Raven (Ace Comics)

The Raven is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in the Ace Comics title Sure-Fire Comics. He is based on the pulp hero "The Moon Man" published by Periodic House, the pulp publisher connected to Ace Comics.

Publication history

The Raven first appeared in Sure-Fire Comics #1^[1] (June, 1940), as did Lash Lightning.

In 2008, The Raven (now renamed Mr. Raven to avoid a trademark conflict with DC Comics) appeared in flashback in Project Superpowers #0;^[2] in the one-shot Project Superpowers: Chapter Two Prelude, it’s stated that Mr. Raven will appear in this line as a member of a team called The Super-Mysterymen (presumably named after the Ace title Super-Mystery Comics).

Fictional Biography

Ace

In 1940, New York City Detective Sergeant Danny Dartin, tired of seeing criminals manipulate the law to escape justice, became a masked vigilante called The Raven and acted as a modern “Robin Hood,” stealing money from criminals and redistributing it to the poor. He was aided in this by Lola Lash, the police chief’s daughter.^[1][2]

Project Superpowers

At some point after World War II, Mr. Raven was imprisoned in the mystical Urn of Pandora, along with many other crime-fighters, by the misguided Fighting Yank; decades later, the Urn was broken and the heroes freed. Mr. Raven, along with seven other heroes (including Captain Courageous, Lash Lightning and Lightning Girl, Soldier Unknown), and the Sword, was then recruited to form a team called The Super-Mysterymen, whose purpose is not yet known.

References

1. 1 2 The Golden Age Heroes Directory: R
2. 1 2 The Raven at the Comic Book DB