Spyman

Spyman was a short-lived comic book superhero published by Harvey Comics's Harvey Thriller line in the late 1960s. Three issues were published, from September, 1966 to February, 1967.

Spyman is notable for being one of the first professional comic book works by Jim Steranko. Steranko created the concept and plotted the first story, however, did not supply any artwork, except the first page splash which includes a diagram of his robot hand. This was one of three concepts Steranko created for Harvey that saw print.

Spyman was really secret agent Johnny Chance, who lost his left hand defusing a nuclear bomb. Johnny was an agent of the American spy group LIBERTY, headquartered under the Statue of Liberty. After losing his hand, he would be outfited with an 'Electro Robot Hand', each finger a different tool/weapon. He would soon be outfited with a belt with extra fingers with additional uses.

Johnny, and LIBERTY, fought against MIRAGE (Empire of Guerilla Assassination, Revenge, and International Menace), lead by the Whisperer. Whisperer was killed in the first issue, and Johnny would go on to fight Cyclops and the Evil Eye Society in the second issue and the Id Machine in the third.

Its unknown who wrote the stories (it may have been Joe Simon). Artwork was by George Tuska and Dick Ayers, with some inks by Reed Crandall, in the first issue, then Dick Ayers on the second, then Bill Draut on the third.

External links

* [http://www.simoncomics.com/index13.htm Joe Simon's page on Spyman] current owner of Spyman
* [http://www.toonopedia.com/spyman.htm Spyman at Toonopedia]
* [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/s/spyman.htm Spyman at International Superheroes]
* [http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/154/ Dial B for Blog on Spyman] (included Steranko's original concept sketch)