The Green Mask

The Green Mask
The first Green Mask
Publication information
Publisher	Fox Feature Syndicate
First appearance	Mystery Men Comics #1 (August 1939)
Created by	Walter Frehm (art)
In-story information
Alter ego	Michael Shelby (originally "Selby")
Partnerships	Domino
Abilities	Superhuman strength Flight Use of gun

The Green Mask
The second Green Mask, in his final appearance
Publication information
Publisher	Fox Feature Syndicate
First appearance	The Green Mask #10 (August 1944)
In-story information
Alter ego	Johnny Green
Abilities	Ability to transform into a superhuman adult when angry

The Green Mask is the name of two fictional comic book superheroes, both published by Fox Feature Syndicate. Both are in the public domain with some of the original stories having been reprinted by AC Comics.

The first Green Mask debuted in Fox's Mystery Men Comics #1 (August 1939). The writer was not credited (although it may have been Will Eisner); the artwork was by Walter Frehm. This Green Mask's final appearance was in Mystery Men Comics #31 (February 1942).

Originally, the Green Mask really was a mystery man, the secret identity of this "modern Robin Hood" kept that from the readers for many of his earlier appearances and known only to reporter "News" Doakes (later "News" Blake) who was the only one who could contact the pulp-style costumed vigilante when needed.

Eventually though, the Green Mask was revealed to be Michael Shelby (or Selby, in some early stories), wealthy private investigator and son of a crusading senator murdered by white-hooded gangsters known as the Grim Circle. He was transformed into a super-powered "Miracle Man" (no relation) after being exposed to an experimental "vita-ray" machine created by family friend Professor Lascomb. In Green Mask #1 (1940), he was joined by a young orphan named Don who, after surviving an explosion meant for the Green Mask, was taken in by the hero and became his non-powered, boomarang-throwing sidekick, Domino the Miracle Boy, and wore a costume almost identical to his own. Eventually, Shelby left behind his playboy lifestyle when he met girlfriend Olivia Tracy on a case in Green Mask #6 (1941).