Here is the first draft of where the Golden Age Marvel character reprint series seem to stand, as of January 2022. Feel free to offer additions or corrections, of which there’s likely to be many. Feel free to offer locations of individual reprints, if they’re important.
I include bullet items with information (when I know it) of if and how a given Golden Age character came to be included in the modern Marvel Universe. I also include a given character’s participation in the following stories:
Ant-Man: Last Days #1 (2015) established that Mary Morgan (Miss Patriot, now going by Mary Morgenstern) runs a retirement home for Golden Age superheroes and supervillains. Characters confirmed to live in Valhalla Villas are noted here, as it confirms their existence in the MU. Well, at one time. I don't know whether Valhalla Villas and its inhabitants were reconstituted after Secret Wars.
All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes #1-5 (2011): This eight-issue maxiseries gathered a bunch of second bananas (or even lesser bananas) as the “Crazy S.U.E.S.,” a World War II combat unit. (S.U.E.S. stands for Specialized Unit, Enhanced Soldiers.) The series established that a lot of Golden Age comic book stories weren’t true, but were simply propaganda, based on existing mystery men but exaggerated or invented for effect. Sadly, Band of Heroes was canceled after five of its eight issues without resolution, and has never been collected, so whether any of it is canon is up for debate.
Avengers/Invaders #1-12 (2008) included a bunch of lesser bananas who were all killed in the 1940s by the Red Skull using a Cosmic Cube, but then resurrected by said Cube. Since nobody remembers this (thanks, Cube!) it’s not important in-story, but is important in that characters used in this story were established as canon (if they weren’t already).
The Twelve #0-12 (2008) revived a dozen characters in the modern day (and killed a few for good measure). A bunch of other characters were also depicted in the 1945 “Invasion of Berlin” in The Twelve #1, which in our world was achieved by the Russians, but does establish them as existing in the MU.
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All Winners Squad: Captain America & Bucky, Human Torch & Toro, Miss America, Sub-Mariner and Whizzer finally followed the blueprint set by the Justice Society five years earlier and formed a superhero team … for all of two issues. All Winners Comics #19 and 21 can be found in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age All Winners Comics Vol. 4. (No, there was no issue #20. If you’d like to know why, just ask. But I warn you, it’ll make your head hurt.)
- The All Winners Squad has been retconned as the post-war continuation of the Invaders and Liberty Legion. It’s common knowledge so I won’t bother to look up where that was officially established.
American Ace (Perry Wade) was an American pilot who got involved in the war between Attania and Castle d’Or, because it was only 1939-40 and most folks were reluctant to say “Germany” and “France.” American Ace appeared in Marvel Mystery Comics #2-3, which are reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol. 1.
- Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes.
American Avenger (Don Caldwell) was an American in Argentina who takes up the mantle of local hero El Gaucho — horses, bolos, whips, ponchos, that sort of thing — to fight Nazi sympathizers. Appeared just once, in U.S.A. Comics #5, which is reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 2.
- Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes
Black Knight (Sir Percy of Scandia): Marvel's first Black Knight appeared in Black Knight #1-5 in the early 1950s. Those stories are available in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Black Knight/Yellow Claw Vol. 1.
- The character’s spirit was summoned by Dane Whitman in Marvel Super-Heroes #17 (1968), bringing Percy into the modern Marvel Universe.
The Blue Blade (Roy Chambers) had one appearance, in U.S.A. Comics #5, presumably because a guy who dresses in all-blue, 17th century togs and brings a sword to gunfights is too ridiculous even for comics. That story is reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 2.
- Some sources speculate Blue Blade was a re-working of another character, the Fourth Musketeer (see below).
- Revived in The Twelve.
Blue Diamond (Elton Morrow) had two appearances, in Daring Mystery Comics #7-8, in which he had super-strength and diamond-hard skin thanks to a mysterious blue diamond and a German torpedo. Both stories are in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 2.
- Revived in Marvel Two-In-One #79 (1981)
- Appeared in The Twelve #1 (Invasion of Berlin)
- Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes
Captain Terror (Dan Kane) is another guy without super-powers who dresses up in a costume to fight fascists. He had three appearances, in U.S.A. Comics #2-4, which are available in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 1. Not to be confused with The Terror or the Terror Squad.
- Revived in Captain America #442 (1995) as an old dude.
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
- Appeared in The Twelve (Invasion of Berlin).
Dakor the Magician (Alan Dakor) is a Dr. Doom-level sorcerer (see below) and had three Golden Age appearances, in Mystic Comics #1-3. They're included in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics Vol. 1.
- Scott Lang brought Dakor from the past to fight Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four (second series) #14 (2013), so he exists in the modern Marvel Universe. At the end of the FF story he was sent back to his own time, where he helped the War Department form the Department of the Uncanny (Uncanny Avengers Annual second series #1). That's the last I've heard of him.
The Defender (Don Stevens) was a Captain America wannabe, who picked up a Bucky-style sidekick (Rusty) and a Betsy Ross-style girlfriend/handler (Sally Kean). Defender & Rusty appeared in U.S.A. Comics #1-4, reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 1.
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
- Appeared in The Twelve #1 (Invasion of Berlin). Rusty and Sally appear in The Twelve #0.
- May or may not have been killed in Daredevil (second series) #68 (2005).
Doctor Droom (Anthony Droom): This Dr. Strange precursor appeared in Amazing Adventures (later Amazing Fantasy) #1-6. All six stories are reprinted in Amazing Fantasy Omnibus.
- Revived as Dr. Anthony Druid in Weird Wonder Tales #19, Druid even became an Avenger for a while. He’s currently dead, having been killed by Daimon Hellstrom.
Dynamic Man (Curt Cowan) is a super-powered dude in a green-and-yellow outfit who had four appearances, in Mystic Comics #1-4, reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics Vol. 1.
- Revived in The Twelve.
Electro, the Marvel of the Age (Dr. Philo Zog): This robot, which was directed by its inventor’s mental commands, appeared in Marvel Mystery Comics #4-19. All those stories are reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vols. 1-5.
- Revived in The Twelve.
- Mentioned in Avengers/Invaders.
Falcon (Carl Burgess) was a "brilliant" young D.A. who goes after criminals he can't prosecute in a colorful costume. He had three appearances, in Daring Mystery #5-6 and Human Torch #2. They're reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Mystery Vol. 2 and Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch Vol. 1.
- Appears in flashback in Marvel Knights: Spider-Man Vol 1 #9 (2005), establishing him in the modern Marvel Universe.
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
The Ferret (Dennis Piper) was a non-powered private detective who had six appearances in Marvel Mystery Comics #4-9, available in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vols. 1-2. If you're wondering, yes: He had a pet ferret.
- Ferret re-invented himself with the Eternity Mask and became “The Operative” in Marvel Comics #1000 (2019), a character we had already seen (without the Mask) in Mystery Men #1-5 (2011).
- Death (in 1940) revealed in The Marvels Project #4 (2010). Don't worry, the ferret found a good home.
Fiery Mask (Jack Castle): A doctor who fights crime with mystical powers of heat, flame, super-strength and super-breath. He had four appearances in Daring Mystery #1, 5-6 (reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vols. 1-2) and Human Torch #2 (available in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch Vol. 1).
- Revived in The Twelve.
Fighting Fool (Wade Huston) was an Australian who was really good at fighting, despite having once been shot in both lungs. He had one appearance, in Captain America Comics #18, which was reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Captain America Vol. 5.
Fighting Hobo (Butch Brogan) was a hobo who was inspired by Hamlet (?!?) to help others. His one appearance was in U.S.A. Comics #5, reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 2. Not to be confused with The Vagabond.
Fighting Yank (Bill Prince): This non-powered espionage agent in the Far East had one appearance, in Captain America Comics #17. Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Captain America Vol. 5. Not to be confused with Nedor’s Fighting Yank.
- Appeared in All-Winners: Band of Brothers.
The Fin (Peter Noble) had three appearances, in Daring Mystery #7-8 and Comedy Comics #9. The first two appearances are available in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 2. All three are available in Timely’s Greatest: The Golden Age Sub-Mariner —The Pre-War Years.
- Revived in New Invaders #2 (2004).
- Appeared in The Twelve (Invasion of Berlin).
- Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes.
Flexo the Rubber Man: A robot made mostly of rubber. It had four appearances, in Mystic Comics #1-4, reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics Vol. 1.
