Supersnipe is a fictional character who appeared in a series ofcomic books published byStreet & Smith from 1942 to 1949. Supersnipe was the imagined alter ego of Koppy McFad, "the boy with the most comic books in the world."[1] He was created by writer-artistGeorge Marcoux, who had previously assistedPercy Crosby on the comic stripSkippy.
Koppy McFad has read so many comic books ("he reads 'em, breathes 'em, and sleeps 'em") that in his imagination, he turns into a costumed super-hero himself. He acts out his superhero adventures a laDon Quixote, annoying his family and his neighbors.[2] He has no powers, but when he fills his suit with helium, he can fly.[3]
In his adventures, Supersnipe sometimes partners with Ulysses Q. Wacky, another boy who is referred to as an "inventor and genius unlimited."[4] In 1943, the strip introduced a rival, Roxy the Girl Guerrilla.[2] 1944 added two more members to the cast — Wing Woo Woo, and a boy detective, Herlock Dolmes.[2]
The character first appeared in issues ofShadow Comics (vol. 2 no. 3) andArmy and Navy Comics (vol. 1 no. 5). The strip was so popular that the next issue ofArmy and Navy was retitledSupersnipe Comics.[2]Supersnipe appeared for a total of 44 issues before ceasing publication in 1949.[5]
Supersnipe has been described as "the first comic book to deal with comics themselves as subject matter."[6]
