ComicBookReligion.com logo

The Religious Affiliation of
unnamed car passenger
 

Religion: believes in ghosts CBR Scale: S

Name: unnamed car passenger

Classification: villain villain  

Publisher(s): DC

First Appearance: Action Comics (vol. 1) #12 (May 1939): "Superman Declares War on Reckless Drivers"

Creators: Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster

Number of Appearances: 1

Ally: unnamed hit-skip driver

Gender: male

Note: rode car that hit Superman; told driver to slow down

The term "hit-skip" driver was used by Superman writer Jerry Siegel for what we today refer to as a "hit-and-run driver."

Superman's encounter with an unnamed hit-and-run driver was featured in 9 panels on pages 7 and 8 in the Superman story in Action Comics #12. Superman was waging an all-out war on reckless drivers. He began this crusade after a different hit-and-run driver killed his friend Charlie Martin at the start of the story. While standing on a bridge, a Superman was struck from behind by a speeding vehicle. The driver wore a green checkered coat and a light blue fedora. The unexpected impact knocked Superman to the pavement. He was uninjured, but very angry. Superman muttered, "A hit-skip driver!"

The man sitting in the passenger seat next to the hit-and-run driver told him, "Stop! You've hit someone!"

The clearly selfish and evil hit-and-run driver responded, "Stop nothin'! I'm gettin' away from here!"

But Superman would have none of that! Superman started running after the fleeing car, saying to himself, "This rat deserves a lesson he'll never forget!"

The narration reads: "Easily overtaking the car, Superman takes one mighty spring and lands within the rear of the car!" (The car had no roof.)

The startled driver shouted, "It's him!!" His friend next to him yelled out, "No, it's his ghost!"

Superman seized on this opportunity to put a real scare in the driver. He told him, "You left my crushed body back there -- twisted and broken! I'll haunt you as long as you drive recklessly! Do you hear? I'll -- haunt -- you!!"

The frightened look on the reckless driver's face indicates he really does believe Superman's words. "No! No!" he stammers.

The narration observes "Superman springs from the hurtling car, to the pavement!"

Now out of earshot from the reckless driver, Superman observes, "Ho! Ho! There's one guy who'll drive more carefully from now on!"


This character is in the following story which has been indexed by this website:
Action Comics (vol. 1) #12 (May 1939): "Superman Declares War on Reckless Drivers" (3-panel cameo)