- Recruited by Howard the Duck in 2012’s Marvel Zombies Destroy! (and apparently destroyed).
Gorilla Man (Ken Hale) had one appearance, in the 6-page “Gorilla Man” in Men’s Adventures #26, where he becomes an immortal gorilla. Available in Agents of Atlas HC & TPB and Agents of Atlas: The Complete Collection Vol. 1.
- Revived in What If? #9, which morphed into Agents of Atlas.
Headline Hunter (Jeffrey Hunter) was a foreign correspondent who appeared in Captain America Comics #5-10 and 12-13, reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Captain America Vols. 2-4.
Hercules (no name given, son of Prof. David): A guy raised from birth to be really strong. He had two appearances, in Mystic Comics #3-4. Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics Vol. 1.
Hurricane (Makkari) is a super-speedster who was believed to be the Greco-Roman god Mercury in his appearances in Captain America Comics #1-11. Those stories are reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Captain America Vols. 1-3. Very likely a continuation of the “Mercury” character from Red Raven Comics, also by Simon and Kirby.
- Retconned to be an identity used by the Eternal Makkari, so therefore Makkari’s debut in The Eternals #5 counts as a revival.
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
Invisible Man (Leonard Gade) was a scientist who could become invisible. He had three appearances, in Mystic Comics #2-4. They've been reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics Vol. 1.
- Appeared in All-Winners: Band of Heroes.
Jack Frost: We’re never told who or what this Iceman-like character is, but he’s apparently lived in the Arctic for centuries. He appears in U.S.A. Comics #1-4, which are reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 1.
- Revived (briefly) in Captain America #384 (1991).
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
John Steele, Soldier of Fortune isn't said to have super-powers in his one appearance in Daring Mystery Comics #1, but he sure seems stonger and more durable than most people. Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 1.
- Revived in The Marvels Project, where he absolutely did have super-powers.
Jungle Boy was a boy. Who lived in the jungle. His stories appeared in Jungle Action #1-6, which are reprinted in their entirety in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Jungle Adventure Vols. 2-3.
Ka-Zar (David Rand): Tarzan wannabe who fights evil in the Belgian Congo with Trajah the elephant and Zar the lion. Based on the pulp character. Appeared in Marvel Comics #1 and Marvel Mystery Comics #2-27, all of which have been reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vols. 1-7.
- Replaced by the Kevin Plunder version of Ka-Zar in The X-Men #10 (1965).
The Laughing Mask (Dennis Burton): A vigilante who wears a Thalia (comedy) mask, Burton had Three appearances (two of them as “The Purple Mask”) in Daring Mystery #2-4. All were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vols. 1-2.
- Revived in The Twelve.
Leopard Girl (Gwen): A Sheena wannabe. She appeared in Jungle Action #1-6, reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Jungle Adventure Vols. 2-3.
- Resident of Valhalla Villas.
Lo-Zar, Lord of the Jungle: Tarzan wannabe. Appeared in Jungle Action #1-6, reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Jungle Adventure Vols. 2-3.
M-11: The Human Robot’s only Golden Age appearance was a 5-pager titled “I, the Robot” in Menace #11. Reprinted in Marvel Visionaries: John Romita Sr., Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Menace Vol. 1, Agents of Atlas HC & TPB and Agents of Atlas: The Complete Collection Vol. 1.
- Revived in What If? #9, which morphed into Agents of Atlas.
Man-oo the Mighty: A heroic gorilla. Appeared in Jungle Action #1-6. Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Jungle Adventure Vols. 2-3.
- Revived in digital comics reprinted in Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers HC (2009).
Mantor the Magician: A magician. One appearance, in Human Torch #2, found in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch Vol. 1.
Marvel Boy (Martin Simon Burns): Hercules reincarnated as a teenager, in order to fight our mid-20th century fascists. He had two appearances, in Daring Mystery #6 and U.S.A. Comics #7. In the second appearance, his middle name is Oksner and the origin is slightly different. Available in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 2 and Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 2.
Marvel Boy (Robert Grayson) was introduced as a kid who grew up on Uranus (after his father flew them there in his homemade rocket ship) and comes back to Earth to fight crime and Commies with high-tech gadgets. He appeared in six comics, in stories mostly drawn by Bill Everett: Marvel Boy #1-2 and Astonishing #3-6. They are reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Heroes Vol. 1. Also, the origin story from Marvel Boy #1 can be found reprinted in Agents of Atlas HC & TPB and Agents of Atlas: The Complete Collection Vol. 1.
- Revived in What If? #9, which morphed into Agents of Atlas, which revealed Grayson as an actual, for-real alien who is nothing like us Earth folk.
Marvex the Super-Robot was a human-looking robot made of "fabri-steel" from the 5th dimension. Presumably he arrived in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon. He had three appearances, in Daring Mystery Comics #3-5, which are reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vols 1-2.
- Revived in All Select Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1 (2009).
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
Masked Raider (Jim Gardley): Lone Ranger wannabe. He rode the range in Marvel Comics #1 and Marvel Mystery Comics #2-12. Those stories were reprinted Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vols. 1-3.
- Revived in Marvel Comics #1000, continuing into Defenders #1-5 (2021) where it was revealed that Gardley had been replaced behind the Eternity Mask decades ago by [SPOILER].
Mastermind Excello (Earl Everett) had two appearances, in Mystic Comics #2-3. Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics Vol. 1.
- Revived in The Twelve, where he was fabulously weird.
Mercury had one appearance, in Red Raven Comics #1, reprinted in Timely’s Greatest: The Golden Age Simon & Kirby Omnibus. He's probably the same character as Hurricane, who debuted in Captain America Comics #1 10 months later, also by Simon & Kirby.
Merzah the Mystic had various mental powers, which were all packed into his one 8-page story in Mystic Comics #4. It's available in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics Vol. 1.
- Revived in X-Men Legacy (second series) #1 (2012), but it didn't go well.
- Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes.
Microman (Jimmy Everett): A young boy drinks a scientist’s shrinking solution, and shrinks. When given the antidote, asks to become the scientist’s assistant. One appearance, in Human Torch #2, was reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch Vol. 1.
Mister E (Victor Jay) was another rich guy who wore a red cloak, tuxedo and domino mask to fight crime. The Golden Age was lousy with them! He had one appearance, in Daring Mystery Comics #2, which was reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 1.
Revived in The Twelve.
Mister Liberty/Major Liberty (John Liberty) was a history teacher who wished so hard he got endowed with the power to summon the spirits of great Americans. He appeared in U.S.A. Comics #1-4, reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 1.
- Revived in All-New Invaders #1 (2014). It didn't go well.
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
Monako, Prince of Magic: A Mandrake wannabe. He had super-strength, magic powers and was a pilot and acrobat too. He had four appearances, in Daring Mystery #1, 4-6, which were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vols. 1-2.
- Revived in The Marvels Project.
- Died in Dr. Strange (fourth series) #7 (2016).
Phantom Bullet (Allan Lewis) is a reporter who discovers a gun that shoots ice bullets, which melt and disappear, hence “phantom bullet.” He immediately slaps on a domino mask and cape and fights crime, instead of, I don't know, turning the gun in to the police and writing a newpaper story about it. He appeared once, in Daring Mystery #2, which was reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 1.
- The reason he only had one appearance was revealed in The Marvels Project.
Phantom Reporter (Richard Jones) is another reporter in a domino mask. He appeared once, in Daring Mystery #3, which was reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 1.
- Revived in The Twelve, where he has a star turn.
Phantom of the Underworld (Doyle Denton) is another one-shot “Phantom” in Daring Mystery, only this one doesn’t wear a domino mask (he wears no costume at all) and isn’t a reporter (he’s a police detective — and a surgeon!). He appeared once, in Daring Mystery #1, reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 1.
Powers of the Press (Tom Powers) is another newspaperman whose one appearance, in U.S.A. Comics #3, is found in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 1.
Red Raven, from Red Raven Comics #1, is the only survivor of a plane that crashes into the home of the Bird People, who adopt him. They have natural wings, so they give him artificial ones. He grows up and (checks notes) decides to fight crime. His only story is reprinted in Timely’s Greatest: The Golden Age Simon & Kirby Omnibus.
- Revived in The X-Men #44 (1968).
