Fighting Yank

The Fighting Yank is the name of several fictional comic book superheroes.Superherobox


caption="Startling Comics" #10 (Sept. 1941)
Art by Elmer Wexler
comic_color= background: #8080ff
character_name=Fighting Yank (Nedor Comics)
real_name=Bruce Carter III
publisher=Nedor Comics
debut="Startling Comics" #10 (Sept. 1941)
creators=Richard E. Hughes
Jon L. Blummer
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
alliances=SMASH
aliases=
powers=Superhuman strength, invulnerability, flight (with the aid of a magical cloak)|

Nedor Comics

Publication history

The initial comic-book character called Fighting Yank first appeared in Nedor Comics' "Startling Comics #10" (Sept. 1941), during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books. He was created by writer Richard E. Hughes and artist Jon L. Blummer. Later artwork was produced by Jack Binder's studio.

Fighting Yank was created during World War II as a patriotic hero similar to The Shield and Captain America. He was one of Nedor Comics more successful characters, eventually replacing Captain Future in "Startling Comics". In September 1942, Fighting Yank received his own title. Fighting Yank also appeared in "America's Best Comics" until that series was canceled in 1949.

Fictional character biography

Bruce Carter III obtained his superhuman powers when the ghost of his ancestor Bruce Carter I, a hero from the American War of Independence, appeared to him and showed him the location of a magical cloak that could give the wearer invulnerability and super strength. Only Carter III's girlfriend, Joan Farwell, knows of his dual identity.

Along with this magical cloak, Fighting Yank's outfit also included a tri-corner hat, square buckles, an American flag on his chest, a white shirt, and blue pants.

Timely Comics

Superherobox


caption="Fighting Yank" #1 (2001)
Art by Eric Coile (pencils) and Bill Black (inks).
comic_color= background: #8080ff
character_name=Fighting Yank (AC Comics)
real_name=
publisher=AC Comics
debut="Fighting Yank" #1 (2001)
creators=Eric Coile
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
alliances=
aliases=
powers=|The 1940s precursor of Marvel Comics had a character also named Fighting Yank who made a single appearance in "Captain America Comics" #17 (Aug. 1942), in the story "The China Road" by writer-artist Jimmy Thompson. This Fighting Yank was American espionage agent Bill Prince, who fought Japanese agents in China under the code name Fighting Yank. Apart from a mention in the modern day U.S. Agent mini-series, he has not been seen since. [ [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/f/fightingyanktimely.htm International Hero: "Timely's Fighting Yank"] Last accessed 2/15/2007.]

AC Comics

AC Comics reprinted some of the Nedor Comics' Fighting Yank adventures, beginning in 1994. The company then briefly revived the character, who made some appearances in the series "Femforce" before being killed in "Femforce" #35.

In 2001, the company launched a new series. Set in 1950s America, it found Fighting Yank and sidekick Kid Quick defending the U.S. from Cold War Communist enemies. The stories were written and drawn by Eric Coile in style the creator said was an homage to Captain America and Fighting American co-creator Jack Kirby. [ [http://superheroesetc.blogspot.com/2005/04/fighting-yank-1.html Superheroes ETC.: Review of "Fighting Yank" #1] Last accessed 2/15/2007.] Fighting Yank's costume was changed to resemble Fighting American.

America's Best Comics/DC

Bruce Carter III

Writer Alan Moore revived the original Nedor Comics Fighting Yank, Bruce Carter III, along with other Nedor characters that had entered the public domain, for his series "Tom Strong", on the DC Comics' imprint America's Best Comics. In "Tom Strong" #12 (June 2001), he revealed the Fighting Yank as a a member of SMASH, a superhero group that had been placed in suspended animation after an alien invasion from the Moon in 1969. Awakened 30 years later, Fighting Yank joined his former comrades against those extraterrestrials. In the fight against the aliens, he was killed while trying to project his daughter, Carol.

Superherobox


caption=Fighting Yank II (center) on the cover of "ABC: A-Z, Terra Obscura and Splash Brannigan"
Art by Rachel Dodson and Terry Dodson.
comic_color= background: #8080ff
character_name=Fighting Yank (Carol Carter)
real_name=Carol Carter
publisher=America's Best Comics (DC)
debut="Tom Strong" #11 (Jan. 2001)
creators=Alan Moore (writer)
Chris Sprouse (artist)
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
alliances=SMASH
aliases=
powers=Superhuman strength, invulnerability, flight (with the aid of a magical cloak)|

Carol Carter

"Tom Strong" #11 (Jan. 2001), revealed that when Carol Carter had reached adulthood, she'd gained the same powers as her father, and joined him in his fight against evil. In 1969, the two were placed in suspended animation alongside other members of the superhero team SMASH, and were awakened 30 years later. Carol lost her powers when her father was killed trying to save her life. With the disbanding of SMASH, she left her superhero career behind and became a teacher.

Moore's "Terra Obscura" spin-off series revealed that Carter III's spirit remained on Earth but was unable to be seen or heard. Eventually, SMASH returns to action when the planet is threatened by hero-turned-villain Mystico. Acting on a suggestion from the Green Ghost, Carol tries on her late father's tri-corn hat. This allows her to see the ghost of her father, who gives her his mystical cloak, bestowing his former powers upon her once more. Bruce Carter III now aids Carol just as Bruce Carter I had done for him. Uncomfortable with the name Fighting Yank, since it was her father's identity, Carol finally decided on the hero name of "Fighting Spirit". She also entered into a romantic relationship with fellow superhero Ms. Masque.

Dynamite Entertainment

The publisher Dynamite Entertainment said in 2007 that Fighting Yank would be the protagonist among several public domain Golden Age characters appearing in the comic-book series "Project Superpowers", by writer Jim Krueger and artist Alex Ross [ [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=121397 Newsarama.com (July 18, 2007): "Ross and Krueger on "Superpowers", by Matt Brady] ]

In other media

Mego Toy Company brought out an action figure named Fighting Yank in the early 1970s. The toy line was dropped in 1999 after Mego was sued by Hasbro, who claimed the Mego figure was a copy of their G.I. Joe action figure. [ [http://www.megomuseum.com/catalog/1973/yank.shtml Mego Museum] . Last accessed 2/15/2007.]

Footnotes

References

* [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/f/fightyan.htm Fighting Yank I entry at International Hero]
* [http://www.toonopedia.com/f_yank.htm Fighting Yank entry at Toonopedia]
* [http://www.geocities.com/herowatcher/FightingYank1.html Fighting Yank I at SMASH fansite]
* [http://www.geocities.com/herowatcher/FightingYank2.html Fighting Yank II at SMASH fansite]