Balbo the Boy Magician. Balbo is a child magician, the son of a stage magician, who gets real magical powers as well as stage legerdemain. He is helped by his younger brother Frankie.
First Appearance: Master Comics #33 (Fawcett)

Bald Eagle. Jack Gatling is an air ace who lost his hair while flying through a fire. His plane is the stubby, Flying Coffin. He is known and hated by the Japanese, his special enemy.
First Appearance: Air Fighters Comics #2 (Hillman)

Banshee. Jim O'Donnell's stepfather is killed in Ireland by the masked villain the Scorpion, and Jim emigrates to the U.S., where he finds the Scorpion and defeats him. He decides to begin fighting crime, to stop others from being hurt the way his stepfather was. He has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Fantastic Comics #21 (Fox)

Barney Mullen. Barney Mullen, the "Sea Rover," is a middle-aged ship owner. In his one appearance he takes on a job to get to a load of gold filigree from Lisobon to Rotterdam. This is dangerous, of course, as Rotterdam is in the war zone. Unfortunately, they are spied on in Lisbon and so are threatened by an "armored cruiser" on the open waves. Mullen runs for it and uses a fog bank to escape the cruiser, only to be attacked by a bomber (the cruiser's anti-aircraft guns fight it off) and a submarine (which torpedoes the ship once but does not do it in) and a group of mutineers (a fight drives them off, with Mullen leading the way, fists a-flying). Just beyond the Straights of Dover the ship's steam engine blows up, and the crew takes to the life boats. Mullen, being clever, had stored the gold filigree in the boats, and so his cargo gets delivered on time and everyone's happy, including Mullen, who was paid enough for the trip to replace his old ship.
First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics #1 (Timely)

Barry Finn. "Daredevil Barry Finn" is an explorer and adventurer. He is assisted by "little Tommy Grey."
First Appearance: Amazing Mystery Funnies v2 n4 (Centaur)

Barry Kuda. No, really. "Barry Kuda." He is a water-breathing blond Aryan-looking adventurer who is a native of "the underwater kindgom of Merma." He helps Merma in its fight against "the neighboring midget kingdom." (Yes, the kingdom is populated by evil midgets.) He is helped by Algie. He has no superpowers as such, although he can breath underwater and is good in a fight.
First Appearance: All New Comics #2 (Family/Harvey) Note: No, I am not making all of this up. I have witnesses who can prove this exists.

Barry O'Neill. O'Neill is a wealthy, independent playboy adventurer who attracts the anger of Fang Gow, the "inscrutable and vengeful enemy of the Human Race," who is a ruler in China and has cult members all around the world. Barry and his assistant Le Grand take on and defeat the forces of Fang Gow, and then move on to attack and defeat other international criminals, becoming the "ace spy-smashing team of the French Intelligence Office." Barry has no superpowers but is rich and good in a fight.
First Appearance: New Fun Comics #1 (DC)

Bart Regan. See The Spy.

Batman. Bruce Wayne's parents were shot by a mugger. In response, he traveled around the world, training himself to fight crime, and, inspired by a bat, put on a bat costume to do so. In his civilian identity he is a playboy millionaire. He is partnered with Robin, and is a member of the Justice Society of America. He has no powers, but is a very skilled fighter and has a whizzo utility belt full of cool gadgets.
First Appearance: Detective Comics #27 (DC).

Ben Johnson. Johnson, an expert pilot, was an American transport pilot who joined the Royal Air Force at the start of WW2.
First Appearance: Top-Notch #1 (Archie)

Betty Bates. Betty is a hungry young lawyer-on-the-make who is clever and fast and takes down whatever criminals are unfortunate enough to get in her way. She is helped by Fred Conlin, who does the leg- and arm-work for her.
First Appearance: Hit Comics #4 (Quality)

Biff Bannon. Biff is a U.S. Marine who fights against the Axis menace and has a variety of other adventures. Biff is not bright, but he is strong, as well as being honest and upright. He has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Speed Comics #1 (Harvey)

Biff Bronson. Biff Bronson and his pal Dan Druff are two young gadabouts who find crime and fight it wherever they go.
First Appearance: sometime before or in More Fun Comics #44 (DC)

Bill Barnes. This is the comic book version of the pulp character. For more information on him, see his entry on my Pulp Heroes site.
First Appearance: Bill Barnes Comics #1 (Street & Smith)

'Bill' Hardin. 'Bill' is a sheriff active in the Old West who travels and goes undercover to catch bad guys.
First Appearance: The Arrow #2 (Centaur)

Billy Gunn. Old-Timer Billy Gunn is an aging cowboy who helps the Vigilante bust heads and capture criminals. He has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Action Comics#43 (DC)

Bill Handy. "Bill Handy, ex-Olympic champion, forsakes a promising law career for a life of romance and adventure aboard his trim schooner Polaris with Pug, an orphaned cousin, and Marco, a giant West Indian Negro. They cruise among the islands and Bill becomes a sort of Robin Hood of the sea."
First Appearance: Champion Comics #2 (Harvey)

Bill Wayne. Bill Wayne is "the Texas Terror," a crimefighting wandering cowboy.
First Appearance: Silver Streak Comics #3 (Lev Gleason)

Bird Man. "Over the vast wilderness of the great Western canyons swoops the Bird Man, winged hunter of the plains. A descendant of an ancient Indian god, the Bird Man is gifted with the ability to fly and the keeness of a bird of prey." He also has a costume suspiciously similar to that of the Black Condor.
First Appearance: Weird Comics #1 (Fox)

Black Ace. See Black X.

