Nature Boy (comics)

Nature Boy
Cover of Nature Boy #3
Publication information
PublisherCharlton Comics
First appearanceNature Boy #3 (Mar. 1956)
Created byJerry Siegel
John Buscema
In-story information
Alter egoDavid Crandall
AbilitiesPowers of the elements: water, wind, fire, earth, love, air, electricity

Nature Boy is a superhero created by Jerry Siegel and drawn by John Buscema and others. He first appeared in Nature Boy #3 (March 1956), published by Charlton Comics.

Publication history

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Nature Boy was Charlton's attempt at gauging the strength of the superhero market (they did the same thing with the romance market by introducing Brides in Love).[1] Nature Boy ran for only three issues, #3–5 (March 1956 – February 1957).[2] (In a practice common at Charlton, the title took over the numbering of another title, Danny Blaze. After three issues of Nature Boy, the title changed again, this time to Li'l Rascal Twins.)

In issue #3 (March, 1956), Nature Man appeared, a grown-up version of Nature Boy. In issue #5 (Feb, 1957), a Nature Girl appeared in her own story.

A Nature Boy story was reprinted in AC Comics's Men of Mystery #41 (2003).

Fictional character biography

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Nature Boy is really David Crandall, son of a wealthy family. When he is lost at sea, he is saved from drowning by the gods who rule each of the elements, who endow him with their powers:[3]

  • Neptune – water
  • Gusto – winds
  • Fura – fire
  • Eartha – earth
  • Allura – love
  • Azura – the skies
  • Electra – electricity
  • Friga – the cold

Returned to his parents, he grows up to become the heroic Nature Boy, and uses his powers to fight crime.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Mike Benton: The Comic Book in America. An Illustrated History. Taylor Pub., 1989, p. 55.
  2. ^ Schelly, William (2013). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s. TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 159–160. ISBN 9781605490540.
  3. ^ Markstein, Don. "Nature Boy". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  4. ^ Morris, Jon (2015). The League of Regrettable Superheroes: Half Baked Heroes from Comic Book History. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Quirk Books. pp. 174–175. ISBN 978-1-59474-763-2.
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