Public Domain Super Heroes
Public Domain Super Heroes
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Funnyman
Funnyman 01

Real Name

Larry Davis

First Appearance

Funnyman #1 (1948)

Original Publisher

Magazine Enterprises

Created by

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

Origin[]

TV Comedian Larry Davis was convinced by his girlfriend and manager, June Farrell, to do a superhero-like publicity stunt where Larry would defeat Happy, an actor playing a criminal, as a crime fighting clown. However, Larry ends up defeating a real criminal by mistake.  He decides he likes being a hero, and becomes Funnyman, the Comic Crimebuster, protector of Empire City -- much to the chagrin of June and Happy, who are the sole people who know his secret.

Using his practical joke themed gadgets, Funnyman battled villains such as Lazar, Cheval, Slippery Sam, Doc Gimmick and his assistant Torgo, "Ants" Plants, Flathead Floogie, and Monsieur Cheval. Others included the robotic Kute Knockout, Timidio the Timid Menace, Giggles Cain, Leapin' Lena, and Hee-Haw Johnson. In his final issue, he fought Schemer Beamer and his gang: Bug-Eyes, Crusher, Rockjaw, and the Curve.

Funnyman also had two superhero imitators, Comicman and Laffman, who wanted to drive their rival out of the funny superhero business. While they were not villains, they were not allies of Funnyman. Funnyman also had an adversary on the police force named Sgt. Harrigan, who disliked the crimefighter and was tired of him constantly stealing his thunder.

Funnyman employed several vehicles in his crime fighting endeavors, including a scooter that had his face on it. His car, Jet-Jallopy, used photo-electric cells to give it intelligence and was equipped with oil slick, water hoses, bullet-proof glass, voice activation, flight, and a mechanical scoop.

Public Domain Appearances[]

  • Funnyman #1-6
  • Limited run in a newspaper comic strip of its own after the comic series ended.

Notes[]

  • Jerry Siegel and Joel Shuster were also the creators of Superman. After a dispute over rights to Superman, the two left DC Comics (then National Periodicals) and debuted Funnyman at Magazine Enterprises (with little success).
  • DC Comics featured a cameo of the character in Super Friends #5 (as Larry Davis only, not in costume).

See Also[]

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