Space Cabbie
Encyclopedia
Space Cabbie is a science fiction
character that first appeared in the comic book Mystery in Space
#21 (August 1954). He was series created by Otto Binder
and Howard Sherman.
His first appearance is as a narrator, telling tales to his fares. Over the next handful of issues, he has his cab stolen, meets his exact double and has to deal with a mail bomb. His adventures dominate the title 'Mystery In Space'. The series ends with #47, where he has to deal with three doubles.
He is seen conversing about space exploration to a friend. He is briefly seen in the round-robin 'Challenge' limited series.
At one point, he and his cab were co-opted by Lobo. The two chased down a gang of space bikers. Lobo leaves Space Cabbie, who is charged with reckless driving, murder, and other crimes. On the way to prison, Lobo saves him and returns his cab. The discrepancy of a modern-age character appearing with a 'future' one is explained when Space Cabbie mentions on the witness stand that he took a day job in the present to help make ends meet.
Space Cabbie plays host to two passengers talking about the legacy of 'Starman', a name given to multiple heroes over many decades.
He has a brief cameo when Timothy Hunter
takes a magical trip into the future. He makes another cameo in the time-torn plot of 'JLA The Nail'.
He assists Superman, who is ill, across the time stream itself. Both come under weapons fire.
He gains a reputation for being able to take anyone anywhere in the universe.
#21 (August 1954) in a story scripted by Binder and drawn by Sherman. The character reappeared in issue #24, in the story "The Hitchhiker of Space", written by France E. Herron and again drawn by Sherman, and thereafter became a recurring series in Mystery in Space, the only such in the book for the whole time that the series was being first printed. Besides Binder, Gardner Fox
would write many appearances, and artwork was handled by Gil Kane
and Bernard Sachs. The Cabbie's monthly series continued to 1958 with Mystery in Space #47; the character's last appearance as a lead feature would be in August 1972 in From Beyond the Unknown
#18, a reprint of "The Hitchiker of Space." His last solo appearance in a comic book was in DC Super Stars
#6 which was published in August 1976. It was a reprint of a story called "The Luxury Limousine of Space". Otto Binder wrote that story as well.
Space Cabbie has since then made occasional guest appearances in other comics, such as Starman
, and DC Comics Presents
#78.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
character that first appeared in the comic book Mystery in Space
Mystery in Space
Mystery in Space is the name of two science fiction comic book series published in the United States by DC Comics, then known as National Comics. The first series ran for 110 issues from 1951 - 1966, with a further 7 issues continuing the numbering during a 1980s revival of the title...
#21 (August 1954). He was series created by Otto Binder
Otto Binder
Otto Oscar Binder was an American author of science fiction and non-fiction books and stories, and comic books...
and Howard Sherman.
Fictional character biography
In the middle of the 22nd century he has a job driving for 9-Planet Taxi. As a child he grew up among the military tyrants of Ghengkis VII. He showed an aptitude for stellar navigation. During the 'Bored Wars' of 2146 he was a fighter pilot. He took jobs as a laborer and a pilot for hire. He eventually took up driving cab #7433. He is a member of the 'Cosmic Order Of Space Cab Pilots' and 'Veterans Of Alien Wars'.His first appearance is as a narrator, telling tales to his fares. Over the next handful of issues, he has his cab stolen, meets his exact double and has to deal with a mail bomb. His adventures dominate the title 'Mystery In Space'. The series ends with #47, where he has to deal with three doubles.
He is seen conversing about space exploration to a friend. He is briefly seen in the round-robin 'Challenge' limited series.
At one point, he and his cab were co-opted by Lobo. The two chased down a gang of space bikers. Lobo leaves Space Cabbie, who is charged with reckless driving, murder, and other crimes. On the way to prison, Lobo saves him and returns his cab. The discrepancy of a modern-age character appearing with a 'future' one is explained when Space Cabbie mentions on the witness stand that he took a day job in the present to help make ends meet.
