..Neon the Unknown
Created by Jerry Iger and Alex Blum
+ History
The all-different Neon.
From Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters v.2 #5 (2008).
Art by Renato Arlem,
Tom Corbet was serving in the French Foreign Legion when the war in Europe had begun. In northern Africa, his platoon was ordered to put down a native tribe that was being supplied by the munitions manufacturer, Morgan Crooke. It was a suicide mission. On foot, all but Corbet perished in the heat. With his last strength, Tom stumbled upon a mystical oasis. When he drank from its phosphorescent waters, he was transformed… glowing! He found that he was able to emit neon-like rays (which were powerful enough to kill a tiger). He also could fly, and discovered an impending air attack by Crooke. Taking the name Neon the Unknown, Corbet led his former comrades in the Legion to victory over Crooke's men. (Hit Comics #1)
Neon wasted no time heading straight to Europe and visiting Rachaw, one of the notorious concentration camps in the country of Dunland. He allowed himself to be captured then led a mass escape. He helped the people overthrow Dunland's dictator, Radolf. (#2)
Neon continued his freelance adventures at the North Pole, rescuing a British polar explorer from a strange tropical isle hidden beneath the glaciers. (#3)
Fritz Cardif inventro of the invisible ray. (#6) Oriental telepaths (#7) Assumes a swirling "neonic" shape. appeared suddently to an old man who'd wished for Neon's help. As the old mnan spoke of his granddaughter, Sally, an image of her appeared in Neon's head. He dashed off to find her. (#8)
returned to the French foreign legion
and revealed himself to his former soldiers, who believed he was dead. He kept a low profile (lest he get heat for desertion) and defeated a plot by the Axis to tunnel from Morocco to Gibraltar. (#9)
His next recorded appearance was at the Freedom Fighters' first battle during the attack on Pearl Harbor. There he supposedly died (his body was not recovered). (All-Star Squadron #31)
But many decades later, the truth was known… Corbet had escaped his second death, at Pearl Harbor. When he awoke after this battle, he had been returned to the African oasis from which he'd gotten his powers. But he was now less human than before. There he prefered to remain. In a time of crisis, Uncle Sam sent the original Ray to enlist Neon's aid. Neon refused, then disappeared. In response, Happy Terrill decided to drink from the same mystic waters that had powered Corbet. It worked, and Terrill became the new Neon. (Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters v.2 #5)
Note
There was another Quality hero named, simply, "The Unknown." He debuted after Neon's strip ended, in National Comics #23 (June 1942).
Neon snagged several covers of Hit Comics, issues #2, 4, 8 and 9, but his strip was very short lived (#1–17).
+ Powers
The original Neon could channel powerful light energy into "neonic beams." This energy could be used to fly, to blind, or as force. It was known to be powerful enough to kill a tiger, and disable a fleet of airplanes. Ignite substances to generate flame. sever things like a knife.
turned his ray into a "cold gas", form a barrier.
mnan spoke of his granddaughter, Sally, an image of her appeared in Neon's head
Appearances + References
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