Discover Top Posts Tagged with #bulletdog

BULLETMAN (vol. 1) #14 (Sping, 1946). Cover by Jack Binder.

#Bulletman #Bulletman the Flying Detective #Jim Barr #Bulletgirl #Susan Kent #Bulletdog #Fawcett Comics #Golden Age comics #Jack Binder

I recently went to a comic show and was able to get my hands on an original Bulletman and Bulletgirl comic! In the comic they had a dog named Bulletdog. Did Bulletdog actually exist or was he made up for the comics?

Was there a real life canine empowered with the abilities of Bulletman and Bulletgirl that accompanied them upon their crime fighting adventures? No. Did Jim and Susan Barr own a dog that was important to them and whose existence was vaguely known to the kind of people who exaggerated the lives of Golden Age Mystery Men? Yes.

(An image of "Bulletdog" from Bulletman and Bulletgirl's popular wartime comic)

In November of 1942, Bulletman and Bulletgirl came upon a case of criminals using a specially designed high frequency radio to force a pack of stray dogs to commit a series of rash and inexplicable robberies across Fawcett City. The dogs were being "harvested" from local slums and pounds, being trained to respond to certain harsh ultrasonic signals and then sent out to do as the gangsters with the radio control pleased.

Small, nimble and often overlooked by polite society the pack of strays were able to make off with thousands of dollars in jewels and precious metals eventually putting Bulletman and Bulletgirl on their trail. They tracked the gang to their hideout and, at a moment where it seemed the duo were in real danger an older female dog and her puppy burst free of their cage and pounced upon the gangster controlling the radio. The device was smashed, freeing the strays from its control and putting momentum back in the hands of the heroes though at the cost of the older dog's life.

While most of the dogs were either returned to their owners or taken in by adoption agencies and the like, the puppy of the dog that saved their lives was quietly taken in by the Bullet Duo's alter egos, Jim Barr and Susan Kent. Susan became quickly attached to the puppy a Jack Russel terrier mix she named Slug. Not just as a wry, private joke about her and her then boyfriend's secret identities but also because of the puppy's generally lazy demeanor.

The comic publishers of the day embellished, as they were paid to, crafting a story in which the heroic pup was fastened with a collar mimicking the heroic duo's flight helmets and taking to the skies as the heroic Bulletdog. Said Bulletdog obviously never actually appeared and was quietly dropped not long afterward when support for their ridiculous idea failed to materialize in newspapers.

Unbeknownst to the world, Slug would do his part simply as a comfortable and loving companion to the Barrs during and after their time in the heroic spotlight. He became a member of the family, as dogs often do and is remembered fondly by the Barrs' daughter Deanna, the part time heroine called Windshear.

"Slug didn't have the temperament to be a superdog. He barely had the temperament to be a living creature most days. Mostly content to stretch out in the sun or across my mom's lap but he was always down for a warm hug or a long lick to the face right when you needed it. Seems pretty super to me" - Deanna recalled during an interview.

Bulletman #10 (November 13th, 1942)

#bulletman #bulletman vol 1 #1942 #november 1942 #james barr #bulletman james barr #bulletgirl #susan kent #bulletgirl susan kent #bulletdog

Breaking Down the Hall of Justice Mural in Superman, Part 17: Bulletman / James “Jim” Barr & Bulletgirl / Susan Kent-Barr

Created by Bill Parker and Jon Smalle for Fawcett Comics, Bulletman’s story begins with Jim Barr, a young man whose life was shaped by tragedy—his father, a police officer, was murdered in the line of duty. Determined to follow in his father’s footsteps, Jim applied to the police academy but was rejected for physical reasons. Undeterred, he took a job in the ballistics department and began experimenting with ways to enhance human capabilities.

Drawing from Hourman’s Miraclo Pill, Jim developed his own “Crime Cure” formula, boosting his strength and reflexes. He also invented a bullet-shaped Gravity Regulator Helmet, incorporating Hawkman’s Nth Metal, which allowed him to fly and deflect bullets. On his first mission he captured a notorious gangster, and soon he decided to share the adventure by making a second helmet for his girlfriend, Susan Kent—the daughter of Sergeant Kent of the police force. Taking the name Bulletgirl, she became his equal partner in heroics.

The pair became staples of the All-Star Squadron during World War II, also forming the “Bullet Family” with sidekick Bulletboy and even a canine ally, Bulletdog. After years of heroics, Jim and Susan married and had a daughter, Deanna Barr, who briefly operated as the heroine Windshear. In later years, the mantle of Bulletgirl would also be taken up by Alix Harrower (the Bulleteer) and, briefly, by Darla Dudley of the Shazam Family.

Group Affiliations: Crime Crusaders Club, Shazam’s Squadron of Justice, All-Star Squadron

Speculation: With strong ties to the All-Star Squadron, the Shazam Family, Hawkman, and Hourman, Bulletman and Bulletgirl have built-in potential for stories that blend science-heroics, magic, and Golden Age legacy. Susan’s maiden name, “Kent,” has never been explored—but if the Silent Knight can be part of Clark Kent’s family history, there’s no reason Susan couldn’t be as well.

First Appearance: Nickel Comics (1940) #1

#bulletdog

Trending Tags

Recently Viewed Tags

#bulletdog