TheSpirit of '76 is asuperhero published byHarvey Comics, who debuted inPocket Comics in 1941, and became a long-running feature inGreen Hornet Comics.
Patrioticsuperhero Gary Blakely, the Spirit of '76, was created by writerJoe Simon and artistBob Powell.[1] The personification ofAmerican folklore'sSpirit of '76, the character appeared in Harvey'sPocket Comics from #1 to 4 (August 1941 - January 1942).[2] In his first appearance, the character, a student atWest Point, fought Nazi fifth columnists on the campus.Pocket Comics #1 also introduced fellow cadet Tubby Reynolds, who figures out Gary's secret and serves as his sidekick. Tubby's sister, Susan, a WAC lieutenant, serves as a love interest.[3] By issue #2, the character was fightingSatan himself, along with a recurring foe,femme fatale Satana.
AfterPocket Comics folded, the Spirit of '76 moved to a backup feature inGreen Hornet Comics. Issue #7 (June 1942) was a reworking of the character's origin story, partially a paste-up fromPocket #1.[3] LaterGreen Hornet backup stories were produced by Harry Fisk, Arturo Cazenueve andErnie Schroeder.[1] The character last appeared inGreen Hornet #37 (Dec 1947-Jan 1948).[3]
Gary Blakely is the latest in a long line of patriotic Americans, one of his ancestors having served with General Washington. Educated abroad, he excels in his studies as well as various sports like boxing, fencing, rowing and rugby. Convinced thatAdolf Hitler wants to take over the world, he tries to become an Air Cadet, but his application is blocked by his family, who want him to instead be in the regular army and enroll inWest Point, which he does. Coming across a group of fifth columnists, he puts on his great, great grandfather's uniform and a mask as a costume and captures them as the Spirit of '76.[4]
According toJess Nevins'Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes, "they battle Germans, crooked yogis, thefemme fatale mesmerist Satana, traitorous cadets, and a monster ape".[5]
InGreen Hornet #35, Blakely helps out Tommy Downes, a newsboy kid who's framed for murder by the crook Dapper Duke using Downes' run-ins with a kid gang called The Society of the Black Skull, led by Kip Roland. While Blakely reconciles Tommy with the gang, his civilian identity gets in trouble for being AWOL and is threatened with expulsion. Tubby tells the kids Gary's identity and they vouch for him, giving him an alibi and forming a new gang, The Spirit of '76 Boys Club.[4]
InSecondary Superheroes of the Golden Age, Lou Mougin lauds the Spirit of '76, writing that Bob Powell "returned to the feature [inGreen Hornet] both as artist and writer, and did a bang-up job with his rapidly developed talent. The stories never skimped on the action, but Powell's talent for humor, his penchant for sending the characters to foreign locales, and the backup characters Tubby and Gary's girlfriend, Susan, helped things along considerably. On special assignment, Gary and Tubby racked up an impressive series of adventures. The Spirit of '76 survived the war... For his quality, we salute him".[3]