From: [96 dag] at [williams.edu] (David A Gerstein)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: Re: First super hero?
Date: 26 Apr 1994 17:49:55 -0400


	Dear Folks,

	I believe that the first superhero created within a comic book
(as opposed to as a pulp) was....... Donald Duck!  Well, certainly
the first superhero in the classic "normal person suddenly given
amazing powers" mode.

	It was in the 1937 Italian comic-book story "Donald Duck and
the Secret of Mars" that Donald discovered a mad scientist's bizarre
plot to concentrate the sun's rays into a source of constant
adrenaline flow.  During the story's climax, Donald is accidentally
subjected to the concentrated rays, and immediately gets infinite
strength, socking out the villain and hordes of thugs with single
blows.  He is able to keep hold of the villain's rocket ship as it
soars through the air, then pries the top off of it like the lid on a
can of sardines.

	Ultimately, Donald's power wears off, and he causes the source
of the power to be destroyed in the end, but the story is a landmark 
just the same.  We have a fellow name of Federico Pedrocchi to thank 
for it.

	This obscure story -- the first Italian Donald Duck story
drawn, and in fact the first long Donald adventure, period -- is to be
published by Gladstone Comics in June in their 60th Anniversary issue
of DONALD DUCK, #286.  This will be the first American publication of
the story.  There are two new stories in the issue too, as well as
additional vintage material from 1935 and 1943.

	Check it out -- should be a truly great issue.

	David Gerstein
	<[David A Gerstein] at [Williams.edu]>