Crime-Casters - Constructs - Conscious Chaos

For decades, the atmosphere of Earth-One was a breeding ground of transmitted electronic waves produced from a myriad of computing equipment. Through this, the artificial consciousness known as the Construct was spawned, seeking to assert itself upon humanity and dominate it. To this end, it created robot automatons known as cannons which it sent to dispatch the one true viable threat to its rule...the Justice League of America. However, that team was able to defeat the synthetic being and attempted to erase it from existence.

Instead, it remained and reintegrated into Construct-II and Construct-III, seeking to mentally control Wonder Woman and the Injustice Gang separately and turn them against the League, then later using a reconstructed android known as Red Tornado. Each time, it failed in its objective to vanquish humanity.

In fact, a separate, distinct yet similar electronic entity was formed on the Red Tornado's home world of Earth-Two. This being had initially been the creation of Rex "Hourman" Tyler, who built his Crime-Caster artificial intelligence to predict any pending problems across the globe. In the future, this computer developed into a predictive machine which the sinister scientist known as T.O. Morrow plucked from the future of Earth-Two which he first witnessed through a temporal viewer on his native planet of Earth-One.

This Crime-Caster in the far future would further develop in certain timelines into the being known as the Hourman android, a self-described "intelligent machine colony". While Morrow brought a copy of this computer back to Earth-One following his defeat at the hands of the Justice Society and Justice League, Rex's first model and what it developed into remained on Earth-Two. And it seems that Morrow's copy of the Tyler machine was the core of the Construct as it formed following its creators defeat. On a fourth occasion, the Construct tried and nearly succeeded in subjecting humanity, however it's own creation in Red Tornado ultimately destroyed this creature completely.

Strident Single-Eyed Sinister Super-Villains

Among the many and diverse adversaries that faced Robby Reed, the original owner of the H-Dial, was the mysterious Doctor Cyclops. Somehow possessing a single eye through which he is able to harness incredible powers while wearing special stylized googles, Cyclops went on a crime spree in the town of Littleville Colorado which attracted the attention of Reed and his crime fighting alter egos.

As the superheroes known as Rip-Tide, Super Nova and Super Robot... Robby repeatedly attempted to apprehend the criminal scientist. It was during his third attempt that Reed was successful, leading to Cyclops' incarceration. It was alleged that the Doctor resumed his crooked career years later allied with various sinister scientists. Despite having various abilities with his technology and apparent inherent powers, Doctor Cyclops was unable to capitalize on these capabilities.

His counterpart was a good ruler of a secluded middle eastern kingdom known as the Secluded City. Like his Earth-One counterpart, this ruler known as the Gorrah had a single eye, although whether he had powers of his own is unknown.

What is known is that a lookalike who assumed his identity had attempt to usurp his throne. However, international explorers Tex Thompson and Bob Daley locate this city and are immediately welcomed by the fake Gorrah, the Earth-Two version of the villain known as Psimon. Like Psimon, Gorrah had vast mental abilities with which to exert mind control upon others, although Thompson was immune to this. 

As such, he and Bob were taken to be disposed of when they learned of the fake Gorrah's schemes, although in the process the duo found and saved the true Gorrah. After restoring him to his rightful position in that hidden society, Tex and Bob left for America where they would clash with the other Gorrah several more times for the next few years.

Boy Wonders Battle Legendary Lads/Kicking Kids

A case early of Robin's costumed career led to the birth of a heroic team of grave boys. In the mid-1940s, he ran across of a gang of kids in the act of crime who he overcame. After learning that they were misguided youths from the Boyville Reform School, the Boy Wonder convinces the facility's superintendent to allow to play a part as a wayward lad on order to uncover the truth, which he eventually does.

This encounter with the young masked man-child would inspire one of the youths, Rusty Ryan, and his fellow schoolmates to take a more heroic path in life which would have long lasting repercussions for years to come, as we will see.

A universe away on a parallel world decades in the future, that world's Robin stumbled upon a confrontation between Val Armorr aka Karate Kid and maddened mutated maiden named Diamondeth. While attempting to subdue the crystalline woman, Robin is prevented from doing so by Karate Kid who overwhelms him with his martial arts prowess.

