Red Bee (character)

Last updated
Red Bee
Redbeedcu0.jpg
The Jenna Raleigh version of Red Bee, art by Daniel Acuña.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance (Rick) Hit Comics #1 (July 1940), (Jenna) Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #5 (January 2007)
Created by Toni Blum
Charles Nicholas
In-story information
Alter egoRichard Raleigh
Jenna Raleigh
SpeciesRichard Raleigh:
Human
Jenna Raleigh:
Bee/human hybrid
Team affiliations(Rick):
All-Star Squadron
(Both):
Freedom Fighters
Abilities(Rick):
Carries a special "Stinger Gun"
Use of trained bees
(Jenna):
Currently:
Human/insect biology that grants:
Enhanced physical attributes
Pheromone production
Ability to "mark" people for later tracking
Formerly:
Use of two large robotic bees which fire electricity blasts
Wears a mechanized battle suit that grants:
Enhanced strength
Flight

Red Bee is the name of two fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books.

Contents

The first Red Bee debuted in Hit Comics #1, published in July 1940 by Quality Comics. The character was obtained by DC Comics in 1956 and has since fallen into public domain.

The second, written as the grandniece or granddaughter of the original, first appeared in Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #5.

Fictional character biography

Richard Raleigh

Cover to Hit Comics #1 (July 1940). Hit Comics 1.jpg
Cover to Hit Comics #1 (July 1940).

The Red Bee's secret identity is Rick Raleigh, assistant district attorney in Superior City, Oregon. [1] His superhero modus operandi is to put on a red and yellow costume and, with his trained bees and "stinger gun", fight Nazis and gangsters. His favorite bee is named Michael and lives inside his belt buckle for use in special circumstances. [2] He has a series of adventures which lasts until issue #24 (Oct 1942). [3]

According to Jess Nevins' Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes, "he fights enemies like the evil spiritualist Dr. Marah, the Swordsmen (who use electrified swords), and Yellow Peril hatchet men". [4]

The character never became very popular, and was largely forgotten until reappearing in DC Comics' All-Star Squadron . [5] In the 'Squadron', it is learned he was killed by the Nazi supervillain Baron Blitzkrieg while saving the lives of Hourman and other allies. The group Freedom Fighters was formed out of the Squadron and the Red Bee was made an honorary member. [6]

Red Bee appears as a ghost in the pages of Starman . The focus of this appearance is a dinner party attended by many deceased heroes. Other heroes in attendance include the original Mr. Terrific and Hourman. The topic discussed is the intense appeal of the superhero life. [7]

Other post-Crisis appearances include a cameo in Animal Man in which the character resides in a canceled characters' "limbo", and in Bizarro World, where he and his agent attempt to improve his marketability. [8] He is mentioned by Plastic Man as having been a friend and drinking buddy in an issue of JLA .

During the "Dark Nights: Death Metal" storyline, Red Bee is among the superheroes that were revived by Batman using a Black Lantern ring. [9]

A panel in "The New Golden Age" one-shot revealed that Red Bee had a sidekick named Ladybug where she gained her size-shifting powers and Ladybug costume from Red Bee after he restored her to normal size during an attack from Professor Pollen. She proved to be a morale booster for Red Bee during their adventures until she vanished one day. [10] Following Red Bee's death, it was revealed that Ladybug's parents watched over the farm until they sold it to his granddaughter Rachel. She is still running it in her 70s as Stargirl plans to have Rachel meet Ladybug. [11]

Jenna Raleigh

Rick's grandniece, Jenna, takes up the mantle of the Red Bee. She uses a mechanized battle suit and two robotic bees that can fire electricity. [12] She assists the group in fighting S.H.A.D.E., an evil governmental organization. She soon learns that the leader of the Freedom Fighters Uncle Sam has assisted with the development of her technology. She decides to stay and fight with the group. Moments after this, she sees the death of the Invisible Hood, another ally, killed by a S.H.A.D.E.-influenced Ray.

Over the course of Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters vol. 2 (2007), Jenna is mutated by an alien insect colony into a human/bee hybrid, with enhanced physical abilities, pheromone production capabilities, and antennae on her head.

