Ultra-Man

Superherobox


caption="All-American Comics" #8 (Nov. 1939), cover art by Jon L. Blummer (as Don Shelby)
character_name=Ultra-Man
publisher=All-American Publications
debut=(Gary Concord, Sr.) "All-American Comics" #8, November 1939
(Gary Concord Jr.) "All-American Comics" #9, December 1939
creators=Jon L. Blummer (as Don Shelby
alter_ego =Gary Concord, Sr., then Gary Concord, Jr.
species = Human
homeworld = Earth
alliances=Legion of Super-Heroes
aliases=
supports=
powers=Enhanced strength and stature|

Gary Concord, the Ultra-Man was the name of two fictional, comic-book superheroes, father and son, who first appeared during the 1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books. Both were characters of All-American Publications, which merged in 1946 with DC Comics-predecessor National Periodical Publications.

They are distinct and separate from the DC Universe character Ultraman, a supervillain and evil counterpart of Superman, who was introduced in "Justice League of America" #29 (Aug. 1964).

Publication history

Created by writer-artist Jon L. Blummer under the pseudonym Don Shelby, Ultra-Man debuted in All-American's flagship title, "All-American Comics" #8 (Nov. 1939), in the first part of a two-part story. Part one featured Gary Concord Sr. Part two, in "All-American Comics" #9 (Dec. 1939), continues the story with Gary Concord Jr., who took over the mantle of Ultra-Man. He would appear until issue #19 in 1940.

The latter Ultra-Man made a flashback appearance in "The Last Earth-Prime Story", in "Superman" #411 (Sept. 1985), and guest stars in "Legionnaires Annual" #3 (1996)

Fictional character biographies

Gary Concord Sr., a 20th-century scientist, had devoted his life to finding the means to end war. In 1950, an accident put him into suspended animation. He awoke as a chemically altered superhuman in the year 2174. His son, Gary Concord Jr., is born in 2214 to the lifespan-lengthened Gary Sr. and wife Leandra — daughter of the tyrant Rabborizon, whom Gary Sr. defeated. Rabborizon eventually returned to kill his own daughter, however, prompting Gary Sr. to kill Rabborizon in return.

After Gary Sr. dies of natural causes in 2239, Gary Jr. succeeds him as both Ultra-Man and as High Moderator of the United States of North America, the country's chief executive. He battles the warlord Tor and other menaces, and is later put into suspended animation until the 100th century. An encounter with the superheroine XS (Jenni Ognats) of the Legion of Super-Heroes inspires Ultra-Man to form his own such team with fellow heroes Avatar, Behemoth, and Metallica on the planet Almeer-5.

References

* [http://www.toonopedia.com/ultraman.htm Don Markstein's Toonopedia: Gary Concord, The Ultra-Man]
* [http://www.comics.org The Grand Comics Database]
* [http://ratmmjess.tripod.com/ga/goldg.html Jess Nevins' The Golden Age Directory: G]
* [http://www.fanzing.com/mag/fanzminus1/feature2.shtml Fanzing: "Paroled From Limbo", by Douglas Ethington]
* [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=ultraman3 The Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe: Ultraman III — Gary Concord Sr.] and [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=ultraman4 IV — Gary Concord Jr.]