Miss Fear (or simply, Fear) was a recurring character in Blackhawk comics (published by Quality Comics, later bought by DC Comics) between 1946 and 1948. Her first appearance in Modern Comics #49 (May, 1946) told her origin as daughter of the slain leader of an obscure nation in central Asia. When Blackhawk and his men arrived to investigate the murder, they found Fear always a half-step ahead on her vendetta, ruthlessly avenging her father with a Tommy gun.
Further Golden Age appearances by Miss Fear included Blackhawk Comics issues 13, 14, 17, 19, 20, and 22 (December, 1948). In these stories she developed a distinctly romantic yet seemingly unrequited interest in Blackhawk, meanwhile involving and assisting the team in various cases and missions, usually in central Asia. Fear displayed an impressive array of skills including flying, horsemanship, martial arts, and wielding a bullwhip, as well as crack marksmanship. The conclusion of the final story, however, seemed to imply that she was resigned to disappointment in carrying a torch for Blackhawk.
In 1998, Miss Fear returned in a somewhat different form in the four-issue miniseries Guns of the Dragon, by Timothy Truman, starring Enemy Ace and Bat Lash. Set in China, 1927, this story depicted her as a young, half-Chinese / half-Caucasian spy in service of the communists. The plot also involved a recurring Blackhawk villain, the Thunderer, as well as a brief appearance by Chop-Chop, although his age at that point seems impossible to reconcile with his later career as Blackhawk's sidekick. The outcome of the adventure led Fear to reconsider her loyalty to the communists and suggested her future as a freelance freedom-fighter. However, her only subsequent appearance thus far has been in the form of a limited edition 1/6 scale G.I. Joe action figure, produced by Dreams & Visions in 2003, licensed by Hasbro and DC Comics.
Quality Comics was an American comic book publishing company which operated from 1937 to 1956 and was a creative, influential force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of Comic Books.
Blackhawk is the eponymous fictional character of the long-running comic book series Blackhawk first published by Quality Comics and later by DC Comics. Primarily created by Chuck Cuidera with input from both Bob Powell and Will Eisner, the Blackhawk characters first appeared in Military Comics #1.
James F. Steranko is an American graphic artist, comic book writer/artist, comics historian, magician, publisher and film production illustrator.
Notable events of 1963 in comics.
Fawcett Comics, a division of Fawcett Publications, was one of several successful comic book publishers during the Golden Age of Comic Books in the 1940s. Its most popular character was Captain Marvel, the alter ego of radio reporter Billy Batson, who transformed into the hero whenever he said the magic word "Shazam!".
Notable events of 1965 in comics.
The Human Bomb is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Police Comics #1, and was created by writer and artist Paul Gustavson.
Lady Blackhawk is an alias used by three fictional comic book characters appearing in American comic books. The first, Zinda Blake, was introduced in a DC Comics publication in 1959 ; the second, Natalie Reed, appeared in a DC Comics title in 1988. The third, as-yet-unnamed, Lady Blackhawk debuted in a DC Comics title in 2011. All three characters were aviators and soldiers.
Spy Smasher is the name of two fictional characters appearing in comics published by Fawcett and DC Comics. The first is a superhero that was formerly owned and published by Fawcett Comics. The second is a female anti-terrorism government agent and published by DC.
Otto Oscar Binder was an American author of science fiction and non-fiction books and stories, and comic books. He is best known as the co-creator of Supergirl and for his many scripts for Captain Marvel Adventures and other stories involving the entire superhero Marvel Family. He was prolific in the comic book field and is credited with writing over 4,400 stories across a variety of publishers under his own name, as well as more than 160 stories under the pen-name Eando Binder.
The Escapist is a superhero character created by Michael Chabon in the 2000 novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. In the novel, the Escapist is a fictional character created by the comics writer protagonists. The character later featured in the metafictional work Michael Chabon Presents the Amazing Adventures of the Escapist and Brian K. Vaughan's comic The Escapists.
Notable events of 1951 in comics.
Paul Gustavson was a Finnish-American comic-book writer and artist. His most notable creations during the Golden Age of Comic Books were The Human Bomb for Quality Comics, and the Angel, who debuted in Marvel Comics #1, the first publication of Marvel Comics forerunner Timely Comics. The Angel would star in more than 100 stories in the 1940s. The Human Bomb would later be acquired by DC Comics and make sporadic appearances as late as 2005.
Captain Triumph is a superhero from the Golden Age of Comics who first appeared in Crack Comics #27, published in January 1943 by Quality Comics. He continued to appear until the end of the series with issue #62.
Ethnic stereotypes in comics have evolved over time, reflecting the changing political climate.
The Blue Snowman is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics publications and related media, commonly as a recurring adversary of the superhero Wonder Woman. Created by writer William Moulton Marston and artist Harry G. Peter, the character debuted in 1946 in Sensation Comics #59 as a high-tech extortionist named Byrna Brilyant who used a fearsome costumed persona to coerce money out of innocent victims.
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.
William Woolfolk was an American writer known for his range of writing output, having achieved success in the areas of comic books, novels, and television screenwriting. A graduate of New York University, Woolfolk went to work in advertising before joining the comic book industry in the 1940s.
Military Comics, later Modern Comics, was a comic book anthology title published by Quality Comics during the Golden Age of Comic Books from 1941 until 1950. The first issue of Military Comics is notable for featuring the debut of Blackhawk, Blue Tracer, and Miss America.