The Golden Age Directory: M

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.

Ma Jenkins. Ma Jenkins is a sweet, white-haired woman who "twenty five years ago...adopted three small boys, each orphaned by the same tragic hotel fire. Today Danny is a football coach, Ted, a chemistry prof at Midvale College, Pat pilots a plice plane...with Ma Jenkins they pool their talents in a relentless war against crime." The quartet is active somewhere in the American Midwest. Ma seems to be the most capable of the group, being the best detective as well as being able to hold her own in a fight.
First Appearance: All New Comics #2 (Family/Harvey)

Mach Duff. "Mach Duff, Junior Mechanic" works for the Army Air Force at Clark Field. He has various bright ideas, like painting planes in plaid camouflage, and uses them and his natural inquisitiveness to fight the enemy and spies, on the ground and in the air. He's best buds with Power Dive Grant, one of the Army's best pilots.
First Appearance: Air Fighters Comics #1 (Hillman)

Madam Fatal. Richard Stanton, a retired actor, is forced to suffer from his daughter's kidnaping. Unable to just sit by and let the police take care of it, Stanton uses his makeup skills to dress like a "simple old lady." In this guise he tracks down and rescues his daughter, putting the criminals away. Stanton is so taken with his disguise that he continues to use it, fighting crime effectively as the world's first transvestite crime fighter. Stanton is helped by his talking Parrot, Hamlet.
First Appearance: Crack Comics #1 (Quality)

Madame Satan. A Black Widow-like character. Michael Norwitz says of her, "Madame Satan dressed up in a evening gown/cocktail dress ensemble of the era, her most persuasive powers were that of bedevilment, where she made men (only) lust after her, and would do (and did) anything for her; a rather grim strip about a woman who becomes the Devil's collection agent."
First Appearance: Pep Comics #16 (Archie)

Mad Hatter. Grant Richmond is a little-respected junior partner at the law firm of Fuddy and Bustle. That's by day, however. By night he puts on a purple top hat and becomes the rhyming foe of evil-doers everywhere, the Mad Hatter.
First Appearance: The Mad Hatter #1 (O.W. Comics)

Magar the Mystic. Magar is a magician from ancient Egypt who can communicate with the dead and "recreate the great men and women of history," Kid Eternity-style.
First Appearance: Red Raven Comics #1 (Timely)

Magic Morro. Jakeoster contributes the following:

Jack Morrow was versed in real magic. His domain was a secluded jungle island where he ran around in red shorts. His
native sidekick was named Oomla. Magic Morro also had a pet lion named Hector.
First appearance: Super Comics #21 (Dell)

Magnet. Grant Halford is an explorer and inventor, and when he creates the "Geo-Locator" he decides to use it to help mankind. He goes after criminals and Germans alike. He is helped by his girlfriend Debby and by Sidi. Grant has no superpowers, but his Geo-Locator has magnetic abilities and allow to him find bad guys of every description.
First Appearance: Complete Book of Comics and Funnies #1 (Better)

Magno (1). In an odd reversal, Magno is a superhero pretending to be an idle playboy. But everybody calls him "Magno," and he has no real secret identity. He works for the government, fighting crime and the enemies of America. He is assisted by Davey. He has magnetic  powers, including flight, invulnerability, the power to control and generate magnetic attraction, and the ability to physically draw Davey to Magno across long distances.
First Appearance: Super-Mystery Comics #1 (Ace)

Magno (2). Tom Dalton, a humble electric company lineman, is fed "10,000 DC volts" in an accident, and almost immediately afterwards is "shocked back to life by an equal current of AC volts." This gives me a variety of superpowers, which he uses to fight crime, although he continues his work as a lineman. He can use his hands like magnets, drawing bullets and other metal to them, and can even heat his powers enough to melt the bullets. When he hits someone, they receive an electric shock. He can also recharge himself by exposing himself to electrical current.
First Appearance: Smash Comics #13 (Ace)

Major Liberty. John Liberty, a Professor of American History, is outraged over Nazi saboteurs' actions when he is visited by a ghost who judges his patriotism worthy and transforms him into the red-coat-and-ruffles-costumed Major Liberty. He can summon up the ghosts of past American patriots, such as Paul Revere, to aid him in helping America.
First Appearance: USA Comics #14 (Timely)

Major Mars. Major Mars is a  blatant Captain Future lift, down to his origin and the companion robot Grag.
First Appearance: Exciting Comics #1 (Better Publications)

Major Victory. This nameless soldier is caught in an enemy trap and blown to bits. His ghost is visited by "Father Patriot" and brought back to life, though, and Major Victory goes on to fight for America despite the inconvenience of being dead. Beside being a ghost/zombie, he has no powers.
First Appearance: Dynamic Comics #1 (Harry "A" Chesler)

Manhunter (1). Daniel Richards is a rookie cop who gets frustrated at his (and the police's) inability to bring in the real crooks. So every night he puts on a disguise and with his dog Thor fights criminals and evildoers. He has no special powers, however.
First Appearance: Police Comics #8 (Quality)