After the two lads confer and Val explained to Robin that  the woman is actually is friend Iris Jacobs who was transformed into an inhuman creature due to an experiment that went awry, the two track her down and capture in a manner that doesn't harm her.

At this point, Karate Kid departs with her using a Time Bubble from his future era to bring her a thousands years into the future where science can reverse her condition. As such, the two boy wonders part on friendlier terms then when they initially met. Like the other Robin had done mending fences with a certain red haired kid.

Karate Kid would soon thereafter journey back to the 30th century he was native to and marry his longtime girlfriend Princess Projectra while rejoining the Legion of Super-Heroes of which they were both members. Iris would return to the 20th century normal although heartbroken that Val chose the Princess over her, while Projectra would herself suffer a broken heart as well over her love.

Back over on Earth-Two, red haired Rusty and his pals formed the Boyville Brigadiers and fought both criminals and foreign agents seeking to sow chaos. Adopting colorful costumes no doubt inspired by the example of Robin, who turned their lives around, these lads had a number of adventures for several years before retiring from crimefighting as adults. While Ryan never had occasion to travel to the 30th century like Val, his pal Robin had when the Boy Wonder was recruited by the Batman if the future, Brane Taylor.

As for the 30th century of Earth-One, tragedy struck soon after the marriage of Val and Projectra when an old foe and former fellow Legionnaire named Nemesis Kid... who years earlier tried to frame a crime of sabotage on Val in order to cover his own misdeeds... out of revenge pummeled Karate Kid to near death. In order to save Projectra's homeworld which Nemesis Kid and his super-villains allies had held hostage, Armorr sacrificed his life. And the Princess got justice for her husband in the end.

Legions of Super-Heroes & Space: Science & Interplanetary Police

The most prolific and populous team of powered champions of good in the history of Earth-One is yet to appear... the Legion of Super-Heroes. They had like their predecessors in All-Star Squadron on Earth-Two assembled the most powerful individuals to protect their planet...indeed their universe... from various threats that manifested over time. While there was not a Squadron in the 1940's on Earth-One nor a Legion in the 30th Century of Earth-Two, there were nevertheless costumed crusaders during periods of time when they were needed. 

And while the 20th century was stocked full of superheroes on both Earths, were there any protectors a thousand years in the future on Earth-Two as the Legion was during that period? Indeed, as we see from the following cast of characters below:

Garth "Lightning Lad" Ranzz and Rex Cosmos. Ayla "Lightning Lass" Ranzz and Joan.
Brin "Timber Wolf" Londo and Axel Yokel.

 Irma "Saturn Girl" Ardeen and Eviless/Saturnette

Rokk "Cosmic Boy" Krin and Rokk Braddon, Lydda "Night Girl" Jath and Elaine

 Tinya "Phantom Lady" Wazzo and Rose Psychic

Luorna "Triplicate Girl" Durgo and Nira-Q "Bandit Queen". Chuck "Bouncing Boy" Tane and Jor-L "Federal Man".

Reep "Chameleon Boy" Daggle and the Defender 

 Lyle "Invisible Kid" Norg and Kent "Invisible Hood" Thurston

Gym "Colossal Boy" Allon and Keith "Gay Ghost" Everet

 Brainiac Five and Per Degaton

 Kara Zor-El/Supergirl and Kara Zor-L/Power Girl

 Pete "Superboy" Ross and Lance "Captain Triumph" Gallant

 Eltro "Mon-El" Gand (aka Marvel Lad) and Osgood "Doctor Occult" Armsby

Jo-Nah/Ultra Boy/Reflecto and Baron Bliztkrieg 

 Thom "Starboy" Kallor and Ted "Starman" Knight

Drake "Wildfire" Burroughs and Don Drake. Salu "Shrinking Violet" Digby and Betty Saro

Dirk "Sun Boy" Morgna and "Blaze" Barton

Jan "Element Lad" Arrah and John "Sargon" Sargent Jr. Tasmia "Shadow Lass" Mallor and Blue Lama. Tenzel "Matter-Eater Lad" Kem and Maximillian O'Leary

