V-Man
Encyclopedia
V-Man is a fictional patriotic-themed superhero character who first appeared in January, 1942. His name, and the large letter V
on his costume, come from the “V for Victory” symbolism that had proliferated throughout the United States
and Europe
during World War II
.
’s V Comics; the title is often listed as “V...– Comics” because three dots and a dash—the Morse code
signal for the letter V—overlapped the V on the cover. Along with the stories there appeared a page intended to start a V-Man fan club amongst the readers, called the V-Boys and V-Girls. The series only lasted two issues (January and March, 1942). V-Man then made appearances in several issues of Holyoke Publishing’s Blue Beetle
comic, starting with issue #13.
In 2008, V-Man, along with many other characters who’d fallen into the public domain
, was included in Dynamite Entertainment
’s Project Superpowers
; after decades of being trapped in the Urn of Pandora
, he was now transformed in such a way that anyone who comes near him becomes fatally ill, and he has to be constantly quarantine
d as a result. According to writer Jim Krueger
, he now represents “that person who gets out of prison but can’t live a free life.”
. His principal gimmick was a miniature radio
in his ring
. He was aided by a group of teenagers called The V-Boys, who each wore a sweater
with a large V on the front. The V-Boys were aware of V-Man's secret identity and communicated with him using the aforementioned ring.
. Decades later, the Urn was broken and the heroes were freed, some having new superpowers as a result of their imprisonment; V-Man, however, was now a “walking, talking plague,” causing anyone who comes close to him to become fatally ill. His fellow heroes have to keep him in quarantine, and he’s unable to be close to Masquerade
, whom he’s attracted to. What’s become of the V-Boys is not yet known.
V
V is the twenty-second letter in the basic modern Latin alphabet.-Letter:The letter V comes from the Semitic letter Waw, as do the modern letters F, U, W, and Y. See F for details....
on his costume, come from the “V for Victory” symbolism that had proliferated throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History
V-Man debuted in the first issue of Fox Feature SyndicateFox Feature Syndicate
Fox Feature Syndicate was a comic book publisher from early in the period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books. Founded by entrepreneur Victor S...
’s V Comics; the title is often listed as “V...– Comics” because three dots and a dash—the Morse code
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
signal for the letter V—overlapped the V on the cover. Along with the stories there appeared a page intended to start a V-Man fan club amongst the readers, called the V-Boys and V-Girls. The series only lasted two issues (January and March, 1942). V-Man then made appearances in several issues of Holyoke Publishing’s Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle is the name of three fictional superheroes that appear in American comic books published by a variety of companies since 1939.-Publication history:...
comic, starting with issue #13.
In 2008, V-Man, along with many other characters who’d fallen into the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
, was included in Dynamite Entertainment
Dynamite Entertainment
Dynamite Entertainment is an American comic book company that primarily publishes licensed franchises of adaptations of other media. These include adaptations of film properties such as Army of Darkness, Terminator and RoboCop, literary properties such as Zorro, Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, Alice in...
’s Project Superpowers
Project Superpowers
Project Superpowers is a comic book limited series published by Dynamite Entertainment beginning January 2008. It was co-plotted by Jim Krueger and Alex Ross, with scripts by Jim Krueger, covers by Alex Ross, and interior art by Doug Klauba and Stephen Sadowski for issue #0, and Carlos Paul for the...
; after decades of being trapped in the Urn of Pandora
Pandora's box
Pandora's box is an artifact in Greek mythology, taken from the myth of Pandora's creation around line 60 of Hesiod's Works and Days. The "box" was actually a large jar given to Pandora , which contained all the evils of the world. When Pandora opened the jar, all its contents except for one item...
, he was now transformed in such a way that anyone who comes near him becomes fatally ill, and he has to be constantly quarantine
Quarantine
Quarantine is compulsory isolation, typically to contain the spread of something considered dangerous, often but not always disease. The word comes from the Italian quarantena, meaning forty-day period....
d as a result. According to writer Jim Krueger
Jim Krueger
Jim Krueger is an American comic book writer, novelist, and filmmaker.- Filmmaking :Kreuger's first short film, They Might Be Dragons, which he wrote, directed, and produced, won "Best In Class" at New York University , a "Best Short Film" award from the New York Independent Film Festival, and a...
, he now represents “that person who gets out of prison but can’t live a free life.”
Fictional biography
During World War II, American Jerry Steele freed the inmates of a German prisoner-of-war camp, but was himself captured and apparently executed; however, a peasant was able to revive him with an herbal remedy and smuggle him to a safe haven. There, a man named Father Duroc asked Steele to take an oath called the V-Pledge, after which Steele was suddenly possessed of greater physical and mental fitness and courage, and garbed in a patriotic costume. As V-Man, he fought enemy soldiers in Europe and EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. His principal gimmick was a miniature radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
in his ring
Ring (jewellery)
A finger ring is a circular band worn as a type of ornamental jewelry around a finger; it is the most common current meaning of the word ring. Other types of metal bands worn as ornaments are also called rings, such as arm rings and neck rings....
. He was aided by a group of teenagers called The V-Boys, who each wore a sweater
Sweater
A sweater, jumper, pullover, sweatshirt, jersey or guernsey is a garment intended to cover the torso and arms. It is often worn over a shirt, blouse, T-shirt, or other top, but may also be worn alone as a top...
with a large V on the front. The V-Boys were aware of V-Man's secret identity and communicated with him using the aforementioned ring.
Project Superpowers
After the war, V-Man was one of many heroes who were trapped and imprisoned in the Urn of Pandora by the misguided Fighting YankFighting Yank
-Publication history:The initial comic-book character called Fighting Yank first appeared in Nedor Comics' Startling Comics #10 , during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books. He was created by writer Richard E. Hughes and artist Jon L. Blummer...
. Decades later, the Urn was broken and the heroes were freed, some having new superpowers as a result of their imprisonment; V-Man, however, was now a “walking, talking plague,” causing anyone who comes close to him to become fatally ill. His fellow heroes have to keep him in quarantine, and he’s unable to be close to Masquerade
Miss Masque
Miss Masque is a fictional masked crime-fighter. She originally appeared in comic books published by Nedor Comics, and was later revived by AC Comics, America's Best Comics, and Dynamite Entertainment.-Nedor Comics:...
, whom he’s attracted to. What’s become of the V-Boys is not yet known.