The Golden Age Directory: F

The text on this site, except where otherwise credited, is © copyright 2004 Jess Nevins, and may not be duplicated, in part or in whole, without my permission.

The Face. Tony Trent, a radio announcer, is disgusted by the constant news of crime that he has to announce. So he decides to fight it himself. He makes a mask that is horrifying, and uses it to terrify criminals--their fear gives him a momentary advantage over them, and he uses it. He has no powers, but he does have that nasty-looking face.
First Appearance: Big Shot #1 (Columbia)

The Falcon (I). Playboy Perry Chase is the son of a newspaper publisher, and so has a particular affection for the press. Anyone who tries to hinder the press' efforts or commit crimes attracts his wrath. (He's also called the "Press Guardian.") He has not powers but is a good fighter.
First Appearance: Pep Comics #1 (Archie)

The Falcon (II). The Falcon is Carl Burgess, a "brilliant young assistant District Attorney." No origin was given for the Falcon. The Falcon has no powers (although he seems to glide around a bit more than normal), but he's good with his fists.
First Appearance: Human Torch Comics #2 (Timely)

Fantomah. Fantomah is an Egyptian Sheena clone active across Africa and fighting against, for example, ivory hunters. As Michael Norwitz points out, she is slightly more than just a Sheena clone, being able to turn her head into a skull and to fly.
First Apperance: Jungle Comics #2 (Fiction House)

Fantoman. See Fantom of the Fair.

Fantom of the Fair. This unnamed hero operated from underneath the 1939 New York World's Fair in an underground lab connected to an underground river. He guarded the Fair and fought those criminals and racketeers who threatened it. He later became known as "Fantoman." He had no powers, although he was very strong (very strong--he kills an enormous white gorilla with his bare hands in one story) and quite quick and was good at hypnosis. He was also very hard-boiled and quite willing to torture enemies to get what he wants.
First Appearance: Amazing Mystery Funnies #11 (Centaur)

Fargo Kid. Tim Turner is the Fargo Kid, a cowboy hero.
First Appearance: Feature Comics #47 (Quality)

Father Time. Larry Scott is trying to prove the innocence of his father, who has been wrongly convicted and faces the chair. Unfortunately, Larry is too late, and his father is executed. Naturally, Larry is more than a little peeved by this, and he swears and oath to "make time work against criminals instead of the innocent." So he dons a mask and a hood, and using his fists and a big scythe, fights crime and evil.
First Appearance: Captain America Comics #6 (Timely)

Fatman. See Bob Daley.

Federal Men. The Federal Men were a bunch of tough FBI agents led by Steve Carson.
First Appearance: New Comics #2 (DC)

Fero. Fero is an "interplanetary detective," and a skilled one, roaming the planets of the solar system and fighting enemies as various as vampires, werewolves, alien kings, and plain old crooks. His first appearance describes him thusly: "Fero, scientist of the occult, super-detective of the netheer world, is the one man who can thwart the evil doings of vampires and werewolves that have invaded the Earth from Pluto." Some fun, eh? Fero is good with fist and gun but has no other special abilities or weapons--no Dr. Occult-style Symbol of the Seven.
First Appearance: Planet Comics #5 (Fiction House)

The Ferret (I). The Ferret is described as a "well-known author and private investigator" who lives in Greenwich Village, and who has written 'crime doesn't pay' articles; no other origin is given for him. He has no powers, but has a trained pet ferret, he is a good detective, good with his fist, wears a bulletproof vest, and has a gun--which he uses on criminals.
First Appearance: Marvel Mystery Comics #4 (Timely)

Ferret (II). Cal Dalton is a police commissioner who feels unsatisfied with his job, so he becomes a costumed vigilante to ferret out the criminals that elude the police. He has superstrength and can fly.
First Appearance: Man of War Comics #2 (Centaur)

Fiery Mask. Jack Castle, a young doctor, is called in by the police to help investigate a case involving a kind of zombie. He gets captured by another zombie and is brought to the zombie's master, an enormous (20' tall) mad scientist, who is using a special ray to make people into "living corpses." The ray doesn't work on Jack (because he knows hypnosis and refuses to submit to the ray), and when the doctor increases the ray's power the ray is destroyed, irradiating Jack Castle and giving him various powers. He then puts on a fiery mask and costume and fights crime, including, at one point, going to Hell and fighting the "Legion of Doom." The Fiery Mask has superstrength, superbreath, can do Hulk-jumps, his body gives off intense heat (ala the Human Torch), he can erect a heat forcefield, and he can "transmit (his) protective powers via (his) touch," granting his forcefield to someone else.
First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics #1 (Timely)

