Number 1968: Pyroman lights up the Black Boas

The name Pyroman is close enough to pyromaniac that one might assume Pyroman is a villain who commits arson. But Pyroman, a good guy who fights America’s enemies, is yet another comic book survivor of something that would kill the rest of us. In the origin story wrongly convicted Dick Martin survived being electrocuted in the electric chair. He then became a costumed, super-charged superhero.

Pyroman’s superpower is something I would like to have: being able to zap people with electricity. He is a kind of walking stun gun. Very cool. I wouldn’t use the power indiscriminately, of course (“with great power comes great responsibility” and all that rot), but if you are talking too loud on your cell phone or weaving in and out of traffic, or an annoying politician (in other words, being a jerk), then fear the stunning blasts from the fists of Pyropappy!

In this story, from Nedor’s Startling Comics #20 (1943), Pyroman goes up against saboteurs who look a lot like hooded Ku Klux Klan members, and conveniently identify themselves as Nazis with a big swastika on the front of their robes. Oddly, they call themselves the Black Boas. Those tricky Nazis...just full of surprises.

Grand Comics Database says Ken Battefield did the pencil artwork.

Here is another Pyroman story. Just click on the thumbnail: