Airboy

Real Name: David Nelson

First Appearance: Airfighters Magazine #2 (Hillman Comics, 1942)

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History: Airboy was the nickname taken by David Nelson, the child of an expert aviator. In spite of being only a youth, David was also a skilled pilot. His friend, Brother Francis Martier, who was both a flier and a Franciscan monk, invented a new type of aircraft which flew by flapping it's wings, and which could outmaneuver anything else in the air, but was killed testing it. David inherited both the plane and a colourful uniform, and adopting the name Airboy, he used both in an ongoing battle against the Axis powers, Japan and Germany.

His most frequent, and strangest, foe was Misery, an ethereal creature who inhabited the Airtomb, a giant airplane that imprisoned the souls of dead aviators. Airboy also fought legions of intelligent rats and other strange creatures. But many of his adventures involved more ordinary opponents, highly exaggerated Nazi and Japanese villains. One of these was Valkyrie, the beautiful Nazi pilot, and the two characters developed a romantic attraction to one another in spite of being on different sides of the war.

In the 1980's Eclipse acquired the rights to the Hillman properties and launched a new Airboy series. The new Airboy was Davy Nelson, son of the original wartime hero. The new Airboy series was successful and ran for 50 issues.

Powers/Abilities: Birdie was a unique airplane that flapped its wings and could out fly any other aircraft in the sky. Birdie seemed to have an intelligence of its own and could perform incredible feats without a pilot in the cockpit.

Comments: Airboy was the creation of Charles Biro and Fred Kida. Among his allies in the 1940s high flying Airfighters were Skywolf, Black Angel, Iron Ace, Bald Eagle, and Flying Dutchman.

Although one source says he first appeared in Airfighters Magazine, another says it's Air Fighters Comics. Likewise, one source says the publisher was Hillman Comics, and a different source claims Hillman Periodicals. The difference is probably splitting hairs, but if anyone knows which one it is for sure, let me know.

CLARIFICATIONS:

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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