Manhunter (2). Rick Nelson, aka Paul Kirk, is a big game hunter who is bored with hunting down animals. After his friend Police Inspector Donovan is murdered by criminals, Nelson/Kirk undergoes an epiphany and begins hunting The Most Dangerous Game: man. He has not special powers but has all the skills of a top hunter and tracker as well as being a skilled fighter.
First Appearance: Adventure Comics #58 (DC)

Mann of India. Chickering Mann is "an American writer and adventurer residing in India." He gets into all sorts of India-flavored adventures.
First Appearance: Reg'lar Fellers Heroic Comics #1 (Eastern Color Printing)

Man of War. Mars, the God of War, is so admiring of the German efforts during World War Two that he creates a being to work for them. Unfortunately for the Germans, Mars is a bonehead and puts this being in Dayton, Ohio. This being, who has no identity other than "Man of War," goes on to fight for America, both at home and abroad. He has "the strength of Hercules, the speed of Mercury, the wisdom of Zeus...and the powers of all the other gods."
First Appearance: Liberty Scouts #2 (Centaur)

Man O'Metal. Pat Dempsey, a foundry worker, is the subject of an unfortunate accident: a vat of "white hot metal" spills on him. Rather than being fried, however, he undergoes an "inexplainable chemical reaction of the skin texture," which enables him to burst into blue flames whenever he is exposed to heat. He quites his job, becomes a private investigator, and begins solving crimes for pay and fighting evil for free. In his normal, human body, he is as vulnerable as any other person, but while on fire he can melt bullets and grenades.
First Appearance: Reg'lar Fellers #7 (Eastern Color Printing)

Manowar. "Eons ago," in South America, a very advanced civilization flourished. They created an android named "Manowar" and programmed him to become active when mankind needed him. They then buried him inside of a mountain. Manowar wakes up when the Germans bomb his mountainside. He defeats the Germans, makes his way North, and takes on the identity of Dan Sanders. He enlists in the FBI and fights crime and more Germans. Later in his run he is assisted by Red Seal. He has x-ray vision, invulnerability, and can fire rays of "knife-like electrons" which can destroy but also form solid objects.
First Appearance: Target Comics #1 (Funnies, Inc)

Mantor the Magician. He is a fez-wearing Mandrake the Magician imitation, only with real magical powers, rather than Mandrake's stage magic. He was never given an origin.
First Appearance: Human Torch Comics #2 (Timely)

Marga. Marga the Panther Woman is actually an American, an adventuress and explorer who fought Sheena-style for truth and justice in the African jungles. She is helped in the jungles by Ted Grant. Besides the usual Sheena abilities she had no powers.
First Appearance: Science Comics #1 (Fox)

Margo the Magician. Margo, the daughter of the famous stage magician The Great Presto, is a stage magician like her father. But she also has real magical powers, like him, and uses them to fight crime.
First Appearance: Uncle Sam Quarterly #2 (Quality)

Mark Lansing. Mark is a tough adventurer and explorer who makes his way into the underground world of Mikishawm (see Cotton Carver and Steve Conrad) and has various adventures there. He is helped by Koda, Kit, Tony and Jada.
First Appearance: Adventure Comics #53 (DC)

Mark Marson. Mark Marson is a sterling member of the Inter-Planetary Police. With the help of Sergeant Montague he takes on the enemies of inter-planetary peace, which are usually the Martians and their evil King Sarno. Mark has no superpowers but has a flying "Giro Car" and, of course, blasters.
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #15 (DC)

Marksman (I). Baron Povalsky, a Polish nobleman, is outraged by what the Germans have done to his country. He assumes the identity of "Major Hurtz," a German army officer, and works for the German army by day while hunting the Germans by night as the Marksman. He has no superpowers but is very skilled with bow and arrow.
First Appearance: Smash Comics #33 (Quality)

Marksman (II). Jakeoster contributes the following:

John Courage was trained from childhood by his father, chief of the Secret Service, to be a powerful force against crime.
No matter what weapon he used, he never missed his target.
First appearance: Amazing Man #23 (Centaur)

Mark Swift. Mark Swift and his friend Rodney Kent use the Time Retarder to travel through time and space and have adventures with Vikings, King Richard the Lion-Hearted, Blackbeard, and other types. It was Kent, a "grade school teacher in Greenville" who "discovered the amazing principle of time-travel" and who "in his spare time with his inventive ability...builds a time-retarder."
First Appearance: Slam-Bang Comics #1 (Fawcett)

Martan the Marvel Man. Martan is an alien, of the planet Antaclea, who comes to Earth on his honeymoon with his wife Vana. Unfortunately, while he's here he discovers that evil aliens, carrying out the orders of the Supreme Three Of The Universe, have already arrived on Earth and are trying to conquer Earth. Martan and his wife fight against the invading aliens. Martan has superstrength and telepathy as well as advanced technology (i.e., rayguns).
First Appearance: Popular Comics #46 (Dell)

Marty McCann. Marty is a rather naive and eager young man who was a movie actor for a while and then joined the Navy for adventure and profit.
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #24 (DC)

