Hop Harrigan

Hop Harrigan (also known as The Guardian Angel and Black Lamp) is a fictional character published by All-American Publications appearing in American comic books, radio serials and film serials created by Jon Blummer that was a popular hero originally through the 1940s during the events of World War II.

Hop Harrigan
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceAll-American Comics #1 (April 1939)
Created byJon Blummer
In-story information
Alter egoHop Harrigan
Notable aliasesThe Guardian Angel; Black Lamp
AbilitiesNone (though Hop does have excellent aviation skills)

Publication history

The character first appeared in the anthology comic book series All American Comics #1 (April 1939) by the All-American Publications publishing company, as one of the early aviation heroes in comic history.[1][2] He was a recurring character by the publishing company appearing in many magazines including anthology magazines like All-Flash, All-Star Comics, Green Lantern, Mutt & Jeff, Wonder Woman, Comic Cavalcade, Sensation Comics and Flash Comics.[3]

For a brief period in 1941, Blummer considered turning Hop Harrigan into a superhero, as many other strips were converting to follow the new trend. Harrigan appeared in costume from March to July, and then Blummer dropped the idea.[4]

Fictional summary

Hop Harrigan had been orphaned by his father, a legendary pilot, who disappeared on a flight to South America to see his wife. Hop's story begins with him being raised by his neighbor, the cruel farmer Silas Crane, who gets legal guardianship of him in order to obtain Hop's inheritance.

When Hop Harrigan is a teenager, Crane tries to destroy a biplane that had once been in the possession of Hop's father. Seeing this, Hop angrily knocks the old man to the ground and escapes in the biplane, not planning to return. He arrives at an airport where he saves the life of mechanic Tank Tinker, who became his friend and companion.[5] Tank gives Harrigan his nickname when he said, "Some hop, Harrigan."

Later, Hop, Tank and Prop Wash (the pilot who accidentally endangers Tank), along with help from an heiress (who later becomes Hop's girlfriend), set up the All-American Aviation Company, and they have a variety of exciting adventures. Hop briefly takes on the costumed identity of the Guardian Angel.[6]

By the time World War II comes, as with most other comics of the time, the Hop Harrigan comic has World War II themed adventures as Hop, Tank and Prop join the US Army Air Corps in service of the war effort.

Shortly after the war, the character appears for a while under the alias the Black Lamp.[7]

Media adaptations

On radio, Hop Harrigan was broadcast on ABC from August 31, 1942, until August 2, 1946, and on Mutual from October 2, 1946, until February 6, 1948.[8] Charles Stratton appeared in the title role with Ken Lynch as Tank. Lynch was later replaced by Jackson Beck, voice actor for Bluto (Popeye), King Leonardo and Perry White (Superman). Mitzi Gould played Hop's girlfriend, Gail Nolan. One of the writers for this series was noir novelist David Goodis.

The Hop Harrigan (serial) 15-chapter movie serial (March 28, 1946) was produced by Columbia Pictures with William Bakewell as Hop and Sumner Getchell as Tank. This was Hop's first and only screen appearance.

See also

References
  1. Wallace, Daniel; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1930s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Edited by Sheldon Mayer, the title contained newspaper reprints and puzzle pages alongside original material such as Mayer's own 'Scribbly'...The features 'Hop Harrigan' and 'Red, White, and Blue' also debuted in this issue.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. Markstein, Don (2005). "Hop Harrigan". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on 2016-02-05. Hop was introduced in All-American's first release, appropriately titled All-American Comics #1, which was dated April 1939.
  3. "Mike's Amazing World of Comics". www.mikesamazingworld.com. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  4. Mitchell, Kurt; Thomas, Roy (2019). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 75. ISBN 978-1605490892.
  5. Thomas, Roy (2006). The All-Star Companion: Vol 2. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 85. ISBN 978-1893905375.
  6. Nevins, Jess (2013). Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes. High Rock Press. p. 124. ISBN 978-1-61318-023-5.
  7. "All-American Comics #78". Grand Comics Database. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  8. Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 328. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
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