 Nora "Dream Girl" Nal and Doris Knight

Val "Karate Kid" Armorr and Rusty "Boy Brigadier" Ryan, Andrew & Douglas Nolan "Ferro Lad"  Hart "Nemesis Kid" Druiter and Boy Brigadiers

 Princess Projectra and Queen Ferros

Dawnstar and Conscience

Blok and Atlas

Computo and Gernsback

Dual Deadshot Dopplegangers Dueling Darknight Detectives

Deadshot was originally wealthy yet restless young men born with the name Floyd Lawton. They each sought to become the crime kingpin of Gotham City, but in order to accomplish this, needed to edge out the competition to their goal of city wide dominance... the Batman! 

Under the cover of a masked vigilante, Deadshot scored early success before ultimately being revealed and imprisoned as a criminal after battling the Dynamic Duo of Batman and Robin

At this point, the histories of each Floyd Lawton diverged. On Earth-Two, Lawton would remain incarcerated and left to serve out a lengthy prison sentence alongside others whom Batman fought and captured, such as the gangland boss known only as the Black Diamond. This hoodlum, like his Earth-One counterpart in Boss Rupert Thorne, was quite literally a thorn in the side of the Caped Crusaders before finally coming to justice. But that is a tale left to be told elsewhere.

The Lawton of Earth-One had likewise served out a long term in prison, while other contemporary adversaries of Batman such as Scarecrow, Catwoman, Riddler and the Penguin seemed to find the key to a revolving door in that self-same correctional facility that ensnared Floyd. However, when the Penguin carelessly flaunted his special laser lense he was to use in an escape, this led to freedom when Floyd stole it.

Shortly thereafter, Lawton devised a new high-tech uniform complete with a wrist rifle and telescopic lense google among other items. As the new Deadshot, Floyd sought vengeance against Batman yet again found himself failing to finish his fearless foe.

At this point, Deadshot would find that same key somehow that enabled him time and time again to escape prison and take on various criminal contracts as an assassin. Using his remarkable marksmen skills like those of his counterpart, Deadshot made a more substantial name for himself on Earth-One than his cosmic twin would on Earth-Two.

Fashion Flops Frustrate Fleet Footed Flashes

Neil Richards aka the Mad Mod was a fashion designer in London with gaudy sensibilities who secretly harbored criminal ambitions. To that end, he used his tenacious tailoring talents to valuable smuggle items illegally through clothes he shipped to other countries. This came to the attention of the Kid Flash and his allies of the Teen Titans, who stymied his scheme. He would return later seeking to steal the specter of the Queen of England, while designing clothes worn by the Titans that halved their powers. Despite this, they once more defeated him, and he turned to more legitimate pursuits even helping his foes.

Theodore "Tubby" Watts was an ace cameraman and assistant of reporter Johnny Chambers for their broadcasts on Sees-All-Tells-All News. While poseesing technical aptitude he did, his style of clothing involved jumpers and green suits. As a confidant of Chambers' alter ego Johnny Quick, Tubby on occasion used his pal's secret mathematical formula to temporarily embue himself with super speed as well. But when his budding heroic career was unsuccessful, he stuck to being dutiful sidekick of his fleet footed friend.

Seven Deadly Enemies of Mankind

Although the Monster Society of Evil were the preeminent assemblage of costumed criminals on Earth-S, and the Sivana Family was the most successful group of arch-foes on that world, another sinister syndicate had a more far reaching impact. The Seven Deadly Enemies of Mankind!

Although ancient alien entities which have battled the forces of good since the days of the Champion in ancient times down to when King Kull reassembled them in the modern day to battle with Captain Marvel, these seven has human sides that caused trouble.

Led by a mysterious monocled man, this gang of seven crooked confederates consisted of men identified by their devious defining characteristics of Pride, Envy, Greed, Anger, Sloth, Gluttony and Lust. Doctor Sivana personified Pride and served as a secretary and host for his colleagues, and he like Henry "Brain Wave" King of Earth-Two were the most persistent adversaries of their worlds' greatest heroes.

