Alter Ego: Slade
Occupation: Police Officer
Marital Status: Unknown
Known Relatives: None
Group Affiliation: Middletown Police Department
Base of Operations: Middletown, U.S.A.
First Appearance: Detective Comics #260 (October, 1958)
Height: Approx. 6'0"
Weight: Approx. 180 lbs.
Eyes: Dark
Hair: Black
History:
Officer Slade blamed himself for the near escape of the Joss Gang, and with his confidence shaken, tendered his resignation to the Middletown police department. Captain Harding confided to ace detective John Jones that he hated to lose Slade, who he believed had the makings of a fine police officer. Jones decided to help Slade sort out his issues during the period after serving notice by secretly helping him uncover crime through the use of his secret Martian powers. Jones guided Slade to the scene of a robbery, where Slade apprehended several hoods in the act. Still, Slade chalked it up to luck.
Jones decided Slade needed a bit more convincing, and heavily manipulated a car full of counterfeiters into Slade's path and through the chase that followed. Unfortunately, Jones had inadvertently led Slade to a nearly deadly confrontation at the gang's wooded hideout, and barely managed to avert tragedy. Officer Slade contributed fisticuffs after the Martian Manhunter had already invisibly disarmed the gang, and asked no hard questions afterward that might have shaken hos resolve to continue his career with the Middletown police.
Powers & Weapons:
Patrolman Slade carried a standard issue police revolver.
Quote: "Th-the force would be better off without me, sir!"
Created by Jack Miller and Joe Certa
One thing I like about the Silver Age secondary characters for J'Onn is that most were regular people who lived pretty regular lives around the Martian Manhunter, often without knowing it. They had realistic problems, such as a lack of confidence in Slade's case. Compare this with Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane, whose lives were often a bit odd at times in their roles as supporting characters for Superman.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. I just finished watching the first season of Breaking Bad, where the lead character's supporting cast are all going through their personal dramas unaware that he is developing an increasingly complicated criminal enterprise under their noses. It's a great, tense dynamic entirely different from Jimmy and Lois floating from one surreal misadventure to another. The Martian Manhunter and the unearthly elements he deals in are so weird that you need regular people in a familiar world to ground the insanity.
ReplyDeleteI think it's worth noting that Patrolman Slade may have made a rare second appearance, as John Jones is partnered with a policeman named Slade in Detective Comics #268, just 8 issues after Patrolman Slade's initial appearance. This second Slade looks identical to the first.
ReplyDelete