Publication history

The initial comic-book character called Fighting Yank first appeared

First appearance

In comic books and other stories with a long history, first appearance refers to the first occurrence to feature a fictional character.-Monetary value of first appearance issues:...

 in Nedor Comics

Nedor Comics

Nedor Publishing was a comic book imprint of publisher Ned Pines, who also published pulp magazines under a variety of company names that he also used for the comics...

' Startling Comics #10 (Sept. 1941), during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books

Golden Age of Comic Books

The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...

. He was created by writer Richard E. Hughes

Richard E. Hughes

Richard E. Hughes was an editor of the American Comics Group during its entire history from 1943 to 1967. He also authored most of their stories from 1957 to 1967, under a variety of pseudonyms. His best-known character was Herbie Popnecker, created under the pseudonym "Shane O'Shea", with artist...

 and artist Jon L. Blummer. Later artwork was produced by Jack Binder

Jack Binder (comics)

Jack Binder was a Golden Age comics creator and art packager. A fine artist by education, Binder had a prolific comics career that lasted from 1937–1946, then continued from "semi-retirement" until 1953. He was the creator of the original comic book Daredevil, for Lev Gleason Publications...

's studio, and by Elmer Wexler

Elmer Wexler

Elmer Wexler is an illustrator and cartoonist. He is most famous for his work on comic strips and comic books in the 1940s, including being the inventor of the DC comic hero Miss America in 1941. He is credited with being the first artist to draw a soap-opera style comic strip - Vic Jordan from...

.

Fighting Yank was created during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 as a patriotic hero similar to the Shield

The Shield (Archie)

The Shield is the name of several fictional patriotic superheroes created by MLJ . The Shield has the distinction of being one of the first superheroes with a costume based upon the United States flag, appearing fourteen months before Captain America.The name was used by MLJ/Archie for 3 characters...

 and Captain America

Captain America

Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...

. He was one of Nedor Comics' more successful characters, eventually replacing Captain Future in Startling Comics. In September 1942, Fighting Yank received his own title. Fighting Yank also appeared in America's Best Comics until that series was canceled in 1949.

Fictional character biography

Bruce Carter III obtained his superhuman powers when the ghost of his ancestor Bruce Carter I, a hero from the American War of Independence

American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...

, appeared to him and showed him the location of a magical cloak that could give the wearer invulnerability and super strength. Only Carter III's girlfriend, Joan Farwell, knows of his dual identity.

Along with this magical cloak, Fighting Yank's outfit also included a tri-corner hat, square buckles, an American flag on his chest, a white shirt, and blue pants.

Timely Comics

The 1940s precursor of Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...

 had a character also named Fighting Yank who made a single appearance in Captain America Comics #17 (Aug. 1942), in the story "The China Road", by writer-artist Jimmy Thompson. This Fighting Yank was American espionage agent

SPY

SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...

 Bill Prince, who fought Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese agents in China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

 under the code name Fighting Yank. Apart from a mention in the modern day U.S. Agent

U.S. Agent

U.S. Agent is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, usually those starring Captain America and the Avengers. He was created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary in Captain America vol...

mini-series, he has not been seen since.

AC Comics

AC Comics

AC Comics

AC Comics is a comic book publishing company started by Bill Black.AC Comics specializes in reprints of Golden Age comics from now-defunct companies whose properties lapsed into public domain and were not reprinted elsewhere...

 reprinted some of the Nedor Comics' Fighting Yank adventures beginning in 1994. The company then briefly revived the character, who made some appearances in the series Femforce

Femforce

Femforce is a comic book published by AC Comics that began publication in 1985, detailing the adventures of the titular team: the "Federal Emergency Missions Force" or "Femforce", some of them original creations, while others originated in the 1940s and 50s, lapsing into public domain by the time...

before being killed in Femforce #35. Later on, in issue #71, the Golden Age hero known as the Hood was murdered, and Bruce Carter III's spirit was brought back to inhabit the Hood's body. With the help of Reddevil, Carter designed a new costume based on his old outfit, and the Hood's.

In 2001, the company launched a new series. Set in 1950s America, it found Fighting Yank and sidekick Kid Quick defending the U.S. from Cold War

Cold War

The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...

 Communist enemies. The stories were written and drawn by Eric Coile in a style the creator said was an homage to Captain America

Captain America

Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...

 and Fighting American

Fighting American

Fighting American is a patriotic comic book character created in 1954 by writer Joe Simon and artist Jack Kirby, published by Crestwood Publication / Prize Comics and, against normal industry practices of the time, creator-owned...

 co-creator Jack Kirby

Jack Kirby

Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....

. Fighting Yank's costume was changed to resemble Fighting American.

Bruce Carter III

Writer Alan Moore

Alan Moore

Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...

 revived the original Nedor Comics Fighting Yank, Bruce Carter III, along with other Nedor characters that had entered the public domain

Public domain

Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...

, for his series Tom Strong

Tom Strong

Tom Strong is a comic book created by writer Alan Moore and artist Chris Sprouse initially published bi-monthly by America's Best Comics, an imprint of DC Comics' Wildstorm division.-Background:Tom Strong, the title character, is a "science hero"...

, on the DC Comics

DC Comics

DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...

 imprint America's Best Comics. In Tom Strong #12 (June 2001), he revealed the Fighting Yank as a member of SMASH

SMASH (comics)

The Society of Modern American Science Heroes, or SMASH, is a team of fictional superheroes whose adventures are published by America's Best Comics and take place on the parallel world of Terra Obscura.- History :...

