2018

Independent Comics

Fighting American, created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, debuted in 1954 from Prize Comics, later becoming an Independent Comics character. Originally, he was Johnny Flagg, a patriotic news reporter who underwent an experimental procedure to become the super-strong Fighting American.

Fighting American initially fought Communist threats, a reflection of the Cold War anxieties of the time. His sidekick was Speedboy, a teen eager to fight by his side.

However, the comic quickly transitioned into satire. Simon and Kirby, disillusioned with the increasingly strident tone of superhero comics and the political climate, shifted the focus to lampooning the superhero genre and political extremism. Fighting American's villains became increasingly absurd and his adventures overtly parodic.

While initially conceived as a serious patriotic hero, Fighting American is most remembered for his satirical take on superhero tropes and Cold War paranoia. His run was relatively short, ending in 1955, but his transformation from earnest hero to comedic satire is a notable moment in comic book history.