I was thinking about using the first appearance of Plastic Man for this week’s fight. If you think the New 52 screwed up Billy Batson you can imagine what they’re going to do with him. For some reason, though, I decided to go a different route. I mean, how often am I going to get a chance to use Firebrand?

Yes, Firebrand (no, not the guy from Battle For Bludhaven), another member of the so-called 1% who gives back by putting on a costume and fighting bad buys. His calling card is leaving a burning torch whenever he takes down a big operation. And of course the police think he’s the bad guy and try take him down. Kind of like the New 52. He might fit right in.

“Double M” round 4

The Battlefield: Police Comics #1 (Quality Comics; August, 1941) “Firebrand”

The Promoters: Reed Crandall

Someone is trying to kill a window washer near Rod Reilly’s penthouse. Well, since Rod is also Firebrand, it’s time to punch people.

Can a rifle go off like that and kill someone? Another myth for the Mythbusters nobody will think to ask for.

I have to ask, though, why he runs around in a see-through shirt, and if they ever made a shirt THAT see-through. Doesn’t exactly inspire fear, does it? The fine people at Police Comics thought this was going to be their breakout star, showing you can’t always guess what fans will go with. This was also the first appearance of Phantom Lady and Plastic Man, the latter being an important character in DC prior to the New 52 and the former suddenly popping up now. Also not popping up are the Human Bomb, a guy who makes things explode by touch (usually with his fists), 711, who has an origin that Slay Monstrobot of the Deep should touch on if he hasn’t already but apparently wasn’t good enough to be on the cover, and the Mouthpiece, a DA who puts on a mask and hat but keeps his worksuit on. But only one of them had their own cartoon series. Of course, they didn’t have to deal with this guy playing them, either.

Interesting that Police Comics doesn’t star any cops. At best you have a DA and a prose story featuring detective Dick Mace, who could be a private detective.

click to vote in this week’s tournament

Head over to Spacebooger.com and vote for your favorite Friday Night Fight. Winners of these 12 rounds go on to the Prize Fight. And if you have a large comic collection and some writing space, feel free to join in. We could use some new competition.