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Unlike DC Comics, many of Marvel’s Golden Age heroes never developed past World War II and haven’t been modernized, with many other superheroes replacing them. While many of these Golden Age heroes may have been forgotten, some have withstood the test of time to become legends. Without these colorful characters laying a foundation, Marvel Comics as we know it wouldn’t be the richly imaginative powerhouse that it is today.
10) Toro
The original Human Torch, Jim Hammond, was the very first superhero created by Marvel Comics. And in 1940, he also gained Marvel’s first sidekick: Thomas Raymond, aka Toro. The child of parents who were exposed to an assortment of chemicals and radiation, Thomas was born with the ability to engulf himself in flames, shoot fireballs, and fly. On top of fighting the Nazis alongside the Human Torch, Toro frequently teamed up with fellow teenage hero Bucky Barnes. Although Toro died saving Namor after the war, the hot-headed former sidekick eventually returned to life and discovered that he was an Inhuman. Toro may not be as popular as Bucky, but he was still an invaluable hero during World War II.
9) Blonde Phantom
Debuting in 1946, Louise Grant, aka Blonde Phantom, was one of Marvel Comics’ earliest female superheroes. Initially a mere secretary for a private eye named Mark Mason, Louise was enamored with her employer’s adventurous escapades and eventually decided to become a detective herself. Donning a domino mask and red dress, Louise became the vigilante detective Blonde Phantom. With her skill in firearms, martial arts, and deductive reasoning, Blonde Phantom was feared by New York’s criminal underbelly. She would go on to be recruited into Nick Fury’s Avengers 1959 team to hunt Nazis. Still without superpowers, Blonde Phantom eventually retired and settled down with her husband, Mark. With her determination and skill, Blonde Phantom helped pave the way for many future heroines.
8) Red Raven
First appearing in 1940, the hero known only by the name Red Raven, had the ability to fly and battled the Nazis during World War II. When he was a young boy, he was the only survivor of a plane crash that landed on a secret island where Bird People, an offshoot of Inhumans with large wings, raised him. The Bird People named him Red Raven and gave him a winged suit that allowed him to fly. After fighting alongside the Liberty Legion during World War II, Red Raven retreated from humanity and became the defender of the Bird People. Two other heroes would be inspired to take up the Red Raven mantle, Dania and Redford Raven.
7) Namora
While Namor has been a villain as often as he’s been a hero, his cousin, Aquaria Neptunia, aka Namora, who made her first appearance in 1947, has always been heroic. Namora fights to protect Atlantis and the world from all evildoers. Like her cousin, Namora is a human/Atlantean hybrid who also possesses an X-Gene that gives her powered flight through the small wings on her ankles. With her Atlantean strength, Namora fought the Axis Powers during World War II and has continued as a superhero for decades, serving as both a member of the Avengers 1959 and the Agents of Atlas. Namora is so dedicated to her people that she even led a rebellion against Namor when he became a tyrant over Atlantis.
6) Miss America
While most people are familiar with the multiverse-travelling America Chavez, aka Miss America, her superhero identity dates to 1943. The original Miss America, Madeline Joyce, was one of Marvel Comics’ first female superheroes. After a lab accident, Madeline developed superhuman strength, flight, and x-ray vision. With these powers, Miss America battled the Axis Powers as both a member of the Invaders and the All-Winners Squad. She would eventually marry her teammate, Robert Frank, aka the Whizzer, and retire together. Although she’s not as popular as other Golden Age heroines like Wonder Woman, Miss America was still a trailblazer who defied the gender norms of the 1940s to fight for a better world.
