Unknown Soldier (Ace Comics)
Encyclopedia
The Unknown Soldier is a fictional superhero
character who first appeared in Our Flag Comics #1 (August, 1941) from Ace Comics
.
.
In 2008, the Dynamite Entertainment
one-shot Project Superpowers
: Chapter Two Prelude stated that this character — now renamed Soldier Unknown, to avoid trademark hassles with DC Comics
— would appear in the second volume of Project Superpowers, as part of a team of Ace heroes called The Super-Mysterymen (named after the defunct Ace title Super-Mystery Comics).
; during World War II
, he came to the aid of American soldiers whenever they needed his help. He wears a costume patterned after a U.S. soldier's uniform (complete with garrison cap
) and a mask; he possesses super-strength and the ability to fly, and he carries a "nitro gun" that fires explosive bullets.
, along with dozens of other heroes; decades later, the Urn was broken and the prisoners freed. The Soldier and seven other heroes — Captain Courageous
, Lash Lightning
& Lightning Girl, Mr. Raven
, The Sword, Magno, and Vulcan — were then recruited by unknown forces to form a team called The Super-Mysterymen; what part they will play in the modern world has yet to be revealed.
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 —...
character who first appeared in Our Flag Comics #1 (August, 1941) from Ace Comics
Ace Comics (publishers)
Ace Comics was the banner under which pulp magazine publisher Aaron A. Wyn and his wife Rose Wyn produced comic books between 1940 and the end of 1956. The Wyns had been publishing pulp fiction under the Periodical House and Magazine Publishers names since 1928...
.
Publishing history
Our Flag Comics only lasted for five issues — the last issue was dated April, 1942 — but by then The Unknown Soldier was transferred to the Ace title Four Favorites, appearing from issue #4 (March, 1942) to #20 (November, 1945). After that, he fell into the public domainPublic 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...
.
In 2008, the 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...
one-shot 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...
: Chapter Two Prelude stated that this character — now renamed Soldier Unknown, to avoid trademark hassles with 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...
— would appear in the second volume of Project Superpowers, as part of a team of Ace heroes called The Super-Mysterymen (named after the defunct Ace title Super-Mystery Comics).
Ace Comics
The Unknown Soldier is a mysterious being who claims to be the physically manifested spirit of all who died to protect the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; 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...
, he came to the aid of American soldiers whenever they needed his help. He wears a costume patterned after a U.S. soldier's uniform (complete with garrison cap
Garrison cap
A Side cap is a foldable military cap with straight sides and a creased or hollow crown sloping to the back where it is parted. It is known as a garrison cap , a wedge cap , or officially field service cap, , but it is more generally known as the side cap.It follows the style which...
) and a mask; he possesses super-strength and the ability to fly, and he carries a "nitro gun" that fires explosive bullets.
Project Superpowers
At some point after the war, the Soldier was trapped in the mystical Urn of Pandora by the misguided Fighting YankFighting Yank
-Publication history:The initial comic-book character called Fighting Yank first appeared in Nedor Comics' Startling Comics #10 , during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books. He was created by writer Richard E. Hughes and artist Jon L. Blummer...
, along with dozens of other heroes; decades later, the Urn was broken and the prisoners freed. The Soldier and seven other heroes — Captain Courageous
Captain Courageous (comics)
Captain Courageous is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in Banner Comics #3 from Ace Comics. His name seems to be inspired by the title of the Rudyard Kipling novel Captains Courageous.-Publishing history:...
, Lash Lightning
Lash Lightning
Lash Lightning is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in Sure-Fire Comics #1 from Ace Comics.-Publication history:...
& Lightning Girl, Mr. Raven
Raven (Ace Comics)
The Raven is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in the Ace Comics title Sure-Fire Comics; not to be confused with the DC Comics character.-Publication history:...
, The Sword, Magno, and Vulcan — were then recruited by unknown forces to form a team called The Super-Mysterymen; what part they will play in the modern world has yet to be revealed.