, a superhero group that had been placed in suspended animation after an alien

Extraterrestrial life

Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...

 invasion from the Moon

Moon

The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...

 in 1969. Awakened 30 years later, Fighting Yank joined his former comrades against those extraterrestrials. In the fight against the aliens, he was killed while trying to protect his daughter, Carol.

Carol Carter

Tom Strong #11 (Jan. 2001) revealed that when Carol Carter had reached adulthood, she had gained the same powers as her father, and joined him in his fight against evil. In 1969, the two were placed in suspended animation alongside other members of the superhero team SMASH, and were awakened 30 years later. Carol lost her powers when her father was killed trying to save her life. With the disbanding of SMASH, she left her superhero career behind and became a teacher.

Moore's Terra Obscura

Terra Obscura

Terra Obscura is a 2003 comic book miniseries spun off from Alan Moore's Tom Strong series. The stories are written by Peter Hogan, and drawn by Yanick Paquette and Karl Story with additional flashback sequences drawn by Eric Theriault. Each story is co-plotted by Alan Moore and Peter Hogan...

spin-off series revealed that Carter III's spirit remained on Earth, but was unable to be seen or heard. Eventually, SMASH returns to action when the planet is threatened by hero-turned-villain Mystico. Acting on a suggestion from the Green Ghost

The Ghost (Nedor)

The Ghost is a fictional character, a superhero that appeared in comic books published by Nedor Comics. His first appearance was in Thrilling Comics #3...

, Carol tries on her late father's tri-corner hat. This allows her to see the ghost of her father, who gives her his mystical cloak, bestowing his former powers upon her once more. Bruce Carter III now aids Carol just as Bruce Carter I had done for him. Uncomfortable with the name Fighting Yank, since it was her father's identity, Carol finally decided on the hero name of "Fighting Spirit". She also entered into a romantic relationship with fellow superhero Ms. Masque

Miss Masque

Miss Masque is a fictional masked crime-fighter. She originally appeared in comic books published by Nedor Comics, and was later revived by AC Comics, America's Best Comics, and Dynamite Entertainment.-Nedor Comics:...

.

Dynamite Entertainment

The publisher Dynamite Entertainment

Dynamite Entertainment

Dynamite Entertainment is an American comic book company that primarily publishes licensed franchises of adaptations of other media. These include adaptations of film properties such as Army of Darkness, Terminator and RoboCop, literary properties such as Zorro, Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, Alice in...

 said in 2007 that Fighting Yank would be the protagonist among several public domain

Public domain

Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...

 Golden Age characters appearing in the comic book series Project Superpowers

Project Superpowers

Project Superpowers is a comic book limited series published by Dynamite Entertainment beginning January 2008. It was co-plotted by Jim Krueger and Alex Ross, with scripts by Jim Krueger, covers by Alex Ross, and interior art by Doug Klauba and Stephen Sadowski for issue #0, and Carlos Paul for the...

, by writer Jim Krueger

Jim Krueger

Jim Krueger is an American comic book writer, novelist, and filmmaker.- Filmmaking :Kreuger's first short film, They Might Be Dragons, which he wrote, directed, and produced, won "Best In Class" at New York University , a "Best Short Film" award from the New York Independent Film Festival, and a...

 and artist Alex Ross

Alex Ross

Nelson Alexander "Alex" Ross is an American comic book painter, illustrator, and plotter. He is praised for his realistic, human depictions of classic comic book characters. Since the 1990s he has done work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics Nelson Alexander "Alex" Ross (born January 22, 1970) is an...

.

The Fighting Yank played a major role in the story as he is the one who caused many of the events to be set in motion. During World War II, he was ordered to retrieve Pandora’s Box from the clutches of Hitler (who had opened the box and ignited World War II as a result of the released evils). Under orders by the government and his ancestor's ghost, the Yank has to trap not only the evils of Pandora's Box, but also his fellow superheroes.

Decades after accomplishing his mission, Bruce Carter III, now an old man, is confronted by the American Spirit, who chastizes him for his actions. Carter realized that his actions have only allowed evil to flourish instead, and set out to free his former teammates. Fighting Yank succeeds in freeing his teammates, but is mortally wounded in a battle.

As he died, the Yank took on his ancestor's curse and became a partly solid ghost. This allowed him to arrive in time to save the other heroes.

In other media

Mego

Mego Corporation

The Mego Corporation was a toy company that dominated the action figure toy market during most of the 1970s. The Mego Corporation was founded in the early 1950s by David Abrams and was mostly known prior to 1971 as a producer of dime store toys.-Golden age:...

 Toy Company released an action figure named Fighting Yank in the late 1960s. The toy line was dropped in the 1960s after Mego was sued by Hasbro

Hasbro

Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...

, who claimed the Mego figure was a copy of their G.I. Joe

G.I. Joe

G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...

 action figure. Fighting Yank resurfaced with an all new body in the early 1970s.

External links

• Fighting Yank I at International Hero
• Fighting Yank at Don Markstein's Toonopedia
  Don Markstein's Toonopedia
  Don Markstein's Toonopedia was a web encyclopedia of print cartoons, comic strips and animation. Don D...
  
  
• Fighting Yank I at SMASH fansite
• Fighting Yank II at SMASH fansite