The origin of Superheroes: Bulletman and Bulletgirl

[Javaman]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulletman_and_Bulletgirl

Created by Bill Parker and Jon Smalle, Bulletman first appeared in Nickel Comics #1 (May 1940).[2]

Jim Barr was the son of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty and as a result took it upon himself to fight crime.[3] He was rejected from the police academy for physical reasons, but got a job in ballistics. Like many characters of the time, he used chemistry to develop powers for himself, in his case greater muscle mass and brain power using his "crime cure." He also invented a bullet-shaped Gravity Regulator Helmet which allowed him to fly and deflect bullets.[4] His first case involved capturing a gangster in his hideout.[5]

Shortly after Bulletman began his crime-fighting career, he created a second helmet for his girlfriend and later wife Susan Kent, daughter of Police Sergeant Kent who adopted the name Bulletgirl.[6][7] His formula was shown to make him strong enough to smash a tank. In addition to being bullet-shaped, their helmets also make the characters bulletproof.[8] The helmet is shown to be so strong that once when Bulletgirl was run over by a Nazi tank she was only knocked out.

Bulletman and Bulletgirl were Fawcett Comics' second-most-popular characters after Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family. They were leased by DC Comics along with the rest of Fawcett Comics' stable of characters in 1972. However, the characters lapsed into public domain prior to the said acquisition, which would later allow AC Comics to reprint their Golden Age adventures.

During this period of time, Bulletman and Bulletgirl appeared with fellow Fawcett heroes to form Shazam's Squadron of Justice against the forces of King Kull, who was trying to wipe out humanity on all three Earths after capturing all the beings who gave the Marvels their powers. Bulletman and Bulletgirl battled villains on Earth-S, the Earth-2 Joker, Weeper, Shade, and Doctor Light. Their age appeared to be as it was in the 1940s without explanation. They subsequently appeared a few times with Captain Marvel and his family.

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[Mike Nelson]

1. I have the first appearance...

... of Bulletdog, their faithful pet! So many of the Fawcett concepts were used in the later "Superman Family" stories.