Minute-Man
| Minute-Man | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher |
Fawcett Comics DC Comics |
| First appearance | Master Comics #11 (February 1941) |
| Created by | Charlie Sultan |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Jack Weston |
| Team affiliations |
S.T.A.R. Labs Office of Strategic Services All-Star Squadron |
| Abilities | Peak human physical condition |
Minute-Man (real name Jack Weston) is a fictional comic book superhero.
Publication history
Named after the minutemen of the American Revolution and sporting an American flag-inspired costume, he was originally published by Fawcett Comics. Along with other Fawcett characters, he was purchased by DC Comics, and made brief appearances in the Shazam! comics in 1976, and the Power of Shazam! comic in 1995 and 1996.
Fictional character biography
During World War II, Jack Weston is an Army private in prime physical condition who dons a patriotic costume and becomes the Minute-Man, a "One Man Army" who combats enemy agents. His double identity is known to his superior officer General Milton, who sends the Minute-Man on unsanctioned missions behind enemy lines. Minute-Man serves as a member of a group of local Fawcett City heroes, the Crime Crusaders Club.
Prior to DC Comics' Crisis on Infinite Earths miniseries, Minute-Man was said to exist on the parallel Earth-S, home of the Fawcett heroes. He makes his first appearance in Shazam! when he rescues Billy from Mr. Mind and the Rainbow Squad, who have captured and gagged him. Cap feels unable to fight females, so Minute-Man shows him he can do it, inspiring Cap to beat the Squad, and reveal their leader Mr. Wonderful is really his old enemy, the super-intelligent alien worm Mr. Mind. In this incarnation, the character was also a member of the Squadron of Justice, a team of Fawcett characters who joined forces with the Justice League and Justice Society. He was incorporated into the mainstream DC Universe in the wake of the Crisis.
In the new timeline, Weston defends Fawcett City for time following the war with his fellow heroes. Eventually retiring from costumed heroism, he is shown to have become a government agent in the Power of Shazam! series, serving as an occasional ally to Captain Marvel.
Death
In Justice Society of America (vol.3) #3, Jack Weston (mistakenly referred to as Jack Burton), his children and grandchildren are killed in their sleep by an unknown assassin in their home in Clearwater, Florida. Minute-Man was one of three patriotic superhero bloodlines destroyed by the efforts of Vandal Savage, along with the bloodlines of Mr. America, Commander Steel and General Glory. Savage wished to stop the prevalence of relatives taking on the heroic identities and/or powers of their loved ones.