Little Wise Guys
The Little Wise Guys is a group of fictional characters, created by Charles Biro, who first appeared in comic books from Lev Gleason Publications in the 1940s and Image Comics in the 2010s.
Publication history
The four original Little Wise Guys first appeared in Daredevil Comics #13 (Oct. 1942) and became the sidekicks of the title character.[1] The original lineup included Scarecrow, Pee Wee, Jock and Meatball. Two issues later, one of them—Meatball—was killed off, and in issue #16 Curly was added.[2]
As superheroes declined in popularity, Daredevil's role was gradually reduced to introducing the Wise Guys at the beginning of their stories.[3] Starting with issue #70 (January 1951), he disappeared completely; the book was still called Daredevil Comics, but only the Little Wise Guys remained.[4] The titular star briefly reappeared in issues #79 and 80, but that was the end of him.
Daredevil Comics ended with issue #134 (Sept. 1956), and the Little Wise Guys vanished along with it.
In 2009, however, the Little Wise Guys and Daredevil became supporting characters in the Image Comics series Savage Dragon, beginning with issue #148. These five characters, along with dozens of other Golden Age characters, had been brought back to life in an earlier issue of Savage Dragon (#141), although the Little Wise Guys didn't appear until this later issue.
Also that year, Curly was brought back in the Dynamite Entertainment miniseries The Death-Defying 'Devil as The Dragon.
Fictional biography
Lev Gleason Publications
In the early 1940s, a group of young orphans and runaways called the Little Wise Guys encountered the superhero Daredevil while he was fighting a German-American cult. The four boys—Meatball, Jock, Scarecrow, and Peewee—soon became Daredevil's sidekicks. Later, Meatball was killed in action, and his place in the gang was soon taken over by a bald kid called Curly. When the four kids weren't helping Daredevil to battle crime, they were having rambunctious adventures of their own.[5]
Image Comics
It was revealed that the Little Wise Guys, along with their mentor Daredevil, were captured by Solar Man and put in suspended animation. Their life force, along with those of dozens of other superpowered characters from the Golden Age of comics were used to augment Solar Man's in his fight against crime. Years later, ShadowHawk released the captured heroes from captivity and restored them to life. Now in the present, they have relocated to Chicago, Illinois, and frequently accompany Daredevil, Angel and Malcolm Dragon on adventures. When Savage Dragon faced Dart, she was knocked unconscious and the unaware Wise Guys, along with Daredevil took her into their care. Dart brutally murdered Jock who was watching when the others were away. Later she murdered the last three.[6]
Dynamite Entertainment
Decades later, an elderly Curly saw a television broadcast announcing that the superheroes who had mysteriously vanished years ago had now returned, and that 'Devil was among them. Curly knew the original Daredevil had died in 1987, and on his deathbed had given Curly one of his boomerangs. Determined to expose the fraud, Curly obtained a drug on the black market that returned him to peak physical condition, and donned a green and purple version of 'Devil's costume; calling himself The Dragon, he then sought out 'Devil and exposed the fraud.
References
- ^ Markstein, Don. "The Little Wise Guys". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ Benton, Mike (1992). Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company. p. 94. ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ Mougin, Lou (2020). Secondary Superheroes of Golden Age Comics. McFarland & Co. p. 208. ISBN 9781476638607.
- ^ Schelly, William (2013). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 9781605490540.
- ^ Mitchell, Kurt; Thomas, Roy (2019). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 243. ISBN 978-1605490892.
- ^ Savage Dragon #188, 2013
External links
- Little Wise Guys at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on March 11, 2015.
- v
- t
- e
- Captain Courageous
- Doctor Nemesis
- The Flag
- Lash Lightning
- The Raven
- Unknown Soldier
- Vulcan
Publications
- The Atom
- Al Pratt
- Black Canary
- Dinah Drake
- Doctor Mid-Nite
- Charles McNider
- Doiby Dickles
- The Flash
- Jay Garrick
- The Gay Ghost
- Green Lantern
- Alan Scott
- Hawkgirl
- Hawkman
- Carter Hall
- Hop Harrigan
- Johnny Thunder
- Justice Society of America
- The King
- Mister Terrific
- Terry Sloane
- Neptune Perkins
- Red Tornado
- Sargon the Sorcerer
- The Terrific Whatzit
- Thunderbolt
- Ultra-Man
- The Whip
- Wildcat
- Ted Grant
- Wonder Woman
- Airman
- Amazing-Man
- The Arrow
- The Clock
- The Eye
- Fantom of the Fair
- Magician from Mars
- The Masked Marvel
- Minimidget
- Atomic Mouse
- Captain Atom
- Nightshade
- Mr. Muscles
- Nature Boy
- Space Adventures
- Yellowjacket
- Bulletgirl
- Bulletman
- Captain Marvel
- Captain Marvel Jr.