Black Angel. Sylvia Manners, a proper English society woman, lives in an ancient castle, and when danger threatens from the air she slips into the castle's underground hangar, puts on her costume, and flies her special plane against the German scum. She is often partnered with the "Black Prince," Colonel Prince of the RAF. She has no superpowers but is an air ace and a good fighter.
First Appearance: Air Fighters Comics #2 (Hillman)

Black Avenger. Formerly the Thunderer, Jerry Carstairs was a radio operator who after becoming the Thunderer changed costumes and motifs to fight crime. He has no powers.
First Appearance: All-Winners #6 (Timely)

Black Buccaneer. "The daring exploits of English privateers are among the most colorful pages of history--top on the list of dangerous English pirates is the name of Jeffrey Scott and his black ship--The Raven!" He's also a fencing instructor in Versailles and a spy, occasionally helped by his brother Ronnie.
First Appearance: Blazing Comics #1 (Enwill Publishing)

Black Canary. Dinah Drake, who owns and runs a flower shop, is outraged by crime, so she puts on a blonde wig and a revealing costume and uses her martial skills (she knows judo) to fight the bad guys. She is partnered with private eye Larry Lance, who sees Dinah as Just A Friend but is hot for Black Canary. She has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Flash Comics #86 (DC)

Black Cat. Linda Turner, daughter of a movie star and a stunt man, became one of Hollywood's biggest stars but got bored with the make-believe life of Hollywood and decided to fight crime instead as the Black Cat. She trained herself in secret an did so. Her sidekick is Kit Weston, a young, orphaned circus acrobat. (Circus kids often get orphaned, it seems). She has no superpowers but is a skilled fighter, knows karate and acrobatics, and is good with javelin and lariat.
First Appearance: Pocket Comics #1 (Harvey)

Black Cobra. Jim Hornsby puts on a costume, teams up with his younger brother, Bob, aka Kid Cobra, and fights crime. He has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Dynamic Comics #1 (Dynamic) Note: The rights to the Black Cobra were later picked up by Four Star Publications, and the character appeared in Four Star's Captain Flight Comics.

Black Commander. Barry Haynes is a light-hearted American pilot when he is framed for treason. He is sentenced to be shot, only to be helped out by the British Chief of Military Intelligence, who gives him an escape plan. He escapes, only to be shot down by the Germans, who capture him and alter his looks so that he now looks like a German agent, and the Germans think he is. Unfortunately, the British Chief of M.I. has been captured, and he's the only one who knows that Haynes is a double agent. So Haynes steals an experimental plane, the Black Commander, and goes into action against the Germans, wanted by both sides.
First Appearance: Air Fighters Comics #1 (Hillman)

Black Condor. Richard Grey, Junior, is orphaned when his archaeologist parents are attacked and slain by Mongol warriors. Junior is raised by giant black condors and taught how to fly. Years later, he meets a hermit monk, who names him "Black Condor" and encourages him to use his powers for good. Junior agrees, and makes his way to the U.S., where he replaces the recently-murdered Senator Thomas Wright (his visual double) and fights for good as a Senator and as a costumed hero. The Condor has the ability to fly, strongly enough that he can carry others with him, and he also has a black ray gun.
First Appearance: Crack Comics #1 (Quality)

Black Crusader. Joe Mills faints and after being examined by a doctor is told that he has a blood clot in his brain and that he could die at any time. Feeling, justifiably, that he has nothing left to lose, he puts on a costume and fights crime with a vengeance. He has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Red Dragon #6 (Street and Smith)

Black Diamond. Ronald Byrd, Devourer of Worlds, donates the following:

The Black Diamond was Bob Vale, who adopted his masked identity when his family was slain by outlaws. Wielding the typical six-guns and basically indistinguishable from many another masked cowboy (although he had a diamond insignia on his shirt, that was distinctive), the Diamond would leave a playing card of that suit as a calling card, and eventually became an official U.S. Marshal, possibly the only masked one in history. A reader contest gave his horse the name Reliapon.

Black Dwarf. Shorty Wilson retires from professional football and decides to use his athletic skills to "turn the heat on the Underworld." He is assisted by: Arsenic, his best gal and lethal shootist; Nitro, an explosives expert; and the Human Fly, who is a human fly. The Dwarf has no powers but is athletic and a good fighter.
First Appearance: Red Seal Comics #14 (Harry "A" Chesler)

Black Fury. John Perry, a gossip columnist for the Daily Clarion, also writes crime reports. He decides that he can best get information by going undercover, so he puts on a disguise and goes out investigating and crime solving that way. He is partnered with "Chuck" Marley, the son of a slain cop. The Black Fury has no superpowers, but is in excellent physical shape.
First Appearance: Fantastic Comics #17 (Fox)

Black Fury (II). See Rex King.

