Golden Age Silver Scorpion (Betty Barstow)

[MajorHoy]

First appearance: in Daring Mystery Comics #7
(cover-dated April 1941)




It appears she had a total of three episodes during the Golden Age (the other two were in Daring Mystery Comics #8 and Comedy Comics #9), but when she reappeared in the early-1990s Invaders mini-series, she had a . . . different look. (Well, at least now she was silver..)

from Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Golden Age (2004)

[Phoenixx9]

First appearance: in Daring Mystery Comics #7
(cover-dated April 1941)




It appears she had a total of three episodes during the Golden Age (the other two were in Daring Mystery Comics #8 and Comedy Comics #9), but when she reappeared in the early-1990s Invaders mini-series, she had a . . . different look. (Well, at least now she was silver..)

from Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Golden Age (2004)

The female detective-turned-crime fighter was a big 1940's thing.

I always liked the name "Silver Scorpion", but would laugh because her original costume was mostly all yellow!

At least later on (modern times), Betty got herself the silvery armor with her Scorpion Sting!

[kcekada]

But both outfits are equally bad. The first one was so generic -- and the scorpion is on the back of the cape where it will only be seen as she exits. The second one suffered from 90s excess. Oh, is that ug-lee!

[MajorHoy]

The female detective-turned-crime fighter was a big 1940's thing.

More like "the female secretary of a detective / district attorney / government official turned crime fighter".
This was the 1940s, remember. Women weren't as likely to have such prominent work roles as males did.
(Not that women wouldn't have been able to handle such jobs, but many men wouldn't have accepted a female doing "man's work".)

[Digifiend]

The female detective-turned-crime fighter was a big 1940's thing.

I always liked the name "Silver Scorpion", but would laugh because her original costume was mostly all yellow!

At least later on (modern times), Betty got herself the silvery armor with her Scorpion Sting!

And the first Green Lantern's costume is red, they just didn't care about making people look like a colour that's in their name back then apparently.

More like "the female secretary of a detective / district attorney / government official turned crime fighter".
This was the 1940s, remember. Women weren't as likely to have such prominent work roles as males did.
(Not that women wouldn't have been able to handle such jobs, but many men wouldn't have accepted a female doing "man's work".)

It was World War II. Wouldn't a lot of women have taken on "man's work" due to the men being conscripted?

Of course, Wonder Woman was a secretary back then as well - nowadays she's a diplomat.

[Phoenixx9]

And the first Green Lantern's costume is red, they just didn't care about making people look like a colour that's in their name back then apparently.

True, but at least GL had some green in his costume. SS only had a small silver (although I am sure it was colored white) scorpion on her back cloak, otherwise all yellow. Still makes me giggle.

[MajorHoy]

It was World War II. Wouldn't a lot of women have taken on "man's work" due to the men being conscripted?

Of course, Wonder Woman was a secretary back then as well - nowadays she's a diplomat.

Actually, the U.S. hadn't declared war yet when she first appeared, so no.

As to after the US had formally entered the war, women took over some roles previously held by men (like on assembly lines), but not all roles. Offhand, I don't know how many cities had a mostly female police department.

[Digifiend]

More than you'd think I bet. Since cops already know how to use firearms, they ought to be called up pretty early - unless policing was a reserved occupation?

[MajorHoy]

More than you'd think I bet. Since cops already know how to use firearms, they ought to be called up pretty early - unless policing was a reserved occupation?

But the homefront also had to be protected from spies and saboteurs, as well as crime, so police forces may not have wanted to be depleted and filled with a bunch of inexperienced newbies.

Besides, police typically use pistols as their main firearm. How does that translate into using a rifle in combat?

[MajorHoy]

Here's the rest of the Silver Scorpion story from Daring Mystery Comics #7 (April 1941):

[shooshoomanjoe]

More than you'd think I bet. Since cops already know how to use firearms, they ought to be called up pretty early - unless policing was a reserved occupation?

The type of weapons police use isn't the same as the military uses.

[MajorHoy]

The type of weapons police use isn't the same as the military uses.

Do you know how different they were in the 1940s/WWII?

[shooshoomanjoe]

Do you know how different they were in the 1940s/WWII?

This forum doesn't support yes or no answers

[MajorHoy]

This forum doesn't support yes or no answers

Yes. (10 characters)

[MajorHoy]

This forum doesn't support yes or no answers

No. (10 characters)