Sensational Successors of Sandmen Sufficiently Skilled

Jeb Paulsen was a lad with a strange history who would became a legend over a century after his birth. As a young orphan with a propensity to dream, he was drawn into the world of the Sandman, the self appointed protector of the Dream Dimension where nocturnal realities are conceptualized. As a mentor to Jeb, Sandman soon realized that Jeb was displaced in time and belonged in a future era. The boy was then sent by Sandman to the 21st century, where he was raised under the loving care of his adoptive "grandfather" Buddy Blank aka Omac. 

After Buddy died, Tommy then lived in an orphanage,  until he was adopted by Horatio Tomorrow and his wife. This lad grew up to become the Planeteer known as Tommy Tomorrow. Armed with a special pistol and futuristic equipment, it was his physical prowess and keen problem solving aptitude that made him a fine example as a guardian amongst his peers... much like his counterpart a universe away and decades earlier than Tommy's date of birth.

On that parallel world of Earth-Two, Jed's doppleganger was John.... Jonathan Law. Novelist John Law conceived of the ideal source material for his next great story, a behind the scenes publication of costumed crusaders appearing in the early 1940s. Law interviewed the girlfriend of the mystery man known as Sandman. Following the interview, the woman... Dian Belmont... handed Jonathan a drawing of a new spandex outfit she had designed for her boyfriend, believing that Law would appreciate it more. 

Indeed, Jonathan wore a fabricated replica of her handiwork, and as Tarantula when he encountered Dian once more, while she was substituting for Sandman on a case. Sadly, her duel with some crooks led to her perishing in a car crash, with Tarantula and Sandman having witnessed this tragedy. Armed with his web-shooting pistol and equipped with suction cup boots, his acrobatic agility and mental ingenuity made Law a capable hero, fighting in memory of Dian.

Back on Earth-One, through some interaction with Supergirl, Jeb ended up in the future and would in one timeline be the warrior lad known as Kamandi yet in the actual future would become the aforementioned Tommy Tomorrow. As an ace graduate, Tommy was the premier member of the Planeteers which protected the Solar System from various threats. He would return to the 20th century on a few occasions such as when combatting time lost dinosaurs, assisting fellow heroes who were "showcasing" their abilities versus an alien treat, and during the Crisis on Infinite Earths.

John Law was already experienced in battling crime in his previous professions such as law enforcement (chronicled in More Fun Comics #21-44 from June 1937 to June 19, 1939), then his second career blending his experience in law with his knowledge of science (chronicled in Smash Comics #3-12 from October 1939 to July 1940). Still restless and unsatisfied with his previously occupations, Law tried his hand an author, which led to a profitable path to fame and fortune. 

This culmitated in his fourth "career" as costumed crusader (in Star-Spangled Comics #1, beginning in October 1941) as the Tarantula. As Tarantula, Law was successful as both a solo adventurer and a member of the All-Star Squadron. His various experiences side by side with superheroes allowed him to research his literary masterpiece, Alter Ego, after which he retired from alter ego in April 1943.

Incredible Insects Irritate Irrational Illegal Irritants

Like author Jonathan Law aka Tarantula of Earth-Two... another hero cut from the same mold of a costumed bug boy was Vince Harley, as crime fiction writer that needed inspiration for his latest masterpiece. 

Thankfully, it arrived right on his doorstep when he soon learned that from adversity comes opportunity, particularly when you have a rare immunity and mastery over something which most men dread. 

This would create an opportunity to become something more, a costumed avengers known as the Yellowjacket. This caped crusader would be among the first chronicled costumed crime fighters who would appear on Earth-Four during the 1940's. Another bug-themed mystery man named Blue Beetle would also operate during this time period, although no mention was ever made of the two men ever meeting nor interacting.

After discovering that he had a mutant ability to mentally control the insects he named himself after, Yellowjacket began a brief career during the period of 1944 to 1946 utilizing this ability. While creating a yellow and black spandex uniform for alter ego, Harley decided there was no need to wear a mask to conceal his identity.

Perhaps this is why he forsook his mystery man alias after less than a dozen adventures as Yellowjacket, reverting to his civilian lifestyle once more. Similarly, Jonathan Law retired from superheroics around this same time on his world, while Law and Harley's Earth-One doppleganger Tommy Tomorrow would remain a Planeteer for a lengthier career, albeit centuries in the future when his activities were sanctioned by interstellar government. Yellowjacket and Tarantula, as vigilantes, didn't have quite the same sanction with the authorities of their time.