Blackhawks. A young Polish fighter pilot takes on the German Butcher Squadron during the German invasion of Poland and shoots most of them down but is gunned down in the end. He survives the crash and goes to his parents' farm, only to find them already killed by the Germans. He vows bloody destruction for the Germans and puts together both his own airplane as well as a crack team of international pilots. He and they become the dreaded Blackhawks, among the greatest of the pilots of the Golden Age. The Blackhawks are Blackhawk, Andre, Stanislaus, Hendrickson, Olaf, Chop-Chop, Boris, Zeg, and later Chuck. They have no superpowers but look really cool.
First Appearance: Military Comics #1 (Quality)

Black Hood. Kip Burland, a night cop, is framed for a jewel robbery. While investigating the real crook, he is shot. He is discovered by a hermit who helps him heal and gets him into top physical shape. With a costume designed by the hermit, Burland becomes the Black Hood and clears his name. He has no powers, but he does have the Hoodcycle, a motorcycle which can convert into other vehicles.
First Appearance: Top-Notch Comics #9 (Archie)

Blackie the Mystery Boy. "Phil," an origin- and nameless vigilante, is the sidekick of the Lynx. "Phil" has no powers.
First Appearance: Mystery Men #14 (Fox Features)

Black Jack. Jack Jones, a card-playing police detective, is imprisoned in a wall by criminals but manages to free himself. He lets the crooks think he's died and takes up the card-themed identity of Black Jack to fight crime. He has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Zip Comics #20 (Archie)

Black Lion. George Davis, a very successful and therefore bored big game hunter, decides to go after The Most Dangerous Game and begins hunting criminals. He goes by the name “Michael Norwitz, the Black Lion” and fights crime. He is helped by Cub. He is never specifically said to have superpowers, but the stories show them surviving otherwise mortal wounds in superhuman fashion. He is cat-like in his agility and strength, however, and is a good fighter.
First Appearance: Wonderworld Comics #21 (Fox)

Black Marvel. Dan Lyons' father had his life saved by Man-to of the "Black Feet" tribe. Dan, looking for some way to make up for this, shows up while the Black Feet are holding auditions for the role of the "Black Marvel," the foremost warrior of the Black Foot tribe. Dan passes the tests and is told to go forth and fight for truth, justice, and the Black Feet way. He has no superpowers, but is in excellent phyiscal shape and is skilled with knife and bow.
First Appearance: Mystic Comics #5 (Timely)

Black Orchid. The Black Orchid is Judy Allen, the junior partner of the detective firm of Ford and Allen. Her partner is Rocky Ford, although he treats her in a somewhat demeaning and sexist way. What he doesn't know is that she's also the crimefighting costumed wonder the Black Orchid. What Judy doesn't know is that Rocky is the costumed crime fighter the Scarlet Nemesis. She has no superpowers.
First Appearance: All New Comics #2 (Family/Harvey)

Blackout (I). Basil Brusilof, a Yugoslav scientist, is in his Belgrade lab when it is bombed by the Germans. He is not killed by this, but instead is changed and given powers, and he uses them to fight German oppression during the war. As Blackout (I) Basil is covered with fur, has a wolf-like appearance, is super-strong, is hard to see at night (because of his fur), and can see in the dark.
First Appearance: Captain Battle #1 (Comic House Publications)

Blackout (II). Jack Wayne, a fighter pilot, fights crime at night. That's about it. Yup, he fights crime. He has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Catman #10 (Holyoke)

Black Owl. Doug Danville, a wealthy playboy, decides to fight crime and puts on his costume and begins his career. Eventually he enlisted in the Army and handed down his costume to Walt Waters, the father of Yank and Doodle. Walt became the new Black Owl. He has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Prize Comics #2 (Prize Publications) Note: He was previously K the Unknown.

Black Panther. This character's private identity and origin was never revealed. He has no superpowers, but is a good fighter and good with his knife.
First Appearance:Stars and Stripes #3 (Centaur)

Black Pirate. Jon Valor, an English nobleman, brings together a likable band of Jolly Jack Tars and prowls the seas of 1558 as the Black Pirate, the scourge of Spaniards and evildoers everywhere.
First Appearance: Sensation Comics #1 (DC)

Black Sheep Squadron. "From revolution-wracked Spain, from the distant battlefronts of China, from the green wastes of South-American (sic) jungles have come these men who make up the toughest squadron ever seen in the RAF...reckless, tough, undisciplined, they can be managed only by one man--Captain Logan Black.--Thus their name, the Black Sheep Squadron." Captain Black is a rough one, quite willing to punch out a pilot for staying out too late the night before a planned reconnaissance flight. The Squadron operates in Britain.
First Appearance: Air Fighters Comics #1 (Hillman)

Black Spider. D.A. Ralph Nelson puts on a costume to fight criminals who elude the law. He is assisted by his secretary Peggy Dodge.
First Appearance: Super-Mystery Comics #3 (Ace)

Blackstone. If I recall correctly, Blackstone is a Mandrake-like character, a stage magician who uses his magical abilities to fight crime.
First Appearance: Super-Magic v1 #1 (Street & Smith). Note: Michael Norwitz corrects my original error and points out that it was the publishing agreement with the stage magician Harry Blackstone which changed several times during the GA; the stories went from Street and Smith to to E.C. to Timely/Marvel.

