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Airboy was a wartime comic book created by Charles Biro, that was first published by Hillman Periodicals in 1942.
Originally envisioned as Air Fighter Comics a November 1941 collection of comic stories mainly concerning airborne adventures. Although the first issue sold poorly, it was retooled, and a second issue in 1942, introduced the character that became Airboy.
Airboy, the title character, was David, (or Davy) Nelson, the son of an expert pilot, and an expert himself despite his youth. A friend of his, a Franciscan monk, Br. Francis Martier, had created a new prototype aircraft that flew by flapping its wings, like a bird. Martier, however, was killed while testing this invention, and it was inherited by Davy. Davy, in the process, acquired his outfit, which had, apparently, been in Martier's family since the French Revolution. He soon christened himself "Airboy", and flew off in his new plane, "Birdie", to fight for the Allies in World War II
Airboy was wildly popular; with his catchy name, and striking costume, and as an independent participant in the war, he helped Air Fighter Comics (later renamed Airboy Comics) become a top seller through the 1950s. For these early issues, Biro wrote the scrips and drew some of the covers, and Dan Barry and Fred Kida worked as main illustrators. Kida's issues often featured meetings with Valkyrie, a German aviatrix, who played a role with Airboy often compared to Batman's Catwoman.
With the 1950s came a decline in sales of comic books, and Hillman soon went out of business. Airboy Comics' first run ended in May 1953.
However, in 1986, Eclipse Comics acquired the rights to all of Hillman's characters, and published a new Airboy series. The character was updated, and brought to a more modern era. Valkyrie was back, as well, and began playing a more noticeable role. Chuck Dixon provided the scripting, and Tim Truman was main illustrator. This print run ended in 1989.
Eclipse has since gone out of business, and all its characters were acquired by Todd McFarlane. There are no current plans to resurrect Airboy.
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