superhero
A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...
who first appeared in Centaur Comics. Minimidget was written and illustrated by John F. Kolb (1913–2004). After Centaur's collapse in 1942, Minimidget is now in the public domain.
History
He first appeared in '' Amazing-Man'' #5 (the first issue, the other four were never published), and in his first story, he and a girl called Ritty are shrunken down to about six inches tall by a scientist named Dr. Anton Barmell. Barmell brings Minimidget to his family home and then has him climb up a drainpipe into the bedroom of his elder brother, whom Minimidget kills with a poisoned needle. After two more such killings – both victims were also Barmell's relatives – the FBI men manage to uncover the truth, after which Minimidget is fatally wounded in a mousetrap. Upon being cornered in his lab, Barmell blows it and himself to kingdom come.
Although Minimidget was supposed to have been killed, in the next issue (#6), he's revived by a paramedic. Free from the spell of Dr. Barmell, he and Ritty fall in love and go on to have many adventures together, in ''Amazing-Man'' and then in ''Stars & Stripes'' comics.
According to
Jess Nevins
Jess Nevins (born 1966) is an American author and research librarian best known for annotated guides and encyclopedias covering Victoriana, comic books, genre fiction and pulp fiction.
He last appeared in ''Amazing-Man'' #25 (Dec 1941), just before Centaur went out of business.
Minimidget and Ritty's real names were never revealed in the original comics, but in the
AC Comics
AC Comics (formerly known as Paragon Publications and Americomics) is a comic book publishing company started by Bill Black.
version, he's revealed to be Jack Rhodes, a character who appeared once in ''Amazing-Man'' #5.
Inspiration
Kolb's primary influence was
Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon is the protagonist of a space adventure comic strip created and originally drawn by Alex Raymond. First published January 7, 1934, the strip was inspired by, and created to compete with, the already established ''Buck Rogers'' ...
; he even named his son after one of the characters in the Flash Gordon series. Ritty was based on his wife, who died suddenly when his son was a boy. He didn't pick up a pen to draw for more than 30 years after she died, and much of his work was lost during that long depression.
Other versions
In 2015 Gallant Comics launched a new series using the character, ''The Extraordinary Miniature Man'' with story and artwork by Steven Butler and Barry Gregory.