Superhero Alter Egos (Marvel's Golden Age) Quiz

Answer: Jim Hammond

The Human Torch made his first appearance in "Marvel Comics" #1 (Oct, 1939). He was an android created by Phineas Horton, who afterwards was shunned by the scientific community for creating such a monstrosity. The Human Torch's popularity as a character was such that he was quickly transformed from a menace into a hero.

He took on the secret identity of Jim Hammond and became a New York City police officer.

Answer: Madeline Joyce Frank

Miss America debuted in "Marvel Mystery Comics" #49 (Nov, 1943) and shortly afterwards, she starred in her own title, "Miss America Comics".

Young Madeline Joyce came from a wealthy family and earned her powers by playing around with a device created by scientist Professor Lawson when it was struck by lightning, granting her powers of super strength and flight.

In addition to featuring in her own comic, Miss America was also part of the All-Winners Squad, alongside such heroes as Captain America, Bucky, the Sub-Mariner, Toro, the Human Torch, and the Whizzer (Robert Frank, whom she later married).

Answer: Mark Anthony Todd

Not to be confused with the Ghost Rider (created in 1972), the Blazing Skull made his first appearance in "Mystic Comics" #5 (Mar, 1941).

Mark Todd, a foreign correspondent covering the war between China and Japan, hides in a cave during an artillery barrage. There, a group of men with burning skulls claim him to be the champion of freedom, and they train him as a warrior and imbue him with powers (like immunity to fire). After returning home, he takes on the mantle of the Blazing Skull, although at first it is merely a flaming mask. Eventually, his powers grow, he can actually make his flesh invisible and truly have a 'blazing skull'.

Answer: Betsy Ross

Elizabeth "Betty" Ross first appeared in "Captain America Comics" #1 (Mar, 1941) as a supporting character and love interest to Private Steve Rogers (aka Captain America), and did not become Golden Girl for some time. Eventually, she altered her name to Betsy (as a patriotic nod to the creator of the American flag), and joined Captain America (the third one) as his sidekick (Bucky was wounded) after receiving a bulletproof cape from him. Apart from being good at martial arts, Golden Girl had no super powers.

Her first appearance as Golden Girl, then, was in "Captain America Comics" #66 (Dec, 1947).

Answer: James Buchanan Barnes

James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes made his first appearance in "Captain America Comics" #1 (Mar, 1941). His introduction to Captain America was a bit different than was portrayed in the "Captain America: The First Avenger" movie of 2011.

Bucky was presented as an orphan of military parents who stayed as a ward of the state on the military camp, essentially becoming the camp mascot. There, he met Private Steve Rogers, and became friends with him. He is a fan of Captain America, and when he accidentally discovers that Rogers and Captain America are one and the same, he insists on joining him. Despite only being 15, he receives training and accompanies Cap as his sidekick against the Red Skull and many other adversaries.

Answer: Marla Drake

Miss Fury (aka socialite Marla Drake) first appeared as 'Black Fury' in a newspaper Sunday comic strip in April of 1941. She soon became Miss Fury, and gained strength and speed when she wore her black suit. The strip continued until 1952, but that was not where she stayed. From 1942 until 1946, Timely Comics published her strips in comic book format, under the title of "Miss Fury".

Answer: Namor McKenzie

The Sub-Mariner first (publicly) appeared in "Marvel Comics" #1 (Oct, 1939), although the character had been conceived of beforehand for a giveaway comic entitled "Motion Picture Funnies Weekly" that was never published.

Namor was presented as an antihero, essentially going up against the human civilization for perceived wrongs against the oceans and the resultant effects on Atlantis. Once the U.S. entered World War II, however, Namor fought alongside his former foes to battle the Nazi threat.

Namor is the offspring of a human father and a princess of Atlantis and has the powers of the people of Atlantis, plus the ability to fly, increased agility and long life.

Answer: Mary Mitchell

Sun Girl made her first appearance in "Sun Girl" #1 (Aug, 1948). Working as the assistant to Jim Hammond (aka the Human Torch), she fell in love with him and eventually became his crime-fighting sidekick. Sun Girl was an acrobat and expert martial artist, as well as carrying a gun that fired a powerful 'sunbeam'.

Answer: Steven Rogers

Captain America made his first appearance in "Captain America Comics" #1 (Mar, 1941) with a picture of Cap punching Adolf Hitler on the cover. This was well before the U.S. entered the conflict, and was a somewhat controversial comic, receiving much praise (selling over 1 million copies), and also a lot of criticism.

Steve Rogers began as a Fine Arts student before the onset of war led him to try to enlist. He couldn't get in because of his weak body, and so he gets signed up for 'Project: Rebirth', which is a testing ground for the Super-Soldier serum. Rogers gets transformed into a Nazi-fighting machine, and goes on to battle many foes (with Bucky at his side).

Answer: Claire Voyant

Claire Voyant was the first of many characters to take on the name Black Widow within the Marvel Universe. Her first appearance was in "Mystic Comics" #4 (Aug, 1940), starting out as a medium who becomes possessed by Satan to place a curse on the Wagler family.

In retribution, one of the family members kills her, sending her soul to hell. Satan then gives her her costume and powers to kill with a touch, then sends her back to the land of the living. Her job? To track down evildoers and deliver their souls to Satan.