Black Terror. Bob Benton, mild-mannered pharmacists, invents a formula of "formic ethers" that gives him superpowers. He uses these to fight crime and the Axis powers. His sidekick is Tim wears the same costume and has the same powers. His girlfriend was Jean Starr, the mayor's secretary. The Terror's powers are superstrength and limited invulnerability, although he was often seen with a machine gun in each hand.
First Appearance: Exciting Comics #9 (Better Publications)

Black Venus. Mary Roche, a physical therapist, is shocked to discover that there are crooks who victimize wounded and disabled WW2 veterans. She puts on a costume, becomes the Black Venus in Furs, and goes after them. She has no powers but is a skilled pilot and uses a special plane.
First Appearance: Contact Comics #5 (Aviation Press)

Black Widow (I). Claire Voyant, a medium, is murdered and brought to Hell, where Satan makes her into the Black Widow and uses her to kill those souls too evil to exist on Earth. She can kill with a touch and likely has other, Satan-derived powers.
First Appearance: Mystic Comics#4. (Timely)

Black Widow (II). Linda Masters' husband is murdered by criminals, so she puts on a costume and fights crime as the Black Widow. She has no powers but is good in a fight, is willing to kill, and is a good detective. She is helped by Police Detective Blake.
First Appearance: Catman Comics #1 (Holyoke)

Black X. Black X is a suave American secret agent who fights the enemies of freedom both at home and abroad. He was known for a short while as the Black Ace.
First Appearance: Feature Comics #21 (Quality)

Blast Bennett. "In their fast spaceship Blast Bennett and his companion Red speed through the space ways in search of adventure." They also have extremely goofy hats.
First Appearance: Weird Comics #1 (Fox)

Blaze Barton. In the year 50,017 A.D. Blaze Barton is confronted with the problem of the Earth spiraling towards the sun. With the help of Professor Solis and his daughter Betty (Blaze's girlfriend) Blaze constructs a "great, heat-proof city" in which humanity's best and brightest are invited to stay. Everyone else dies, and when Blaze goes out to investigate the rest of the Earth he discovers that creatures from the center of the Earth have crawled out to live on the surface. War follows between the two races.
First Appearance: Hit Comics #1 (Quality)

"Blaze" Baylor. "When the famous fire chief `Smoky' Baylor is killed in an incendiary fire...his son vows vengeance and dedicates his life to the task of tracking down all who profit from the crime of arson." To this end "Blaze" his two fists, his "imperbestos" costume (made of "impervium and asbestos cloth" making it bullet- and fireproof), and his "chemical gun," which is a combination grapple gun, flamethrower, and fire-extinguisher.
First Appearance: Catman Comics #1 (Holyoke)

Blazing Scarab. Walt Worthington, a young American archaeologist, finds a hidden tomb in the deserts of Egypt and discovers a "blazing scarab" which gives him superpowers. I don't have the stomach to read any more, though, as Walt's servant is a racist stereotype named "Snowball."
First Appearance: Champion Comics #2 (Harvey)

Blazing Skull. Mark Todd, a reporter, is taught "marvelous lore" by the "Skull Men of the Orient," and he uses this to fight the Germans in Europe. He had superstrength and was invulnerable to flame.
First Appearance: Mystic Comics #5 (Timely)

Blond Garth. Blond Garth is a rather obvious lift from Bantan.
First Appearance: Colossus Comics #1 (Funnies)

Blonde Phantom.Louise Grant is inspired to fight crime and do so. (She never had any origin that I am aware of). Her civilian identity is the secretary for the Mark Mason Detective Agency, and she is in love with her boss, Mark Mason, although he only has eyes for the Phantom. She has no superpowers.
First Appearance: All-Select Comics #1 (Timely)

Blue Beetle. Dan Garrett, a rookie cop, is offered the use of "vitamin 2-X" by kooky Dr. Franz, who wants the empowering vitamin to be used only by someone pure of heart. Garrett uses his new powers to fight crime. While under the influence of 2-X he has superstrength, and he wears a bulletproof blue chainmail costume. He also drove around the city in a hopped-up roadster and projected his beetle insignia onto walls in order to frighten criminals. He was helped by the non-powered Sparky.
First Appearance: Mystery Men Comics #1 (Fox)

Blue Blade. The Blade dresses like a French musketeer and fights Japanese subversion on America's Pacific coast. He has no superpowers but is good with his sword and is a good horseman.
First Appearance: USA Comics #5 (Timely)

Blue Blaze. In 1852 college student Spencer Keen is shown the "Blue Flame," which his father (a professor at "Midwest College") has discovered. While Spencer is being shown this, a tornado sweeps across the town Midwest College is in, killing 85% of the town's population and exposing Spencer to the Blue Flame. He goes into a coma and is presumed dead, and is buried. He actually goes into hibernation; in 1940 he awakens and fights crime and evil, both inside the US and abroad. He has superstrength, invulnerability, and the ability to be transported underground to "new centers of crime."
First Appearance:Mystic Comics #1 (Timely)

Blue Bolt. Fred Parrish, a star football player at Harvard, is struck by lightning while practicing in a remote area. He climbs into a plane to fly for help but crashes the plane in a valley inside the earth. He is brought into a subterranean lab where Dr. Benton explains that he survived thanks to Benton's work (and some "radium deposits") and now has superpowers and that he needs to stop the invasion of the forces of the Green Sorceress. He does that and then returns to the surface to fight crime. He is partnered with Lois Blake, who has the same powers that Parrish does. He is capable of lightning projection, and he uses a "lightning gun."
First Appearance: Blue Bolt #1 (Funnies, Inc)