Marvel Boy (I). Hercules, the hero of Egypt (don't ask), dies and ascends to Valhalla (don't ask). He's happy there, but one day becomes concerned about the rise to power of the Nazi party in Germany, and so asks Jupiter (the ruler of Valhalla, see) (don't ask) to allow him to return to Earth to fight against that evil. Jupiter grants his wish, and Hercules returns to Earth, reincarnated, in the form of Martin Burns. Burns is born with superstrength, but hasn't done anything with it by the time he reaches adolescence. At that time a package containing a costume--Marvel Boy (I)'s costume--is delivered to the Burns home, and that night a Shadow visits Martin, informing him that he is the reincarnation of Hercules, that there is evil to be fought, and that the weed of crime bears a bitter fruit. Martin goes on to fight crime. He's got superstrength.
First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics #6 (Timely)

Marvel Boy (II). An ordinary schoolboy named Martin Burns is visiting a museum with the other students from his school when a mummy case falls and wounds him. Martin receives the "extract" of the entombed (ewww) via the wound, and since the mummy was Hercules, well, you know zany whackiness is going to follow. That night a mysterious Shadow visits Martin Burns and tells him that he now possesses the spirit of Hercules. Martin puts on a costume (where it comes from is never made clear) and becomes Marvel Boy (II), with the strength of Hercules, the speed of winged Mercury, and the wisdom of Abe Lincoln.
First Appearance: USA Comics #7 (Timely)

Marvel Bunny. In Funny Animal Land, a world just beyond Planet Carrot, ordinary animals live in peace. However, when predatory animals threaten, the timid rabbit Hoppy utters the magic word "Shazam" and becomes the superpowered Marvel Bunny. His is helped by his rabbit girlfriend Millie. He has the same superpowers as Captain Marvel. Michael Norwitz reminds me that Hoppy was inspired to say "Shazam!" by reading a copy of Captain Marvel Adventures.
First Appearance: Funny Animals #1 (Fawcett)

Marvelo. Marvelo, the "Monarch of Magicians," is a Fred Guardineer turban-wearing heroic spell-caster. Ed Love adds that he wore a white diner suit, had a "cool pointy black goatee," and that his main opponent was an Eastern sorcerer named Guran. I can further add that he was assisted by his leopard-skin-wearing Chinese servant Zee and that he was European rather than American.
First Appearance: Big Shot Comics #1 (Columbia)

Marvex the Super-Robot. Marvex is the creation of aliens from the fifth dimension; the aliens had been watching Earth and decided that humans would make good slaves. So they created a vaguely-human-looking android to help them with that task. But when Marvex discovered their plans, he goes wild and kills the aliens, and then tries to wreck the lab in which he was created. But a strange explosion in the lab sends him to Earth, where the good-natured Marvex decides to become a superhero. He's made of a "strange metal"--"fabri-steel"--which renders him invulnerabile and bulletproof; he has superstrength, can run at super speeds, can perform Hulk leaps, an advanced mechanical brain, and he can send radio messages via his mind.
First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics #3 (Timely)

Marvo the Magician. Marvo is a stage magician with real magical powers which he uses to fight crime. He is assisted by his unusually intelligent monkey, Tito.
First Appearance: Sure-Fire Comics #3 (Ace)

Marvo 1.2 Go+. Ronald Byrd, who I'm in awe of, gives us this:

Lastly, it's back to the future for the adventures of Marvo 1.2 Go+. I suppose that's pronounced "mar vo one point two go plus," but who knows?  In the year 2680 (nice random number), Marvo is the son of one of the world's greatest scientists.  Although only 15, Marvo has inherited his father's intelligence (literally, it would seem, since it is claimed he has the knowledge of "an average scientist of 40" (oh, wait, then it couldn't be Dad, since he's above "average"); sounds like a somewhat backhanded compliment, but hey, I couldn't even pass for a below-average scientist of 40).  The "+" at the end of Marvo's name (which he wears emblazoned on his future-tunic) is a status symbol, heretofore awarded only to adult men (and only ten of them), which allows him to use the "super-hypnobioscope" (never use one prefix when three will do, I suppose; technology with a lot of syllables? why, this must be THE FUTURE) to learn while he sleeps.  In #3 (boy, Jovians, Atlantis, condors flying into planes, and now this, Superworld #3 just about had it ALL, I guess), Marvo flies (a ship, presumably) to intercept a traveling planet on collision course with Earth (there were a LOT of those in the golden age, we're just lucky that by the 1960s they were only coming in SHIPS); although dead on the surface, the planet's interior is inhabited by, no, not creamy nougat, but by the Antarenes, or the Antmen of Antar.  The Antarenes have fled their dead sun (evidently there wasn't time to build a fleet or anything, so they just took the entire planet) in search of a new one; needless to say, Marvo sees to it that their plan to bump Earth out of orbit and take its place comes to naught.
First Appearance: SuperworldComics #2 (Komos)

