Superman is often cited as the most iconic example of a superhero. He is the classic example of a hero who is trying to do right by inspiring others and working to fight crime and improve society. Of course, the Metropolis herald from Krypton is one in a line of cultural heroes of myth in world history, so it is not surprising to learn that he is not the first superhero either.
Superman may be the codifier, but there were many before him. Some of them are even DC Comics heroes themselves. Some of them still see publish and reference today, but others are not as lucky, so it is time to pull back the cape on the oldest of the Golden Age.
The Scarlet Pimpernel
The Scarlet Pimpernel was a novel and a play published and performed in 1905. It was a historical fiction set in the reign of terror after the French Revolution. It has become something of a classic piece of theater, especially in the United Kingdom. It is also where one of the earliest possible superheroes crops up.
The story of the novel centers around the Scarlet Pimpernel, who is an English hero who rescues aristocrats before they go to the guillotine. This swashbuckling rescuer and escape artist is one-half of the double life of Sir Percy Blakeney. The contrast between the two identities reminds one very much of Bruce Wayne and Batman. The stage play has inspired screen adaptations and has persisted.
Hugo Hercules
Hugo Hercules was a short-lived newspaper comic from 1902. It is a footnote among footnotes, having a relatively short publication in the Chicago Tribune. It was not a success, and its artist, Bill Koerner, found more success as a painter. However, it is remembered today for being perhaps the earliest superhero comic.
The series centered around Hugo wandering around town, helping people he encountered. He would frequently shock them with his astounding strength while also fixing their problems. Hugo did not really fight crime, but he did pull a locomotive off its tracks, which is certainly a feat. The comic only lasted seventeen strips, so Hugo’s heroics were short-lived.
Flash Gordon
The space-faring superhero has its own vast genre. Before the days of Guardians of the Galaxy, there were Buck Rogers and John Carter, but standing above them all has to be Flash Gordon. While technically a competitor to Buck, Flash has persisted as the most popular version of this archetype.
The character began in a comic strip but spun off to films, television, books, and more. Everyone has heard the character’s theme song by Queen. The original story centered around the character going to the planet Mongo to stop its crash into Earth, as well as the adventures Flash had there. He has had conflicts with its planet’s evil ruler and plenty of adventures that codified pulp sci-fi.
The Phantom
These days, fictional countries of origin are common in comics, but when it comes to the trope’s early adopter The Phantom, his origins in Bangalla were part of his appeal. The character would operate out of this country, which was his crime-fighting headquarters. He had no powers, instead relying on a variety of gadgets.
The character was also twenty-first in a legacy of Phantoms, giving the character some weight as a backstory. In addition, he popularized the skintight outfits that became standard for superheroics. The character fought with his wolf named Devil and horse named Hero. The character has attempted revivals in the past but seems stuck to the pre-Superman era.
Sheena, Queen of the Jungle
A lot of the proto-superheroes followed in the mold of Tarzan. While definitely not considered a superhero by modern standards, in his day, Tarzan was seen as something quite extraordinary. Created in his mold was Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. She is one of DC’s oldest active characters, beating out Superman by mere months.
Sheena is also unique for being the first female character to get her own title. As is typical for this character type, she is an orphan of an explorer who died in the jungle. She grew up and learned how to communicate with the animals there. She still makes infrequent appearances in DC comics to this very day.
The Shadow
“Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!” This catchphrase is burnt in the minds of comic fans and nerds the world over, despite its age. This was the iconic sign-in to The Shadow‘s radio program. Lamont Cranston debuted in books but soon spun off to every kind of popular media.
Much like fellow early character Superman, different adaptations built and added to his mythos. When he first debuted, he was merely a human detective with multiple identities he used to sneak around. The identities were dropped by the radio adaptation, which also introduced his superpower. The Shadow was given the ability to be invisible to criminals through the mastery of hypnotism.
Domino Lady
This heroine first appeared in a pulp magazine called Saucy Romantic Adventures, which set the tone well. Debuting in 1936, Domino Lady was a masked criminal who would steal from the rich. Then she donated the proceeds to charity, kind of like a modern-day Robin Hood figure. Of course, she would always take a cut for herself.
Her true identity was California socialite Ellen Patrick, and she took up this life after the murder of her father. She is considered not only one of the earliest superheroes but also an early gentleman thief archetype. Her creator was named Lars Anderson, but that was likely a pseudonym for a more famous writer. She also still receives comics to this day.
Green Hornet
This character has a legacy beyond the underrated 2011 Seth Rogen Green Hornet film. Debuting two years before Superman, this hero seems a fusion of him and Batman. He is a news reporter by day and a crime-fighting vigilante by night. He has had radio shows, television programs, film serials, and comic books to his name.
He is also well known for his sidekick, Kato, who was played by Bruce Lee in the television show. Kato was an early version of the sidekick to his early superhero. He also has a fabulous car called the Black Beauty, which is well known by fictional car enthusiasts.
Zorro
Zorro is one of the most famous of the pre-Superman superheroes. He plays an important role in the backstory of Batman, after all. Don Diego de la Vega is the son of a wealthy landowner and is a master swordsman. He also disguises his crime-fighting by pretending to be a fop in civilian life.
He defends the citizens and indigenous people of California from unjust laws and lawmakers. This frequently ends him on the wrong side of law enforcement, but he is never caught. With his excellent acrobatics skills, he is able to constantly embarrass the police and authorities. Usually, all people see is his signature “Z” on every criminal he takes down.
The Golden Bat
This superhero has had many names since his debut in a form of Japanese puppet theater in 1930. He has been called Ōgon Bat, Golden Bat, and The Phanta Man, among other things. He has had three films, a few anime series, and still has theater performances today. He not only precedes American superheroes but Japanese Tokusatsu heroes as well.
The Golden Bat is an Atlantean skeleton from 10,000 years in the past who is discovered by Doctor Yamatone. After this, he fights evil around the world and assists Dr. Yamatone and his research team. He is essentially invulnerable, threatening evildoers such as the evil Dr. Nazō while laughing maniacally in their faces. As much as the genre has evolved over the years, most superheroes are not golden skeletons that laugh maniacally while energy and bullets bounce off of them, giving him such unique flair.
