Neon the Unknown

The “Neon” feature was signed with the pen name “Tagor Maroy,” which leaves some question as to the hero’s creator. Since Hit Comics was one that Will Eisner co-owned with Busy Arnold, it’s reasonable to assume that Eisner might have created the character concept and written the first stories, as he did with characters like the Ray, Doll Man and Uncle Sam. Alex Blum is the most likely artist on the feature. Blum is known to have worked on the “Strange Twins” feature and his style is recognizable after a brief study. Forms and faces seen frequently in “Strange Twins” and elsewhere also appear in “Neon.”

Quality published another hero named simply “"the Unknown.” He debuted after Neon’s feature ended, in National Comics #23 (June 1942). Neon snagged several covers of Hit Comics, issues #2, 4, 8 and 9, but his feature was very short-lived.

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 effort, 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). He also could fly, and discovered an impending air attack. Taking the name Neon the Unknown, Corbet led his former comrades in the Legion to victory. (Hit Comics #1)

Neon sped on, directly to Europe and visited 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)

The writing on “Neon” was as meandering as its character’s own adventures. His powers allowed him to traverse the globe quickly, encountering the likes of Fritz Cardif, inventor of the invisible ray (#6); Oriental telepaths (#7); and Scar Lioni, who created a formidable tractor beam of sorts that Neon could not escape (except by turning his body into energy). (#16)

He once returned to aide his friends in the French Foreign Legion and revealed his identity to his comrades, who believed he was dead. He kept a low profile (lest he be brought in for desertion) and defeated an Axis plot to tunnel from Morocco to Gibraltar. (#9)

His only recurring foe was European dictator Otto Schickler. He discovered Schickler in South America where he worked with an ancient wizard, Damus. Damus conjured evil demons and a dragon but when Shickler turned his wrath on the old man, Neon convinced Damus to defect. (#11) Back in the Balkans, Neon prevented Schickler from invading the nation of Slovia and encouraged its people to work towards establishing a democratic government. (#12)

Neon returned to the U.S. amid a rash of kidnappings and sabotage perpetuated by the treacherous Dr. Marko, who worked with Indians. (#13) From there he found German underwater mines in New York Harbor. He killed their commander and destroyed their underwater base. (#14)

DC

Neon’s next appearance was at the Freedom Fighters’ first battle just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. There he supposedly died (his body was not recovered). (All-Star Squadron #32)

After many decades, Corbet was revealed to have escaped death again. When he’d awakened after the Japanese attack, he found his powers had returned him to the African oasis from which Neon had been borne. But Corbet became something less human and preferred to remain there. In a time of crisis, Uncle Sam sent the original Ray to enlist Neon’s aid. Neon refused, then disappeared. In response, the Ray decided to drink from the same mystic waters that had powered Corbet. It worked, and Terrill became the new Neon (II). (Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters vol. 2 #5)

The New 52: Neon III

Powers

The original Neon could channel powerful light energy into “neonic beams.” This energy could be used to fly, to blind, as force, or as lasers. It was known to be powerful enough to kill a tiger, disintegrate solid matter, and disable a fleet of airplanes. Its application was near limitless. Neon could also turn his own body into pure intangible energy, sometimes assuming a swirling “neonic” shape. Once when someone was describing another person, an image of that person appeared in Neon’s head.