Superheros (and fashion) in the 1930s

Yesterday at my children's primary school was Superhero Day - a day for the kids, and teachers, to dress up and raise money for charity - in this case the Royal Flying Doctor's Service.   The kids put together their own costumes, and this is what they came up with:

According to Wikipedia  a superhero is a (fictional) character "of unprecedented physical prowess dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest."  My three superheros were apparently  "Nightmare Scaring away boy', "Super Buccaneer Boo" and 'Rosie Oz Girl,"  more costumed crime-fighters than true super heroes.  They used to love to dress up as superheros like superman when they smaller, and I guess all children like to think they are bigger, stronger and tougher than they are, and able to fight baddies.

Superman, 1938

Many of the superheroes we know today were created in the 1930's. Maybe the era of the great depression needed this form of escapism more than ever before, and comics , especially were  a cheap, easy to read, form of entertainment.  Superman began life in a comic book in June 1938, and Batman the following year, but there were other superheroes in the 1930's, some like The Lone Ranger and the Green Hornet who began on radio, in 1933 and 1936 respectively.

Yo Silver to the Rescue 1939

Mandrake the Magician (1934) and The Phantom (1936) began as cartoons in newspaper, as did a superhero I haven't heard of, The Phantom Magician (1935), named to make things confusing perhaps. Nonetheless, Mandrake and the Phantom Magician in Mel Graff's 'The Adventures of Patsy' are regarded by comics historians as the first superheroes of comics.  Here's an example of 'Patsy', although the superheros don't feature.

1930s

"Mandrake the Magician" was created by Lee Falk in 1934.  Falk's career began in advertising before a  move to radio. His interest in magic led him to create a character who would solve crimes and mysteries through the use of reason and magic.  The dapper, moustached magician remains one of the most famous characters in the comic strip medium, his adventures appearing in newspapers worldwide. Mandrake uses his legendary powers of hypnotism and illusion to combat crime, fighting a variety of villains including gangsters, mad scientists, extraterrestrials, and characters from other dimensions.  The series was turned into a 12 chapter movie in 1939. (My son wants a top hat so he can be Mandrake next dress up day!).

Mandrake Book, 1935

Falk apparently came up with the name Mandrake after the poisonous plant of the same name.  Phil Davis, the eventual artist of the cartoon strip, changed the look of his character somewhat to match that of Leon Mandrake, (1911 - 1993), a magician in England from the age of eleven who started touring North America at age sixteen.  First billed as “Leon,” and later as “Leon the Ventriloquist,” by the mid-1940's he was being billed as “Mandrake the Magician.”

Leon Mandrake, c. 1940

The Phantom was also created by Falk, and stars a costumed crime fighter operating from the fictional African country Bangalla.  The people believe him to be immortal, but The Phantom is the 21st in a line that began in 1536, when his ancestor Christopher Walker vowed to avenge his father's death and fight evil, starting the legacy of the Phantom that would be passed from father to son.  Totally human, the  Phantom has to rely on his strength, intelligence, and immortal reputation to defeat his enemies.

In Australia, The Australian Woman’s Mirror magazine began publishing the Phantom in September 1936, nearly seven months after the series made its US debut in the Hearst-owned New York Journal-American newspaper.

The Phantom, 1936

Of course the Phantom was made into a movie in 1996 with Billy Zane, and Kristy Swanson as his wife, Diana Palmer, and while not brilliant, it does have some great costumes.

Billy Zane and Kristy Swanson, The Phantom, 1996

There have been other recent superhero remakes, which is a  great way to see some lovely 30's inspired outfits while keeping your family happy - especially the boys (mine get sick of watching original 1930's movies).  Margo Lane (Penelope Ann Miller) has some stunning outfits in the 1994 version of 'The Shadow,' where Alec Baldwin is in the lead role.

Margo Lane, The Shadow 1994

Dick Tracy, first created as a newspaper comic in 1931, was made into a movie in 1990 starring Warren Beatty and Madonna.  Done in a real comic book style, the outfits, cars  and sets are amazing.

Madonna and Warren in Dick Tracy, 1990

Other 1930s superhero and action figure creations include:

Dan Dunn ,1933 by Norman Marsh
Flash Gordon, 1934 by Alex Raymond
Doctor Occult (Doctor Mystic), 1935 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster for New Fun Comics
The Clock, 1936 by George Brenner for Funny Picture Stories
Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, 1937 by Will Eisner and S.M. "Jerry" Iger for Wags
Zatara, 1938 by Fred Guardineer for Action Comics
Arrow, 1938 by Paul Gustavson for Funny Pages
Crimson Avenger, 1938 by Jim Chambers for Detective Comics
Namor the Sub-Mariner, 1939 by Bill Everett for Motion Picture Funnies Weekly
Wonder Man (Fox), 1939 by Will Eisner for Wonder Comics
The Flame (Gary Preston), 1939 by Will Eisner for Wonderworld Comics
The Sandman, 1939 by Gardner Fox and Bert Christman for World's Fair Comics
Blue Beetle (Dan Garret), 1939 by Charles Nicholas for Mystery Men Comics
Bozo the Iron Man, 1939 by George Brenner for Smash Comics
Amazing Man, 1939 by Bill Everett for Amazing-Man Comics
The Angel, 1939 by Paul Gustavson for Marvel Comics
The Human Torch, 1939 by Carl Burgos for Marvel Comics
Shock Gibson, 1939 by Maurice Scott for Speed Comics
Doll Man, 1939 by Will Eisner for Feature Comics
Ôgon Batto (the Golden Bat), 1930 by Takeo Nagamatsu for Kamishibai (Japanese scroll show)

So many possible movies, and costumes. I can't wait to see the new Lone Ranger movie when it comes out.   I saw the 1980 movie version of Flash Gordon at the movies for my 10th birthday. I recently re-watched it with the kids - that is one movie really ready for a remake, although the costumes are pretty fabulous. And Timothy Dalton is, well, in it.

Timothy Dalton and Ornella Muti, the baddies in Flash Gordon, 1980

Whose your favourite superhero?  For a full list of who and when, go here.

More super hero images on tumblr.

Deb xxx