Blue Circle. Len Stafford is a reformed crook waging war on the underworld. He is helped in this war by the Blue Circle Council, made up of like-minded "past masters in crime." The Blue Circle has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Blue Circle Comics #1 (Rural Home Publishing)

Blue Diamond. Elton Morrow, a science professor, discovers a large blue diamond during an Arctic expedition. On his way back to the U.S. his ship is attacked and sunk by a U-boat. Morrow is not killed, however, because the blue diamond exploded and embedded its shards in him, giving him superpowers. He uses his new powers to fight the Germans and crime. His powers were invulnerability because of the diamond in his skin and superstrength.
First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics #7 (Timely)

Blue Fire. Jack Knapp, a hard-working young scientist, is the beneficiary of an accidental explosion which gives him the power to turn himself into a living flame and walk through walls, melt things (like bullets shot at him), and even shoot flame from his hands.
First Appearance: Weird Comics #2 (Fox)

Blue Flame. Ronald Byrd, Prince of Atlantis, contributes the following:

There's very little to report about the Blue Flame; despite a caption referring to "all the titanic turmoils that the Blue Flame has had in his battles to give crime the hot foot," giving the impression of a lengthy career, he appears in only one story. A rather blatant Human Torch ripoff, he is given no origin or secret identity nor, indeed, even much of a costume; when de-flamed, he is clad only in trunks and boots. In his single adventure, he evidently clashes with jewel thief S. Aitan, whom it is implied is in fact Satan, although why Satan would resort to larceny is unknown (I mean, sure, devilish work dropped off some when the war ended, but...).

Blue Lady. Jakeoster contributes the following:

Lucille Martin, a novelist, comes into possession of a mystic blue stone mounted in a ring which gives her super-strength. She
fashions a blue costume and proceeds to have three adventures.

Blue Streak (I). Don-Vin is the Blue Streak, the "Defender of the People" and the "self-appointed foe of ruthless dictators." He is helped by Tago, his "faithful servant and friend." He has no superpowers but is good in a fight and wears a bullet-proof vest.
First Appearance: Crash Comics #1 (Holyoke)

Blue Streak (II). Jim Dare is the Blue Streak, who fights against crime.
First Appearance: Headline Comics #13 (Prize)

Blue Tracer. Bill Dunn, an engineer with a British division in Ethiopia, is the only survivor of an attack by the M'bujies, supernatural beings with world-conquering aims. Dunn is injured and nursed back to health, and then decides to carry the attack to the enemy, both the M'bujies and the Axis. He builds a special vehicle, the Blue Tracer, and uses it against the Bad Guys. He has no powers, but he created and pilots the Tracer, and all-terrain vehicle which can fly, drive, and go under water, and which is armed with machine guns, cannon, and torpedoes.
First Appearance: Military Comics #1 (Quality)

Bobby and Binks. Bobby is a school boy and Binks is a school girl who together make the mistake of looking into a magic crystal. This sends them hurtling through time, and they have adventures in the time of the Pharaohs, among other eras. They have no superpowers, and besides being plucky and resourceful and not easily cowed are not special in any way.
First Appearance: New Fun Comics #1 (DC)

Bob Daley. Bob is the sidekick of Tex Thomson in his adventures, and when Tex fights crime as Mr. America and then fights the Germans as the Americommando Bob is right there with him as the Fatman. Bob has no superpowers but isn't bad in a fight.
First Appearance: Action Comics #2 (DC)

Bob Merritt. Bob Merritt is a "gentlemen adventurer and inventor," as well as the designer of experimental new planes as well as a pilot and adventurer. He is helped by his friends Buzz and Shorty.
First Appearance: New Fun Comics #3 (DC)

Bob Neal. Bob Neal is a Lieutenant in the American Navy, in Submarine 662. Bob and his best friend Tubby Potts have adventures in ports around the world and eventually in war-torn Europe.
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #36 (DC)

Bob Phantom. Walter Whitney, a theater columnist on Broadway, fights crime in the big city. He has the ability to phase and turn immaterial.
First Appearance: Blue Ribbon #2 (Archie)

Bob Steele. "Navy Bob Steele" is actually Lieutenant Robert Steele of the U.S. Navy, who with his friends Red Mlone, Bill hseridan, Tommy Andrews, and Captain Frank Vernon serves on the U.S.S. Alaska, fighting the enemies of America.
First Appearance: The Funnies #45 (Dell)

Bob Wiley. Bob Wiley, a young factory worker, wins a cadetship to West Point. As an Army Cadet he has various hot-tempered, two-fisted adventures.
First Appearance: All American Comics #1 (DC)

Bogeyman. The Bogeyman, very similar to the Spirit, fought crime and scared the bad guys.
First Appearance: Red Band Comics #1 (Enwil)

Bombardiers. Montague T. McGurk, Swordo, and the lovely (female, obviously) Red Rogers are the Bombardiers, the sidekicks of the Human Bomb. They share his explosive powers, having been given them by the Bomb. They fought with the Bomb against the Japanese army.
First Appearance: Police Comics #21. (Quality)

Bomber Burns (I). Jack "Bomber" Burns is an American stunt flyer with the RAF. After being shot down he decides to change his m.o., and after acquiring a P-38 he retires to the Scottish highlands, where he customizes the plane and makes a costume for himself. He has no superpowers, but his new plane, the Firebrand, has "special superchargers," a dozen machine guns and cannon, and a "flame-thrower from an Aussie armored car."
First Appearance: Detective Comics #27 (DC).

