Lash Lightning
Lash Lightning | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | Ace Comics |
First appearance | Sure-Fire Comics #1 (June 1940) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Robert Morgan |
Team affiliations | The Super-Mysterymen |
Partnerships | Lightning Girl |
Notable aliases | Flash Lightning, Lightning |
Abilities | Super-strength, super-speed, flight, limited invulnerability; able to generate electricity, radiate heat, and track Lightning Girl. |
Lash Lightning is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in Sure-Fire Comics #1 (June 1940) from Ace Comics,[1] which was renamed Lightning Comics with issue #4 to take advantage of the new character's popularity. Originally called Flash Lightning, the character's name was changed to Lash Lightning in issue #7 to avoid confusion with DC Comics' the Flash.[2]
Lightning Comics ended with issue #13 in June 1942. In this final issue, he was joined by a sidekick, Lightning Girl.
Lash also appeared in issues #1 to 22 (Sept 1941 – March 1946) of the Ace title Four Favorites; about halfway through this run the "Lash" was dropped and he was simply named Lightning.[1] Lightning Girl joined him in issue #6.[1]
Fictional biography
Ace
In 1940, explorer Robert Morgan is delving into an Egyptian pyramid when he encounters an ancient mystic called The Old Man of the Pyramids. The mystic teaches Morgan ancient secrets, and gives him the Amulet of Annihilation, on the condition that he uses his powers to fight evil.[3]
Morgan's powers include super-strength, super-speed, flight, the ability to generate electricity and radiate "lightning heat" and a measure of invulnerability (e.g., he can contain the explosion of a grenade with his bare hands); his powers can be recharged by electricity. Returning to the United States, Morgan dons a costume and changes his name to Lash Lightning (as opposed to maintaining a secret identity). His emblem is a triangle with a thunderbolt emerging from each of its three sides.[1]
His early foes include the Mummy, an insane college professor wrapped in bandages infused with radium, and the mad scientist Mastermind.[4] His recurring villains also include a werewolf, the zombie-raising Dr. Diablo, and the Maestro, who wears a bee costume.[5]
Later, Lash’s friend Isobel Blake gains powers identical to his when he accidentally charges her with thousands of volts of electricity; she dons a costume similar to his and becomes his partner, Lightning Girl.[6] The two of them are able to track each other via their “lightning impulses.”[1]
Project Superpowers
At some point after World War II, both Lash Lightning and Lightning Girl were imprisoned in the mystical Urn of Pandora, along with many other heroes, by the misguided Fighting Yank; decades later, the Urn was broken and the heroes released. The duo were then recruited, along with six other heroes (including Magno and Davey Captain Courageous, Mr. Raven, Soldier Unknown), and The Sword, to form a team called The Super-Mysterymen; the purpose of this team has not yet been revealed.
Living Legends
Lightning Girl is one of the sixteen heroes to have hopped sixty years into the future in the pages of the Metahuman Press serial Living Legends. She was the only one of the characters to return to college in an attempt to regain a normal life, but the return of a still-young Robert Morgan has complicated matters in the still-ongoing serial.
Revival
In 2008, Lash Lightning and Lightning Girl appeared in flashback in Dynamite Entertainment’s Project Superpowers #0; in the one-shot Project Superpowers: Chapter Two Prelude, they appear in this line as part of a team called The Super-Mysterymen (presumably named after the Ace title Super-Mystery Comics).
References
- ^ a b c d e Lash Lightning and Lightning Girl at InternationalHero.co.uk
- ^ Benton, Mike (1992). Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company. p. 170. ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ Markstein, Don. "(F)lash Lightning". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ Mitchell, Kurt; Thomas, Roy (2019). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940–1944. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 108. ISBN 978-1605490892.
- ^ Nevins, Jess (2013). Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes. High Rock Press. p. 161. ISBN 978-1-61318-023-5.
- ^ Green, Paul (2017). Encyclopedia of Weird War Stories: Supernatural and Science Fiction Elements in Novels, Pulps, Comics, Film, Television, Games and Other Media. McFarland & Co. p. 112. ISBN 978-1476666723.
External links
- Lash Lighting / Flash Lightning at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on October 24, 2015.
- Living Legends at MetahumanPress.com
- v
- t
- e
- Captain Courageous
- Doctor Nemesis
- The Flag
- Lash Lightning
- The Raven
- Unknown Soldier
- Vulcan
Publications
- The Atom
- Al Pratt
- Black Canary
- Dinah Drake
- Doctor Mid-Nite
- Charles McNider
- Doiby Dickles
- The Flash
- Jay Garrick
- The Gay Ghost
- Green Lantern
- Hawkgirl
- Hawkman
- Carter Hall
- Hop Harrigan
- Johnny Thunder
- Justice Society of America
- The King
- Mister Terrific
- Terry Sloane
- Neptune Perkins
- Red Tornado
- Sargon the Sorcerer
- The Terrific Whatzit
- Thunderbolt
- Ultra-Man
- The Whip
- Wildcat
- Ted Grant
- Wonder Woman
- Airman
- Amazing-Man
- The Arrow
- The Clock
- The Eye
- Fantom of the Fair
- Magician from Mars
- The Masked Marvel
- Minimidget
- Atomic Mouse
- Captain Atom
- Nightshade
- Mr. Muscles
- Nature Boy
- Space Adventures
- Yellowjacket
- Bulletgirl
- Bulletman
- Captain Marvel
- Captain Marvel Jr.