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
- Appeared in The Twelve (Invasion of Berlin).
Rockman (Daniel Rose) is from Abyssmia, an underground kingdom below North America. He is super-strong, hard as a rock and doesn't need air. His four appearances, in U.S.A. Comics #1-4, were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 1. Not be confused with Sub-Earth Man, a different character.
- Revived in The Twelve, where his government handlers is believe his origin story is a delusion, and Rose is just a crazy man from West Virginia. The reader gets to decide the truth on his/her own.
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
Roko the Amazing (Lon Crag): A high school art student draws Menelaos (we spell it Meneleus in Tennessee), who comes to life and grants Crag the powers of Greek heroes from the Trojan War when he says “Ilium.” Hmmm, a magic word that gives one legendary powers. What a great premise! Why, you could even expand it to other characters, like Captain Roko Jr., and Mary Roko and Trojan the Roko Bunny and Uncle Ilium and the three Lieutenant Rokos! Sadly, Roko had only one appearance, in U.S.A. Comics #5, which was reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 2.
Slow-Motion Jones (Albert Jones): The Whizzer’s occasional sidekick , Slo-Mo was a minstrel-style speedster whose powers were never explained. He appeared in U.S.A. Comics #6, 8; and All Winners Comics #7, which were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 2 and Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age All Winners Vol. 2.
- Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes.
"Taxi" Taylor (Jim Taylor) was a brilliant mechanic who built a car that could adapt to land, sea and air. Rejected by the government as a crackpot, he used the vehicle as a taxi driver. Because of course. Anyway, he stumbles on some spies and uses the car (which can do pretty much whatever the plot requires) to foil them. That was in his only story, in Mystic Comics #2, which is available in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics Vol. 1.
- Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes.
Terror Squad: A Briton, a Russian and an American break out of a Nazi POW camp. … Not the beginning of a joke, but the beginning of the Terror Squad, who stole Spitfires and fought the Nazis as an ersatz Blackhawk squadron. They only had one appearance, as you’d guess, in U.S.A. Comics #6, reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 2.
Thin Man (Bruce Dickson) learned to go really thin from the usual Shangri-La sort of place in the Himilayas. He had one appearance, in Mystic Comics #4, reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics Vol. 1.
- Revived in Invaders.
Three Xs (a.k.a. Scientists Guild) had two appearances, in Marvel Comics #1 and Mystic Comics #1. Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol. 1 and Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics Vol. 1.
- Revived in Incoming #1 with extensive retconned backstory established in Marvel Comics #1000.
- Were they also The Enclave in Fantastic Four #66-67 that created Him/Adam Warlock? I'm a little unclear on that. The name "Carlo Zota" appears in both the Enclave story and the Eternity Mask story so there must be some connection.
Thunderer (Jerry Carstairs) was a radio-based superhero, back when radio was the cat's pajamas. He had three appearances, in Daring Mystery #7-8 and All Winners #6 (calling himself Black Avenger). Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 2 and Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age All Winners Vol. 2.
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders (as Black Avenger).
- Resident of Valhalla Villas (as Thunderer).
Tigerman was an Indian jungle hero (and an actual Indian). His one appearance, in Daring Mystery Comics #6, was reprinted in Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 2. Not to be confused with Trojak the Tiger Man, a totally different Tigerman.
Trojak the Tiger Man: A Tarzan wannabe. He had four appearances, in Daring Mystery #2-5, which were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vols. 1-2.
Tuk, Caveboy: Self-explanatory. His five appearances, in Captain America Comics #1-5, were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Captain America Vols. 1-2.
- Tuk was established as the first offspring of the Inhumans in History of the Marvel Universe (second series) #1.
Woo, Jimmy was a Chinese-American FBI agent who attempted to bring the Chinese criminal Yellow Claw to justice in Yellow Claw #1-4. Those issues are reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Black Knight/Yellow Claw Vol. 1. Also, the story introducing Jimmy Woo has been reprinted in Agents of Atlas HC & TPB and Agents of Atlas: The Complete Collection Vol. 1.
- Revived in Strange Tales #161 (1967)
- Retconned in What If? #9, which morphed into Agents of Atlas.
Yellow Claw (Plan Chu): See above. All of Yellow Claw's Golden Age appearances are also found in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Black Knight/Yellow Claw Vol. 1.
- A robot version that appeared in Strange Tales #160 (1967) confirmed the villain’s existence in the Marvel Universe, and the real Yellow Claw was revived in Captain America #164 (Aug. 1973).
Young Avenger (Bill Bryon): A shadowy figure appeared in teenage Bill Bryon’s bedroom and told him about some Nazis that needed to be stopped, and also seems to have given Bryon greater strength and endurance. Nothing strange about that at all! Young Avenger appeared in exactly one Golden Age story, in U.S.A. Comics #1, reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 1.
Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes.
Zara of the Jungle: Sheena wanabe. Two appearances, in Mystic Comics #2-3, reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Comics Vol. 1.
INCOMPLETE
Angel (Thomas Halloway): Thomas Halloway was a private detective who wore a primary-colored costume and pencil mustache to fight crime. While adept at it, he had no super-powers. Although he did pick up the Cloak of Mercury in Marvel Mystery Comics #11, which allowed him to fly. (He didn't seem to ever use it.) His appearances in Marvel Comics #1, Marvel Mystery Comics #2-28, Sub-Mariner Comics #1-12 and All Winners Comics #1 were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol. 1-7, Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Sub-Mariner Vols. 1-3 and Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age All Winners Vol. 1. His appearances in Marvel Mystery Comics #29-79, Sub-Mariner Comics #13-21, Mystic Comics (second series) #1-3 and Daring Comics #10 have not been reprinted. (I would be very surprised if I haven't missed a few.)
- Halloway’s history was extensively retconned in The Marvels Project.
- A retcon in the Marvel Mystery Handbook 70th Anniversary Special #1 (2009) reveals his origin as a boy raised in a prison by his widowed warden father, a boy who learns both crimefighting and crime techniques from jailers and the jailed.
- Halloway has been depicted operating in the present, at least as early as the U.S. Agent miniseries (1993).
- His grandson, Simon Halloway, seems to have taken up the mantle (and the cape of Mercury, one assumes).
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
- Appeared in The Twelve (Invasion of Berlin).
Archie the Gruesome: A streetsweeper named Archie is inspired by Captain America to take his broom and fight crime wearing a gruesome mask. He had one appearance, Comedy Comics #10, which hasn't been reprinted.
- Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes.
Black Marvel (Dan Lyons) was a white kid adopted the Blackfeet tribe. When he grew up, he was a better Native American than the real Native Americans, able to outswim a salmon, out-wrestle a bear, catch arrows in the air, etc. We know this because of some kind of tournament, and the winner got the sacred, ancient warrior's garb of the Black Marvel, which — amazingly! — looked exactly like a Golden Age superhero costume. What else was Dan to do, but put the thing on and go fight crime? Black Marvel appeared in Mystic Comics #5-9 and All Winners Comics #1. The origin story from Mystic Comics #5 was reprinted in Marvel Super-Heroes #15 (1968), and the story from All Winners was reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age All Winners Vol. 1. The others haven't been reprinted.
- Revived in Slingers (1998).
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
- Appeared in The Twelve (Invasion of Berlin).
Blackstone the Magician: Another Mandrake wannabe. Blackstone appeared in comics by Street & Smith, C. Popper Co. and EC Comics before arriving at Timely in 1948. The EC title, Blackstone the Magician Detective Fights Crime, lasted only one issue, and the numbering continued at Timely for the other three issues, Blackstone the Magician #2-4. They have not been reprinted.
Black Widow (Claire Voyant): A dead woman is charged by Satan to go back to Earth and bring back evil souls. (Which she does by killing the perps.) Her appearances in Mystic Comics #4 and U.S.A. Comics #5 were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Mystic Vol. 1 and Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 2. Her ppearances in Mystic Comics #5, 7; and All Select #1, have not been reprinted.
- Revived in The Twelve, where she had a star turn.
- Mentioned in Avengers/Invaders.
Blazing Skull (Mark Todd) is a reporter who learns to be super-strong and durable from monks who live in caves in China and wear skull masks, which he adopts as well. His five appearances, in Mystic Comics #5-9, are not available.
- Revived in Invaders, where his powers are expanded to include turning his face into an actual skull and controlling fire. He is also immortal.
