Captain Compass is a nautical detective in the DC Comics

DC Comics

DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...

 universe

DC Universe

The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...

 first appearing in a 1948 Star Spangled Comics issue. A former private detective, Mark Compass is hired by a shipping company as a troubleshooter. His main trademark is being frequently betrayed by members of his own crew.

In 1974, Compass started appearing alongside the Martian Manhunter

Martian Manhunter

The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...

 when J'onn J'onnz signed onto his ship to investigate the murder of a sea captain's daughter. Compass also aided the Justice League

Justice League

The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....

 after Green Arrow

Green Arrow

Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...

 decided to depart to battle his personal demons.

Ties with Martian Manhunter

Captain Compass and the Martian Manhunter became allies battling the sea criminals they encountered, including Two-Face

Two-Face

Two-Face is a fictional comic book supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. and is an enemy of Batman. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #66 , and was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger....

 when Harvey Dent hijacked a fishing boat and held the Black Canary

Black Canary

Black Canary is the name of two fictional characters, DC Comics superheroines created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino. The first Black Canary debuted appeared in Flash Comics #86 . The first Black Canary was the alter-ego of Dinah Drake, who took part in Golden Age adventures...

 hostage.

Other appearances

Captain Compass appeared in several issues of Detective Comics

Detective Comics

Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...

, including #500 where he joined forces with other detective characters such as Slam Bradley

Slam Bradley

Samuel Emerson "Slam" Bradley is a fictional character that has appeared in various comic book series published by DC Comics. He is a private detective who exists in DC's main shared universe, known as the DC Universe...

 and the Human Target

Human Target

The Human Target is the name of two fictional comic book characters that have appeared in books published by DC Comics. The first is Fred Venable, who appears in Detective Comics #201 , by Edmond Hamilton and Sheldon Moldoff....

 to solve one last case.

Publication

• Star Spangled Comics #83-130 (August 1948 - July 1952)
• World's Finest Comics
  World's Finest Comics
  World's Finest Comics was an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1941 to 1986. The series was initially titled World's Best Comics for its first issue; issue #2 switched to the more familiar name...
  
  #63 (March/April 1953)
• Detective Comics
  Detective Comics
  Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
  
  #203-224 (January 1954 - October 1955)
• Detective Comics #500 (March 1981)