Fighting Fool. The Fighting Fool is Wade Huston, a soldier with the Australian New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during WW2 who was forced to retire from his unit. He leaves Australia to win his fortune in America, and while in the States he meets Napoleon Sack, a former member of the Free French Army. The two become pals and fight against crime when it appears. Neither has any superpowers but are good fighters.
First Appearance: Captain America Comics #17 (Timely)

Fighting Yank (1). Bruce Carter III discovers that he is an exact double of his ancestor, Bruce Carter I, a Revolutionary War hero. Better still, the ghost of Bruce Carter I appears to Bruce III and tells him that he must carry on the tradition of fighting for liberty. I then tells III where he can find an ancient cloak which will help this fight. III does, then makes a costume and becomes the German- and crime-busting Fighting Yank. He is helped by his girlfriend Joan, and is often spoken to and occasionally rescued by the ghost of I. III has no superpowers but is good in a fight and wears his cloak, which gives him superstrength and invulnerability.
First Appearance: Startling Comics #10 (Better Publications)

Fighting Yank (2). The Fighting Yank is Bill Prince, an operative of the American government in China. He has no superpowers but is a good fighter.
First Appearance: Captain America Comics #6 (Timely)

The Fin. United States Naval lieutenant Peter Noble is trapped in a sinking submarine, but discovers, just when he needs to, that he is somehow immune to the pressures of the deeps. He goes out swimming and discovers the underwater kingdom of "Neptunia," which he eventually becomes the ruler of. After his first adventure he no longer needs any equipment to breath underwater.
First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics #7 (Timely)

Fireball. Ted Tyler, a firefighter, is knocked out by an arsonist and left to die in a burning lab. But the unconscious Tyler is bathed in a chemical which gives him the power to absorb and control fire. On awakening he decides to become a crimefighter, focusing on those who would use fire for evil purposes. He can control and absorb fighter and is so hot that bullets melt against his body.
First Appearance: Pep Comics #12 (Archie)

Firebrand (I). Rod Reilly is bored with his playboy lifestyle and decides to become a crime fighter. He is assisted by Slugger Dunn, his ex-prize-fighter valet. Firebrand has no superpowers but is a skilled fighter and is good with a lariat. He also has vacuum cups for climbing buildings.
First Appearance: Police Comics #1 (Quality)

Firebrand (II). Ray O'Light (no, really) somehow acquires the power of "a million volts" in his body, so that he gains superstrength, can deliver electrical shocks by touch, can glow in the dark, and can surround himself with an electrical forcefield. He becomes the Firebrand and fights crime. He is assisted by his friend Professor Rand, the Electrical Wizard.
First Appearance: All New Comics #1 (Family/Harvey)

Fire Eater. Mike O'Malley, a fire eater with a circus, uses his skills to fight crime. He is helped by his nurse girlfriend Louise Peters. He has no superpowers per se but can both eat and breathe fire as a "fire eater."
First Appearance: Choice #1 (Great Publications)

The Firefly. Harley Hudson, a chemist/biologist/entomologist, is studying insects when he realizes that their strength and leaping ability, so much greater than their size, comes from their "wonderful muscular coordination." So he models himself on them and soon gains the same abilities, which he puts to use in fighting crime. He has superhuman strength and leaping ability.
First Appearance: Top Notch Comics #8 (Archie)

Fire-Man. Jim, never last-named, gains the power to fly and control flame by touching it. He uses these abilities to fight crime.
First Appearance: Liberty Scouts #2 (Centaur)

The Flag. Jim is found as an infant on the doorstep of John Courtney, a crippled war veteran and flag maker. John discovers that Jim has an American flag birthmark, and on his 21st birthday Jim is told (by the ghosts of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, no less!) that he has "the speed of the wind and the strength of a 100 men" as well as invulnerability to all weapons. (He also leaves a star-spangled trail behind him when he runs. Jim uses these powers to fight enemies of America.
First Appearance: Our Flag #2 (Ace)

Flag Man. Captain (later Major) Hornet puts on a costume to fight those enemies who cannot be dealt with by military regulations and law. He is active both on the homefront as well as in the South Pacific against the Japanese. He is assisted by Rusty. He is a killer vigilante. He has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Captain Aero #1 (Holyoke)