However, her mind is later completely circumvented by the mutation. After trying to colonize the entire Earth, she is cured of her affliction when Lanford Terrill uses his new Neon powers to destroy the insect influence. By the series' end, Jenna feels guilt over her actions, and she eschews the superhero life to continue her work in the research field.

Powers and abilities

Richard Raleigh had no superpowers but carried a special "Stinger Gun" and he specialized in the use of trained bees. [13]

Jenna Raleigh possesses a human/insect biology which grants her enhanced physical attributes, pheromone production and the ability to "mark" people for later tracking. She formerly wore a mechanized battle suit which granted her enhanced strength and flight and used two large robotic bees that could fire electricity blasts.

Reception

In American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944, comics historian Kurt Mitchell calls the Golden Age strip "inane", and describes it in a dismissive way: "... a masked mystery-man aided by the trained bees he stored in his belt buckle. No, that's not a typo. Bees. Trained bees. In his belt buckle". [13]

In other media

The Richard Raleigh incarnation of Red Bee appears in Teen Titans Go! #3. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justice Society of America</span> Superhero team

The Justice Society of America (JSA) is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. It was conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox during the Golden Age of Comic Books. It first appeared in All Star Comics #3, making it the first team of superheroes in comic books. Its original members were Doctor Fate, Hourman, the Spectre, Sandman, Atom, the Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All-Star Squadron</span>

The All-Star Squadron is a DC Comics superhero team that debuted in Justice League of America #193 and was created by Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway. Although the team was introduced in the 1980s, its self-titled series took place in the 1940s, retroactively inserting their narratives into the fictional history of the DC Comics superheroes. The team included many of DC's Golden Age era characters, new characters, and other World War II superheroes that DC did not own during the 1940s but later acquired. The name "All-Star Squadron" was creator Roy Thomas' reference to All Star Comics, the series that introduced the Justice Society of America, the first comic book superhero team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freedom Fighters (comics)</span>

The Freedom Fighters is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original six characters were the Black Condor, Doll Man, the Human Bomb, the Ray, the Phantom Lady, and Uncle Sam. Although the characters were created by Quality Comics, they never were gathered in a group before being acquired by DC. The team first appeared in a Justice League of America/Justice Society of America team-up, which ran in Justice League of America #107–108, written by Len Wein and drawn by Dick Dillin. Their own ongoing series premiered with Freedom Fighters #1, written by Gerry Conway and Martin Pasko, and drawn by Ric Estrada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doll Man</span> Fictional superhero from the Golden Age of Comics

Doll Man is a superhero first appearing in American comic books from the Golden Age of Comics, originally published by Quality Comics and currently part of the DC Comics universe of characters. Doll Man was created by cartoonist Will Eisner and first appeared in a four-page story entitled "Meet the Doll Man" in Feature Comics #27. He was Quality's first super-powered character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courtney Whitmore</span> Fictional human

Courtney Elizabeth Whitmore, known as Stargirl, is a superhero created by Geoff Johns and Lee Moder who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character's name, appearance, and personality were patterned after Johns' 18-year-old sister Courtney, who died in the explosion of TWA Flight 800 in 1996.

<i>Adventure Comics</i> Comic book series

Adventure Comics is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1938 to 1983 and revived from 2009 to 2011. In its first era, the series ran for 503 issues, making it the fifth-longest-running DC series, behind Detective Comics, Action Comics, Superman, and Batman. The series was revived in 2009 through a new "#1" issue by artist Clayton Henry and writer Geoff Johns. It returned to its original numbering with #516. The series ended again with #529 prior to a company-wide revision of DC's superhero comic book line, known as "The New 52".

Miss America is a superheroine from the DC Comics Universe. She was first created by Quality Comics in Military Comics #1, and was carried over to DC Comics when they purchased Quality in the 1950s. While the original Golden Age character is in public domain, the subsequent versions created by DC Comics are not.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phantom Lady</span> Fictional superheroine

Phantom Lady is a fictional superheroine appearing in media published by Quality Comics and DC Comics. She was created by the Eisner & Iger studio, one of the first to produce comics on demand for publishers. The character's early adventures were drawn by Arthur Peddy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human Bomb</span> Comics character

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clock (character)</span> Hero from the Golden Age of Comics

The Clock is a fictional masked crime-fighter character created in 1936, during the Golden Age of Comic Books. He was the first fully-masked hero to appear in American comic books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Wave</span> Fictional superhero in the DC Comics universe

Air Wave is the name of three superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first two were active in the Golden Age of Comic Books. The third appears in comics in the 21st century.

