Retro Golden Age Comic Book Characters

[Pariah]

There was a limited series a few years ago called The Twelve. It involved a dozen characters that the forerunner to Marvel had created way back in the day and used maybe once. In-story, these twelve heroes had all traveled to Europe to help defeat the Axis. They had been captured and placed in suspended animation for decades. They were discovered and revived in the 21st century and had to come to terms with the new reality of the modern world.

 

I thought the series did a great job of highlighting the differences in philosophy, attitudes, and power levels between the Golden Age and whatever we're calling the age we're in now. It's worth a look if you can find it. I found a copy at the local library.

[Ranxerox]

One peculiarity of GA heroes is that most will fall unconscious if you hit them over the back of head even if they are otherwise invulnerable to physical attacks.

[wcw43921]

Not unlike James Bond.  More than a few of his movies had a scene where he was clobbered from behind by surprise.

 

I remember a Captain America story where he and Bucky took on an early version of the Ringmaster and his Circus Of Crime--only this being in the early 40s, they were all Nazis.  There's a fight scene where Captain America is winning, and then the circus strongman knocks him out from behind.

 

"Vhen I hit dem, they stay hit!  Und Captain America is no exception!"

 

You woulda thought Cap would wear a helmet from that point on, but guess not.  .  .

[Hugh Neilson]

Unlike games, in fiction, the characters' abilities have a tendency to grow or shrink as necessitated by the writer's plot.