| The Green Mask | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Michael Shelby |
|
First Appearance |
The Green Mask vol. 1 #1 (Summer 1940) |
|
Original Publisher |
Fox Features |
|
Created by |
Walter Frehm |
Origin[]
Michael Shelby was an independently wealthy private eye who became the first Green Mask to fight injustice. He was non-powered, using only his wits and firearms, until he was mortally wounded while trying to protect his father, an influential senator. Senator Shelby sponsored the passage of the bill that would make death sentences mandatory for all gang members, which was why a criminal organization known as the Grim Circle had him assassinated. To save Michael's life, Professor Lascomb, a friend of the senator, exposed him to vita-rays. Because the machine was overloaded, Michael not only recovered but, also gained super-powers!
A short time later, the Grim Circle assassinated a foreign envoy as part of their plan to provoke the United States into entering World War II. When the Green Mask set out to investigate, the leader of the Grim Circle decided that the masked crime-fighter was too dangerous and decided to assassinate him as well. The criminals hit Green Mask with a bomb, but while the hero survived, Don, a young orphan, was caught in the blast. Thanks to Green Mask's timely intervention, Professor Lascomb was able to use the vita-rays to heal the boy. The grateful Don decided to become Green Mask's sidekick, Domino.
Powers and Abilities[]
After being exposed to the "vita-ray machine," The Green Mask acquired super-strength, super-speed, flight, and limited invulnerability.
Public Domain Appearances[]
- The Green Mask vol. 1-9
- Mystery Men Comics #13-31
Notes[]
- When Fox Feature Syndicate returned to publishing after a two year hiatus, the title was given a new star: Johnny Green. According to his backstory, he was the son of Walter Green, the previous Green Mask. Aside from the name and costume, neither of those characters were related to Michael Shelby and his alter-ego.