Other members of the Seven Deadly Enemies likewise were the Earth-S versions of King's Injustice Society allies Wizard, Thinker, Gambler, Per Degaton, Sportsmaster, and the Icicle. The Earth-One counterpart of this amoral alliance, the Secret Society of Super-Villains, likewise bedeviled the heroes of their world. A version of this Secret Society also formed later on Earth-Two, while a less successful Injustice Gang also operated around the same time on Earth-One... each of these, like the Sivana Family, used similar methods and had the same goals. And were tangentially connected to their larger sister syndicate.

Goggled Good Guys Gabbing

 

Spy Smasher and Captain Midnight were remarkably similar crimefighters who operated during the same period of World War II. Each were skilled aviators, masterful inventors, daring dogooders. 

In 1943, while testing out his new aircraft, Midnight was involved with clashes versus Imperial Japanese forces in the skies. Calling out to his Secret Squadron code named "SS" on the airwaves, his transmission is received by Spy Smasher's equipment in his amazing Gyrosub vessel. Thinking the message was for him, he tracks the source and meet the Captsin.

What follows is a race around the globe to see which aircraft is the fastest on Earth-S, and have further encounters with their Japanese foes. The goggled good guys ultimately prove victorious versus their foes, parting as friends and allies.

Spy Smasher's counterpart Mister Terrific and Captain Midnight's doppleganger Doctor Mid-Nite teamed up in a case of the Justice Society of America in 1945. The Doctor was a regular meeting of the Society while Terrific was first an honorary member then later a full-fledged one.

While these Society teammates on Earth-Two didn't have fancy aircraft.. that would be owned by the Batman and Green Arrow of their world... they were just as courageous and tenacious.

Fawcett's Finest: A New Blog

While touching on the various heroes and heroines of Fawcett Comics at times throughout our examination of the DC Multiverse, two dynamic duos deserve some long overdue attention.

Bulletman and Bulletgirl, aka Jim and Susan Kent, were known as the Flying Detectives and were their own world's version of the classic Winged Wonders of Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Similarly, attorney Brian Butler and his ward also had the distinction of being Gotham Guardians, as they both lived and protected a Gotham City of another Earth as Mister Scarlet and Pinky. Within the context of their reality, what became known as Earth-S, these four fearless fighters were as important as were their more famous caped and cowled contemporaries.

In fact, the Bullet pair were more successful than the Hawks as their popularity meant an ever growing family of characters, second only to the Marvel Family whom they teamed up with on occasion. As for Scarlet and Pinky, they were itinerant masked men drifting from job to job, yet maintained a wonderfully glib interaction with each other that made the best of the dwindling returns from them costumed crusades.

Largely, their vast array of adventures, adversaries, and abilities have been left untold in a modern context... until now. Join the review at Fawcett's Finest: Scarlet and Gold.

Timmy Tinkle: Tenacious Troubleshooting Tech

Timmy Tinkle was like Red Tornado and Stel a robotic creation. While it seemed his origin was benevolent, in actuality his creator had like Tornado's architect T.O. Morrow attempted to trick his unwitting victims into trusting the automaton for his own greedy gains. Inserting Timmy into television station WHIZ, the station owner Morris wholeheartedly accepted the newly "freed" robot to apply for a job there.

And in fact Tinkle performed some heroic deeds causing first news anchor Billy Batson and, soon thereafter, his superhero alter ego Captain Marvel into befriending the bot. When it was discover that Timmy has stolen items from the station, Cap was determined to disassemble the droid until he saw a radio transmitter implanted in the erratic electronic.

After capturing the culprit, the inventor himself, Tinkle was cleared of all charges and gained employment at WHIZ.

While not having massive power like Red Tornado of Earth-Two (later of Earth-One) and Stel the Green Lamtern of Earth-One's universe (later deceased), as that level of energy emissions was exhibited in another robot of Earth-S named Mister Atom who fought Captain Marvel repeatedly, Timmy Tinkle was still every bit as dynamic.