Lash Lightning

Last updated
Lash Lightning
Publication information
Publisher Ace Comics
First appearance Sure-Fire Comics #1 (June 1940)
In-story information
Alter egoRobert Morgan
Team affiliationsThe Super-Mysterymen
PartnershipsLightning Girl
Notable aliasesFlash Lightning, Lightning
AbilitiesSuper-strength, super-speed, flight, limited invulnerability; able to generate electricity, radiate heat, and track Lightning Girl.

Lash Lightning is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in Sure-Fire Comics #1 (June 1940) from Ace Comics, [1] which was renamed Lightning Comics with issue #4 to take advantage of the new character's popularity. Originally called Flash Lightning, the character's name was changed to Lash Lightning in issue #7 to avoid confusion with DC Comics' the Flash. [2]

Contents

Lightning Comics ended with issue #13 in June 1942. In this final issue, he was joined by a sidekick, Lightning Girl.

Lash also appeared in issues #1 to 22 (Sept 1941 – March 1946) of the Ace title Four Favorites; about halfway through this run the "Lash" was dropped and he was simply named Lightning. [1] Lightning Girl joined him in issue #6. [1]

Fictional biography

Ace

In 1940, explorer Robert Morgan is delving into an Egyptian pyramid when he encounters an ancient mystic called The Old Man of the Pyramids. The mystic teaches Morgan ancient secrets, and gives him the Amulet of Annihilation, on the condition that he uses his powers to fight evil. [3]

Morgan's powers include super-strength, super-speed, flight, the ability to generate electricity and radiate "lightning heat" and a measure of invulnerability (e.g., he can contain the explosion of a grenade with his bare hands); his powers can be recharged by electricity. Returning to the United States, Morgan dons a costume and changes his name to Lash Lightning (as opposed to maintaining a secret identity). His emblem is a triangle with a thunderbolt emerging from each of its three sides. [1]

His early foes include the Mummy, an insane college professor wrapped in bandages infused with radium, and the mad scientist Mastermind. [4] His recurring villains also include a werewolf, the zombie-raising Dr. Diablo, and the Maestro, who wears a bee costume. [5]

Later, Lash’s friend Isobel Blake gains powers identical to his when he accidentally charges her with thousands of volts of electricity; she dons a costume similar to his and becomes his partner, Lightning Girl. [6] The two of them are able to track each other via their “lightning impulses.” [1]

Project Superpowers

At some point after World War II, both Lash Lightning and Lightning Girl were imprisoned in the mystical Urn of Pandora, along with many other heroes, by the misguided Fighting Yank; decades later, the Urn was broken and the heroes released. The duo were then recruited, along with six other heroes (including Magno and Davey Captain Courageous, Mr. Raven, Soldier Unknown), and The Sword, to form a team called The Super-Mysterymen; the purpose of this team has not yet been revealed.

Living Legends

Lightning Girl is one of the sixteen heroes to have hopped sixty years into the future in the pages of the Metahuman Press serial Living Legends. She was the only one of the characters to return to college in an attempt to regain a normal life, but the return of a still-young Robert Morgan has complicated matters in the still-ongoing serial.

Revival

In 2008, Lash Lightning and Lightning Girl appeared in flashback in Dynamite Entertainment’s Project Superpowers #0; in the one-shot Project Superpowers: Chapter Two Prelude, they appear in this line as part of a team called The Super-Mysterymen (presumably named after the Ace title Super-Mystery Comics).

Related Research Articles

Superhero Type of stock character

A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that possesses superpowers, abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, or dedicating themselves to protecting the public and fighting crime. Superhero fiction is the genre of fiction that is centered on such characters, especially, since the 1930s, in American comic books, as well as in Japanese media.

Black Lightning Black comic book character

Black Lightning is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character, created by writer Tony Isabella and artist Trevor Von Eeden, first appeared in Black Lightning #1, during the Bronze Age of Comic Books. While his origin story has been retconned several times, his current origin story states that he was born in the DC Universe as a metahuman, a human being with superhuman abilities. Black Lightning was DC's first African-American superhero with his own series.

