Invisible Scarlet O'Neil
Encyclopedia
Invisible Scarlet O'Neil is an American comic strip
written and drawn by Russell Stamm. Published by the Chicago Times
, it ran from June 3, 1940 to 1956.
It focused on Scarlet O'Neil, a plainclothes superhero
(and one of the first superheroines) who had the power of invisibility
. Scarlet used this power mostly to help out strangers in need and help the police catch dangerous criminals, as explained by comics historian Don Markstein
:
She also appeared in comic books, Big Little Books and a 1943 prose novel.
In 1950, the title was reduced to simply Scarlet O'Neil and changed again in 1955 to Stainless Steel.
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
written and drawn by Russell Stamm. Published by the Chicago Times
Chicago Times
The Chicago Times was a newspaper in Chicago from 1854 to 1895 when it merged with the Chicago Herald.The Times was founded in 1854, by James W. Sheahan, with the backing of Stephen Douglas, and was identified as a pro-slavery newspaper. In 1861, after the paper was purchased by Wilbur F...
, it ran from June 3, 1940 to 1956.
It focused on Scarlet O'Neil, a plainclothes superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
(and one of the first superheroines) who had the power of invisibility
Invisibility
Invisibility is the state of an object that cannot be seen. An object in this state is said to be invisible . The term is usually used as a fantasy/science fiction term, where objects are literally made unseeable by magical or technological means; however, its effects can also be seen in the real...
. Scarlet used this power mostly to help out strangers in need and help the police catch dangerous criminals, as explained by comics historian Don Markstein
Don Markstein's Toonopedia
Don Markstein's Toonopedia was a web encyclopedia of print cartoons, comic strips and animation. Don D...
:
- Scarlet got the power of invisibility from a ray her father, a scientist, was experimenting with. She curiously put just her finger in the ray, and suddenly disappeared, clothes and all. Fortunately, she discovered that a certain nerve in her left wrist could work as a toggle for the power — touching the nerve turned her invisibility on or off. This origin story was told in the first episode, in the form of a quick flashback to events years earlier, so she could get right into action. Scarlet's adventures were a little light on Nazi spies, Japanese saboteurs, master criminals and the like. In fact, they were kind of light, period. Russell Stamm, the cartoonist who created her, was a former assistant on Chester Gould's Dick TracyDick TracyDick Tracy is a comic strip featuring Dick Tracy, a hard-hitting, fast-shooting and intelligent police detective. Created by Chester Gould, the strip made its debut on October 4, 1931, in the Detroit Mirror. It was distributed by the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate...
, but chose a less severe approach for his own strip. The art was more rounded and "friendly" looking, and the stories less hair-raising. Instead of shooting it out with vicious killers, Scarlet's typical adventure, especially near the beginning, involved helping children in trouble. She did take on some dangerous foes, but her strip was less an action-packed comic than a send-up of them.
She also appeared in comic books, Big Little Books and a 1943 prose novel.
In 1950, the title was reduced to simply Scarlet O'Neil and changed again in 1955 to Stainless Steel.