Grim Reaper (Nedor)
Encyclopedia
The Grim Reaper is a fictional character
and a superhero
. Created by writer/editor Richard E. Hughes
He first appeared in Fighting Yank #7, Feb., 1944, and was quickly promoted to cover feature of Wonder Comics (Better Publications
), beginning with #1 May 1944. His origin story was told in Wonder Comics #2.
The character was revived in the modern age in Tom Strong
#11 by Alan Moore
and Chris Sprouse
. He was killed by The Terror
in the Terra Obscura
miniseries.
He was, at one point, number one on the Gestapo's wanted list.
The Grim Reaper was often shown working behind enemy lines in the German underground. While getting a machine that broadcasts electrical sparks that short circuit any motor within range, including planes, out of Germany, the Reaper made his way to England.
In one adventure, the Reaper brings a special Nazi zeppelin to England and wants nothing more than to go back to the continent. "The only reward I want is a chance to fight the Nazi beasts again and again ... to spread terror among the foulest terrorists the world has ever known! Tremble, you Nazis! The Grim Reaper is coming back!"
called Terra Obscura
, which was also the title of the resulting mini-series.
This Reaper eventually opposed the goals of the revived Black Terror
and was killed, during his own unsuccessful attempt to put an end to the Terror.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
and a superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
. Created by writer/editor 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...
He first appeared in Fighting Yank #7, Feb., 1944, and was quickly promoted to cover feature of Wonder Comics (Better Publications
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...
), beginning with #1 May 1944. His origin story was told in Wonder Comics #2.
The character was revived in the modern age in 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"...
#11 by 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...
and Chris Sprouse
Chris Sprouse
Chris Sprouse is an American comic book artist.-Biography:Chris Sprouse was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. At the age of 3 he moved with his family to New Delhi, India where he first discovered comics as he was unable to play outside due to the dangerous amount of snakes in the house yard...
. He was killed by The Terror
Black Terror
The Black Terror is a fictional comic book superhero who originally appeared in Exciting Comics #9, published by Nedor Comics in January 1941. Some Black Terror stories were written by Patricia Highsmith before she became an acclaimed novelist...
in the 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...
miniseries.
Character history
Bill Norris was studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, France when the Nazis occupied the City. Intervening in a Nazi harassment of a citizen, Norris was arrested and sent to a concentration camp. He helped an old man, who eventually confided to Norris that he was the leader of the French Underground and knew the location of an important French General, who had to be safely brought to Africa to continue the battle. Fashioning an all black Grim Reaper outfit, Norris, with help from the French citizenry, rescued the General.He was, at one point, number one on the Gestapo's wanted list.
The Grim Reaper was often shown working behind enemy lines in the German underground. While getting a machine that broadcasts electrical sparks that short circuit any motor within range, including planes, out of Germany, the Reaper made his way to England.
In one adventure, the Reaper brings a special Nazi zeppelin to England and wants nothing more than to go back to the continent. "The only reward I want is a chance to fight the Nazi beasts again and again ... to spread terror among the foulest terrorists the world has ever known! Tremble, you Nazis! The Grim Reaper is coming back!"
America's Best Comics
The Grim Reaper, along with other heroes from Nedor Comics, were revived by Alan Moore in his series Tom Strong. This revival set the characters on a parallel worldParallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
called 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...
, which was also the title of the resulting mini-series.
This Reaper eventually opposed the goals of the revived Black Terror
Black Terror
The Black Terror is a fictional comic book superhero who originally appeared in Exciting Comics #9, published by Nedor Comics in January 1941. Some Black Terror stories were written by Patricia Highsmith before she became an acclaimed novelist...
and was killed, during his own unsuccessful attempt to put an end to the Terror.