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
Blonde Phantom (Louise Grant Mason): Mason is a mousy secretary in love with her boss at a detective agency, who becomes the glamorous Blonde Phantom after hours, rescuing her boss in heels, evening gown and domino mask. Naturally, he is in love with BP and can't see Louise for dust. Blonde Phantom appeared in All Select #11, Blonde Phantom #12-22, All Winners #1, Sub-Mariner Comics #25-28 and 30, Marvel Mystery Comics #84-91, Namora #2, Sun Girl #2-3 and Blackstone the Magician #2-4. The only story that has been reprinted is the one from All Winners, found in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age All Winners Vol. 4.
- Revived in Sensational She-Hulk.
Captain America (Steve Rogers): Captain America Comics ran for 73 issues before becoming Captain America’s Weird Tales for two issues, getting canceled, and coming back for three issues as Captain America (no “Comics”) in 1954. Captain America’s Weird Tales #75 is the only issue without a Captain America story.
Captain America Comics #1-24 were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Captain America Vols. 1-6. Captain America #76-78 and Captain America stories in Men’s Adventure #27-28 and Young Men #24-28 were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Heroes Vols. 1- 2. And that's not all. Captain America stories from All Winners #1 and All Winners Comics #1-18 were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age All Winners Vols. 1-4. Captain America stories from U.S.A. Comics #6-8 are reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 2. A story from Young Allies #5 was reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Young Allies Vol. 2.
But there are plenty of Captain America stories that haven't been reprinted. The ones I know about include those from All Select #1-10; Blonde Phantom #16; Captain America Comics #25-73, Captain AMerica's Weird Tales #74-75, Human Torch #35; Marvel Mystery Comics #80-84, 86-92; Sub-Mariner Comics #12, 31; and U.S.A. Comics #9-17. I’m sure there are more.
- Steve Rogers was revived in Avengers #4 (1964).
- Appeared in The Twelve (Invasion of Berlin).
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
- Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Brothers.
Note: Marvel has retconned the Golden Age Captain America to reflect the Silver Age conceit that Steve Rogers was frozen in ice in 1945, as established in Avengers #4. As a result, the Captain America who appeared from 1945 to 1955 wasn't Steve Rogers (despite that being the name used in all Golden Age comics), but was instead William Naslund (The Spirit of '76, 1945-46), Jeff Mace (The Patriot, 1946-49) and William Burnside (a volunteer, 1953-55).
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The retcon was first suggested in What If? #4 and swiftly became canon. Jeff of Earth-J has suggested this breakdown: Steve Rogers was Captain America in Captain America Comics #1-48 and All Winners Comics #1-18 (and other concurrent appearances through mid-1945); William Naslund was Captain America in Captain America Comics #49-58 and All Winners Comics #19 (and other concurrent comics from mid-1945 to mid-1946); Jeff Mace was Captain America in Captain America Comics #59-74 and All Winners Comics #21 (and other concurrent comics from mid-1946 to Captain America's Weird Tales #74 in 1949); and William Burnside was Captain America in Captain America Comics #76-78 (and concurrent comics Men's Adventures #27-28 and Young Men #24-28).
Captain Wonder (Jeff Jordan) was a chemistry teacher who discovered a formula that gives him super-strength and flight. A student named Timothy who was similarly exposed (but for a lesser time) gained super-strength. Jordan becomes Captain Wonder, where there are those who call Timothy ... Tim? Thus Captain Wonder and Tim come to be. Their two appearances were in Kid Komics #1-2, which haven’t been reprinted.
Captain Wonder (but not Tim) revived in The Twelve.
The Challenger (William Waring) was a meek student who got aggro and traveled the world to become Olympic level at everything after his father was killed. (I'm guessing he was a Batman fan, or his writer was.) Of his six appearances, in Daring Mystery #7 and Mystic Comics #6-10, only the first has been reprinted, in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 2.
- Revived in She-Hulk #11 (2005).
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
Citizen V (John Watkins) was an English espionage agent who called himself Citizen V and led a resistance cell in occupied France called the V-Battalion. He had two appearances: Daring Mystery #8 and Comedy Comics #9. The first was reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 2. The other hasn’t been reprinted.
- Killed in battle with Heinrich Zemo (Thunderbolts: Distant Rumblings #1).
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
Drew, Davey: Drew was possessed by a demon, which gave him super-powers. He appeared in four stories, in Mystic Comics #7-10. None have been reprinted.
- Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes.
The Destroyer (Keen Marlow) was a foreign correspondent captured by Nazis and taken to a concentration camp, where he was given a super-soldier serum by a dying Jewish scientist. Destroyer stories that have been reprinted include those in All Winners Comics #2-12 and U.S.A. Comics #6, 8, which can be found in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age All Winners Vols. 1-4 and Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 2.
But there are plenty of Destroyer stories that haven't been reprinted, including those in All Select Comics #6, 10; Amazing Comics #1; Complete Comics #2; Daring Comics #11-12; Kid Komics #4-6, 9-10; Mystic Comics #6-10; Mystic Comics (second series) #1-4; and U.S.A. Comics #9-14, 16-17. And those are just the ones I found scouring familiar Timely titles.
- Revived and replaced in Destroyer (third series) #1-5 (2009).
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
- Appeared in The Twelve (Invasion of Berlin)
Dix, Jeff: Cpl. Jeff Dix of the U.S. Army debuted in U.S.A. Comics #4, but was a sergeant by issue #6, the rank he held through the rest of the Golden Age. Dix had a knack for uncovering and foiling Nazi plots, and his adventures in U.S.A. Comics #4-6 and 8 were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vols. 1-2. However, his adventures in Amazing Comics #1; Kid Komics #6; and U.S.A. Comics #9-14, haven't been reprinted.
Eternal Brain was a telepathic brain in a jar, whose only appearance was in Red Raven Comics #1. It has not been reprinted.
Father Time (Larry Scott): Scott wasn’t in time to prove his father’s innocence before he was executed, so he dressed up as Father Time, complete with scythe, to make time worked for crimefighters and not crime. Or something. His logic isn't really clear to me. Anyway, he appeared nine times (not counting an entirely different Father Time who appeared in Blonde Phantom #22), in Captain America Comics #6-12, Young Allies #3 and Mystic Comics #10. All but the last have been reprinted, in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Captain America Vols. 2-3 and Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Young Allies Vol. 1.
- Revived in the unfinished All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes.
- Appeared in The Twelve (Invasion of Berlin).
“Flash” Foster (Robert Foster) was a college football player who also foughtcrime. He appeared once, in Daring Comics #11, which hasn’t been reprinted.
- Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes.
Fourth Musketeer: The ghost of a French musketeer (possibly D’Artagnon, though it’s never said) rises from the grave and rides his ghost horse across the Atlantic to Washington, where he fights for liberty, fraternity and egality. He has one appearance, in Comedy Comics (second series) #10, which has never been never reprinted. Note: It’s possible that he was re-worked into “Blue Blade.”
Gaunt, Gary: A criminologist invents a virus that does a Jekyll/Hyde number on him, although his Hyde form fights crime. His one appearance, in Mystic Comics #9, which hasn’t been reprinted.
Golden Girl (Elizabeth “Betsy” Ross) first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 as some sort of Army liaison (and potential love interest), and appeared in many issues thereafter. In Captain America Comics #66 she adopts the crimefighting guise of Golden Girl, and replaces Bucky as Cap’s partner, as Barnes had been shot. Golden Girl appeared in Captain America Comics #66-70, 72-73; Captain America’s Weird Tales #74; and Marvel Mystery Comics #87-88, 92. None have been reprinted.
- In Captain America: Patriot #1-4, the Captain America who teamed with Golden Girl was actually Jeff Mace, not Steve Rogers. The two eventually married.
- Valhalla Villas resident.
Human Top (Bruce Bravelle) was negative on one side and positive on the other, and when he put his hands together, the magnetic repulsion spun him at great speeds. Naturally, he used this condition to fight crime. His two appearances, in Red Raven Comics #1 and Tough Kid Squad #1, never got reprinted.
