The Moth is the name of two

American comic-book An American comic book is a thin periodical literature originating in the United States, commonly between 24 and 64 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publ ...

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 ...

characters. The first was created by artist

Jim Mooney James Noel Mooney (August 13, 1919 – March 30, 2008) was an Americans, American comics artist best known for his long tenure at DC Comics and as the signature artist of Supergirl, as well as a Marvel Comics inker and Spider-Man artist, both ...

and an unknown writer for

Fox Feature Syndicate Fox Feature Syndicate (also known as Fox Comics, Fox Publications, and Bruns Publications, Inc.) was a comic book publisher from early in the period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books. Founded by entrepreneur Victor S. ...

in 1940, during the period fans and historians call the

Golden Age of Comic Books The Golden Age of Comic Books describes an era in the history of American comic books from 1938 to 1956. During this time, modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity. The superhero archetype was created and ma ...

. The second was created by writer-artist

Steve Rude Steve Rude (born December 31, 1956) is an Americans, American comics artist. He is best known as the co-creator of ''Nexus (comics), Nexus''. Early life Steve Rude was born on December 31, 1956, in Madison, Wisconsin. He attended the Milwaukee Sc ...

in 1998 for

Dark Horse Comics Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, manga and Artist's book, art book publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon, by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, O ...

Fox Feature Syndicate

One of the first comic-book superheroes, the Moth was created by artist

and an unknown writer using the joint pseudonym "Norton Kingsley", which at least once was rendered as "Norman Kingsley". The character — a superhero whose sole apparent superpower, flight, was never explained as either natural or as an ability built into his costume — debuted in comic-book publisher

's ''Mystery Men Comics'' #9 (

cover-date The cover date of a periodical publication is the date displayed on the cover, which is not necessarily the true date of publication (the on-sale date or release date); later cover dates are common in magazine and comic book publishing. More unusu ...

d April 1940), during the period fans and historians call the

. According to ''Jess Nevins' Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes'', "he fights a life-draining mad scientist, the Weather Kings (who use weather control machines in an attempt to take over the United States), a

Dr. Frankenstein Victor Frankenstein is a fictional character who first appeared as the titular main protagonist of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel '' Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus''. He is an Italian-born Swiss scientist who, after studying chemical process ...

-like grave-robbing mad scientist, and others". The Moth starred in four stories, drawn either all by Mooney or with the second drawn by Greg Chapian,''Mystery Men Comics''
at the

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. both using the Kingsley pseudonym. The feature ended with ''Mystery Men Comics'' #12 (July 1940).

Dark Horse Comics

Publication history

The Moth (real name Jack Mahoney) is a fictional superhero published by

. Created by

, The Moth first appeared in ''

Dark Horse Presents ''Dark Horse Presents'' was a comic book published by Dark Horse Comics from 1986 in comics, 1986. Their first published series, it was their flagship title until its September 2000 in comics, 2000 cancellation. The second incarnation was publishe ...

'' #138, followed by an appearance in ''Madman Comics'' #13 by

, and then the 56-page ''The Moth - Special'' (March 2004).

Fictional character biography

The Moth is a circus performer named Jack Mahoney. Mahoney developed the Moth costume for his high-wire act, and he also uses it catch wanted criminals in exchange for bounties. During his four-issue solo series, the Moth encounters a biker gang whose leader has had a bounty offered for his capture. The Moth turns him over to the authorities. He also encounters a supernatural lion-man who is on a killing spree. His victims include the Moth's mentor Victor, the ringmaster of the circus where the Moth performed, and a member of the biker gang. The Moth inherits the circus and enlists the help of the biker gang he clashed with earlier to help him track down the creature and exact revenge. In the next story, the Moth turns rival mob families against each other in order to collect bounties offered for the leaders of both groups.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moth Golden Age superheroes 2004 comics debuts Dark Horse Comics titles Dark Horse Comics superheroes Vigilante characters in comics