- Captain Midnight
- Dan Dare
- Hoppy the Marvel Bunny
- Ibis the Invincible
- Lieutenant Marvels
- Marvel Family
- Mary Marvel
- Master Man
- Minute-Man
- Mr. Scarlet
- Nyoka the Jungle Girl
- Phantom Eagle
- Pinky the Whiz Kid
- Scoop Smith
- Spy Smasher
- Squadron of Justice
- Uncle Marvel
- Black Fury
- Blue Beetle
- Dan Garret
- The Bouncer
- Bronze Man
- Dynamo
- The Flame
- Green Mask
- The Moth
- Samson
- Stardust the Super Wizard
- U.S. Jones
- Wonder Man
- Black Cat
- Captain 3-D
- Captain Freedom
- Green Hornet
- Invisible Scarlet O'Neil
- Kato
- Shock Gibson
- Spirit of '76
Publications
- Captain Battle
- Claw
- Crimebuster
- Daredevil
- Little Wise Guys
- Silver Streak
- The Black Hood
- Bob Phantom
- Captain Flag
- The Comet
- The Firefly
- The Fox
- The Hangman
- Rang-a-Tang the Wonder Dog
- The Shield
- Super Duck
- The Web
- The Wizard
Publications
- Ace the Bat-Hound
- Air Wave
- Aquaman
- Batman
- Batwoman
- Black Pirate
- Boy Commandos
- Captain Comet
- Chris KL-99
- Congo Bill
- Crimson Avenger
- Lee Travis
- Dan the Dyna-Mite
- Dark Ranger
- Detective Chimp
- Doctor Fate
- Kent Nelson
- Doctor Occult
- Genius Jones
- Gimmick Girl
- Green Arrow
- Guardian
- Hourman
- Rex Tyler
- Johnny Chambers
- King Faraday
- The Knight
- Krypto
- Liberty Belle
- Manhunter
- Paul Kirk
- Martian Manhunter
- Miss X
- Mr. America
- Newsboy Legion
- Phantom Stranger
- Rex the Wonder Dog
- Robin
- Dick Grayson
- Robotman
- Rose Psychic
- Sandman
- Wesley Dodds
- Sandy the Golden Boy
- Seven Soldiers of Victory
- Shining Knight
- Sir Justin
- Slam Bradley
- The Spectre
- Speedy
- Roy Harper
- Squire
- Star-Spangled Kid
- Starman
- Ted Knight
- Stripesy
- Stuff the Chinatown Kid
- Superboy
- Kal-El
- Superman
- Superwoman
- Tarantula
- TNT
- Tommy Tomorrow
- Vigilante
- Wonder Woman
- Zatara
- American Crusader
- American Eagle
- Black Terror
- Captain Future
- Doc Strange
- Fighting Yank
- The Ghost
- Grim Reaper
- Judy of the Jungle
- Kara the Jungle Princess
- Lance Lewis, Space Detective
- Liberator
- The Magnet
- Miss Masque
- Princess Pantha
- Pyroman
- The Scarab
- The Woman in Red
- Blue Bolt
- Dick Cole
- The Target
- The Targeteers
- The Twister
Publications
- #711
- The Black Condor
- Blackhawk
- Blue Tracer
- Bozo the Iron Man
- Captain Triumph
- Doll Girl
- Doll Man
- Firebrand
- The Human Bomb
- Invisible Hood
- The Jester
- Kid Eternity
- Lady Luck
- Madame Fatal
- Magno
- Manhunter
- Merlin the Magician
- Midnight
- Miss America
- Miss Fear
- Mouthpiece
- Neon the Unknown
- Phantom Lady
- Plastic Man
- Quicksilver
- The Ray
- Red Bee
- Red Torpedo
- The Spider
- Spider Widow
- Uncle Sam
- Wildfire
- Wonder Boy
- Woozy Winks
- All-Winners Squad
- American Ace
- The Angel
- Black Marvel
- Black Widow
- Claire Voyant
- Blazing Skull
- Blonde Phantom
- Blue Blade
- Blue Diamond
- Breeze Barton
- Bucky
- Captain America
- Captain Wonder
- The Challenger
- Citizen V
- The Destroyer
- Dynamic Man
- Father Time
- The Ferret
- Fiery Mask
- The Fin
- Golden Girl
- The Human Torch
- Jack Frost
- Laughing Mask
- Marvel Boy
- Mercury
- Miss America
- Miss Fury
- Mister E
- Namor
- Namora
- The Patriot
- Phantom Reporter
- Red Raven
- Rockman
- Silver Scorpion
- Sun Girl
- Super Rabbit
- Thin Man
- Thunderer
- Tim Mulrooney
- Toro
- Venus
- The Vision
- The Whizzer
- Robert Frank
- The Witness
- Young Allies
- American Comics Group
- Anglo-American Publishing
- Commander Steel
- Atlas Publications
- Captain Atom
- Bell Features
- The Brain
- Johnny Canuck
- Nelvana of the Northern Lights
- Cardal Publishing
- Streamline
- Columbia Comics
- The Face
- Skyman
- David McKay Publications
- Mandrake the Magician
- The Phantom
- DC Thomson
- The Amazing Mr X
- Jack Flash
- Dynamic Publications
- Dynamic Man
- Yankee Girl
- Eastern Color Printing
- EC Comics
- Moon Girl
- Superduperman
- Elliot Publishing Company
- Fiction House
- Hillman Periodicals
- Airboy
- The Heap
- Holyoke Publishing
- L. Miller & Son, Ltd.
- Magazine Enterprises
- Funnyman
- Maple Leaf Publishing
- Brok Windsor
- Iron Man
- Rural Home Publications
- Green Turtle
- Street & Smith
- The Avenger
- Doc Savage
- The Shadow
- Supersnipe