The Flame (I). Gary Preston is the baby son of Charteris Preston, an American missionary in China. A flood washes Charteris away, and Gary is only saved by being placed in a basket. He is washed into Tibet (go ahead and examine an atlas to see just how likely that is), where he is found by lamas. They raise him and educate and train him, so that he is at the peak of physical and mental powers. He is also trained in magic, specifically in the power over flame. As an adult he vows to use his abilities to fight crime and evil and returns to the United States with a costume to fulfill his vow. He is assisted, late in his career, by Flame Girl. The Flame can control flame, is hot enough that bullets melt when they touch him, is mostly invulnerable to explosions, and can transport himself via flames. He is vulnerable to water, however, which weakens him.
First Appearance: Wonderworld #3 (Fox Features)

Flame (II). Kandy Wilson is the secretary to Don Wickett at radio station WWGL in Knickerbocker City. When he decides to start fighting crime as Shaman, she goes along with it, putting on a costume and becoming his sidekick Flame. She has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Golden Lad #5 (Spark)

Flame Girl. Linda Dale is the sidekick to The Flame (1). She has his powers over flame.
First Appearance: Wonderworld Comics #30 (Fox Features)

The Flash. Jay Garrick, a chemistry student, is separating elements in hard water when he accidentally spills the vials of elements. This causes a spew of gases which overwhelms him. He is comatose for weeks, but eventually recovers. He gains, from this experience, overwhelming superspeed, and he uses these powers to fight crime. He is a member of the Justice Society of America.
First Appearance: Flash Comics #1 (DC)

Flash Foster. Flash Foster is the strapping young running back at "Midwestern University." He's much in demand from the pros and is the main (only) reason that Midwestern is headed to the Rose Bowl. This, of course, irritates the gamblers who stand to make good money betting against Northwestern if only Flash were gone. So the gamblers kidnap Flash's girlfriend Connie. This somewhat peeves Flash, so with the help of his puny frat boy pal Shorty he storms the gamblers' cottage, way out in the country, and frees Connie. He then dashes back to the big game and wins it for dear old Midwestern U., running for touchdowns and punting the game-winning free kick in.
First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics #1 (Timely)

Flash Lightning. Flash, a doughty explorer type, was delving into a pyramid when he encountered an Egyptian mystic, the "Old Man of the Pyramids," who gave him superpowers on the condition that he fight against evil with them. He has a variety of superpowers, including flight, electricity generation, radiating "lightning heat," and superspeed. He uses these abilities to fight crime. He is assisted by Lightning Girl. In addition to his other superpowers he can track Lightning Girl via their shared "lightning impulses." He is recharged by electricity.  As Michael Norwitz points out, he was later called "Lash Lightning" to avoid confusion with the Flash.
First Appearance: Sure-Fire Comics #1 (Ace)

Flexo the Rubber Man. After "years of experimentation" Doctors Joel and Joshua Williams create a robot made from rubber. The Doctors use the robot, Flexo, to fight crime and various foreign spies. Flexo is "made of live rubber, filled with a secret gas, and operated by remote control." Flexo has superspeed, flight, superstrength, a rubber body (so bullets go right through him and he's immune to blunt blows), and he can stretch his body.
First Appearance: Mystic Comics #2 (Timely)

Flint Baker. Flint is a pioneer and explorer of space at some undefined point in the not-too-distant future, although in his first appearance it was clearly the modern day. "When Fletcher Baker's scientist father died, Fletcher was left with the task of completing his rocket ship to be sent to Mars." Flint and his reporter (girl)friend Mimi Wilson leave the solar system in Flint's spaceship and explore space, meeting aliens along the way.  He is not only a venturesome "space scout" but a skilled "space soldier," although he of course has no superpowers. Flint is helped by Harry Parks, Phil Godwin, and Cliff Grant, three ex-cons who deep down are pretty good salts.
First Appearance: Planet Comics #1 (Fiction House)

The Flint Man. Jack Bradley is a construction worker helping to excavate a mountainside to create the profile of Abraham Lincoln on Mt. Rushmore when he is caught in an explosion (caused by angry South Seas Islanders, of all people) and then an avalanche. He is covered with a dust which makes him turn into flint whenever he grows angry. He has superstrength and invulnerability.
First Appearance: Famous Funnies #89 (Eastern Color Printing)

The Flying Dutchman. The Dutchman is "Holland's modern knight of freedom," the best of the Dutch pilots. He operates in Holland and uses his skill at disguise to pretend to be a German Captain--that is, when he's not killing the Germans. His calling card was white roses dropped from his plane.
First Appearance: Air Fighters Comics #2 (Hillman)

