Master Man

Real Name:

Identity/Class: Chemically mutated human

Occupation: Guardian of the world

Affiliations:

Enemies:

Known Relatives:

Aliases:

Base of Operations:

First Appearance: Master Comics #1 (Fawcett, March 1940)

Powers/Abilities: Superspeed, able to outrun cars. Superhuman strength. Invulnerability.

History: "Master Man! Stronger than untamed horses! Swifter than raging winds! Braver than mighty lions! Wiser than wisdom, kind as Galahad is Master Man, the wonder of the world! But as a boy, young Master Man was weak until a wise old doctor gave the youth a magic capsule, full of vitamins, containing every source of energy known to man - the Vitacap! The boy becomes the strongest man on earth! Upon the highest mountain peak he built a solid capsule made of solid rock! From there he sees all evil in the world and races to destroy it instantly!"

Comments: Master Man was drawn by Harry Fiske.

Thanks to Mike Murphy for providing some of the images of Master Man used on this page. Mike also notes that a character who appeared in Stormwatch, The High, appears to be a pastiche of this character. "Appearing in Stormwatch #48-50, the High was one of a secret cabal of superhumans (all pastiches or archetypes to some degree) intent on saving the world from itself. As often happens in a title written by Warren Ellis, all died messily at the hands of the book's protagonist.

Another point of comparison: Master Man built an abode on a high mountain peak -- "From there he sees all evil in the world and races to destroy it instantly!" The High, correspondingly carves a throne out of rock and sits viewing world events for decades and remains inactive for fifty until spurred to action - Warren Ellis certainly played up the mythic aspects (i.e., "the Odin Seat" ).

As with so many of the character pastiches employed by Ellis, he died rather ignominiously -- splattering himself against a forcefield surrounding the Stormwatch satellite."

Masterman appeared in the first six issues of Master Comics, debuting a month after Captain Marvel. He was dropped from the title when National Comics pursued a lawsuit against Fawcett, claiming his character was too similar to Superman.

CLARIFICATIONS:

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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