| Shock Gibson | |
|---|---|
 Shock Gibson withBlack Cat andCaptain Freedom,Speed Comics #35, November 1944, artwork byAlex Schomburg. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Brookwood Publications |
| First appearance | Speed Comics #1 (Oct. 1939) |
| Created by | Maurice Scott (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Robert Charles Gibson |
| Species | Human |
| Partnerships | Black Cat,Captain Freedom, Tedd Parish, and the Girl Commandos |
| Abilities |
|
Shock Gibson is acomic booksuperhero who first appeared inSpeed Comics #1 (Oct. 1939), from Brookwood Publications (a company later absorbed byHarvey Comics).[1] He was created by artist Maurice Scott, who drew it through issue #11, and an unknown writer. His 1939 introduction makes him one of comic books' earliest superheroes. He also appeared inAll-New Comics #8.[2]
In the debut story, "The Human Dynamo", scientist Robert Charles Gibson perfects a chemical formula that allows people to directly store, generate, and controlelectricity, and tests this formula on himself.[3] The formula increases his strength, gives him the power to fire bolts of lightning, and grants him the power of flight.[4]
According toJess Nevins' Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes, "Shock Gibson fights Baron von Kampf, mad scientist and zombie-maker; the Hobo Saboteurs; the Slave Traders of the Secret Kingdom; the Russian mad scientist Baron Ratski, who briefly teams up with Baron von Kampf; invading aliens from Mercury; and carnivorous dinosaurs".[5]
In 1941, he transitioned from Brookwood to his new home at Harvey Comics, moving to Harvey'sChamp Comics title and getting a new costume.[6]
He is one of the several superhero characters to join theU.S. Army in the wake ofWorld War II, fighting theJapanese military forces both in and out of costume. Shock Gibson teams up with other Harvey Comics characters such as theBlack Cat,Captain Freedom, Tedd Parish, and the Girl Commandos (mostly in two-page text stories).[7] The character remained in print in various Harvey publications through 1948.
Other artists associated with the character includesAl Avison, Arthur Cazeneuve, and the possiblypseudonymous Peter Jay, who introduced a new costume inSpeed Comics #12 (March 1941).
Shock Gibson is among thepublic domain charactersImage Comics revived inanthology titleThe Next Issue Project in 2007.[8]