Flying Fist. Jakeoster contributes the following:

The Flying Fist and Bingo are a couple of performers who bill themselves as "The Complete Vaudeville Show." ("Songs–Dancing–Juggling–Ventriloquism–Name it, we can do it!") They double as costumed crimefighters
First appearance: Prize Comics #35 (Prize)

The Flying Flame. Captain Red Ruff, a young American, happens to be the ace pilot of the all-red "Flying Flame," the fighter most feared by the Nazis.  The Flying Flame had no powers but he was a very good pilot and was, of course, naturally good with his fists.
First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics #6 (Timely)

Flying Fox. Rex Darrell, known as the Flying Fox, is a pilot and soldier of fortune active around the world.
First Appearance: sometime before or in More Fun Comics #44 (DC)

The Flying Trio. Ray, Mac and Low are soldiers of fortune fighting for the "little nation of Sylvania" against the Asian invaders. They are good fighter pilots.
First Appearance: Crash Comics #1 (Tem Publishing)

Fly-Man. Clip Foster is a heavyweight boxer who is shrunk to fly size by his father, an inventor and scientist. Before the process is reversed, gangsters enter the lab and kill Clip’s father. They also knock over acid, which burns and disfigures Clip’s face. He swears revenge and designs a costume for himself that includes working wings. Fly-Man has the strength of a full-grown boxer but is only the size of a fly; his costume allows him to fly, and he carries a rope weapon that works as a slingshot, garrote, and rappel.
First Appearance: Spitfire Comics #1 (Harvey)

Four Comrades. Four kids—Pudge, Buzz, Tip, and Tommy—dress up as superheroes and fight crime. They have no powers.
First Appearance: Startling Comics #16 (Better Publications)

The Fourth Musketeer. The Fourth Musketeer is just that: a French musketeer who rose from the dead because of the German occupation of France: "I cannot rest! Liberty, fraternity are almost dead in the world...I have a duty to perform!" The Musketeer decides that the "hope of the world lies in America" and travels to DC on a white horse to fight with some bank robbers and some pro-Nazi appeasers. Apart from his cross-oceanic travel, he demonstrates no ghostly powers, but he is a good fighter and swordsman.
First Appearance: Comedy Comics #9 (Timely)

Fox. Paul Patton is a staff photographer for the Daily Globe who has a knack for messing up shots of crime as they happen. He gets angry with himself for this and makes a camera which would attach to his belt (he can't drop the camera that way, you see). He decides to fight crime, so he can be on the scene when crime is committed and get better shots that way. He is assisted by his girlfriend, reporter Ruth Ransom. He has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Blue Ribbon Comics #4 (Archie)

Frankenstein. Jakeoster contributes the following:

Frankenstein, created by Dick Briefer, started as a marauding creature of wrath and vengeance, sometimes battling a costumed hero known as Bulldog Denny. The feature later took a humorous turn. Frankenstein became a good guy who associating with all sorts of ghouls, ghosts, and goblins. In the 1950's, the feature went serious again.
First appearance: Prize Comics #7 (Prize)

Freelance. This nameless character never had an origin. He was a guerrilla fighter and spy who worked in occupied Europe fighting against the Germans. He was assisted by John Collins, He had no superpowers.
First Appearance: Freelance #1 (Anglo-American Publishing)

Frontier Marshal. Bill Crane is the Frontier Marshall, a cowboy good guy.
First Appearance: Master Comics #1 (Fawcett)

Funnyman. Jakeoster contributes the following:

Ace TV-comedian Larry Davis, at the urging of his manager, June Farrell, decides to put on a clown costume and capture a phoney crook as a publicity stunt. He ends up capturing a real crook and ends up making crimefighting his second job. Funnyman was brought to you by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
First appearance: Funnyman Comics #1 (Magazine Enterprises)

Futura. Jakeoster contributes the following:

21st Century-secretary Marcia Reynolds is abducted from Earth by big, ugly Lord Menthor from the planet Cymradia who planned to use Earthlings as guinea pigs in laboratory experiments . She escapes from her captors and proceeds to battle the evil plans of Lord Menthor and the Brain People of Cymradia as the scantily-clad warrior queen called Futura.
First appearance: Planet Comics #43 (Fiction House)

Futureman. See Power Nelson.

F-4. F-4 is actually Rex Keen, a top agent of "Air Intelligence" who was as good a fifth columnist in occupied Europe as he was at shooting down Wehrmacht pilots.
First Appearance: Wings Comics #1 (Fiction House)

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