Fox Feature Syndicate and Holyoke Publishing Blue Beetle

the first appearance of blue beetle, mystery men comics #1 (1939). art charles nicholas.

the original golden age blue beetle dan garret, son of police officer killed criminal. fox feature syndicate version of character debuted in mystery men comics #1 (august 1939), , began appearing in own 60-issue series shortly thereafter. fox feature syndicate sponsored blue beetle day @ 1939 new york world s fair on august 7, 1940, beginning @ 10:30 a.m. , including 300 children in relay-race finals @ field of special events, following preliminaries in new york city parks. race broadcast on radio station wmca.

rookie patrolman dan garret fought crime blue beetle without benefit of superhuman abilities. garret later donned bulletproof blue costume (described garret being chain-mail made of cellulose material thin , light silk stronger steel ) , temporarily gained superhuman strength , stamina ingesting mysterious vitamin 2x . green hornet, blue beetle use signature scarab symbol bedevil criminals, leaving found, hanging down room on string , projecting enlarged image onto wall flashlight.

the supporting cast remained stable throughout original run , included joan mason, beautiful blond reporter daily blade star in own backup stories, , mike mannigan, dan s stereotypically irish partner on force believed despite evidence contrary blue beetle criminal , trying arrest him little success. dr. franz, local pharmacist , inventor of bulletproof suit , 2-x formula (as many other handy gadgets, including portable wireless telephone half century before came common use), played large role in issues faded cast. beetle had short-lived spunky kid sidekick in form of sparkington j. northrup (sparky), wore abbreviated version of beetle s costume later went action wearing regular clothes.

during world war ii, dan garret became government agent sent overseas on secret missions, after peace declared returned old role of neighborhood cop. blue beetle s powers increased on time him gaining ability fly , x-ray vision among other bizarre talents changed issue issue @ whim of writers. however, when superheroes fell out of vogue in late 1940s, fox started downplay superheroic aspects , superhuman abilities removed, , considerably darker adventures became full of sadistic violence , scantily-clad women until relegated hosting true crime stories before character went on hiatus.

a popular character in era, blue beetle had own short-lived comic strip, drawn pseudonymous jack kirby , others, , radio serial ran 48 thirteen-minute episodes.