Bomber Burns (II). Jack "Bomber" Burns is an American stunt flyer who with his co-pilot Dave Matten fight the Nazis.
First Appearance: Victory Comics #1 (Centaur)

Bombshell. Bombshell, the son of Mars, is sent by his father to punish the Nazis, who have turned warfare into "reckless slaughter." Bombshell does so. He is sometimes helped by Young Robin Hood. He has no superpowers but has a magic sword which won't harm humans but will destroy machines; he is also a good fighter.
First Appearance: Boy Comics#3 (Lev Gleason)

Boomerang. Lloyd Raleigh, a policeman, decides to fight crime undercover as the Boomerang. His partner is his girlfriend Diana. He has no powers.
First Appearance: Terrific Comics #2 (Holyoke)

Bouncer. Adam Antaeas, Jr., is a sculptor and artist. He creates a statue of the Greek "god" Antaeus, only to find that when danger threatens the statue comes to life. When that happens, Adam gains superstrength--the statue already has it--and can, like the statue, bounce through the air and land on bad guys, stopping them cold. Of course, like the mythical Antaeus Adam and the statue are vulnerable in mid-bounce.
First Appearance: The Bouncer #11 (Fox)

Boy Buddies. The Buddies were Dusty the Boy Detective (the partner of the Shield) and Roy the Super Boy (the partner of the Wizard).
First Appearance: Special Comics #1 (MLJ)

Boy Commandos. Andrew Chavard, a French boy, Alfy Twidgett, a doughy British lad, Jan Haasan, a Dutch boy, and Brooklyn, an American boy, are all orphans and are all regulars around an American unit stationed in England during WW2. They are brought together by the American Captain Rip Carter, who trains them in fighting and school, and uses them as an elite commando unit. They have no superpowers but are surprisingly good in a fight.
First Appearance: Detective Comics #64 (DC)

Boy Explorers. Mister Zero, Gashouse, Smiley and Gadget are four orphans from America and three European countries who sail around the world in a Yankee Clipper helmed by their pal Commodore Sinbad. They have no powers but are doughty adventurers nonetheless.
First Appearance: Boy Explorers Comics #1 (Harvey)

Boy Heroes. Jakeoster contributes the following:

Probably inspired by the success of the Boy Commandos, four lads, Corny, Punchy, Trigger, and Prince (an actual Dutch
prince), decide to join the war effort.

Boy King. I'll let Ronald Byrd do the description for this one:

Our last Clue super-hero, the Boy King, returns us to the non-powered hero yet also leads us into Clue's most noted departure from day-to-day reality. The Boy King is the cover star of Clue, and he deserves the post; his is one of the more unique stories that comes to mind, as well as one of the most consistently inconsistent.  Apparently, in #1, the young David, prince of the European nation of Swisslakia (neat name, huh?), is orphaned and promoted to kingship when his father is killed by Nazi invaders.  Under circumstances that I don't know, the Boy King activates a secret weapon of Swisslakia's that has lain dormant for centuries:  a Giant, looking not unlike It the Living Colossus with "hair," created for the defense of Swisslakia by Nostradamus (odd choice; I would have gone for Cagliostro or St. Germain or another such figure) in the 15th century (the fact that Nostradamus lived and died in the 16th century is, of course, not meant to disturb us).  By #2, although the Giant (he is given no other name) could, ostensibly, repel the Nazis from Swisslakia, the Boy King has instead elected to lead the Giant and a boatload of several if not all of the Swisslakians to America.

The fact that he has (as far as I can tell) left his native land in the hand of the Nazis is none too troubling to our hero.  "What is our tiny country compared to the rest of the world?" exclaims the Boy King.  America, he notes, will "direct us to the battle front that will do the most good!"  For the days when we inspired that much confidence abroad, huh?  Upon their arrival, the Swisslakians are welcomed with open arms as new citizens of the US, a turn that might be far more fanciful than the existence of a 500-year-old artificial giant.  The Boy King renounces any claim on his subjects:  "Sovereignty is dead!  Long live democracy!"  ("Joel, I can't help but think that this film was flawed in some ways."---Crow T. Robot.)

However, once in America, the Boy King does not appear overly concerned with receiving advice on how to best deploy the Giant against the Nazis, instead clashing with various personal enemies who have followed him to the US and venturing into NY's Hell's Kitchen, where, in a patented Ruritanian turn, he runs across his long-lost stolen twin brother Richard, a.k.a. Muggsy, leader of a gang of Hell's Kitchen ruffians, or "Hell's Angels" (the term evidently didn't hold its current meaning in the 1940s).  Unlike any of his title-mates, the Boy King's adventures occasionally ended in cliffhangers, further indicating that he was the central figure of the book.  In addition to being as good at a dust-em-up as any other golden age hero, the Boy King occasionally hurled his crown as a weapon; he is rarely if ever out of his royal garments (including a robe-like cape), and he has long lustrous hair of the type rarely seen in the 1940s outside of a Prince Valiant ripoff.

