| Bulletman and Bulletgirl | |
|---|---|
 Cover of Bulletman #3 (1942). Art by Mac Raboy. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Fawcett Comics (1939–1953) DC Comics (1976–present) |
| First appearance | Nickel Comics #1 (1940, historical) The Power of Shazam! #8 (1995, canon) |
| Created by | Bill Parker Jon Smalle |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | James "Jim" Barr and Susan Kent-Barr |
| Team affiliations | Squadron of Justice All-Star Squadron |
| Abilities | Chemically-induced super-strength and intelligence, Gravity Regulator Helmet allows each to fly and deflect bullets. |
Bulletman was a Fawcett Comics superhero created by Bill Parker and Jon Smalle for Nickel Comics #1 in May, 1940.
Contents |
Fictional character biography
Jim Barr was the son of a police officer who was killed and as a result took it upon himself to fight crime. He was rejected from the police for physical reasons, but got a job in ballistics. Like many characters of the time, he used chemistry to develop powers for himself; in his case greater muscle mass and brain power. He also invented a Gravity Regulator Helmet (which was bullet shaped and gave him his name), which allowed him to fly and deflect bullets.[1]
Shortly after Bulletman began his crime-fighting career, he created a second helmet for his girlfriend and later wife Susan Kent, who adopted the name Bulletgirl.[2]
Bulletman and Bulletgirl were Fawcett Comics' second most popular characters after Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family. They were acquired by DC Comics along with the rest of the Fawcett comics stable of characters in 1972. However, the characters lapsed into public domain prior to the said acquisition, which would later allow AC Comics to reprint their Golden Age adventures.
During this period of time, Bulletman and Bulletgirl appeared with fellow Fawcett heroes to form Shazam's Squadron of Justice against the forces of King Kull. Their age appeared to be as it was in the 1940s without explanation. They subsequently appeared a few times with Captain Marvel and his family.
Bulletman and Bulletgirl were eventually retrofitted into DC Universe continuity as members of the All-Star Squadron. For example, it is established that during World War 2, Bulletman met the long-lived Green Lantern Abin Sur. In issues #39-40 of Starman (1998) James Barr is accused of being a traitor to the United States. He is seemingly implicated in the Nazi-attack on the Normandie ocean liner in New York. This contradicts what is known by Jack Knight's father, Ted Knight, whose life Barr saved, in Alaska, on the day of the Normandie attack.
Constrained by promises of confidentiality to the same government that is prosecuting him, Barr goes on the run with Ted while Minute Man tries to get the secret oath rescinded. Captain Marvel, currently much younger than Bulletman (than he was back then) fights with Jack Knight in an attempt to arrest Barr. Marvel fails in his mission against Barr, partly because Jack is backed up by human police officers.
Windshear
In The Power of Shazam #32 (November 1997), James Barr and Susan Kent were given a daughter named Deanna Barr, who donned her mother's helmet and operated briefly under the name Windshear (not to be confused with the Marvel Comics superhero of the same name). She teamed up with her father on his last adventure, to rescue Billy Batson, Mary Bromfield and Freddy Freeman from the villain Chain Lightning.[2]
Bulleteer
In 2005, a new Bulletgirl known as Bulleteer was introduced as one of the Seven in Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers of Victory. She is unrelated to these older heroes, though her costume is to some extent inspired by theirs. In issue #3, Susan Barr appeared in a brief cameo, visiting her successor.
Infinite Crisis
Bulletman and Bulletgirl later re-appeared in the pages of Infinite Crisis on the newly reborn Earth-S along with the other Fawcett superheroes.
The Weeper
Bulletman and Bulletgirl had many bad guys during their Fawcett Comics run but only one would follow them to DC Comics. His name was The Weeper. He was a criminal mastermind and murderer who cried for his victims and caused tragedies wherever anyone was happy. He teamed up with the Joker in Justice League of America #136, when members of the Justice League visited Earth-S, home of the Fawcett Superheroes. He is considered their arch-foe and toughest criminal to deal with.
Other Versions
In the late 1970s, the Hasbro toy company produced an apparently unlicensed Bulletman action figure as part of its GI Joe toy line. This foot-tall toy was very similar in appearance to the classic Fawcett character, except that it had vacuum metalized silver arms, and bare legs.
Bulletman and Bulletgirl also appeared in Alex Ross and Mark Waid's Kingdom Come limited series.
In other media
Bulletman appears in the South Park episode Imaginationland.
In an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show, Rob buys a motorcycle, and, when he puts on the helmet, Laura tells him he looks like Bulletman.
External links
- Biography of the two heroes
- Toonopedia entry
- Bulletman Chronology
- Earth-S Bulletman Index
- Golden Age Comics
References
- ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008), "Bulletman", in Dougall, Alastair, The DC Comics Encyclopedia, London: Dorling Kindersley, pp. 63, ISBN 0-7566-4119-5
- ^ a b Greenberger, Robert (2008), "Bulletgirl I & II", in Dougall, Alastair, The DC Comics Encyclopedia, London: Dorling Kindersley, pp. 63, ISBN 0-7566-4119-5
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