Mary Marvel. Mary Batson was the twin sister of Billy Batson, aka Captain Marvel. Unfortunately, when their parents die, soon after the pair are born, they are separated by the wicked nurse of the rich Bromfields. Billy gets raised in an orphanage, while Mary is the daughter of the rich Bromfields. However, they meet years later and realize they are related. Billy, as Cap, chases her and prevents her kidnaping, then tells her who he really is. When Billy is caught off-guard and gagged, Mary says the magic word, "Shazam," and gains the powers of Cap. She goes on to fight crimes as the costumed Mary Marvel. She has the grace of Selena, the strength of Hippolyta, the fleetness of Zephyrus(the only male god of the bunch, as Michael Norwitz points out), the beauty of Aurora, and the wisdom of Minerva. She is helped by Freckles, her friend from the country.
First Appearance: Captain Marvel Adventures #18 (Fawcett)

Mask. Tony Colby, a "militant" District Attorney, is blinded by criminals. He regains his sight and decides to avenge himself by becoming a vigilante. He has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Exciting Comics #1 (Better Publications)

Masked Marvel (I). The Marvel, who has no secret identity and whose secret identity is never revealed, fights crime. He is assisted by ZL, ZR, and ZY. He has a glass-domed mountaintop headquarters, an amphibious airplane, and a slew of guns, but no superpowers.
First Appearance: Keen Detective Funnies v2 #7 (Centaur)

Masked Marvel (II). Ronald Byrd, Defender Of Liberty, adds this:

Chet Fairchild was the son of oil millionaire Colonel Carlton Fairchild, brother to the beautiful Marion, and an apparent graduate of the Don Diego Vega school of behavior (later known as the Bruce Wayne Finishing School). However, Chet led a double life as the Masked Marvel, whose caped costume included a green mask that literally made the Marvel look like he had a skull for a head. The fact that his name was, of course, the MASKED Marvel indicates that he wasn't making any concerted effort to persuade people that he was a supernatural being of some sort and was just going for shock value (precisely what they would have made such a realistic-looking mask out of in the 1800s is open to debate). Although, as noted, his spooky appearance was strictly for show, the Masked Marvel encountered both mundane and supernatural threats.
First Appearance: Gunsmoke #1 (Youthful)

Masked Ranger. The Ranger is a heroic cowboy.
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #36 (DC)

Masked Rider. Bronc Randall is a modern day masked cowboy vigilante.
First Appearance: Exciting Comics #2 (Better)

Master Key. Ray Cardell, a wealthy playboy, is irradiated by "ultra-shortwaves" in a laboratory accident. He gains powers because of this and fights crime. His power is x-ray vision.
First Appearance: Scoop Comics #1 (Harry 'A' Chesler) Note: He also appeared in Harvey Comics, which as far as I know was never formally associated with the Chesler group.

Masterman. To quote from his origin: "As a boy, young Master Man was weak until a wise old doctor gave the youth a magic capsule, full of vitamins, containing every source of energy known to man! The boy becomes the strongest man on earth! Upon the highest mountain peak he built a castle made of solid rock! From there he sees all evil in the world and races to destroy it instantly!" Masterman has superspeed, superstrength, and invulnerability.
First Appearance: Master Comics #1 (Fawcett)

Master Mind Excello. No origin was given for for Excello, although, as is customary, he's written about as if he has many long months of experience and famous deeds behind him. He's an agent of Naval Intelligence who works oversees for Uncle Sam. He's got clairvoyance, clairaudience, and can mentally augment his strength. He's also got an array of gadgets, including a "triple-propellor pistol," vials of the acidic "secret chemical SF44," "vacu-pads" that enable him to climb walls in a Spider-Man-esque manner, and a "secret high-explosive liquid" that blows stuff up real good.
First Appearance: Mystic Comics #2 (Timely)

Mekano. Mekano is a giant robot invented and controlled by Bill Foster. Bill uses Mekano to fight crime and the Germans.
First Appearance: Wonder Comics #1 (Better)

Menta. Bruce Brandon is a "mental master of men" who puts on a costume and uses his abilities to fight crime as a member of the Triple Terror.
First Appearance: Top Top Comics #54 (Dell)

Merciless the Sorceress. "Pages of history recount the tale of a woman whose fantastic beauty is matched only by her evil genius! She twists the minds and warps the souls of men who worship at her feet and finally turns them into beasts! Such was Merciless the Sorceress, ruler of the mysterious land of Volcano People at the top of the world." She is opposed by the famous explorer Captain Bob Darlington, his assistant "the Professor," and his pilot "Happy" Jack Smiles, although they win mostly by luck. She can change men into animals, is bulletproof, can disintegrate guns with a gesture, and can fly, among other abilities.
First Appearance: All Your Comics #1 (Fox)

Mercury. He was, literally, the god Mercury come down to earth to oppose the evils of Pluto.
First Appearance: Red Raven Comics #1 (Timely)

Mercury (2). See Meteor.

