Fox Universe

The Lynx (August 1940)

First Appearance - Mystery Men Comics, August 1940

Alter Ego - James Norton

Group - Mystery Men of America

ORIGINS

The first science hero to debut on the west coast, in early 1940, was The Moth, who operated in California. College student, James Norton was visiting Los Angeles with his football squad in June and happened to witness The Moth in action, thereafter becoming a big fan.

Naturally athletic, but drifting in life, when James graduated with low honors from his Seattle based university, he spent a few months wondering what to do with his life. As James had been left an inheritance by his parents while still a teenager, he hit upon the idea of becoming a science hero, with a costume based on the early version of The Moth.

James used his college football nickname, and started calling himself The Lynx. While fast and naturally athletic, he desperately wished he had powers - so much so that in early exploits he used gimmicks and trickery to fabricate rumors that he had super strength and could fly.

Gaining noteriety as the science hero of Seattle, The Lynx enjoyed the adoration that came with being a famous crimefighter, and in his efforts to maintain his popularity, continued to tweak his costume and even took on a kid sidekick, his ward, Phil Blackwood aka Blackie, the Mystery Boy.

During 1940 and 1941, The Lynx and Blackie fought several notorious Seattle based villains, including Dr Glome, Pain and sultry female spy, Olga, but his arch enemies were rival mobsters, Baldy Burke and The Rook.

He was also aided by his uncle, Seattle police detective sgt Max Norton - Appeared in text story in Fantastic Comics 21, August 1941.

A bit over a year into his crimefighting career, James decided that if he truly wanted to make a splash in the science hero game, he had to go where the action was. And as many science heroes were located on the east coast, with a bunch clustered around the New York area, The Lynx took an opportunity to work a case there, by following the Rook's smuggling operations.

He and Blackie began to spend time in the east on a frequent basis - it was a move that paid off when James met the Mystery Men and was offered a spot on their roster in September 1941. Phil was also able to spend time with fellow teen heroes such as Domino, Kid Fury and Buddy, the Young Eagle, joining their loosely organized group, The Fantastic Teens.

Now living in a plush apartment in Manhattan, James and Phil were present in New York when the Sorceress of Zoom attacked on December 6th, initiating a conflict that pulled dozens of science heroes in, to defend the city. As a result of that day, The Lynx was changed forever, as mystical energies directed at him and two other animal themed heroes began to turn them into their namesakes. Fortunately the attack was interupted and as a result, Lynx, Black Lion and the Lion's sidekick, Cub, found they now possessed super powers.

While all three now possessed beast forms and could change from human to beast man, The Lynx hated this ability, and rarely used it, instead preferring to rely on the super speed that he had somehow been endowed with. He didn't make a habit of questioning this gift, but on an occasion or two, scientist friends had suggested a subconscious link to his need to live life in the fast lane. Some opinions privately discussed had James as an adrenelin junkie and occasional hothead. It was also suggested that there was a thematic link with the fast moving animal Lynx.

The Lynx was now fast enough to take quick trips home by super speed, but as Phil remained without powers it was the initial step in the breakup of their partnership.

He also updated his costume, ditching the cape and covering his former bare legged look.

On March 8th 1942, The Lynx attended the inaugural meeting of the new expanded MYSTERY MEN of AMERICA, along with every other US or US based allied hero. He was a proud and well regarded member until the team disbanded on its anniversary on March 8th 1946.