Grim Reaper

Golden Age Origin
Bill Norris was studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, France when the Nazis occupied the City. Intervening in a Nazi harassment of a citizen, Norris was arrested and sent to a concentration camp. He helped an old man, who eventually confided to Norris that he was the leader of the French Underground and knew the location of an important French General, who had to be safely brought to Africa to continue the battle. Fashioning an all black Grim Reaper outfit, Norris, with help from the French citizenry, rescued the General.

Bill Norris took it upon himself to fight crime, donning a purple mask and cape and calling himself the Grim Reaper. With no superpowers, he relies on his hand-to-hand combat skills, a rope with a hangman's noose, his handgun, and his trusty sword to thwart criminals.

He was, at one point, number one on the Gestapo's wanted list.

Norris was described as "American student stranded in occupied Europe."

The Grim Reaper was often shown working behind enemy lines in the German underground. While getting a machine that broadcasts electrical sparks that short circuit any motor within range, including planes, out of Germany, the Reaper made his way to England.

In one adventure, the Reaper brings a special Nazi zeppelin to England and wants nothing more than to go back to the continent. "The only reward I want is a chance to fight the Nazi beasts again and again ... to spread terror among the foulest terrorists the world has ever known! Tremble, you Nazis! The Grim Reaper is coming back!"

Golden Age Appearances

 * The Fighting Yank #7 ( issues renewed from November 1942 (v. 1 no. 2))
 * Wonder Comics #1-17 (no 1st renewal listing in ref.)
 * America's Biggest Comics Book #1 (no 1st renewal listing in ref.)

Ref. http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/cce/firstperiod.html