Alan Armstrong (New Earth)
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See also Spy Smasher, Crime Smasher for a complete list of references to distinguish between these closely named or closely related articles.
Contents |
History
Origin
Alan Armstrong was a wealthy aviator and athlete from Virginia. In early winter of 1940, he met a young woman named Eve Corby. Alan and Eve fell in love and were quickly engaged. Eve's father was an Admiral in the intelligence division of the United States Navy and often conferred with the playboy concerning matters of state. One evening, Admiral Corby told Alan about a suspected ring of saboteurs operating in the area.
Inspired by the notion of taking aim against enemy agents, Alan began putting together a new identity for himself. He designed a multifunctional vehicle known as a Gyrosub – which was capable of traversing nearly any level of terrain be it land, sea or air. He also fashioned a brown costume and aviator goggles for himself and took the name Spy Smasher.
Smashing Spies
Spy Smasher became a champion of justice and fought to keep foreign powers away from American interests. After his first initial adventures, Alan adopted a more stylish wardrobe consisting of a green two-piece uniform and a brilliant red cape. Although many of his adventures took place stateside, Spy Smasher was also extremely active in the European theater of operations during the Second World War Near the close of the war, Spy Smasher teamed up with other patriotic heroes including Bulletman and Minute-Man to fight Nazi forces in Berlin, Germany.
After the war ended, Alan continued adventuring well into the Cold War era. During this time he briefly adopted the name Crime Smasher, but reverted back to his Spy Smasher identity before ultimately retiring.
As an older man, Alan often visits with his old friends Bulletman and Minute-Man and has shared stories of his adventures with enthusiastic youths such as Billy Batson and Mary Bromfield.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
None known.
Abilities
Spy Smasher was an excellent hand-to-hand combatant and a skillful gadgeteer. He was also an accomplished aviator.
Strength level
Above Average: In his prime, Spy Smasher possessed the strength level of a man his age, size and weight who engaged in intensive regular exercise.
Paraphernalia
Equipment: Flight goggles; various hand-held gadgets
Transportation: Gyrosub
Weapons: None known.
Notes
- Spy Smasher was created by writer Bill Parker and artist C.C. Beck for Fawcett Publications. In 1953, National Periodical Publications filed a lawsuit against Fawcett citing that the character of Captain Marvel bore too much of a resemblence to their own character, Superman. After settling the case, Fawcett discontinued publication of their comic book line of products and Spy Smasher lapsed into obscurity. In 1972, DC Comics purchased many of the lingering Fawcett characters, including Spy Smasher and migrated them to a fictional parallel world known as Earth-S. The Fawcett characters made several appearances throughout various Silver Age DC titles including, Shazam, World's Finest Comics and Justice League of America.
Trivia
- Spy Smasher's original costume was two-tone brown. He later swtiched to a green costume with a red cape.
Appearances in Other Media
In 1942, Republic Pictures created a series of Spy Smasher serial episodes that were previewed in movie houses from week to week before the start of the feature films. Twelve episodes were created, each one running approximately eighteen minutes in length, the first of which was released on April 4th of 1942. The series was directed by William Witney with writing credits attributed to Ronald Davidson and Norman S. Hall. Actor Kane Richmond played the part of Spy Smasher, and his alter ego Alan Armstrong. Margueritte Chapman played the role of Eve Corby, Alan's fiancée who usually found herself the target victim of the hero's arch-nemesis, the Mask (played by Hans Schumm). Spy Smasher and Eve Corby's adventures typically revolved around confounding the Mask's villainous efforts in France, during the height of Nazi occupation. Ironically, the comic book version of the Mask had already been killed prior to the release of the first episode of the Spy Smasher serial. The series was re-released in 1966 as a single movie entitled Spy Smasher Returns, however it had been edited down to a running time of one-hundred minutes. In 1995 Republic Pictures Corporation released a two-tape VHS video tape collection of the series. As of 2008, there are no plans to release the series on DVD.
Recommended Reading
Known Adversaries
- America Smasher
- Baroness Von Todt
- Baron Von Kurtz
- Beetle, The
- Dark Angel
- Doctor Blizzard
- Faker, The
- Golden Wasp
- Eye, The
- Krishnu
- Manco Largo
- Mask
- Mister Gloom
- Red Death
- Satan (a German spy)
- Tigress
- Vikranz
- War Hatchet
See Also
- Discuss Alan Armstrong (New Earth) on the forums
- Appearances of Alan Armstrong (New Earth) (Chronological)
- Appearances of Alan Armstrong (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Alan Armstrong (New Earth)
- Fan-Art Gallery: Alan Armstrong (New Earth)
- Quotations by Alan Armstrong (New Earth)
Recommended Reading
- None.
Links and References
- at Wikipedia.org
- Spy Smasher biography page at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe
- Spy Smasher biography page at the Marvel Family Web
- Spy Smasher biography page at International Hero
- Spy Smasher chronology page at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe
- The Unofficial Spy Smasher biography
- Spy Smasher (1942) serial entry at the Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
Footnotes
DC Database > Administration > Tasks > Appearances Category Needed
DC Database > Administration > Tasks > Gallery Page Needed
DC Database > Administration > Tasks > Quotes Page Needed
DC Database > Administration > Tasks > Templated Articles
DC Database > Characters
DC Database > Characters > Characters by Alignment > Good Characters
DC Database > Characters > Characters by Era > Copper-Age Characters
DC Database > Characters > Characters by Gender > Male Characters
DC Database > Characters > Characters by Nationality > Americans
DC Database > Characters > Characters by Physical Features > Eye Color > Blue Eyes
DC Database > Characters > Characters by Physical Features > Hair Color > Black Hair
DC Database > Characters > Characters by Status > Characters by Identity Status > Secret Identity
DC Database > Characters > Characters by Status > Characters by Living Status > Deceased Characters
DC Database > Characters > Characters by Status > Characters by Marital Status > Married Characters
DC Database > Characters > Characters by Universe
DC Database > DC Staff > Creators > Bill Parker/Creator
DC Database > DC Staff > Creators > C.C. Beck/Creator
DC Database > Locations
DC Database > Miscellaneous > Skills > Aviation
DC Database > Realities > Destroyed Realities > Earth-S > Earth-S Characters
