Skyman (Columbia Comics)

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The Skyman was a fictional comic book superhero who appeared in 1940s comics during what historians and fans call the Golden Age of Comic Books. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Ogden Whitney, he first appeared in the Columbia Comics omnibus title Big Shot Comics #1 (May 1940). He is unrelated to the DC Comics character called simply Skyman, who originated as All-American Publications' Star-Spangled Kid.

The Skyman was Allen Turner, who was raised by his uncle to become "outstanding in mind and body". A brilliant scientist, he had no superpowers but did have a flying wing-shaped airplane, similar to the Northrop YB-35^{[citation needed]}, dubbed The Wing, that flew by the power of Earth's magnetic poles. With this and money inherited from his late uncle's will, he fought crime.

After appearing in the first eight issues of Big Shot, the character was spun off into his own series, for which one issue each appeared in 1941, 1942, 1947, and 1948. The Skyman went on to appear in virtually every issue of Big Shot through issue #101 (May 1949). That comic itself lasted only three more issues. The Skyman additionally appeared in a story in Sparky Watts #1 (1942).

New Media Publishing reprinted a Skyman story in the unnumbered one-shot Golden Age Of Comics Special (Summer 1982). A.C.E. Comics ran two reprints in Return of the Skyman #1 (Sept. 1987), and AC Comics one reprint in Golden-Age Men of Mystery #7 (May 1998).

[edit] References

• The Golden Age Heroes Directory: S, accessed 29 January 2006.
• Grand Comics Database: Skyman