Hugo Hercules: The Gentle Giant
Hugo Hercules, a creation of Wilhelm Heinrich Detlev Körner, is considered the earliest superhero fiction comic. Debuting in the Chicago Tribune in 1902, Hugo was a good-natured man endowed with superhuman strength. He wandered around town, helping people with their problems and shocking them with his surprising displays of power. From lifting an elephant to pulling a locomotive engine at train speeds, Hugo’s feats were nothing short of extraordinary. Despite his short run, Hugo Hercules left an indelible mark on the world of comics.
The Scarlet Pimpernel: The Master of Disguise
The Scarlet Pimpernel, created by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, is often cited as perhaps the earliest superhero akin to those popularized through American comic books. Debuting in 1903, the character is a chivalrous Englishman who rescues aristocrats before they are sent to the guillotine. Sir Percy Blakeney, the man behind the Scarlet Pimpernel, leads a double life. To the public, he is a wealthy fop, but in reality, he is a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking master of disguise and escape artist.
John Carter of Mars: The Intergalactic Warrior
John Carter, the protagonist of the Barsoom stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs, is a veteran of the American Civil War who is transported to the planet Mars, called Barsoom by its inhabitants. Created in 1911, John Carter becomes a warrior on Mars, battling various mythological beasts, alien armies, and malevolent foes. His adventures span across novels, short stories, comic books, television shows, and films, making him a timeless character in the realm of science fiction and fantasy.
These three characters, each unique in their own right, laid the foundation for the superheroes we know and love today. Their stories continue to inspire and entertain, proving that even the oldest superheroes never truly age.
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