Garishly Garbed Green Greedy Guys

Eccentric inventor Irwin Schwab as the Ambush Bug wore a special suit with antennae connected to mechanized insects, with which he could exchange places with instantaneously. When first encountering Superman and the Doom Patrol, Ambush Bug seemingly murdered a politician before he wa finally knocked out by Superman after his bugs were destroyed.

Professional criminal Edgar Crossart as the Tarantula endangered wealthy debutante Vivian Dale whose mansion he was staying in as a guest. The Tarantula had installed secret passages ways within Vivian’s mansions, which allowed he and his victim to appear then disappear inexplicably. When Sandman deduced both Crossart’s methods and his double identity, he lured the villain into a trap as he knocked out Tarantula with sleeping gas.

Later, after meeting the Legion of Substitute Heroes, their examples inspired Ambush Bug to forsake his criminal career and attempted to become an earnest, if misguided superhero.  He would encounter Supergirl, Batman, Wonder Woman and even face off again the global terrorist known as Kobra!

Crossart once more donned his Tarantula mask while under the employ of Ian Karkull. He teamed up various foes of individual Justice Society members, each tasked with the assignment slay future presidents of the United States. Once more, he was defeated by his old foe Sandman, who was aided by his JSA colleague the Atom.

Futuristic Fighters Following Focused Fatherly Figures

Brent Wood and Lon Vurian were Law enforcement officers in the 21st century of Earth-One organization known as  the Planeteers,  both partners of their legendary teammate Tommy Tomorrow at different times during his career. While Tommy and Brent had a long career together, such was not the case with Tomorrow and his first partner and fellow cadet Lon Vurian, with whom he quarreled with at times.

Mark Marson and Monty Montague were a pair of officers of the Interplanetary Police in the 21st century of Earth-Two that were sent to locate he missing Professor Hillary, inventor of a sun ray cannon. Hillary's daughter Gail accompanies them to the Red Planet, wherein the evil leader their transforms her skin to a reddish hue. The trio are able to track the Professor down, and assume another mission that remains unresolved.

At some point in his youth, Tommy was sent back to the 20th century where he lived with ancestors under the alias of Jeb Paulsen. This was due to some strange effects in the Dream Dimension that had displaced him in time. This was later corrected by his older friend and mentor Sandman aka Garrett Sanford, with whom he had a few adventures alongside. During 20th century Earth-Two, Tommy's counterpart Jonathan Law aka Tarantula made a name for himself as a member of the All-Star Squadron when he wasn't authoring a novel.

In an alternate history wherein a Great Disaster created a different timeline, Tommy was known as Kamandi and had much more Earth bound tales. This separate alternate Earth became known as Earth-AD. And it was not alone.

In alternate timelines in the 30th century, on Earth-One it would be Camelot 3000 and on Earth-Two it would be the Knights of the Galaxy that defended their home worlds from threats. Tom Prentice and Joan Acton and their cosmic twins Lyle and Ora were foremost among these.

The Story of Two Tarantulas: The Vigilante and the Hoodlum

One was a private investigator, the other a gangster. Both concerned with the costumed crusaders that would interfere with their plans. The answer was simple... don the costume of your favorite eight-legged creature which has a tendency to draw its prey into an intricate web from which it cannot escape. As the Tarantula, each man came equipped with guns and special weaponry. 

Lester had been relentlessly pursuing the Masher Mob in Metropolis, after he was left unemployed, inspired by his son's favorite television superhero the Tarantula. Using radioactive pellets on his prey while operating as a costumed crusader, Lester’s ruthless activities gained the attention of Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane. This is eventually also involved Lois’ boyfriend Superman, who helped capture and unmask the Tarantula.

Scorpion Sykes was one of four felons patterning their modus operandi after predatory insects. The other three terrors were Cricket Crode and Miss Moth, with their leader being gangster Bugsy Bonner. A fourth recruit Bugsy tried to win over to his new crime cartel was the heroic alter ego of writer Jonathan Law, the Tarantula, who Bugsy suspected of being a secret criminal. When he and his confederates discovered that Law was in fact, on the side of the law, they hatched a new plan to frame him for their felonies. Sykes pretended to be the Tarantula while dressed as him, in order to frame the hero. Thankfully, the Law was able to defeat his criminal imposter along with his gang.