The Shield (Archie Comics)
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The Shield is the name of several patriotic super heroes created by MLJ (now known as Archie Comics). The Shield has the distinction of being the first superhero with a costume based upon the American Flag, beating out Captain America by more than a year (14 months).
The name has been used by MLJ/Archie for 3 characters. DC Comics Impact line, which were licensed versions of the Archie characters, also used the name for several characters.
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[edit] Character biography
[edit] Joe Higgins
The Shield first appeared in MLJ's Pep Comics #1, dated January, 1940. The character was created by writer Harry Shorten and artist Irv Novick.
The Shield is really Joe Higgins, son of slain scientist, Tom Higgins, who was working on a chemical formula which would give someone superstrength. Joe continued his father's research and figured out the solution, which mean applying the chemicals and using a special light to give him super strength and invulnerability. He then becomes an FBI agent, whose secret identity is known only to FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover, and fights foreign agents and other threats to America.
He would later be joined by a kid partner, Dusty Simmons, in Pep #11 in 1941. His father had been killed by foreign agents, and he is adopted by Joe and given a costume. Dusty would also partner with The Wizard's kid partner, Roy, as the "Boy Buddies".
The Shield was one of MLJ's most popular character, even spawning a club, the "Shield G-Man Club". He started in Pep, and several other MLJ titles: Shield-Wizard, Top Notch. But then a new character arrived who would over shadow him: Archie Andrews. He would take the Shield's cover spot on Pep, take his fan club, and cause the end of the MLJ superheroes.
The Shield would later be killed off, but his son would continue the legacy as the new Shield, referred to as "Shield III". During Archie's Red Circle Comics line, a series devoted to the "Original Shield" was published that ran 4 issues.
Archie published, under their "Red Circle Comics" name, a trade paperback collection of the first 8 Shield stories from Pep and Shield-Wizard.
[edit] Lancelot Strong
In June of 1959, a new Shield was published by Archie that had no connection to the previous version.
Joe Simon and Jack Kirby had been hired by Archie to create characters for a new "Archie Adventure Series" line of superheroes (later known as Mighty Comics). They created a new Shield, whose real identity was Lancelot Strong, who appeared in a new title, The Double Life of Private Strong. Most collectors refer to this Shield as "Lancelot Strong" to differentiate him from the previous one.
Lancelot's scientist father developed a method to create a superhuman by expanding the mind, which he used on his infant son. After his father was killed by foreign agents, Lancelot was adopted by a farm couple and raised as their son. Once he hit his teens, he discovered the truth of his background and his powers: strength, flight, near-invulnerability, vision powers, generate lightning, and a few more. His father had created a patriotic costume for him, and he started off as the new superhero, the Shield. He soon joined the Army, acting like a Gomer Pyle-style country bumbkin, while leading a double life as the Shield (hence the title of his comic). DC cried 'foul', claiming this new Shield was too similar to Superman, so after 2 issues, his comic ended.
He would also appear in a few issues of The Fly (#4, 8, 9). He would not again appear until Archie again revised their superheroes under the Red Circle Comics line of the 80s. There he appeared in the Mighty Crusaders and got his own title Lancelot Strong, Shield. It lasted 2, issues, was retitled Shield-Steel Sterling with the third issue. In that issue he would be killed off, and the title continued as Steel Sterling.
Joe Simon, his creator, is the owner of this character. Other than a few minor reprints of the original stories, there have been no attempts at a comprehensive reprint of the original stories.
[edit] Bob Higgins
When Archie revamped their superheroes under their "Radio Comics"/"Mighty Comics" line, a new Shield also appeared (since they probably felt they couldn't use the new Lancelot Strong Shield). This one was revealed to be the son of the original Shield.
The new Shield is Bob Higgins, son of the Original Shield. He would appear in the new Fly-Man #31, and becomes one of the main founders of the Mighty Crusaders. It would be revealed that his father was turned to stone by the villain, The Eraser, and Bob was carrying on his father's work. Bob's 'powers', which seem to be enhanced strength and limited invulnerability, were derived from his costume. He would appear through the end of the Radio/Mighty Comics run.
When Archie again revamped their superheroes in the 1980s under their Red Circle Comics, Shield III would be part of it, being a founding member of the new Mighty Crusaders.
[edit] External links
- Mighty Crusaders entry on Shield I
- Mighty Crusaders entry on Lancelot Strong ,Shield
- Mighty Crusaders entry on Shield III
- Toonopedia entry on Shield I
- Toonopedia entry on Lancelot Strong, Shield
- International Superheroes Catalog entry on Shield I
- International Superheroes Catalog entry on Lancelot Strong, Shield
- International Superheroes Catalog entry on Shield III
- Joe Simon's website