Human Torch (Jim Hammond): The android Human Torch appeared in a lot of stories in a lot of titles from 1939 to 1955. Reprinted stories include those from All Winners #1 and All Winners Comics #1-13, 17-18; Captain America #76-78; Human Torch #2-12, 36-38; Marvel Comics #1; Marvel Mystery Comics #2-28; Men’s Adventure #27-28; Sub-Mariner Comics #6, 33-35; and Young Men #24-28, found in Marvel Masterworks: All Winners Vols. 1-4, Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Heroes Vols. 1-3, Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch Vols. 1-3, Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vols. 1-7 and Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Sub-Mariner Vol. 2. Some or all stories from Marvel Mystery Comics #29-34, 83; and Human Torch #28 are available in Timely’s Greatest: The Golden Human Torch by Carl Burgos.
Not reprinted: Some or all stories from All Select #1-10; Captain America Comics #19, 21-67, 69; Daring Comics #9-12; Human Torch #13-35; Marvel Mystery Comics #29-92; Mystic Comics (second series) #1-2; and Sub-Mariner #23, 29.
- Revived in Fantastic Four Annual #4 (1966).
- Appeared in The Twelve (Invasion of Berlin).
Jann of the Jungle (Jane Hastings): Sheena wannabe. She appeared in Jungle Tales #1-7 and Jann of the Jungle #8-17; the Jungle Tales stories have been reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Jungle Adventure Vols. 2-3. The others haven’t been reprinted.
- Jann was revived in Agents of Atlas.
Jap Buster Johnson (Doug Johnson) was in the U.S. Air Force in the Pacific, where his adventures generally had to do with foiling Japanese schemes. He appeared 18 times. Stories from U.S.A. Comics #6-8 are available in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 2. Not reprinted are stories from U.S.A. Comics #9-15; Kid Komics #6, 8-10; Complete Comics #2; and All Select #2, 8-9.
- Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Brothers.
Lorna the Jungle Girl: Sheena wannabe. Lorna the Jungle Queen #1-5 and Lorna the Jungle Girl #6-12 are reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Jungle Adventure Vols. 1-3. But Lorna the Jungle Girl #13-26 have never been reprinted.
Magar the Mystic was an ancient Egyptian sorcerer who could communicate with the dead. He had one appearance, in Red Raven Comics #1, which hasn't been reprinted.
Mason, Cliff: White hunter. Appeared in Jungles Tales #1-7 and Jann of the Jungle #8-17. Only the first seven stories have been reprinted, in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Jungle Adventure Vols. 2-3.
Miss America (Madeline Joyce) enjoyed solo stories in All Select #11; Marvel Mystery Comics #49, 51-85; Sun Girl #1; Blonde Phantom #12 and 14; Miss America Comics #1; and Miss America Magazine #2-5. None have been reprinted.
For the record, Miss America Comics became Miss America Magazine with the second issue, where single superhero stories seem to have continued only to issue #5, while the magazine was taken over by teen humor comics (primarily Patsy Walker and friends) and teen interests. The magazine ran to issue #50, then reverted to Miss America, in comic book format, through issue #93. None of these have been reprinted.
- The character was revealed to have died in childbirth in Giant-Size Avengers #1.
- Appeared in The Twelve (Invasion of Berlin).
Miss Fury (Marla Drake): A socialite is given a magical panther costume that gives her enhanced strength and speed — in the “Miss Fury” comic strip. She uses it, of course, to fight crime. Timely’s Miss Fury #1-8 reprinted some of those strips, and Pure Imagination’s Miss Fury (2007) re-reprinted some from the first three issues. Later Timely issues reprinted Sunday strips, as does IDW’s Miss Fury Vols. 1-2, but I can’t tell if there’s any overlap.
- Appeared in The Twelve (Invasion of Berlin)
Miss Patriot (Mary Morgan): This is a trick entry. Mary Morgan gained minor super-powers in the Patriot story in Marvel Mystery Comics #50, but was only seen in costume on the splash page. (This story has not been reprinted.) By the next issue, all of that was forgotten, and Morgan went back to being just the girlfriend of Jeff “Patriot” Mace, and not a superhero partner.
- Captain America: Patriot #1-4 (2010) reveals that Morgan did indeed have a career as Miss Patriot, but never managed to make the A-list. Her efforts to become Jeff Mace's partner estranged him from her.
- In Ant-Man: Last Days #1, an elderly Mary Morgenstern reveals to Scott Lang that she is actually Mary Morgan, and has a hidden room in her retirement home for old superheroes (“Valhalla Villas”) dedicated to her Miss Patriot days. We also learn that she never married to Jeff Mace, who instead married Betsy Ross (Golden Girl).
- Valhalla Villas resident.
Mister Wu is a private detective with two appearances, in All Select Comics #11 and Blonde Phantom #12. Neither have been reprinted.
Monstro the Mighty is the 50-foot son of Mars, who takes America’s side in the war. He has one appearance, in Comedy Comics (second series) #10, which has never been reprinted.
Moon-Man: We’re never told who this guy is, but he seems to only operate during full moons. (Hence the name.) He has one appearance, in Mystic Comics #5, which has never been reprinted.
- Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes.
Namora (Aquaria Nautica Neptunia): The first appearance of Namor's cousin was in Marvel Mystery Comics #82, “The Coming of Namora!’, available in Agents of Atlas HC & TPB and Agents of Atlas: The Complete Collection Vol. 1. All appearances in Young Men #27, Men’s Adventures #27-28; Human Torch #37 and Sub-Mariner #34-42 are available in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Heroes Vols. 1-3. Some appearances in Marvel Mystery Comics #84-86, 90-91; Human Torch #28, 30; Sub-Mariner #24, 26-30; Blonde Phantom #17; and Namora #1-3 are available in Timely’s Greatest: The Golden Age Sub-Mariner — The Post-War Years.
Never reprinted are some or all appearances in Blonde Phantom #14-15, 17-20; Captain America Comics #68, 70; Human Torch #28-32; Marvel Mystery Comics #84-88, 90-91; Namora #1-3; and Sub-Mariner Comics #23-30.
- Namora began appearing in flashbacks in Sub-Mariner #33 (1971), establishing her in the Marvel Universe, and was shown to be dead in Sub-Mariner #50 (1972).
- Namora appears in What If? #9, which morphed into Agents of Atlas, where Namora was and is very much alive.
Night Raven: Night Raven is a Marvel UK character launched in 1979. At least some of his adventures appear to be period pieces, since he was born in 1900.
- Appeared in The Twelve (Invasion of Berlin)
The Patriot (Jeff Mace): In the Golden Age, Mace was a Captain America clone named Patriot. His adventures in Human Torch 4-5a and Marvel Mystery Comics #20-28 were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch Vol. 1 and Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vols. 5-7. A Patriot story from Marvel Mystery Comics #29 was reprinted in Marvel Super-Heroes #16 (1968).
Never reprinted are the Patriot stories in Marvel Mystery Comics #30-44 and 49-74.
- Revealed as the third Captain America in What If #4, a story which has been incorporated into official Marvel Universe history.
- Mace’s history was fleshed out in Captain America: Patriot #4, where we learn he marries Betsy Ross (Golden Girl) and retires from both being the Patriot and the Daily Bugle to become a small-town newspaperman.
- Ant-Man: Last Days #1 reveals that Mace dies of cancer, and Ross lives in Valhalla Villas.
Red Hawk: Heroic American Jan Valor flies the fighter plane Red Hawk to help Jugoslavians fight Nazis. He has only one appearance, in Kid Komics #3, which has never been reprinted.
Red Skeleton is a comic book writer for Crimely Publications working for editor Stanley Dee. Why does that sound familiar? He has one appearance, in Mystic Comics #10, which hasn’t been reprinted.
Secret Stamp (Roddy Colt) is a teenager who really loves selling War Stamps, and really hates Nazis. Somehow Timely made a series out of that. Most stories have been reprinted: Those in Captain America Comics #13-24 and U.S.A. Comics #7-8 can be found in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Captain America Vols. 4-6 and Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vols. 1-2. Missing are the stories in Captain America Comics #25-27 and U.S.A. Comics #9.
- Appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes.
Silver Scorpion (Elizabeth Barstow) was a secretary for a private investigator, who foiled a crime on her way to a costume party. Naturally, this launched a crimefighting career (in a yellow outfit, despite her name). She appeared in Daring Mystery #7-8 and Comedy Comics #9. The first two appearances are available in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery Vol. 2. The third hasn’t been reprinted.
