The Mighty Crusaders Handbook

Shield V

Created by:

Jerry Siegel & Paul Reinman

Real Name:

Joe Higgins Jr.
Joined Mighty Crusaders:

In an untold story prior to Archie's Weird Mystery #3
First Appearance:

Mighty Comics # 41, December 1966
Origin:

It all began during World War Two, when freedom loving patriots everywhere longed for a noble and true hero to lead it out of its darkest days. In a top secret military base a young G-man and scientist, Joe Higgins was chosen to participate in Project Shield. Joe was given an extraordinary suit. It was bullet proof and fire proof. It was also treated with an experimental alloy, that allowed the already athletic Higgins perform amazing feats of strength. The Shield was faithful to his duty. An in the line of duty, one fateful night, his luck ran out, as arch-villain, the Eraser, took him by surprise, His ray debilitated and successfully ended the Shield's career.
The Shield's son, Joe Higgins, Jr. combined his fathers anatomical formula with a catalytic agent and expanded upon the powers of his father's uniform to carry on the legacy of Democracy's greatest champion.

History:

The Current Shield has appeared in the Public Service Announcement that featured his origin as well as issues of Archie's Weird Mysteries. He has continued to fight with the Mighty Crusaders and has taken up his father role as the teams leader. As the Shield he has been a more successful hero and leader then his older brother Bill, the Shield III.

Powers & Weapons:

The Shield has super strength, invulnerability, and wears an indestructible costume.

Checklist:

Mighty Comics:
Mighty Comics 41, 43-45

Red Circle & Archie Comics:
Sonic the Hedgehog 70
Archie's Weird Mysteries 3 & 14, Ashcan

Mighty Comics No. 41
December 1966
Cover: Shield and Black Hood vs. costumed crooks //Paul Reinman
Story: “The Shield Vs. the Black Hood” (14 pages)
Editor: Richard Goldwater
Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: Paul Reinman
Feature Character: The Shiled V (first appearance)
GS: The Black Hood (last appearance in MIGHTY CRUSADERS #7)
Intro: Von Dehrbahr (only appearance)
Villains: Crafty Crebbs, Willie Grepps, assorted crooks (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: The Shield and the Black Hood begin performing in a movie about their exploits, and wind up fighting each other.

Story: “Beware the Knave” (10 pages)
Editor: Richard Goldwater
Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: Paul Reinman
Feature Character: The Shiled V (next appears in issue #43)
Intro: Winslow, Tina Winslow (only appearance for both)
Villains: The Knave, Ed and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: The Shield is challenged to a battle to the death by the Knave, a costumed, sword-wielding villain.

Mighty Comics No. 43
February 1967
Cover: Shield vs. the Storm King; Web vs. the Stunner and Mr. Scare (four vignettes) //Paul Reinman
Story: “The Wrath of the Storm King” (10 pages)
Editor: Richard Goldwater
Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: Paul Reinman
Feature Character: The Shield V (last appearance in issue #41)
Villain: The Storm King (Kingsley Storme; first and only appearance)
Synopsis: The Shield faces the Storm King, a foe from the future with power over all weather.

Mighty Comics No. 44
March 1967
Story: “The Menace From PERIL” (3 pages)
Editor: Richard Goldwater
Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: Paul Reinman
Feature Character: The Shiled V
Supporting Character: Nancy Zenith (first appearance)
Villains: Dragonfly (first appearance), the Alligator, a crook (first and only appearance for all), PERIL (last appearance in issue #42)
Synopsis: On his way to a job interview, Joe Higgins has to become the Shield to fight two costumed agents of PERIL.

Mighty Comics No. 45
April 1967
Cover: Shield vs. the Red Shadow; Hangman vs. Falseface (four vignettes) //Paul Reinman
Story: “The Doom Shadow of PERIL” (12 pages)
Editor: Richard Goldwater
Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: Paul Reinman
Feature Character: The Shiled IV (next appears in issue #48)
Supporting Character: Nancy Zenith (next appears in Sonic the Hedgehog #70)
Intro: The Blue Shield Shadow (destroyed in this story)
Villains: PERIL (next appear in issue #48), Dragonfly (last appearance), the Blender, the Vibrateer (first and only appearance for both), the Red Shadow (first appearance; destroyed in this story)
Synopsis: PERIL creates an artificial super-being, the Red Shadow, to battle the Shield.

TEXT BY: Paul Castiglia

INDEX BY: DarkMark

ART BY: Fernando Ruiz

MICRO BY: CopperAge and Rik Offenberger