Meet the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit of Golden Age comics.
Funnyman is the star of a self-titled comics series created in 1948 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, famous as the fathers of that other guy. The character was little more than an attempt to make lightning strike twice after DC Comics had bought out their iconic creation for the measly sum of $130 — needless to say, it didn't work, and Funnyman has passed into obscurity.
Funnyman himself is Larry Davis, a comedian talked into performing a superhero-themed publicity stunt by his manager, June Farrell. As it happens, Larry accidentally foils a real robbery — and finds that fighting crime is his true calling. He goes on to perform genuine heroic deeds with the help of June and Sergeant Harrington, an officer who didn't view Funnyman in the highest regard. Alas, readers were not amused, and Funnyman hung up his novelty rubber nose after just six issues. They tried again with a Funnyman newspaper comic in October 1948...not only did Funnyman fail to find an audience there, but in July 1949 he was dropped from his own strip in favor of a new character named Reggie Van Twerp, a rich idiot whose butler continually had to save him from trouble. Funnyman ended in the fall of 1949, never having achieved a fraction of Superman's popularity.
Then again, as the second son of Superman's creators, the guy had some really big shoes to fill.
...Geddit? Big Shoes? Because he wears big clown shoes!
Has nothing to do with the similarly named 1994 film.
Funnyman provides examples of:
- The Adjectival Superhero: Larry must surely have the most egregious example - the Intrepid Imbecile! Other examples included the Comic Crimebuster and the Slapstick Sleuth.
- Captain Ersatz: While being trapped in the Middle Ages by accident, Funnyman encounters "Sir Lunchalot", "King Artery" and "Schmerlin".
- Celebrity Masquerade: Larry is a famous comedian in his own right.
- Clark Kenting: As Funnyman, Larry hides his real identity behind a novelty rubber nose.
- Cool Car: Funnyman has his "Jet-Jalopy", equipped with a ton of gadgets. It can be voice-controlled due to photoelectric cells. Also, he uses a Cool Bike to get around the city.
- Crazy-Prepared: Funnyman gets himself out of trouble by using a wide variety of gadgets and unusual methods.
- Criminal Doppelgänger: Recurring villain Slippery Slim, although only his first appearance involved any lookalike antics.
- Deliberately Non-Lethal Attack: Funnyman fights to help others and to bring criminals to justice without inflicting serious harm or killing people.
- Follow the Leader: In-universe; inspired by Funnyman, two other comedy-themed superheroes named Laffman and Comicman occasionally pop up and attempt to steal the original's thunder. Their meddling and desire to one-up Funnyman make his job a bit tougher.
- Home Base: Funnyman built one. In one story, some criminals out to kill him follow him there after they wounded him, only to get utterly humiliated.
- In a Single Bound: The superpower of one-shot villain Leapin' Lena, the daughter of a pair of acclaimed jumping acrobats.
- Laughing Gas: Used by Funnyman, fittingly.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Larry's mannerisms were based on those of comedian Danny Kaye.
- Non-Powered Costumed Hero: Funnyman doesn't possess any superpowers, but makes up for this with wit, prank-based gadgets and humour.
- One-Word Title: His name's "Funnyman", not "Funny Man".
- Only a Flesh Wound: A group of thugs tries to assassinate Funnyman while he's on patrol so they can commit crimes without fearing to get prosecuted by him. Luckily, a bullet only grazes him and he can get away because of a truck driving by. It's the only time real blood is shown in the comic - every other time when Funnyman seems to get hurt badly, it's actually red ink used to fool his attackers.
- The Prankster: Funnyman is this big time, dishing out Prank Punishment left and right and thus invoking pranking montages.
- Practical Joke: How Funnyman fights his enemies.
- For example, he uses the Explosive Cigar prank while being abducted by aliens.
- An Extendo Boxing Glove is also part of his prank-based arsenal.
- Protagonist Title: The comic was named after his superhero name.
- Secret Identity: Larry Davis is a comedian going out on the streets to fight criminals as self-proclaimed hero "Funnyman".
- Time Travel: Funnyman gets zapped back into a fantastic version of the Middle Ages in one issue.