- Captain Midnight
- Dan Dare
- Hoppy the Marvel Bunny
- Ibis the Invincible
- Lieutenant Marvels
- Marvel Family
- Mary Marvel
- Master Man
- Minute-Man
- Mr. Scarlet
- Nyoka the Jungle Girl
- Phantom Eagle
- Pinky the Whiz Kid
- Scoop Smith
- Spy Smasher
- Squadron of Justice
- Uncle Marvel
- Black Fury
- Blue Beetle
- Dan Garret
- The Bouncer
- Bronze Man
- Dynamo
- The Flame
- Green Mask
- The Moth
- Samson
- Stardust the Super Wizard
- U.S. Jones
- Wonder Man
- Black Cat
- Captain 3-D
- Captain Freedom
- Green Hornet
- Invisible Scarlet O'Neil
- Kato
- Shock Gibson
- Spirit of '76
Publications
- Captain Battle
- Claw
- Crimebuster
- Daredevil
- Little Wise Guys
- Silver Streak
- The Black Hood
- Bob Phantom
- Captain Flag
- The Comet
- The Firefly
- The Fox
- The Hangman
- Rang-a-Tang the Wonder Dog
- The Shield
- Super Duck
- The Web
- The Wizard
Publications
- Ace the Bat-Hound
- Air Wave
- Aquaman
- Batman
- Batwoman
- Black Pirate
- Boy Commandos
- Captain Comet
- Chris KL-99
- Congo Bill
- Crimson Avenger
- Lee Travis
- Dan the Dyna-Mite
- Dark Ranger
- Detective Chimp
- Doctor Fate
- Kent Nelson
- Doctor Occult
- Genius Jones
- Gimmick Girl
- Green Arrow
- Guardian
- Hourman
- Rex Tyler
- Johnny Chambers
- King Faraday
- The Knight
- Krypto
- Liberty Belle
- Manhunter
- Paul Kirk
- Martian Manhunter
- Miss X
- Mr. America
- Newsboy Legion
- Phantom Stranger
- Rex the Wonder Dog
- Robin
- Dick Grayson
- Robotman
- Rose Psychic
- Sandman
- Wesley Dodds
- Sandy the Golden Boy
- Seven Soldiers of Victory
- Shining Knight
- Sir Justin
- Slam Bradley
- The Spectre
- Speedy
- Roy Harper
- Squire
- Star-Spangled Kid
- Starman
- Ted Knight
- Stripesy
- Stuff the Chinatown Kid
- Superboy
- Kal-El
- Superman
- Superwoman
- Tarantula
- TNT
- Tommy Tomorrow
- Vigilante
- Wonder Woman
- Zatara
- American Crusader
- American Eagle
- Black Terror
- Captain Future
- Doc Strange
- Fighting Yank
- The Ghost
- Grim Reaper
- Judy of the Jungle
- Kara the Jungle Princess
- Lance Lewis, Space Detective
- Liberator
- The Magnet
- Miss Masque
- Princess Pantha
- Pyroman
- The Scarab
- The Woman in Red
- Blue Bolt
- Dick Cole
- The Target
- The Targeteers
- The Twister
Publications
- #711
- The Black Condor
- Blackhawk
- Blue Tracer
- Bozo the Iron Man
- Captain Triumph
- Doll Girl
- Doll Man
- Firebrand
- The Human Bomb
- Invisible Hood
- The Jester
- Kid Eternity
- Lady Luck
- Madame Fatal
- Magno
- Manhunter
- Merlin the Magician
- Midnight
- Miss America
- Miss Fear
- Mouthpiece
- Neon the Unknown
- Phantom Lady
- Plastic Man
- Quicksilver
- The Ray
- Red Bee
- Red Torpedo
- The Spider
- Spider Widow
- Uncle Sam
- Wildfire
- Wonder Boy
- Woozy Winks
- All-Winners Squad
- American Ace
- The Angel
- Black Marvel
- Black Widow
- Claire Voyant
- Blazing Skull
- Blonde Phantom
- Blue Blade
- Blue Diamond
- Breeze Barton
- Bucky
- Captain America
- Captain Wonder
- The Challenger
- Citizen V
- The Destroyer
- Dynamic Man
- Father Time
- The Ferret
- Fiery Mask
- The Fin
- Golden Girl
- The Human Torch
- Jack Frost
- Laughing Mask
- Marvel Boy
- Mercury
- Miss America
- Miss Fury
- Mister E
- Namor
- Namora
- The Patriot
- Phantom Reporter
- Red Raven
- Rockman
- Silver Scorpion
- Sun Girl
- Super Rabbit
- Thin Man
- Thunderer
- Tim Mulrooney
- Toro
- Venus
- The Vision
- The Whizzer
- Robert Frank
- The Witness
- Young Allies
- American Comics Group
- Anglo-American Publishing
- Commander Steel
- Atlas Publications
- Captain Atom
- Bell Features
- The Brain
- Johnny Canuck
- Nelvana of the Northern Lights
- Cardal Publishing
- Streamline
- Columbia Comics
- The Face
- Skyman
- David McKay Publications
- Mandrake the Magician
- The Phantom
- DC Thomson
- The Amazing Mr X
- Jack Flash
- Dynamic Publications
- Dynamic Man
- Yankee Girl
- Eastern Color Printing
- EC Comics
- Moon Girl
- Superduperman
- Elliot Publishing Company
- Fiction House
- Hillman Periodicals
- Airboy
- The Heap
- Holyoke Publishing
- L. Miller & Son, Ltd.
- Magazine Enterprises
- Funnyman
- Maple Leaf Publishing
- Brok Windsor
- Iron Man
- Rural Home Publications
- Green Turtle
- Street & Smith
- The Avenger
- Doc Savage
- The Shadow
- Supersnipe