Merlin. Jock Kellog, a playboy whose wealth is not what it could be, spends the last of his money to visit his dying uncle, hoping to score an inheritance. Instead he is told that he’s the last descendant of Merlin and he is given, rather than money, a hooded robe. Jock puts on the robe and discovers that it gives him magic powers. With this power he decides to do good instead of evil and fights crime. He has various plot necessity magic powers.
First Appearance: National Comics #1 (Quality)

Merry the Girl of 1000 Gimmicks. Merry King is adopted as a teenager by the father of Sylvester Pemberton, aka the Star-Spangled Kid. Merry discovers Sylvester's identity and decides to fight crime herself, eventually becoming his sidekick. She has no superpowers, but has, well, a thousand gimmicks, everything from sneezing powder to sticky-glue shooters, all concealed in her cape or in her belt pouch.
First Appearance: Star-Spangled Comics #82 (DC)

Merzah the Mystic. No origin was given for him. He's a sort of freelance mystic-for-pay who is said to fight spies and saboteurs. He has "thought transmission and mental telepathy"--long-distance mind-reading, thought-projection, and precognitive visions.
First Appearance: Mystic Comics #4 (Timely)

Meteor. Mickey O'Toole is in need of a blood transfusion and is given blood by the Silver Streak. Because of the "secret fluid" in the Streak's blood, Mickey gains the Streak's powers, and becomes first Mercury and then the Meteor, the Streak's sidekick. The Meteor has superspeed and can fly.
First Appearance: Silver Streak Comics #11 (Lev Gleason)

Mickey. Mickey Matthews is the youthful sidekick of the Deacon. He is also a member of the Little Leaders. His life was saved by the Deacon, which is how the pair met up.
First Appearance: Catman Comics #1 (Holyoke)

Mickey Martin. Mickey is the subject of a controlled experiment of the kind that gave the American Crusader his powers. The experiment works, and Mike gains the Crusader's powers. He decides to become the Crusader's sidekick. His superpowers include superstrength, flight, speed, and invulnerability to bullets.
First Appearance: Thrilling Comics#21 (Better)

Micro Face. Tom Woods loses his brother to gangsters' guns. He swears revenge and puts together a costume to do so. (He beats the gangsters, of course) He has no superpowers, but his mask has a microphone for amplifying his voice, a hearing-amplifier, and "photoelectric lenses" for x-ray vision. As a welcome supplement, here's Ronald Byrd's comments on Microface:

Micro-Face, Tom Woods, has his own set of artificial powers via a high-tech mask that enables him to amplify or throw his voice (hence "Micro-Face" ala "microphone"), as well as granting him super-hearing and x-ray vision. Oddly, perhaps because of the comparatively esoteric nature of his powers, Micro-Face is the only Clue hero who restricts his activities to mundane organized crime, with nary a super-powered or even odd-looking enemy to his name (Have you noticed that, by and large, golden age super-heroes were ordinary-looking people in bizarre clothes, while the super-villains were bizarre-looking people in ordinary clothes?).  Although the existence of the super-hero Micro-Face IS known, he somehow manages to get repeated mileage out of the throw-your-voice trick, proving that criminals just aren't that bright, in addition to being a superstitious, cowa...oops, wrong guy.
First Appearance: Clue Comics #1 (Hillman)

Microman. Wee Jimmy Everett, a young lad of six or seven or eight, sneaks a drink of a shrinking potion from his friend Professor Schmidt and goes down to smaller-than-a-paperclip. At the end of the story he is given an antidote, and is back to normal, but asks to be the Professor's assistant. He's accepted, of course, and there the story ends.
First Appearance: Human Torch Comics #2 (Timely)

Midnight. Dave Clark is a radio announcer at UMAX who decides to fight crime at night, and does so, assisted by talking monkey Gabby and reformed criminal and mad scientist Doc Wackey. Midnight has no superpowers but carries a gun, sleep-darts, a two-way wrist radio, and other gadgets.
First Appearance: Smash Comics #18 (Quality)

Mighty Man. Mighty Man begins as a twelve-foot-tall crime fighting giant of the Old West, discovered in "the Valley of the Giants" by a professor and young cowhand. He decides to accopany them into the outside world and devotes himself to fighting crime. Later on, though, he became an ordinary human with the (potentially very useful) ability to grow and to make any part of his body grow.
First Appearance: Amazing-Man Comics #5 (Centaur)

Mike Gibbs. "Mike Gibbs, Guerilla" is a guerrilla fighter in Occupied Europe. He has no superpowers but is awfully tough.
First Appearance: Adventure Comics #84 (DC)

Mike Trapp. Trapp was a "famous" private detective who was of course successful every time out. He gets along well with the police, has a secretary named Candy Carson and a sidekick named Pepper Burns.
First Appearance: All-Select Comics #1 (Timely)

Minimidget. Jack Rhodes and his girlfriend Ritty have the misfortune to be the target of a mad scientist's shrinking ray. The pair make the best of their bad situation and have a number of Doll Man-like adventures. They have no superpowers, but are smart and adventurous and make use of tiny sports cars and miniature airplanes.
First Appearance: Amazing-Man Comics #5 (Centaur)

