#charles reizenstein

[smashedpages]

The original Mr. Terrific also made his first appearance in Sensation Comics #1 back in 1941, bringing "fair play" to the world in a story by Charles Reizenstein and Hal Sharp!

[cantsayidont]

November 1987. A retelling of the origin of Dr. Mid-Nite in SECRET ORIGINS #20 adds to the sense that this longtime JSA member may have been a gay man. Narrating these events after the fact, McNider remarks that his nurse and research assistant Myra Mason, a regular supporting character in Dr. Mid-Nite's solo strip in ALL-AMERICAN COMICS) was in love with him (which is apparent in the Golden Age stories), but that it was "a love doomed from the start" for reasons he "could never quite bring [himself] to tell her."

Roy Thomas, who wrote this adaptation, later asserted that he hadn't meant to imply that McNider was gay, but couldn't recall what he had intended, and in context, it's hard to see another way to take it. In Dr. Mid-Nite's origin story (both the original and this retelling), McNider does decide not to tell Myra that the explosion that has nearly blinded him somehow gave him the ability to see in the dark, and he doesn't tell her about his new career as Dr. Mid-Nite. However, the way Thomas frames it strongly suggests that whatever McNider couldn't bring himself to tell her existed before the explosion and his subsequent career as a costumed adventurer.

It was a truism of '40s pop culture that being blind or suffering some other serious permanent disability made someone an unsuitable romantic partner, so it wouldn't have been too surprising for McNider to spurn Myra's affections on those grounds, which was the implication in the Golden Age stories.

However, that's not the impression the SECRET ORIGINS story gives. Adding to that the fact that McNider spent the rest of his life as another of the JSA's confirmed bachelors, and that prior to his death during ZERO HOUR, his closest relationship was as a mentor to physician Beth Chapel, and it's hard not to come away thinking maybe he was gay.

[ufonaut]

Well-- before I do away with myself, I think I’ll try once more to get some fun out of things.

Terry Sloane’s first appearance in Sensation Comics (1942) #1

(Charles Reizenstein, Hal Sharp)

[onlylonelylatino]

Mister Terrific by Chuck Winter ghosting as Hal Sharp.

[cantsayidont]

January 1942. If you want to talk about probably closeted JSA members, it seems like Terry Sloane (the first Mr. Terrific) should be high on the list. His origin story explains that he was a child prodigy who became a star athlete and a hugely successful businessman, but was gripped by a profound sense of alienation from his peers that he couldn't really explain. He finally became so depressed that he decided to kill himself by driving his car off a bridge. This plan was interrupted when he saw a young woman named Wanda Wilson jump off the same bridge. Thinking, "Can't let the little fool die--I must save her," Terry dived in after Wanda and rescued her. After she explained her problem — she was raising her younger brother, who'd fallen in with a bad crowd — Terry decided to delay his suicide long enough to intervene:

The badge on his very silly-looking costume reads, "FAIR PLAY," which I think we're supposed to assume he's pried off one of his old trophies. These kids subsequently gave him his name: "Mr. Terrific" (which is not the silliest name for a Golden Age costumed hero, but definitely up there). He later joined the Justice Society, although he appeared in only one published Golden Age adventure (ALL-STAR COMICS #24); his solo strip in SENSATION COMICS ran through 1947, after which he retired and became an English lit instructor at Gateway University. As later established in JSA, he never married or had any children of his own, but he raised his niece Veronica after the disappearance of his brother Ned in 1951.

The original Mr. Terrific is now best known for his murder: He was killed in 1979 by a (never-before seen) old enemy called the Spirit King in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #171, for reasons unknown.

[onlylonelylatino]

Introduction and Origin of Mr. Terrific by Hal Sharp

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Milestone Anniversaries Coming In 2021 (Part 1: 1941)

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As it’s New Year’s Day we thought we’d take this time to take a glance back at the past, while keeping one eye on the future with a look at some of the 80th, 60th and 50th anniversaries occurring this year in the colourful world of comics, decade by decade starting with 1941 and travelling through 1951, 1971 and ending up in 1981. But first, back to 1941. England was already two years deep in…

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Cameron Gellman Joins DC Universe's Stargirl

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  One cast member from the short-lived Heathers television show has found a new high school series to call home.

Deadline reports Cameron Gellman has joined the cast of DC Universe’s Stargirlin an undisclosed role. Based on the character created by Geoff Johns and Lee Moder, Brec Bassinger stars as Courtney Whitmore, a teenager from Los Angeles who moves to Blue Valley, Nebraska when her mother…

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