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
Subbie: The teenage godson of Neptune, Subbie the Sea-Going Lad has virtually the same powers as Sub-Mariner, but dresses in an old-fashioned Cracker Jacks sailor suit while crushing Nazi submarines. Subbie appeared in the never-reprinted-and-never-going-to-be Kids Komics #1-2.
Sub-Earth Man: In Mystic Comics #5, Sub-Earth Man was the leader of a race of beings made of flame and rock — the Lava Men of their era. He attempted to conquer the surface, but was tricked and defeated by geologist Bob Roland. That’s Sub-Earth Man’s only appearance, and it hasn’t been reprinted.
Sub-Mariner (Namor McKenzie): The Avenging Son and last of TImely's Big 3. Reprinted issues with Sub-Mariner in them include All Winners Comics #1-18; All Winners #1; Captain America Comics #20; Human Torch #2-5a, 6-12; Sub-Mariner Comics #1-12, 33-42; Young Men #24-28; Men’s Adventure #27-28; Marvel Comics #1; and Marvel Mystery Comics #2-28, found in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age All Winners Vols. 1-4, Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Captain America Vol. 5, Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch Vols. 1-3, Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Sub-Mariner Vols 1-3, Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Age Heroes Vols. 1-3 and Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vols. 1-7.
Some stories from Marvel Mystery Comics #29-31 are available in Timely’s Greatest: The Golden Age Sub-Mariner—The Pre-War Years. Some stories from Sub-Mariner #21-24, 26-30, 32; Marvel Mystery Comics #84-86; Human Torch #28, 30; Blonde Phantom #17; and Namora #1-3 available in Timely’s Greatest: The Golden Age Sub-Mariner—The Post-War Years.
Never reprinted are some or all stories from All Select #1-5, 10; Blonde Phantom #13-15, 17-22; Captain America Comics #68, 70; Daring Comics #9-12; Kid Komics #4; Human Torch #13-33, 36-38; Marvel Mystery Comics #29-91; Namora #1-3; and Sub-Mariner Comics #13-42.
- Namor was revived in Fantastic Four #4.
Sun Girl (Mary Mitchell) was Human Torch’s sidekick when Toro was on a mission in space called away in the late '40s by urgent but poorly explained family business for an extended time. Her adventures are found in Sun Girl #1-3, Human Torch #32-35, Captain America Comics #69, Sub-Mariner Comics #29 and Marvel Mystery Comics #88-91. One of these stories was reprinted in Giant-Size Avengers #1, but that’s the only one I know of.
- Valhalla Villas resident.
Super-Slave: That is a terrible name, but Super-Slave is a super-powered genie. Makes it OK, I guess? He had one appearance, in Mystic Comics #5, which hasn’t been reprinted.
The Terror (Laslo Pevely): An amnesiac is given a serum by Prof. John Storm (!) that gives him a skull face and super-strength when he wants it. He had six appearances, in Mystic Comics #5-10, but none have been reprinted.
Tyme, Tommy: Tommy is a mid-teens boy who likes to play hooky, and finds a genie who gives him a magic clock that lets him travel through time. He uses this awesome power to change the world for the better get answers for his history tests. Because comics. His adventures in Young Allies #7-8 are captured in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Young Allies Vol. 2, but today’s world may be forever deprived of Tommy’s stories in Mystic Comics (second series) #1-3; Kids Komics #5-8, 10; and Young Allies #9-20.
The Vagabond (Pat Murphy) was a Middleton police officer who dressed up as a fat hobo named Chauncey Throttlebottom III to fight crime. No, I don't get it either, but it's too late to start asking questions now. Four of his appearances, in U.S.A. Comics #2-4 and Young Allies #4, were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 1 and Marvel Masterworks: Golden Young Allies Vol. 1. The fifth, in Comedy Comics #11, has not been reprinted.
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
- Appeared in All-Winners: Band of Heroes.
Vance, Terry: A brilliant teenage detective, Terry Vance solved crimes with the help of his monkey Dr. Watson, about which I have some questions, and adult male newspaper friend Deadline Dawson, about which I have even more questions. But it was a more innocent time, so a teenager routinely having a grown man and a monkey in his bedroom without his parents' knowledge is probably really about crimefighting.
Vance’s stories from Marvel Mystery Comics #10-28 are available in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vols. 3-7. But his stories from Mystic Comics (second series) #1-2 and Marvel Mystery Comics #29-57 haven't been reprinted.
Venus: The Roman goddess comes to Earth to fight crime and/or solve romantic problems. She appears in Venus #1-9, Lana #4 and Marvel Mystery Comics #91, which were reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Venus Vol. 1. Also, the first story in Venus #1 is available in Agents of Atlas HC & TPB and Agents of Atlas: The Complete Collection Vol. 1. But Venus #10-19 have never been reprinted.
- Venus was revived in What If? #9 as one of the “1950s Avengers,” which morphed into Agents of Atlas. In the first AoA miniseries, Venus discovers she is really a naiad who only thought she was a goddess.
Victory Boys: Victor, Maxie, Gus, Hans, Warren, Kurt and Piotr were mostly German orphan lads, maybe with a heroic American boy or two, who fought Nazis in Germany. I assume the Boys only lasted two stories for obvious tragic reasons. Anyway, the story in U.S.A. Comics #5 has been reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vol. 2, while the story in Comedy Comics (second series) #10 hasn’t been reprinted. Probably too grisly.
- But wait! The Victory Boys appeared in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes!
- Where they died.
Vision (Aarkus): The Golden Age Vision was a super-powered alien from another dimension who could appear out of smoke, of which there was a lot in the ‘40s, especially around Jack Kirby’s desk. Aarkus appeared in Marvel Mystery Comics #13-28, which have been reprinted, in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vols. 4-7. Not reprinted are the stories in Marvel Mystery Comics #29-48 and Kid Komics #3.
- Appeared in Avengers/Invaders.
Waku: A prince of the Bantu nation, Waku beats Black Panther by about 25 years as the first Black character to headline a Marvel series. His stories appeared in Jungle Tales #1-7 and Jann of the Jungle #8, and by now you know the drill: The stories in Jungle Tales stories have been reprinted (in Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Jungle Adventure Vols. 2-3), while the Jann stories have not.
Whizzer (Robert Frank): A poor man’s Flash, Whizzer seemed to be dropped into various titles randomly and never stayed long, almost as if he just really had to go, if you know what I mean. His stories in U.S.A. Comics #1-2, 4, 6 and 8 have been reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics Vols. 1-2, and those in All Winners Comics #2-5, 7-11 and 13-18 have been reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age All Winners Comics Vol. 1-4. Still waiting to be reprinted are U.S.A. Comics #9-12, 14-17; Complete Comics #2; Amazing Comics #1; All Select #3-5,7; and Kids Komics #7, 10.
- Revived in Giant-Size Avengers #1 (1974), where for a while he was among the approximately 300 people who claimed to be the father of Wanda and Pietro Maximoff.
- Appeared in The Twelve (Invasion of Berlin).
The Witness I: The Witness knows when tragedy is going to happen, so he watches the victim for a few days to see if they’re worth saving. Nice. Three appearances, in Mystic Comics #7-9, which haven’t been reprinted.
- Revived in The Twelve.
The Witness II: Golden Age sources disagree on whether this is a different character, which was also written by Stan Lee (or S.T. Anley). But if The Twelve is to be believed, it must be (since he appeared after the first Witness was put in suspended animation in The Twelve #1, in 1945). This Witness appeared in The Witness #1, Amazing Mysteries #32, Captain America Comics #71-72 and Marvel Mystery Comics #92. None have been reprinted.
Young Allies was like a combination of Teen Titans and Jack Kirby kid-gang comics, where sidekicks Bucky and Toro led youngsters Knuckles, Tubby, Jeff and Whitewash into battle. The stories from Young Allies #1-8 have been reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Young Allies Vols. 1-2, but good luck finding Young Allies #9-20, Kid Komics #2-10, Amazing Comics #1, Complete Comics #2, Mystic Comics (second series) #4, Sub-Mariner Comics #22 or Marvel Mystery Comics #75-83.
- Toro was revived in Sub-Mariner #14 (1969), but immediately died.
- Toro appeared in Avengers/Invaders, and would have died again, except that Bucky wished on a star on a Cosmic Cube to un-do Toro’s death. So he’s not dead.