Space Cabbie plays host to two passengers talking about the legacy of 'Starman', a name given to multiple heroes over many decades.
He has a brief cameo when Timothy Hunter
Timothy Hunter
Timothy Hunter, is a fictional character, a comic book sorcerer published by DC Comics. He first appeared in The Books of Magic vol. 1 #1 , and was created by Neil Gaiman and John Bolton.-Publication history:...
takes a magical trip into the future. He makes another cameo in the time-torn plot of 'JLA The Nail'.
He assists Superman, who is ill, across the time stream itself. Both come under weapons fire.
He gains a reputation for being able to take anyone anywhere in the universe.
Publication history
Space Cabbie first appeared in Mystery in SpaceMystery in Space
Mystery in Space is the name of two science fiction comic book series published in the United States by DC Comics, then known as National Comics. The first series ran for 110 issues from 1951 - 1966, with a further 7 issues continuing the numbering during a 1980s revival of the title...
#21 (August 1954) in a story scripted by Binder and drawn by Sherman. The character reappeared in issue #24, in the story "The Hitchhiker of Space", written by France E. Herron and again drawn by Sherman, and thereafter became a recurring series in Mystery in Space, the only such in the book for the whole time that the series was being first printed. Besides Binder, Gardner Fox
Gardner Fox
Gardner Francis Cooper Fox was an American writer best known for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. Comic-book historians estimate that he wrote over 4,000 comics stories....
would write many appearances, and artwork was handled by Gil Kane
Gil Kane
Eli Katz who worked under the name Gil Kane and in one instance Scott Edward, was a comic book artist whose career spanned the 1940s to 1990s and every major comics company and character.Kane co-created the modern-day versions of the superheroes Green Lantern and the Atom for DC Comics, and...
and Bernard Sachs. The Cabbie's monthly series continued to 1958 with Mystery in Space #47; the character's last appearance as a lead feature would be in August 1972 in From Beyond the Unknown
From Beyond the Unknown
From Beyond the Unknown was the title of a science-fiction comic book series published by DC Comics. It ran as a bi-monthly for 25 issues, from October 1969 to December 1973...
#18, a reprint of "The Hitchiker of Space." His last solo appearance in a comic book was in DC Super Stars
DC Super Stars
DC Super Stars was a comic book anthology series published by DC Comics from March 1976 to February 1978. Starting off as a reprint title, it finished its run with original stories...
#6 which was published in August 1976. It was a reprint of a story called "The Luxury Limousine of Space". Otto Binder wrote that story as well.
Space Cabbie has since then made occasional guest appearances in other comics, such as Starman
Starman (comics)
Starman is a name used by several different fictional DC Comics superheroes, most prominently Ted Knight and his sons David and Jack.Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Jack Burnley, the original Starman, Ted Knight, first appeared in Adventure Comics #61...
, and DC Comics Presents
DC Comics Presents
DC Comics Presents was a comic book published by DC Comics from 1978 to 1986 featuring team-ups between Superman and a wide variety of other characters of the DC Universe...
#78.
Other appearances
- Space Cabbie appears in Justice League UnlimitedJustice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
#18 (April 2006) and Ambush Bug: Year NoneAmbush Bug: Year NoneAmbush Bug: Year None is a six-issue comic book limited series written Keith Giffen and Robert Loren Fleming, and illustrated by Keith Giffen and Al Milgrom. The first issue, "Hey, You Sank My Battle-Ax!", was published on July 23, 2008. DC Comics announced that instead of releasing a sixth issue,...
#1 (September 2008). - Space Cabbie's cab made a brief appearance in Elseworlds' JLA: Another NailJLA: Another NailJLA: Another Nail is a comic book mini-series published in the United States by DC Comics, a continuation of events seen in the original three-part mini-series JLA: The Nail. As with its predecessor, Another Nail occurs outside of the official DC Universe continuity, belonging to the Elseworlds...
when all time periods meld together.