Read more about The Shield at: Wikipedia Official Site: DC Comics The Shield is the name of several fictional patriotic superhero created by MLJ (now known as Archie Comics). The Shield has the distinction of being one of the first superheroes with a costume based upon the American Flag, appearing fourteen months before Captain America, who has a similar origin. The name was used by MLJ/Archie for 3 characters. DC Comics' Impact line, which were licensed versions of the Archie characters, also used the name for several characters. DC has announced plans to integrate the Shield and other MLJ characters into their DC Universe (DCU) line of superhero characters. The characters' initial DCU appearances will be written by J. Michael Straczynski . The Shield first appeared in MLJ's Pep Comics #1 (January, 1940). The character was created by writer Harry Shorten and artist Irv Novick. At the end of the 1930s, America was feeling patriotic, and The Shield was the first patriotic hero. He was soon followed by three other patriotic comic characters: Minute-Man (February 1941), Captain America (early 1941), and Captain Battle (May 1941). The origin of The Shield was in Shield-Wizard Comics #1 (Summer 1940). He is really chemist Joe Higgins, the son of Lieutenant Tom Higgins who was slain by German saboteur, Hans Fritz in the Black Tom explosion, for which Tom was blamed while working on a chemical formula for super-strength which the Nazis were after. After his death, son Joe continued to work on it while continuing his studies of chemistry. Joe finally figured out the solution, which meant applying the chemicals to certain parts of his anatomy: Sacrum, Heart, Innervation, Eyes, Lungs, Derma, and using x-rays to give him super strength, being able to make great leaps, and invulnerability. The initials also gave him his name. His white costume becomes the familiar colours under the process. He became an FBI agent (whose secret identity is known only to FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover) after clearing his father's name, and fought foreign agents and other threats to America. |
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The Shield