Minute-Man. Private Jack Weston of the U.S. Army wants to do more to fight the Germans than he can while stationed at Camp Blaine, so he puts on a costume and begins attacking the enemy. He is a member of the Crime Crusaders Club. He has no superpowers.
First Appearance: Master Comics #11 (Fawcett)

Miracle Man. Zambini the Magician used his magic amulet to fight crime. Zambini had no powers apart from his miracle-working red amulet.
First Appearance: Zip Comics #1 (Archie)

Mirror Man. Dean Alder, the head of the Alder Academy, wants to fight crime as well as instruct the young. When he walks through a mirror  he becomes a dematerialized shadow. He uses his power to fight crime. While a shadow he can't hold anything, but while solid and normal he can and does use a gat. He wears a magic robe, the Mystic Garment, which allows him to walk into and out of mirrors and gives him his powers.
First Appearance: Tip Top #54 (United Features)

Miss America (1). Joan Dale is visiting the Statue of Liberty when she wishes aloud that she could do "all the good...if (she) had the powers of that Statue." She falls asleep and has a dream that the Statue gives her magic powers. She wakes up, finds that she actually has the powers, and goes on to fight the enemies of America. Her powers are undefined but vast; she can do just about anything.
First Appearance: Military Comics #1 (Quality)

Miss America (2). Madeline Joyce was in a lighthouse when she was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm, and she awoke with the power of flight, x-ray vision, the "strength of a thousand men," and the "wisdom of the ages." She fought various evils, joining the All-Winners Squad in their two appearances.
First Appearance: Marvel Mystery Comics #49 (Timely)

Miss Fury. Socialite Marla Drake was left a costume (which, Ronald Byrd notes, she doesn't even wear in some stories) by her uncle. The costume was made of actual black leopard skin, and had originally been the ceremonial robe and symbol of justice of a "witch doctor." The robe didn't seem to grant her any extraordinary powers--besides her athleticism and fighting ability she had none--but the strip explicitly states that the robe is "cursed" with "strange powers" and can actually work "miracles." The skin may have been African, but a Brazilian character named "Albino Joe" (he's a Harvard-educated albino Native Brazilian) (no, really!) knows about the leopard skin, so perhaps Miss Fury's costume originally comes from Brazil.
First Appearance: Miss Fury #1 (Timely)

Miss Masque. Diana Adams is a wealthy and popular socialite and debutante who gets her kicks by fighting crime as the costumed Miss Masque.
First Appearance: Exciting Comics #51 (Better)

Miss Patriot. The sidekick of the Patriot, she was originally the Patriot's petite amie and "girl Friday" Mary. In Marvel Mystery Comics #50 Mary is kidnaped by Dr. Groitzig and Signore Scharrolla and used as a test subject for a super-soldier serum. The serum leaves Mary with clairvoyance, and the text refers to her as Miss Patriot, but no other issue of Marvel Mystery Comics followed up on this, and Mary's identity as Miss Patriot was strictly a one-issue deal.
First Appearance: Marvel Mystery Comics #50 (Timely)

Miss Shady. Miss Shady was a tall, slinky blonde adventuress and thief who was clever and amoral and careful to keep three steps and two jumps ahead of the law.
First Appearance: Hi-Lite Comics#1 (E.R. Ross)

Miss Victory. Joan Wayne, a Washington D.C. stenographer, gets sick and tired of watching corrupt politicians, and so decides to help the FBI by putting on a costume and fighting the crooked pols that the Feds can't catch. She has no powers.
First Appearance: Captain Fearless #1 (Holyoke)

Miss X. Miss X was a mysterious crime-fighting woman who got into crime-fighting to meet Mr. America. When he was declared dead, she quit.
First Appearance: Action Comics #47 (DC)

Mister America. See Tex Thompson.

Mister E (1). He dresses like the Shadow, but with a domino mask rather than a scarf. He's the wealthy sportsman Victor Jay, but apart from the usual athletic skills and ingenuity that all superheroes have, he has no special powers, nor was any origin ever given for him. Interestingly, though, in his one appearance he clashed with the Vampire, who is described as his "arch-enemy" and who, from the dialogue of the story, has had a number of skirmishes with Mister E.
First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics #2 (Timely)

Mister E (2). The nameless and originless Mr. E is the lone servant of the god King Kolah, the "remnant of an extinct civilization whose teachings proclaim the violent destruction of evil and injustice." Mr. E carries out King Kolah's wishes from a secret room in Mr. E's home. King Kolah, you see, is a statue in that room, and when evil takes place King Kolah comes to life and directs Mr. E. Mr. E is helped by the "messengers of Kolah," a group of...er...magical elves. Mr. E's girlfriend is "Miss Terry." Mr. E has no superpowers, but is good in a fight and packs heat.
First Appearance: Punch Comics #1 (Harry "A" Chesler)