The oddest factor in the Boy King saga is, of course, the Giant, whose precise nature is never made clear (As an aside, a Navy officer notes that "If Nostradamus created the Giant, why it means he was buried for thousands of years," indicating a notable lapse in history at the Naval Academy, I guess).  It is never stated whether he is constructed of stone, clay, or something else; he is somewhat mechanical in nature in that the removal of a component from his head renders him lifeless, yet he has a heartbeat and other biological indicators.  On one occasion it is implied that he will revert to random destruction if not constantly supervised, on another that he remains inactive except when under the command of the person who last activated him, yet upon entry to New York Harbor he develops a crush on the Statue of Liberty, indicating that he does indeed possess some crude level of self-awareness, presenting us with the troublesome sort of moral dilemma more usually applied to golden age robots.  Not even his size is consistent; while the Boy King often rides upon his shoulder---in much the same proportion as the Atom used to ride a JLA colleague---the Giant is also, as noted, depicted as of the same size as the Statue of Liberty.  Yet as he crosses the ocean on the journey to America, the water barely comes up to his knees, despite being deep enough to harbor submarines.  Oh well.

Boy Rangers. Buck, Corny, Froggy, and Gorilla were the Boy Rangers, sidekicks to Jackie Law.
First Appearance: Clue Comics #1 (Hillman)

Bozo the Iron Man. Dr. Van Thorp builds Bozo, a mighty robot, to help him conquer the world. But Hugh Hazzard, a boy, overhears the evil Doc gloating and foils the plan. Hazard is given the robot after Doc is sent to the Big House, and he reprograms Bozo to do good, which he does. Bozo has great superstrength, ran walk at the bottom of the ocean floor, can run over 70 mph, and can be controlled either remotely or from inside his body (he's hollow and Hazard can fit inside him).
First Appearance: Smash Comics #1 (Quality)

Brad Hardy. Brad is a two-fisted explorer and adventurer who explores underground kingdoms and fights Rat Men and Snake Men as well as evil Black Magicians.
First Appearance: New Fun Comics #3 (DC)

Bradley Boy. Tom and Jack Bradley end up in the depths of a large American forest, where they become "very adept at woodcraft and...pioneering!" They have the usual Tarzan skills as well as being good archers.
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #15 (DC)

Brad Spencer. Brad Spencer is accidentally exposed to a "sizzling voltage of a secret current." This gives him superpowers, and he uses his new abilities to become Brad Spencer, Wonderman, and fight crime. He is helped by his girlfriend Carol Paige. Brad has the ability to become invulnerable (as hard as steel) and has superstrength.
First Appearance: Complete Book of Comics and Funnies #1 (Better)

Breeze Barton. Barton is a soldier on an alternate Earth who is fighting World War Two. While trying to stop a Japanese invasion of South Africa he is shot down over the Sahara Desert. There he discovers the hidden Miracle City, and when he leaves that with his new girlfriend Anne, daughter of the city's Chief Scientist, he ends up on Earth in the soi-distant future of 1995, where there is one lone bastion of civilization under constant attack by barbarians. Breeze helps the civilized folks start to rebuild civilization. He has no superpowers, but is good in a fight and has a ray gun and a jet pack.
First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics #3 (Timely)

Breezy Collins. Breezy Collins is the leader of the Glider Patrol, "three real American boys and a girl...and all interested in aviation." They are:

- Breezy, a "typical aviation-minded American boy." He's tall and strapping and well-muscled, and is quite knowledgeable about aircraft,
especially for a teenager.
- William Collins, "Breezy's dad--a skilled aircraft mechanic!"
- Wings West, a chunky boy who the stories mock because of his weight. (Admittedly, he's fat--in his pilot's outfit he looks like he stuffed a
haystack down his front) He is acknowledged as "a capable glider pilot," though.
- Nails Nelson, "the patrol's newest recruit--reads all the books on aviation he can find!"
- Janice Jones, the very attractive blond who "has an intense interest in flying--as well as in Breezy!" Both Wings and Nails have the hots for
Janice, but she only has eyes for Breezy.

Together, this intrepid group patrols the skies with their glider and fight Nazi spies and gangsters on the homefront.
First Appearance: Kid Komics #1 (Timely)

Bronze Man. Major Randy Ronald had been the Army Air Force’s “Ace of Aces,” their best fighter pilot, but he was shot down and was presumed dead. The truth was worse than that. He’d been captured by the Germans and mutilated. He escaped, however, and then put on a bronze mask and “dedicated his life to mercilessly exterminating brute force and injustice!" He had superstrength and endurance.
First Appearance: Blue Beetle #42 (Fox)

Bronze Terror. Jeff Dixon, a lawyer and Apache, returns to the reservation after graduating from law school. He discovers that his father has been framed for murder and puts on a costume to fight for his father, and then later for the rest of the Apache against those who would oppress them. He has no powers but is a good fighter and good with his weapons.
First Appearance: Daredevil Comics #2 (Lev Gleason)

Bruce Nelson. Bruce Nelson is a hard-bitten gentleman adventurer of no particular profession or background.
First Appearance: sometime in or before Detective Comics #23 (DC)

