Long before Adolf Hitler declared war on America in December of 1941, American superhero's were fighting Hitler stand-in’s in the comics. Following the German Fuehrer’s boneheaded declaration, Hitler himself became the most-often seen villain in said comics, appearing in a multitude of titles printed by nearly every publisher. Though a few comics called out the Nazis by name within their covers occasionally, most did not. It would have been bad form—and would perhaps have drawn the displeasure of the State Department—to knock around the leader of a sovereign nation without an actual declaration of war.

Among the heroes fighting Nazi-like villains was Quality Comics’ Neon The Unknown, which ran in issues #1-17 of Quality’s Hit Comics, from June 1940 to November 1941. Sadly, Neon never had an opportunity to square-off against the real Herr Schicklgruber himself, his feature being canceled one month before American entered WW2. But, in his 17-issue run, Neon fought and defeated Hitler stand-ins—such as Otto Schickler (3 appearances) and Radolf The Dictator—or very thinly disguised German enemies—anti-American Bunds, scientist kidnappers, Fifth Columnists, etc. (some are represented above)—in 13 of those 17 stories.

Neon The Unknown’s creator was comics pioneer and legend Samuel Maxwell "Jerry" Iger—one of the first, along with his brilliant partner/artist Will Eisner, to create original material for comic books. Until the Eisner-Iger Shop—as it was known—came along, comics were merely reprints of newspaper comic strips and didn’t have much of a cultural impact. Iger was the son of an Austrian immigrant, and Eisner was of Jewish heritage. Due to their backgrounds—origins shared by a very large segment of the early comics creators—they were perhaps better acquainted than most with the trouble brewing in Hitler’s Germany, and the necessity of a then Isolationist America to join the fight.

The artist and probable co-creator of Neon The Unknown was long-time comic book artist Alex Blum (2/7/1889–9/1969). Blum is best known for his many issues of Classics Illustrated, but did work for Fox and Fiction House, as well as Quality Comics. The covers of Hit Comics #2, #4, #8, and #9—all of which featured Neon The Unknown—were wonderfully drawn by the legendary Lou Fine, who is considered by many to have been among the finest artists of the Golden Age.

Foreign Legion soldier Tom Corbet, after surviving a battle that wiped out his entire unit, becomes lost in the desert. Nearly finished from thirst, he comes upon a pool of phosphorescent water and drinks deeply. Tom is immediately revived, and discovers that his body is infused with “Neonic Powers” that allow him to do practically anything.

Neon is able to control the entire electro-magnetic spectrum and then some. He can fly through the air on a “Spiral of Light” and shoot various “Rays” from his hands. Some rays can slice things in half, cause instant death, and make objects explode. He can utilize his rays to act as magnetic tractor-beams (Paralyso-Magnetic Beam) and force-fields, while other rays can tame wild beasts or pacify rioting mobs. He is also able to pick up radio-waves without benefit of a receiver, his 'Mysterious Mind Receives Vibrations Warning Him Of Impending Disaster'—a sort of Spider-Sense—he has the power of telepathy, and can translate any language instantly as well! Basically, he could do just about anything the writer dreamt-up, no matter how absurd.

Having said all that, Neon The Unknown was a pretty entertaining feature, and I for one wish there had been many more than a measly 17 stories. When Quality Comics was absorbed and assimilated by the DC-Borg Collective, Neon The Unknown was revived and killed and revived again, etc.. But the Golden Age Neon presented here is in the public domain, and not connected continuity-wise to the current version.

The story presented below is Neon’s second appearance, from Hit Comics #2, August 1940. The villain is Radolf, The Dictator of Dunland, whose concentration camp, Rachaw (read: Dachau), really flickers Neon’s light. Enjoy!