Top Five Most Important Pre-1938 Comics Superheroes!

So now that we have our list of top five most important superheroes post-1938 that have nothing to do with Marvel and DC, and our top five most important superheroes who didn't originate in comics, it's time for the top five most important pre-1938 superheroes who did!

Now, since the term "superhero" originated really because of Superman in 1938, they weren't really meant to apply to anyone created before. For this post, we'll define them as adventurers who have a desire to do good and help people, and if they have special abilities while they do that as well as a distinctive look/costume, the better.

An Honorable Mention to Terry and the Pirates. Milton Caniff's work was very influential to many generations of superhero creators. But as much as I may already be stretching the definition of the term "superhero" with my number five pick, he at least resembles one on the superficial level, while Terry does not.

Here we go!

5. Prince Valiant

Art by Hal Foster

Created by Hal Foster in 1937, Prince Valiant is the longest-running continuous story in comics existence. Foster's classicist depiction of the Arthurian-era hero is an inspiration to many a comics artist, and serves as a building block for any who want to carry on with medieval-era comics, of which there has been a considerable number.

I originally considered Tarzan for this spot, but he was disqualified due to not having originated in comics.

4. Mandrake the Magician and Lothar

Art by Phil Davis

In 1934, Lee Falk created Mandrake the Magician, who pretty much dressed up like your regular stage magician and whose real power was to make people see things that weren't there. A whole slew of magical characters followed him, almost all adhering to the same model. The list includes Fawcett's Ibis the Invincible and DC's Sargon the Sorcerer and Zatara, father of Zatanna.

More importantly, Mandrake had a crimefighting partner named Lothar, an African prince who chose to go adventure with Mandrake. Although Falk characterized Lothar as having broken English and made him subservient to Mandrake, one must take into account the times (please refer to my Ebony White article) and give credit to Falk that Lothar was neither drawn in blackface nor portrayed as incompetent. In fact, he was Mandrake's ace in the hole, as he was the strongest man in the world.

Mandrake and Lothar are widely accepted as the first interrarcial crimefighting duo.

3. Dick Tracy

Art by Chester Gould most likely Dick Locher (Thanks, Booksteve!)

Created by Chester Gould in 1931, Dick Tracy pretty much started a bunch of things, including being the first actual police procedural mystery comic and also being the first of its kind in that it invented all that fancy-schmancy detective equipment. But what really sets Dick Tracy apart and above the rest is his villains - the first ever collection of characters that was rightly deemed a "rogues' gallery," a term now in the generic superhero lexicon. With characters who resembled their names, such as Flattop Jones, Pruneface, and Cheater Gunsmoke, Gould harnessed the power of icons, semiotics, and symbols and played them up in his comics for a powerful and surreal effect. Many comics are equally as serious as they are silly, and it could be argued that Dick Tracy is the first to do so. Nonetheless, it can't be argued that Dick Tracy showed how important good villains are.

2. The Phantom

Art by Dave Gibbons

Kit Walker is the 21st Phantom, created by Lee Falk in 1936. He is, really, the first legacy hero, which is pretty much the foundation of DC Comics (and even Marvel, to an extent) these days. When one Phantom dies, his son takes his place.

More than that though, the Phantom is the archetypal action/adventure hero, with his adventures taking place in Africa and lore surrounding the Phantom, with old jungle sayings like "The Ghost Who Walks can never die," or "Those who see the true face of the Phantom will surely die a horrible death." He was also the first to wear a skintight costume and a mask that covered the pupils, setting a precedent for many, many superhero costumes.

There is a Phantom comic book being published today, and the rights for him are always hotly contested whenever the expiration date comes up.

1. Flash Gordon

In 1934, Alex Raymond changed the comics universe by unleashing into it the space adventure strip known as Flash Gordon. Raymond's figure work, still emulated and imitated (but never duplicated) today, drew readers in, giving it an insanely high readership. The title character and his true love, Dale Arden, along with a scientist named Hans Zarkov, are transported to a far-off planet called Mongo, a world ruled by the tyrannical Ming the Merciless.

As Alex Raymond's style is still copied today, Flash Gordon is continually held in high esteem, with revivals and reprints upon revivals and reprints. Alex Raymond and Flash Gordon is the reason a lot of comics look the way they do, and they are also partly the reason why there is a large section of comics and other works that take place in space. In fact, Flash Gordon is the direct inspiration for a little movie franchise called Star Wars. You may have heard of it.

Interestingly, in 1986, Flash Gordon was the leader in the animated series Defenders of the Earth, where the other members were the Phantom, Mandrake, and Lothar - all updated (especially Lothar) for the 80s. All four characters are distributed by King Features Syndicate, as is Prince Valiant (who showed up in the show as well!).

The Defenders of the Earth, and their kids.

Did I miss anyone? Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know!