Mister Justice. In 1040 Prince James, the 20-year-old heir to the English throne, is assassinated by Scots rebels. James' spirit is not allowed to go on to its final reward, however, since his "destiny" has been "thwarted." His ghost kills his assassins, then, trapped in the castle, lingers for centuries. In 1940 the British take his castle apart and ship it to the United States. The ship transporting the castle is sunk by a U-boat, and this frees James' spirit. James keeps going to the U.S. and takes on the identity of Mr. Justice to stop others from being killed the way he was. As a ghost he gets his power from the "spectral planes;" he can fly, move underwater as easily through air, and can emit blasts which destroy bodies and souls. He can also move as a spirit or in a more solid form, which form is vulnerable to fire.
First Appearance: Blue Ribbon Mystery Comics #9 (Archie)

Mister Midnight. Neil Carruthers, a "wealthy young sportsman," has (sans origin) the ability to stop clocks--not time, but clocks--with the cry "Stop time!" Neil is bored enough to decide to try to put this talent to use helping the police. He leaves a calling card behind of a card with a watch dial with the hands set at midnight.
First Appearance: Silver Streak Comics #1 (Comic House)

Mister Millions. Mr. Millions, a "friend of the poor and protector of the weak," drives around New York City using his money and influence to help out those poorer than he. He has no powers, was given no origin, and doesn't engage in fisticuffs.
First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics #7 (Timely)

Mr. Ree. Mr. Ree is an amateur magician and "ace detective" who uses his professional abilities as a magician to solve crime.
First Appearance: Blazing Comics #1 (Enwill Publishing)

Mister Satan. Says Michael Norwitz about this character: "Mr. Satan (Dudley Bradsaw) was basically a guy who donned a crimson horned outfit with a yellow cape and fought crime in his many traveling adventures." His first appearance has this: "Dudley Bradshaw, wealthy young play-boy...is in reality none other than Mr. Satan--international detective and soldier of fortune."
First Appearance: Zip Comics #1 (Archie)

Mr. Scarlet. Brian Butler, a District Attorney, is frustrated by his inability to put away all the bad guys and criminals, so at midnight every night he becomes the crime-busting costumed vigilante Mr. Scarlet. This has the unfortunate side-effect of putting him out of a job, as he’s too successful as Mr. Scarlet, so by day he looks for odd jobs to support himself and by night he fights evil as Mr. Scarlet. He is assisted by his secretary, Miss Wade, who knows who he is, and by his sidekick, the young boy Pinky. Mr. Scarlet has the ability to fly, although no origin for this ability is ever given.
First Appearance: Wow Comics #1 (Fawcett)

Mr. Terrific. Terry Sloan is a bored millionaire who has conquered every possible field there is. He is so bored, in fact, that he decides one day to commit suicide. He sees someone else about to do so and stops them, and after finding out their troubles helps them out. He then decides to help people by fighting crime, emphasizing the ideal of fair play with the words plastered across his costume. He is a member of the Justice Society of America. He has no superpowers, but is a prodigy at everything he does; he has an aptitude for having aptitudes, and is the "best in the world" at everything, from being an architect to a hypnotist.
First Appearance: Sensation Comics #1 (DC).

Mister Wu. Mister Wu is a gentleman detective, sophisticated, clever and a good investigator. He is also Indian--that is, he is from India, which makes him Marvel's first (historically) Asian hero. (He works in the U.S., though) While he has no superpowers, he is a good p.i. and is a good fighter. He wears a blue suit with top hat, monocle, and cane, which he uses as a weapon when necessary. He is assisted by Alfie, a white youth who speaks in a faux Dead End Kids patois (to quote Dr. Clayton Forrester) who is unsophisticated, but always up for a fight.
First Appearance: All Select Comics #11 (Timely)

Mitey Powers. The ever-informative Ronald Byrd contributes this:

First up is Mitey Powers, in appearance basically a typical spaceman in one of those jumpsuits with the round transparent helmet.  For openers, his problem is that Earth is being bombarded by mysterious forces which turn out to be Martians located in a base on the Moon (Maybe you've seen a classic old science fiction drawing of aliens with enormous chests, spatulate feet, big ears, and antennae, intended to demonstrate how life might adapt to conditions on another planet; that's them, at least according to the cover). Mitey (a name which is, I guess, only a little less likely than "Flash" or "Buck") builds his own ship (the Nina, named after his girlfriend) to reach the Moon and expose the Martians, later leading a space armada from Earth (so I guess we're in the future, then; up to this point the article didn't make it clear).  In #2, the Martians depose their warmongering leaders, and Mitey exposes a subsequent plot by those leaders.  Later still, both Earth and Mars are attacked by the Super Giants of Jupiter (about a thousand feet tall (that's pretty super and pretty giant, all right), these Jovians are somewhat reminiscent of Segar's Goons with long-whiskered catfish heads).  Mitey decimates the Jovians with poisonous Martian gnats (hey, don't look at ME), making him one of the hopefully few golden age heroes who decided that genocide was the correct way to solve a problem.  Mitey has a crew of secondary characters, but their names aren't mentioned.
First Appearance: Superworld Comics #1 (Komos)

