Super Rabbit
{{About|the Timely Comics character|the Bugs Bunny cartoon|Super-Rabbit}}
{{Infobox comics character
|image=180px
|caption=Super Rabbit Comics #6 (Spring 1946). Cover artist unknown
|character_name=Super Rabbit
|real_name=Waffles Bunny
|publisher=Timely Comics
|debut=Comedy Comics #14 (Mar. 1943)
|creators=Ernie Hart
|alliances=Pet Avengers
|aliases= The Marvel of the Age
|powers=Super strength
Flight
Invulnerability except for a single spot at top of head
}}
Super Rabbit is a talking animal superhero in american comic books published by Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics, during the 1930s and 1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books. Created by cartoonist Ernie Hart, he first appeared in Comedy Comics #14 (cover-dated Mar. 1943).{{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Kurt |last2=Thomas |first2=Roy |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944 |date=2019 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490892 |page=192}}
The character appeared after Fawcett Comics' talking-animal superhero Hoppy the Marvel Bunny (debut: Fawcett's Funny Animals #1, cover-dated Dec. 1942), and before the Bugs Bunny theatrical cartoon short "Super-Rabbit" (released in April 1943).
Publication history
Following his debut as the cover star of Comedy Comics #14 (March 1943), Super Rabbit remained the lead feature through #33 (Sept. 1946). A star of Timely Comics' humor division — produced by what the company called its "animator bullpen", edited by Vincent Fago and largely separate from the superhero group producing comics featuring Captain America and other such characters{{cite web|last=Vassallo |first= Michael J. | url=http://www.comicartville.com/vincefago.htm | title=Vincent Fago and the Timely Funny Animal Dept. | publisher= Comicartville.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081208161111/http://www.comicartville.com/vincefago.htm |url-status=dead | archive-date= December 8, 2008}} — Super Rabbit also appeared in Krazy Comics, Comic Capers, Funny Tunes (a.k.a. Animated Funny Comic-Tunes), All Surprise Comics (as the cover star of #1-11, Fall 1943 - Fall 1946) and other anthology series.[http://www.comics.org/character/name/super%20rabbit/sort/alpha/ Super Rabbit (character)] at the Grand Comics Database
He additionally starred in his own Super Rabbit Comics, which ran 14 issues (Fall 1944 - Nov. 1948). His final story was It's a Duck's Life #11 (Feb. 1952).
While a series of authorized reprints of Super Rabbit's adventures was published in Canada by Bell Features,Bell, John (2006). Invaders from the North: How Canada Conquered the Comic Book Universe. Toronto: Dundurn Press. {{ISBN|978-1-55002-659-7}}. three known unauthorized reprint issues appeared from Israel Waldman's I.W. Publishing beginning in 1958, with issues #1-2 released that year. A third issue, labeled #7 and costing 10¢, later appeared, and was reissued in 1963 as #10 and costing 12¢.
Aside from creator Ernie Hart, other artists who contributed to his adventures included Mike Sekowsky, Al Jaffee, and inker Violet Barclay.
In 1977, Marvel announced a reboot of the character in a solo series with Marv Wolfman as writer, but apparently this project did not come to fruition.Letters page of Marvel Two-In-One #30, August 1977
Fictional character biography
Waffles Bunny, variously depicted as a reporter or a shoeshine boy, rubs a magic ring to transform into Super Rabbit, who is virtually invulnerable except for a spot on the top of his head.{{cite book |last1=Becattini |first1=Alberto |title=American Funny Animal Comics in the 20th Century: Volume Two |date=2019 |publisher=Theme Park Press |isbn=978-1683902218 |chapter=Super-Animals}} He protects the innocent, captures robbers, and battles enemies such as Super Nazi, a mustachioed pig.{{cite book |last1=Nevins |first1=Jess |title=Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes |date=2013 |publisher=High Rock Press |isbn=978-1-61318-023-5 |page=262}} Waffles' self-proclaimed "number-one fan" and publicist, Wilbur Woodpecker, occasionally accompanies him, much to his consternation.[http://www.toonopedia.com/superrab.htm Super Rabbit] at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. [https://archive.today/20240525140855/https://www.webcitation.org/62voLIn1W?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/superrab.htm Archived] from the original on November 3, 2011.
In other media
Waffles, a non-anthropomorphic rabbit inspired by Super Rabbit, appears in the M.O.D.O.K. episode "If This Be... M.O.D.O.K.!".{{cite web |last=Wilds |first=Stephen |date=May 21, 2021 |title=Easter Eggs You Missed In Marvel's MODOK |url=https://www.looper.com/416865/easter-eggs-you-missed-in-marvels-modok/ |accessdate=May 26, 2022 |publisher=Looper}} He is used in therapy at A.I.M. before being stolen by MODOK and killed by a laser.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- Nevins, Jess. [http://www.reocities.com/Athens/Olympus/7160/Timely5.htm "The Timely Comics Story"], p. 5. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100309140216/http://www.reocities.com/Athens/Olympus/7160/Timely1.htm WebCitation archive].
- {{cite web|author-link=Scott Shaw (artist)|first=Scott|last=Shaw|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/oddball/index.cgi?date=2001-05-24 |publisher=Oddball Comics (column) ComicBookResources.com|title= Super Rabbit Comics Vol. 1, No. 8|date= May 24, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813192309/http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/oddball/index.cgi?date=2001-05-24 | archive-date=August 13, 2007|url-status=dead}} {{webarchive|format=addlarchives|url=https://archive.today/20111104005005/http://www.oddball-comics.com/article.php?story=archive2001-05-24|date=November 4, 2011}}
- {{cite web |first=Scott |last=Shaw |url=http://www.oddball-comics.com/article.php?story=archive2002-11-18 |title= Super Rabbit Comics Vol. 1, No. 12 |date=November 17, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203223447/http://www.oddball-comics.com/article.php?story=archive2002-11-18 |publisher=Oddball-Comics.com |archive-date= February 3, 2012 |url-status=live}}
- [http://lambiek.net/artists/h/hart_ernest.htm Ernie Hart] at the Lambiek Comiclopedia. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111021060408/http://lambiek.net/artists/h/hart_ernest.htm Archived] November 3, 2011
{{GoldenAge}}
{{Avengers characters}}
Category:Anthropomorphic rabbits and hares
Category:Comics about talking animals
Category:Comics about anthropomorphic rabbits and hares
Category:Comics characters introduced in 1943
Category:Fictional reporters and correspondents
Category:Golden Age comics titles
Category:Golden Age superheroes
Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength
Category:Marvel Comics characters who use magic
Category:Marvel Comics male superheroes
Category:Marvel Comics shapeshifters