Golden Age Manhunter (Paul Kirk) <orig. from DC Comics>

[MajorHoy]

NOTE: As mentioned elsewhere, DC comics has had many characters that went by the name "Manhunter". The first costumed Manhunter from DC originally appeared in Adventure Comics #73 (April 1942).
But prior to that, DC had a feature called "Paul Kirk, Manhunter" that began in Adventure Comics #58 (January 1941).

That feature ran through issue #72 (March 1942).

The following issue (Adventure Comics #73, cover-dated April 1942) saw the introduction of a costumed character named "Manhunter":

but for some reason, he was referred to as "Rick Nelson" for this episode.
When the feature returned for issue #74, the character was now named "Paul Kirk", but there did not seem to be any connection to the previous "Paul Kirk, Manhunter" feature that had previously ran in that title.

There's still more to talk about regarding all the appearances of Paul Kirk, but we'll save that for later.
In the meantime, from Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol. XIV (April 1986):


NOTE: This thread is specifically for the Paul Kirk version of Manhunter. If people wish to discuss other versions, please look for (or create yourself if they don't already exist) separate threads regarding those other versions.

[Restingvoice]

Did he show up in Post Crisis? That Who's Who is 86 but I forget the Crisis timeline

[MajorHoy]

Did he show up in Post Crisis? That Who's Who is 86 but I forget the Crisis timeline

Well, he was included in this (from All-Star Squadron #60, cover-dated August 1986).


And his origin was included in Secret Origins #22 (January 1988).

[Ulysses]

What is going on with those boots?

[Toreador]

What is going on with those boots?

I'm guessing they're shin protectors but they're way too bulky.

[Restingvoice]

What is going on with those boots?

I'm guessing they're shin protectors but they're way too bulky.

Those are scabbards rack. Look, one of them still has a short sword

[signalman112]

Cover to the classic Goodwin and Simonson MANHUNTER story from Detective Comics #443.
I love that short run of Manhunter stories.

DetectiveComics443.jpg

[CaptCleghorn]

Cover to the classic Goodwin and Simonson MANHUNTER story from Detective Comics #443.
I love that short run of Manhunter stories.

DetectiveComics443.jpg

Continuity fanatics wonder where that story took place? Was it on Earth-Two, or was this the first story on a combined Earth? Or do we just place it on Earth-B?

[MajorHoy]

Continuity fanatics wonder where that story took place? Was it on Earth-Two, or was this the first story on a combined Earth? Or do we just place it on Earth-B?

I place it on Earth-1.

Roy Thomas went waaaaay overboard back in All-Star Squadron trying to make almost EVERY Golden Age hero originate on Earth-2. (And look at the mess that resulted in when he tried to place all the Quality Comics characters back on Earth-X during CoIE, etc.)

At worst, you can always say there was a Manhunter (Paul Kirk-version) on Earth-1 AND a counterpart to Manhunter (Paul Kirk-version) on Earth-2.

[MajorHoy]

By the way, here's some of the story from Detective Comics #437 (October-November 1973):

[Toreador]

All the backstories are bundled into TPB Manhunter The Special Edition.

[CaptCleghorn]

All the backstories are bundled into TPB Manhunter The Special Edition.

It's been collected more than once. I have a Baxter reprint of the series.

[MajorHoy]

All the backstories are bundled into TPB Manhunter The Special Edition.

But how long has it been since DC released a new collection of those stories? Didn't that tpb come out back in 2002?

[Toreador]

But how long has it been since DC released a new collection of those stories? Didn't that tpb come out back in 2002?

DC probably doesn't think such a obscure hero would have a large following for a reprint. I bought mine last year from book outlet website. There's always Ebay to give a try.

[MajorHoy]

DC probably doesn't think such a obscure hero would have a large following for a reprint. I bought mine last year from book outlet website. There's always Ebay to give a try.

I got all of the Detective Comics run back when they originally came out.
(In fact, I may have read that story in Detective Comics #437 before I read any reprints of the Golden Age Manhunter stories.)