Black Fury is the name of several fictional comic book characters published in the Golden Age of Comics.

Shield (Archie Comics) Character in Archie Comics

The Shield is the name of several fictional patriotic superheroes created by MLJ. Appearing months before Captain America, the Shield has the distinction of being the first superhero with a costume based upon United States patriotic iconography. The character appeared in Pep Comics from issue #1 to #65.

Terrific Whatzit

The Terrific Whatzit is a cartoon animal superhero who appears in stories published by DC Comics. DC's first talking-animal superhero, the Terrific Whatzit first appeared in Funny Stuff #1 and was created by Martin Naydel.

Daredevil (Lev Gleason Publications) American comic book superhero

Daredevil is a fictional superhero that starred in comics from Lev Gleason Publications during the 1930s–1940s period historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books, before being retroactively established into the Image Universe by Image Comics in the 1990s as its first character. The character is unrelated to Marvel Comics' Daredevil.

Hero Hotline

Hero Hotline is a fictional DC Comics corporate superteam introduced in Action Comics Weekly #637. It was created by Bob Rozakis and Stephen DeStefano.

Hydroman is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in comic books from Eastern Color Printing in 1940.

Ace Magazines was a comic-book and pulp-magazine publishing company headed by Aaron A. Wyn and his wife Rose Wyn. The Wyns had been publishing pulp fiction under the Periodical House and A. A. Wyn's Magazine Publishers names since 1928, and published comics between 1940 and the end of 1956.

The Green Mask is the name of two fictional comic book superheroes, both published by Fox Feature Syndicate. Both are in the public domain with some of the original stories having been reprinted by AC Comics.

Miss Masque

Miss Masque is a fictional masked crime-fighter. She originally appeared in comic books published by Nedor Comics, and was later revived by AC Comics, America's Best Comics, and Dynamite Entertainment.

Target and the Targeteers

The Target and the Targeteers are fictional characters, a trio of superheroes who first appeared in 1940, in Target Comics from Novelty Press.

Black Owl

The Black Owl is the name of two fictional superhero characters. Both appeared in the Prize Publications title Prize Comics in the 1940s.

Yank & Doodle is a pair of fictional superhero characters who first appeared in the Prize Publications title Prize Comics in August 1941. They were revived by Dynamite Entertainment in the 2000s.

Silver Streak (character) Fictional superhero character

Silver Streak is a fictional superhero character created by Joe Simon that first appeared in Silver Streak Comics #3, from Lev Gleason Publications. He is believed to be the second-ever comic book superhero whose primary power is speed; All-American Publications' The Flash preceded him by two months. However, Silver Streak beat out National Allied Publications' Johnny Quick as the first superhero whose two powers were speed and flight. Silver Streak has a kid sidekick called "Mercury" ; he is also assisted by a falcon named "Whiz".

Captain Courageous is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in Banner Comics #3 from Ace Comics.

The Raven is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in the Ace Comics title Sure-Fire Comics. He is based on the pulp hero "The Moon Man" published by Periodic House, the pulp publisher connected to Ace Comics.

Captain Future (Nedor Comics)

Captain Future is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in Startling Comics #1 from Nedor Comics.

Unknown Soldier (Ace Comics)

The Unknown Soldier is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in Our Flag Comics #1 from Ace Comics. The comic was devoted to patriotic superheroes, and also included Captain Victory and the Three Cheers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Lash Lightning and Lightning Girl at InternationalHero.co.uk
  2. ↑ Benton, Mike (1992). Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company. p. 170. ISBN   0-87833-808-X . Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  3. ↑ Markstein, Don. "(F)lash Lightning". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  4. ↑ Mitchell, Kurt; Thomas, Roy (2019). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940–1944. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 108. ISBN   978-1605490892.
  5. ↑ Nevins, Jess (2013). Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes. High Rock Press. p. 161. ISBN   978-1-61318-023-5.
  6. ↑ Green, Paul (2017). Encyclopedia of Weird War Stories: Supernatural and Science Fiction Elements in Novels, Pulps, Comics, Film, Television, Games and Other Media. McFarland & Co. p. 112. ISBN   978-1476666723.
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.