Monako. Surprisingly similar to Mandrake the Magician (but that must be a coincidence, surely), Monako fights criminals and spies in full tuxedo and tophat, and is aided by Pere, a superstrong aide. Unlike Mandrake, however, Monako has actual magic to fall back upon, not just stage legerdemain and hypnosis. He also has an origin. Monako is the son of a missionary couple who were proseltyzing in India. When Monako was a young child his family was attacked by a tribe. This tribe practiced "black magic" and worshiped "many gods," and their attack wiped out Monako's family and the entire village he was living in, leaving Monako as the only survivor of the attack. The chief of the attacking tribe then raises Monako as his own son. Monako grows up, spending his teen years among the magicians of the tribe and learning their tricks. Unfortunately for him, he's away from the village when colonial soldiers slaughter the tribe, killing everyone. (In case you're keeping track at home, that's two families Monako has lost) Monako then emigrates to England, where he is formally educated, and then returns to India. He lives there for "quite some time" and begins to correct some of the injustices caused by his adoptive tribe. Then, later, he either moves to America or simply buys a house/opens an office there. He still spends time traveling, however, and in at least one story fights against a "student of the black arts."
First Appearance: Daring Mystery Comics #1 (Timely)

M'sieu L'Epee. Andre, the Comte de Dijan (sic), is the leader of the Royal Guard. He is a foppish man not much respected by the public. He is, however, trusted by "Louis King of France" (no, which Louis is never said) and is also the masked "M'Sieu L'Epee" when he needs to be someone else. Naturally he's an excellent fencer.
First Appearance: Hi-Lite Comics #1 (E.R. Ross)

Monstro the Mighty. Monstro is the son of the war god Mars. He fought in a number of mortal wars over the centuries before finally growing weary of violence and bloodshed. When told of this, Mars knocked Monstro into the 1940s. Monstro appears as a giant (50' tall or more); he manifested himself in the U.S. and after initially being treated as a King Kong-like threat hooked up with Major Crash of the Flying Intelligence Service and his mechanic/bodyguard Hook (a former boxer), defeated the forces of the female spy Little Poison, and then vanished, never to appear in the comics again.
First Appearance: Comedy Comics #10 (Timely)

Moon Girl. Clare Lane is a native of of a mythical kingdom on Earth who leaves it and comes to the United States to fight crime and help the general weal. She is assisted first by her swain Prince Menou and later by a female assistant, Star. Moon Girl has superstrength, a moonstone which makes her "superior to any man," and a telepathically-controlled airplane-like "moonship."
First Appearance: Animal Fables #7 (E.C.)

Moon Man. No origin was given for him, and his private identity is never provided. Moon Man is a "master of many sciences and independently wealthy," he only comes out on nights when the moon is full, and he is "hunted alike by the underworld and the police." Plus, of course, he is good with his fists.
First Appearance: Mystic Comics #5 (Timely)

Mosquito. "Steve Stanton, ex-flier for our Border patrol, is unlike other men, reared by his American scientist father 20,000 feet up on the side of Mt. Aconcauga, Chile. His great lungs can stand altitudes fatal to normal men. Foes of the Border Patrol named him the Mosquito, because of his small stature and stinging vengeance." He is a Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and as such goes wherever he is sent, taking on the enemy and shooting them down all the while.
First Appearance: Air Fighters Comics #1 (Hillman)

Moth. Jakeoster contributes the following:

The Moth was a short-lived Batman knock-off.
First appearance: Mystery Men #9 (Fox)

Mouthpiece. Bill Perkins is a District Attorney who grows frustrated at his lack of "first-hand evidence" in crucial cases, and so puts on a costume and fights criminals to get that evidence. He is a killer vigilante. He has a nice set of tools, including a heater and handcuffs, but no superpowers.
First Appearance: Police Comics #1 (Quality)

Muley Pike. Muley Pike is the sidekick of the Durango Kid.
First Appearance: Durango Kid #1 (Better)

Music Master. John Wallace, a music teacher and concert violinist, finds the "musical pipes of death," and uses these fabled instruments to fight crime. He is assisted by the prissy, glasses-wearing kid Downbeat. The pipes allow the Music Master to fly whenever he hears a certain note played on a musical instrument, can use notes as a forcefield or solidified weapon, and can send the notes to carry out his orders.
First Appearance: Reg'lar Fellers Heroic Comics #12 (Eastern Color Printing)

Mysta. Mysta is a heroine located on the moon who with the help of her robot fights for good.
First Appearance: Planet Comics #35 (Fiction House)

Mystery Men of Mars. The Mystery Men of Mars are actually three men: Alan Kane, "a brilliant young American college student," Ted Tolliver, a strapping young American student "a bit older than Alan who has seen great adventures" and who is strong and good in a fight, and Professor Lutyens, "who has invented the Wanderer, a remarkable space ship." Together the trio go to Mars and have adventures.
First Appearance: All American Comics #1 (DC)

Mystic. The Mystic, a stage magician of no particular background or origin, exposes fraudulent fortune-tellers as well as captures crooks. He wears a turban, is good in a fight, has stage magician skills, but is not a magician or sorcerer.
First Appearance: Top-Notch Comics #1 (MLJ)

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