| Red Bee | |
|---|---|
 The Jenna Raleigh incarnation of Red Bee as depicted inUncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #5 (January 2007). Art byDaniel Acuña. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | (Rick) Hit Comics #1 (July 1940) (Jenna) Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #5 (January 2007) |
| Created by | Toni Blum Charles Nicholas |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Richard Raleigh Jenna Raleigh |
| Species | (Richard Raleigh) Human (Jenna Raleigh) Bee/human hybrid |
| Team affiliations | (Rick) All-Star Squadron (Both) Freedom Fighters |
| Abilities | (Rick) Carries a special "Stinger Gun" Use of trained bees (Jenna) Currently: Human/insect biology that grants: Enhanced physical attributes Pheromone production Ability to "mark" people for later tracking Formerly: Use of two large robotic bees which fire electricity blasts Wears a mechanized battle suit that grants: Enhanced strength Flight |
Red Bee is the name of twosuperheroes appearing inAmerican comic books.
The first Red Bee debuted inHit Comics #1, published in July 1940 byQuality Comics. The character was obtained byDC Comics in 1956 and has since fallen intopublic domain.
The second, written as the grandniece or granddaughter of the original, first appeared inUncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #5.
The Red Bee'ssecret identity is Rick Raleigh, assistantdistrict attorney in Superior City,Oregon.[1] His superheromodus operandi is to put on a red and yellowcostume and, with his trainedbees and "stingergun", fightNazis and gangsters. His favorite bee is named Michael and lives inside his belt buckle for use in special circumstances.[2] He has a series of adventures which lasts until issue #24 (Oct 1942).[3]
According toJess Nevins' Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes, "he fights enemies like the evil spiritualist Dr. Marah, the Swordsmen (who use electrified swords), andYellow Peril hatchet men".[4]
Red Bee proved to be unpopular and was largely forgotten before reappearing in DC Comics'All-Star Squadron.[5] In the 'Squadron', it is learned he was killed by the NazisupervillainBaron Blitzkrieg while saving the lives of Hourman and other allies. The groupFreedom Fighters was formed out of the Squadron and the Red Bee was made an honorary member.[6]
Red Bee appears as aghost in the pages ofStarman, attending a dinner party alongside many other deceased heroes.[7]
Other post-Crisis appearances include a cameo inAnimal Man in which the character resides in a canceled characters' "limbo", and inBizarro World, where he and his agent attempt to improve his marketability.[8]
During the "Dark Nights: Death Metal" storyline,Batman revives Red Bee using aBlack Lantern ring.[9]
"The New Golden Age" revealed that Red Bee had a sidekick namedLadybug before she was erased from existence followingDoctor Manhattan's alterations to the universe and rescued by theTime Masters.[10] However, she is eventually rescued byStargirl andHourman and transported to the present day.[11]
Rick's grandniece, Jenna, takes up the mantle of the Red Bee. She uses a mechanized battle suit and two robotic bees that can fire electricity.[12] She assists the group in fightingS.H.A.D.E., an evil governmental organization. She soon learns that the leader of the Freedom Fighters Uncle Sam has assisted with the development of her technology. She decides to stay and fight with the group. Moments after this, she sees the death of theInvisible Hood, another ally, killed by a S.H.A.D.E.-influenced Ray.
Over the course ofUncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters vol. 2 (2007), Jenna is mutated by an alien insect colony into a human/bee hybrid, with enhanced physical abilities, pheromone production capabilities, and antennae on her head.
However, her mind is later completely circumvented by the mutation. After trying to colonize the entire Earth, she is cured of her affliction whenLanford Terrill uses his newNeon powers to destroy the insect influence. By the series' end, Jenna feels guilt over her actions, and she eschews the superhero life to continue her work in theresearch field.
Richard Raleigh had no superpowers but carried a special "Stinger Gun" and he specialized in the use of trained bees.[13]
Jenna Raleigh possesses a human/insect biology which grants her enhanced physical attributes (i.e. superhuman strength), pheromone production, and the ability to "mark" people for later tracking.
Jenna formerly wore a mechanized battle suit which granted her enhanced strength, flight, and used two large robotic bees that could fire electricity blasts.
InAmerican Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944, comics historian Kurt Mitchell calls the Golden Age strip "inane", and describes it in a dismissive way: "... a masked mystery-man aided by the trained bees he stored in his belt buckle. No, that's not a typo. Bees.Trained bees. In his belt buckle".[13]