- In early 1960s issues of Avengers and for four decades thereafter, Bucky was believed to have died in 1945. But Captain America (fifth series) #11 (2005) revealed that the Soviets saved Bucky from the North Atlantic in 1945, and used him as an assassin called the Winter Soldier, keeping him in suspended animation between missions. So he’s not dead, either.
- Knuckles, Tubby, Jeff and Whitewash are established as existing in the Marvel Universe in Young Allies Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1,but don't survive the story.
WISH LIST
Well, there’s a lot. None of it’s ever likely to happen, but:
Captain America Comics #37-73 and Captain America’s Weird Tales #74-75. Not only do we need to see the Golden Girl saga, and the oddity that was “Weird Tales,” but it would be especially cool if they broke the books up into sections with “Captain America stories that retroactively star the Spirit of ’76 as Cap (1945-46)” and “Captain America stories that retroactively star The Patriot as Cap (1946-49).”
Then finish Human Torch (#13-35) and Sub-Mariner Comics (#13-32).
I’d like an omnibus with all the solo Golden Age stories of the six original Agents of Atlas members (Gorilla Man, Marvel Boy, M-11, Namora, Venus, Jimmy Woo). Tack on What If? #9 and the two Agents of Atlas miniseries, even if that takes a second omnibus. But honestly, outside of Venus, there just aren’t that many.
I’d like an omnibus with all the solo Golden Age stories of the main characters in The Twelve (Black Widow, Blue Blade, Captain Wonder, Dynamic Man, Electro, Fiery Mask, Laughing Mask, Mastermind Excello, Mister E, Phantom Reporter, Rockman and The Witness). Again, most of these characters only had one or two stories in the Golden Age.
I’d like an omnibus with all the solo adventures of Whizzer and Miss America, ending with Giant-Size Avengers #1 (which reveals their marriage and Madeline’s death).
Marvel Mystery Comics #29-92. Come on, it was the flagship book.
The missing issues of Journey into Mystery and Strange Tales. (About 40 each.) In a perfect world, Marvel Tales #93-157.
Finish what you started, Marvel! Young Allies #9-20. Mystic Comics (first series) #5-10, and Mystic Comics (second series) #1-4. The missing issues of U.S.A. Comics. Venus #10-19.
All Select Comics. Daring Comics. That’s like 16 issues total, but man, they had all the big names in those two titles. Throw in the pertinent issues of Kids Komics, Comedy Comics, Complete Comics and whatever other random issues Martin Goodman used as a dumping ground for superhero inventory.
I’d like an omnibus (or two) collecting all the GA Patriot adventures, culminating with What If? #4, Captain America: Patriot #1-4 and Ant-Man: Last Days #1. That would not only be Jeff Mace’s whole story, but also Mary Morgan’s. If you really want to make it comprehensive, include the Captain America Comics stories that have retroactively put Jeff Mace behind the shield instead of Steve Rogers (1946-1949).
I’d love to see Sun Girl #1-3, Namora #1-3, Blonde Phantom #12-22 (and maybe the rest of the scattering of solo stories elsewhere) and the last 10 issues of Venus.
I haven’t the slightest idea how to group it, but I’d love to have collections of the characters who were obscure and generally short run in the Golden Age (often just a story or two) but became important in modern times. Characters like Black Marvel, Blazing Skull, Blue Diamond, Citizen V, The Ferret, Jack Frost, Masked Raider, Phantom Bullet, John Steele, Thin Man, Three Xs … there are lots of them.
Somehow, The Destroyer needs to get collected.
That's all I've got off the top of my head. I need to think about stuff like Patsy Walker, cowboy books, war books and so forth.
Replies
Am I surprised that Marvel's best known Golden Age characters are not fully reprinted? No, I am not.
Holy $#!t. Now I really feel guilty (about having put you up to this).
"I include bullet items with information (when I know it) of if and how a given Golden Age character came to be included in the modern Marvel Universe."
Reminds of of a "quiz" I once posted on the old board: "Which of the characters Rick Jones called forth in Avengers #97 are 'real' and which are 'fictional'?" [The answer has changed over the ensuing years.]
ANSWER: They're all "real" now.
"If you’d like to know why [there was no All-Winners #20], just ask."
SHORT ANSWER: All-Teen #20
FUN ANSWER: See What If #4 for "The Forgotten Case of the All-Winner's Squad" (as coined by Roy Thomas in G-S Avengers #1).
THE DEFENDER: I read past the Black Knight without mentioning Joe Maneely (because that's not really what this topic is about), but at this point Stan Lee should be mentioned. Many sources point out that Lee's first story to appear in a comic book was a text piece in Captain America Comics #3, but his first actual story told in comic book form was The Defender.
THE FIN: Okay, we're not doing creators, but The Fin is by the great Bill Everett.
KA-ZAR: Speaking of Kevin Plunder, [it was eventually revealed] he took his name from reading the adventures of the pulp character.
MARVEL BOY (ROBERT GRAYSON): Another Everett creation (as you mentioned), but I like that his origin was eventually tied to Jack Kirby's Eternals. As much as I liked Agents of Atlas, tying the two versions together is problematical.
MERCURY: In addition to Hurricane, he is also likely Makkari of Jack Kirby's Eternals (and the "devil" he fights is likely the Deviant Kro).
RED RAVEN: A version of this character also appeared in Rawhide Kid #38.
YELLOW CLAW: This character's post Bronze Age appearances are also hard to reconcile with Agents of Atlas. (One of Kirby's Yellow Claw short stories (concepts/characters) was also revisited in Marvel: The Lost Generation (or was it X-Men: The Hidden Years?).
VENUS: As you point out, there was one volume of MMW Venus, but her adventures would have fit neatly into two. Unfortunately, the Bill Everett issues are the ones left uncollected. Again, this character's established history does not mesh with Agents of Atlas.
YOUNG ALLIES: Joe Simon and Jack Kirby went into service before Young Allies went to print, but they tried to get as far ahead as they could before they left. As far as Young Allies was concerned, they were able to draw only the chapter splash pages before they left. (The splash pages outshine the rest of the content is what I'm saying.) Regarding the fates of Knuckles, Tubby, Jeff and Whitewash, I direct your attention to Captain America: Forever Aliies.
Wow, Cap! I mean ,really ...WOW! That is so complete! I'm hard-copying this for future reference.
WISH LIST
As you said, "Well, there's a lot." But, as my DC interest is focused entirely on Superman, so too is my Marvel interest focuses solely on Captain America Comics #25-73 (plus CA's Weird Tales). I think MMW v6 synchs up OMNI v2, so another omnibus edition ought to do it. The problem with the MMW series (as I see it) is that they started branching out into more "esoteric" titles such as Jungle Action and Battlefield before the superhero stuff was complete. When those didn't sell, they concluded that there was no interest in Golden Age archival material and discontinued the line.
Actually the final fates of the YOUNG ALLIES were revealed in Young Allies 70th Anniversary Special (Au'09) in one of the most bittersweet, inspiring and heartwarming stories you'll ever read!
I remain amazed that Roy Thomas never did anything with the Subbie character in any of his Invaders related work.
Jeff of Earth-J said:
"If you’d like to know why [there was no All-Winners #20], just ask."
SHORT ANSWER: All-Teen #20
Looking for covers the other day, I discovered the following number take-overs (courtesy of Mike's Amazing World):
Young Allies 1-20, then All-Winners 21 then Hedy De Vine 22-35 then Hedy of Hollywood 36-50
All-Winners 1-19, then All Teen 20 then Teen 21-35
(Since there is a Teen Comics 21 and no Hedy De Vine 21 it's pretty clear they are right)
Randy Jackson said:
Ha! I think it would take Marvel a great deal of effort to surprise either of us at this point!
OTOH, DC hasn't fully reprinted its best-known Golden Age characters, either. And that includes Fawcett's and Quality's best-known characters, too. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Blackhawk ... virtually none of the biggest names of the Golden Age are available in comprehensive reprint collections.
Part of that is commercial; I suspect we'd have a complete run of Captain America Comics if what was already published had sold better. The Golden Age Batman Omnibus is up to Volume 9 while Golden Age Superman has stalled at Volume 4; I suspect that is a result of the relative popularity of the two characters. (And the Batman series has put The Joker on the cover of about half the omnibuses, which no doubt increases their sales appeal.)
