VIRUS VIGILANTE (5)
By:
November 16, 2020
One in a series of posts about the Antiviral Alliance, a now-forgotten squad of comic-book vigilantes who during the years leading up to (and through) WWII worked tirelessly to prevent another Spanish Flu-like pandemic. Fun fact: The original intercompany crossover, this “event” would inspire National Comics and All-American Publications to form the Justice Society of America in 1940–1941.
Socialite and hypnotist Brian O’Brien, who as The Clock sported a tuxedo, fedora, and trick cane, was perhaps the first comic-book hero to wear a mask that covered his mouth and nose. Sure, his loose-fitting mask was not particularly effective at preventing the spread of airborne viruses, but… did I mention his trick cane? Inspired by the Moon Man’s example, O’Brien did his best to inspire other heroes to stop the spread of airborne viruses… and was one of the first three members of the Alliance.
PS: One assumes that The Clock’s moniker is derived from period slang for “face.” Or did he use a clock as part of his hypnotic effort?
Publisher: Comics Magazine Company
First appearance: Funny Pages #6 and Funny Picture Stories #1; November 1936
Created by: George Brenner
INTRODUCING… THE ANTIVIRAL ALLIANCE. PRE-COMICS: THE MOON MAN (1933). ORIGINAL TRIO (joined forces in 1939): THE CLOCK | SANDMAN | FANTOM OF THE FAIR. AND THEN THERE WERE SEVEN (joined 1940): THE SHADOW | LADY LUCK | THE LAUGHING MASK | KINKS MASON. SECOND-WAVE SIX (joined 1941): BLAZING SKULL | THE CHALLENGER | THE THUNDERER | DOCTOR NEMESIS | HUMAN BOMB | THE VIGILANTE. LATE TO THE PARTY (joined post-1941): MICRO-FACE | THE DESERT EAGLE.
SIMILAR HILOBROW SERIES: MEET THE L.I.S. | 4CP FRIDAY — themed comic-book detail galleries | CHESS MATCH — a gallery | COMICALLY VINTAGE | DC — THE NEW 52 | FILE X — a gallery | KIRB YOUR ENTHUSIASM — 25 writers on 25 Jack Kirby panels | SECRET PANEL —Silver Age comics’ double entendres | SKRULLICISM