Firebrand is a name of different characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congorilla</span> Fictional gorilla which appear in DC Comics and Vertigo Comics

Congorilla, originally a human character known as Congo Bill, is a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and Vertigo Comics. Originally co-created by writer Whitney Ellsworth and artist George Papp, he was later transformed into Congorilla by Robert Bernstein and Howard Sherman. The character first appeared in More Fun Comics #56.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neon the Unknown</span> Superhero created for Quality Comics

Neon the Unknown is a fictional superhero from the Golden Age of Comic Books created by Jerry Iger for Quality Comics. Neon first appeared in a story penciled and inked by Lou Fine in Hit Comics #1 and was featured on the cover. His stories ran in issues 1–17.

Red Torpedo is the name of two fictional characters, one originally published by Quality Comics and another currently owned by DC Comics. The original is a superhero named Jim Lockhart while the second is an android created by T. O. Morrow. Jim Lockhart debuted in Crack Comics #1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invisible Hood</span> Fictional supuerhero in DC Comics

The Invisible Hood is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics Universe. He was originally owned by Quality Comics, but was later acquired by DC Comics, along with other Quality characters. He first appeared in Smash Comics #1, and was created by Art Pinajian, who illustrated the story under the pseudonym "Art Gordon".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jester (Quality Comics)</span> Superhero in Quality / DC Comics

Jester is a fictional character, a Golden Age superhero created by Paul Gustavson and published by Quality Comics. He first appeared in Smash Comics #22. Like most of Quality's characters, the Jester was later purchased by DC Comics and incorporated into their universe. Though little used by the company, he appeared in All-Star Squadron #31 and #60 and Starman #46. The character's last Golden Age appearance was in Smash Comics #85.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sylvester Pemberton</span> Comics character

Sylvester Pemberton, alternately known as The Star-Spangled Kid and Skyman, is a superhero in the DC Comics universe. Sylvester first appeared in Star Spangled Comics #1 and was created by Jerry Siegel and Hal Sherman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hourman (Rex Tyler)</span> Fictional superhero in DC Comics

Hourman is a fictional superhero appearing in comics published by DC Comics. He is known as the original Hourman. He was created by writer Ken Fitch and artist Bernard Baily in Adventure Comics #48, during the Golden Age of Comic Books. He continued to appear in Adventure Comics until issue #83.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles McNider</span> DC comics fictional superhero

Charles McNider is a fictional superhero in DC Comics. The character appeared for the first time in All-American Comics #25.

References

  1. ↑ DC Atlas: Pacific Northwest Region
  2. ↑ Morris, Jon (2015). The League of Regrettable Superheroes: Half Baked Heroes from Comic Book History. Philadelphia: Quirk Books. p. 106-109. ISBN   978-1-59474-763-2.
  3. ↑ Benton, Mike (1992). Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company. p. 167. ISBN   0-87833-808-X . Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  4. ↑ Nevins, Jess (2013). Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes. High Rock Press. p. 218. ISBN   978-1-61318-023-5.
  5. ↑ Koolman, Mike; Amash, Jim (2011). The Quality Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 179–180. ISBN   978-1605490373.
  6. ↑ Thomas, Roy (2006). The All-Star Companion: Vol 2. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 95. ISBN   978-1893905375.
  7. ↑ Starman #37 (1997). DC Comics.
  8. ↑ "Comics Review: Bizarro World | Arts | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  9. ↑ Dark Nights: Death Metal #5. DC Comics.
  10. ↑ The New Golden Age #1. DC Comics.
  11. ↑ Justice Society of America Vol. 4 #6. DC Comics.
  12. ↑ Greenberger, Robert (2008), "Freedom Fighters", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 131, ISBN   978-0-7566-4119-1, OCLC   213309017
  13. 1 2 Mitchell, Kurt; Thomas, Roy (2019). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 36. ISBN   978-1605490892.
  14. ↑ "Teen Titans Go! #3 - Idol Hands (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
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.