Buccaneer. Dennis is a heroic privateer who leads the crew of the Serpent on a quest for justice and money in the days of the Spanish Main.
First Appearance: sometime before or in More Fun Comics #44 (DC)

Buck Brady. Buck Brady is an agent for the F.B.I. His most notable attribute is the bow-tie he wears.
First Appearance: Prize Comics #1 (Prize)

Buck Burke. Buck Burke is a young zoologist and a live game trapper. He works in Africa catching wild animals and fighting for justice.
First Appearance: Crash Comics #1 (Tem Publishing)

Buck Jones. Buck Jones is a "famous fighting cowboy" and a "frontier marshal."
First Appearance: sometime in or before Master Comics #7 (Fawcett)

Buck Marshall. Buck Marshall is a "range detective," fighting crime on America's western frontier.
First Appearance: sometime in or before Detective Comics #16 (DC)

Buck Ranger. Buck Ranger is a cowboy detective, solving the crimes of the range and the frontier.
First Appearance: Thrilling Comics #72 (Better)

Buckskin Jim. Jim and his grizzled best friend Trapper Pete are frontier adventurers, fighting for plucky settlers and against those awful Indians (who in this strip really are pretty nasty--"torture of the slow fire" and all of that).
First Appearance: New Fun Comics #1 (DC)

Buckskin Blake. Ed Love notes: "Seeking to inspire his students, Robert  Blake wears a blue (!) buckskin costume and mask. Trained by his ex-Indian Scout  grandfather, Buckskin is really good pretty much at everything."
First Appearance: Super-Mystery Comics v2 n1 (Ace)

Buckskin Boys. The boys, Hank and Pudge, are active for American during the Revolutionary War.
First Appearance: Spitfire Comics #1 (Harvey)

Bucky. J. Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, a ward of the State assigned to Army Camp Lehigh, walks in on his best pal Steve Rogers one day and discovers that Rogers is actually Captain America. Rogers decides to put a costume on Bucky and make him a sidekick. Bucky fought alongside Cap against gangsters and Germans and Japanese during the war and found the time to be a member of the Young Allies. Bucky had no powers but was a good fighter.
First Appearance: Captain America Comics #1 (Timely)

Buddy (1). Buddy is the young sidekick of the Eagle. He could fly, like the Eagle.
First Appearance: Science Comics #1 (Fox)

Buddy (2). Buddy Smith had to witness his father being killed by fascists. He then ran into Uncle Sam, and ended up being his sidekick. He has no powers, though he's got a peppy, gosh-wow attitude, and that has to count for something.
First Appearance: National Comics #1 (Quality)

Bulldog Martin. Bulldog Martin is a rough-and-tough private eye. He is helped by the racist stereotype Jonah.
First Appearance: sometime before Adventure Comics #40 (DC)

Bulletgirl. Susan Kent is the daughter of a police sergeant and the girlfriend of Jim Barr. She discovers, more or less by accident, that Jim is Bulletman, and decides that she wants to help him fight crime. He invents a gravity-regulating helmet, just like his but sized for her, adn she teams up with him to fight crime as Bulletgirl. She was a member of the Crime Crusaders Club. She had none of his superpowers but because of the helmet could fly and practice bullet-repulsion.
First Appearance: Nickel Comics #1 (Fawcett)

Bulletman. Jim Barr, a chemist for the police, creates a drug which gives him superstrength and increases his intelligence, which allows him to create a helmet which allows him to defy gravity. He uses his new powers and invention to fight crime. He is partnered with his girlfriend Bulletgirl, who has the same powers as he; later on he devises a Gravity Collar that allows their dog Slug to become the flying crime-fighting Bulletdog. (I'm not making this up, you know) He is a member of the Crime Crusaders Club. He has superstrength, he has heightened intelligence, he has telescopic vision, and his helmet allows him to fly and deflect bullets. (Michael Norwitz corrects me and points out that Bulletman's powers faded over time)
First Appearance: Nickel Comics #1 (Fawcett)

Bull's-Eye Bill. "Bull's-Eye" Bill Target is "a young native talented in the gifts of gun-slinging, hard riding, and cowpunching." Bill's adventures take place in and around Wenton, Arizona, and in the present day, rather than that of the Old West.
First Appearance: Target Comics #1 (Funnies, Inc)

Bumper. Bumper, a circus strong man, is the sidekick of the Black Diamond.
First Appearance: Black Diamond Western #10 (Gleason)

Burma Boy. Burma Boy is the originless and powerless sidekick of The Green Turtle.
First Appearance: Blazing Comics #1 (Enwill Publishing)

"Buzz" Balmer. "Buzz" is an average, rambunctious American teenager who one day is accidentally shrunk down to doll size by his father, Professor Balmer. He goes on to have Doll Man-like adventures, even piloting a plane which his father shrinks down for him to use.
First Appearance: Bang-Up #1 (Progressive)

Buzz Crandall. Buzz is a Lieutenant in the Space Patrol who is advised by Dr. Curan and helped by the Doctor’s daughter, Sandra, as he flies the space lanes and explores “strange new worlds.” He has no superpowers but has the usual blaster and spaceship.
First Appearance: Planet Comics #1 (Fiction House)

Introduction
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