But the biggest obstacle is probably sheer volume. Early Golden Age comics were 68 pages, and even though the page count went down over the years, there are still tons of pages of the major characters. It will take DC 10 omnibus volumes to collect just Batman and the Batman stories in Detective and World's Finest up to around 1958. That's gonna cost collectors somewhere between $1,500 and $2,000. I suspect Superman will be much the same, with Wonder Woman not far behind. Assuming the latter two sell well enough to continue.
And those aren't actually comprehensive. The Batman omnibus series doesn't include "Robin" from Star-Spangled Comics, and the Superman omnibus series doesn't include "Superboy" from More Fun, Adventure and his eponymous title. There's probably more I'm not remembering off the top of my head.
But even with a fairly straightforward feature like Blackhawk -- limited to just Military Comics and Blackhawk -- it would probably take five or six omnibuses. Plastic Man has eight Archives in print, and even all that is just short of the halfway mark.
Even the shorter-run characters have a lot of pages. It would take Green Arrow and Aquaman two omnibuses each to collect their stories -- mostly 6- or 7-page back-up stories -- from 1941 to 1958. And I say "would" because it appears Green Arrow stopped at one and Aquaman never even got started.
Then the killer: Captain Marvel. The Big Red Cheese and his associates filled thousands of pages in America's Greatest Comics, Captain Marvel Adventures, Captain Marvel Jr., Captain Marvel Thrill Book, Fawcett's Funny Animals, Marvel Family Adventures, Mary Marvel, Master Comics, Whiz, Wow and dozens of one-shots. And those are just the books I remember! It would probably take, no kidding, a couple hundred omnibuses to collect all the Marvel Family material from 1940-1953. And that simply isn't commercially viable.
This was pretty obvious to me as I was writing my Wish List. If you winnow down, say, Captain America to just his eponymous title, there are still more than 60 issues left to reprint, many of them Cap-heavy and 36 to 52 pages. DItto Marvel Mystery Comics, and that's not including another 60 or so issues after the name change to Marvel Tales. If you look at what's still not reprinted from just the Big 3, it's a huge amount of material, far more than the market can absorb.
I'm sure you know this already. But I'm sharing my experience as I plowed through the list and the staggering amount of un-reprinted "major" material began to weigh heavy on my mind as I added it up subconsciously. It is an awful lot of material ...
... much of which is, sadly, awful. Which is the third point.
It took me months to plow through Golden Age Green Arrow Omnibus Vol. 1. I have similar difficulty with the Wonder Woman omnibuses. The Green Arrow stories were often repetitive to the point of being interchangeable, and the Wonder Woman stories were often so nonsensical and pointless that I found my attention wandering.
And that's DC, which was far more professional than Marvel. At TImely/Atlas, once you get past the major Marvel creators (Simon & KIrby, Burgos, Everett) a lot of that material is borderline unreadable. And once you get past the first story or so of a new character -- where they set up the premise -- the stories just plow the same ground over and over, without offering any new information. Characters just freeze at the point of their creation, and never progress.
Again, you doubtless know all this already. But I wanted to get it off my chest. I've spent a week wading through this material, and I just don't see any way the bulk of it is going to be reprinted. Frankly, a lot of it shouldn't be.
Philip Portelli said:
I know I read it, because it was published before 2010. But I sure don't remember it. Enlighten me? Or do I have to hope it's on Marvel.com?
Dave Elyea said:
He explains Aquaman's yellow gloves and Doctor Fate's half-helmet, but doesn't explain Subbie? That is strange. And how come Subbie wasn't included in Young Allies? He's a perfect fit!
Goddamn, Skipper, I had no idea that there were so mnay obscure Golden Age "Marvel" characters that I'd never even heard of!
Jeff of Earth-J said:
Don't be. It was a labor of love. (Although we should emphasize the word "labor." Whew!) I have grown more adept in my Jedi research skills, so it took me, what, four or five days? I ran the superhero titles and many characters through the GCD search engine, and compared the results to the Marvel wiki at marvel.fandom.com, Wikippedia and Jess Nevins' Golden Age book. I'm confident of the information on the site (well, there may be some typos or stray books), but I can't say with confidence what I don't know -- that is, appearances of a given character that I didn't stumble across in my four sources. I didn't, for example, run the funny animal, teen humor, war or Western books through my search protocols, so if there's a stray superhero story in a funny animal book (and at Timely, that's almost a given), I might not know about it.
That reminds me of when I first read that issue, and was really excited to see characters I knew nothing about.
Because the first time I had that feeling -- in the first Justice League/Justice Society crossover -- my excitement was entirely justified. I saw all these colorful new characters and thought "there must be a whole backlog of material starring these guys that I haven't read, and I can't wait to read it! What are their powers? What are their origins? This is gonna be great!"
And it was! Learning more and more about DC's Golden Age Justice Society characters as the Silver Age progressed was one of the unmitigated joys of my childhood.
So you can imagine my disappointment when I finally found out about Rick Jones' mystery characters! The Blazing Skull only had five adventures. The Fin only three (in two different titles). Sure, The Patriot and The Vision both had more stories (especially Patriot), but honestly, after you've read the first couple of stories, do you need to read any more? What new information would there be?
Sad.
Jeff of Earth-J said:
Hedy De Vine Comics #22 gets a mention, too!
Which was decent stuff. Further, his first superhero creation was The Destroyer, who was probably Timely's fourth-most popular character, after the Big 3. Sure, the origin is a little derivative, but Lee was about 17 or 18 at the time, and it was a dynamic strip. Those who say he contributed nothing to the Lee-Kirby partnership are just delusional. The man was creative, the man could write, and The Man was a terrific editor. Even as a teenager, and even without Kirby or Ditko.
Sadly, there are only three Fin stories. Happily, they are all included in the "Timely's Greatest" pre-war Sub-Mariner book.
Speaking of which, I was delighted to see five Namora stories from her eponymous series in the "Timely's Greatest" post-war book. That represents only half of the Namora stories from Namora #1-3 -- there were 10 -- but they are undoubtedly the best.
I did not know that.
I didn't remember that, or didn't read it. Either way, I agree.
I can see the logic of connecting the Graysons to the A'Lars faction of Eternals. They both lived on Uranus. Grayson pere building his own spaceship seems a bit much -- Eternal technology makes a lot of sense.
But I'd rather they remained separate species. For one thing, Agents of Atlas established Marvel Boy's actual shape as something out of War of the Worlds rather than human (or Eternal). I think that's awesome for two reasons: 1) it's cool. 2) It finally dawned on me what Jeff Parker was doing with Agents of Atlas.
I might be the last person on Earth to realize it, but what Parker was doing was taking these old characters from the '50s and gradually transforming them into archetypes of the '50s. Venus was the Femme Fatale. M-11 was the Killer Robot. Namora was The Mermaid. Etc.
And Grayson was the Alien Invader, complete with Flying Saucer. That works better if he's not an Eternal.
I mentioned somewhere that Mercury/Hurricane was revealed to be Makkari, making Makkari's debut in Eternals #5 the book that brings Mercury/Hurricane into the Marvel U.
There are a lot of characters that deliberately re-use old names -- your Visions, your Red Tornadoes. But how many duplicate names are like the above, sheer coincidence? That would make an interesting essay.
I have deliberately scrubbed Marvel: The Lost Generation from my mental hard drive. It does not exist on Earth-Cap. And I have accidentally forgotten X-Men: The Hidden Years, because meh. Besides, how much of those series has been completely invalidated since they were published? I'd think the Siancong business in Waid's History alone would overwrite a lot of it.
I do remember Yellow Claw appearing in Captain America for a while. I don't know if that's irreconcilable with Agents of Atlas, but I can live with it. I loved Agents of Atlas so much that any previous story that doesn't agree with it is just wrong. On Earth-Cap, that is.
Well, geez, most of the Golden Age doesn't jibe with the modern MU.
I mean, look at Captain America, who was Steve Rogers until 1955 ... and that certainly isn't true any more.
Miss Patriot didn't exist in the Golden Age, but has been retroactively added.
Betty Dean was a cop. No, a reporter. No, a wealthy adventurer. Make up your minds!
We have to make allowances. Further, I haven't read Venus #10-19, so God knows what's in those. For all I know, like Moon Girl, they completely re-invented the character! Just another reason Marvel needs to reprint those dang books.
Evidently, I really need to brush up on my Young Allies reading.
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