columbia continuing with serials. The last serial was Columbia's Blazing the Overland Trail (1956).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Haney</span> American comic book writer (1926–2004)

Robert Gilbert Haney, Jr. was an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics. He co-created the Teen Titans as well as characters such as Lance Bruner, Metamorpho, Eclipso, Cain, and the Super-Sons.

Francis Edward Herron was an American comic book writer and editor active in the 1940s–1960s, mainly for DC Comics. He is credited with co-creating Captain Marvel Jr. and the Red Skull, as well as such characters as Cave Carson, Nighthawk, and Mr. Scarlet and Pinky the Whiz Kid. Herron spent the bulk of his time in the comics industry writing for such characters as Green Arrow, Superman, and the Western character Tomahawk.

Jack Schiff was an American comic book writer and editor best known for his work editing various Batman comic book series for DC Comics from 1942 to 1964. He was the co-creator of Starman, Tommy Tomorrow, and the Wyoming Kid.

National Comics Publications and All-American Publications, two precursors to DC Comics, were formed publishing American comic books such as superhero comics starting in the 1930s. Primary Comic book anthology titles created by the company was More Fun Comics, Adventure Comics, Detective Comics, Action Comics, All-American Comics and Superman. Other companies like Quality Comics and Fawcett Comics would later be merged into DC. Quality started by introducing comic books like Feature Comics and Smash Comics.

Red Tornado is a codename for different characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics that appear in the mainstream and other realities. The most common of them is Ma Hunkel and the android version.

References

  1. ↑ Wallace, Daniel; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1930s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 24. ISBN   978-0-7566-6742-9. Edited by Sheldon Mayer, the title contained newspaper reprints and puzzle pages alongside original material such as Mayer's own 'Scribbly'...The features 'Hop Harrigan' and 'Red, White, and Blue' also debuted in this issue.{{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ Markstein, Don (2005). "Hop Harrigan". Don Markstein's Toonopedia . Archived from the original on 2024-05-27. Hop was introduced in All-American's first release, appropriately titled All-American Comics #1, which was dated April 1939.
  3. ↑ "Mike's Amazing World of Comics". www.mikesamazingworld.com. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  4. ↑ Mitchell, Kurt; Thomas, Roy (2019). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 75. ISBN   978-1605490892.
  5. ↑ Thomas, Roy (2006). The All-Star Companion: Vol 2. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 85. ISBN   978-1893905375.
  6. ↑ Nevins, Jess (2013). Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes. High Rock Press. p. 124. ISBN   978-1-61318-023-5.
  7. ↑ "All-American Comics #78". Grand Comics Database. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  8. ↑ Batman: The Brave and the Bold vol. 2 #2
  9. ↑ Batman: The Brave and the Bold vol. 2 #3
  10. ↑ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p.  328. ISBN   978-0-19-507678-3 . Retrieved 2019-11-17.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.