The Defender
In August 1941, Don Stevens thinks it is time for him to do his patriotic duty. Creating a uniform based on the flag of the United States, Don Stevens fights the Nazis with the aid of his faithful young sidekick, Rusty, the Boy Patriot (see individual entry), as the Defender, the American warrior of freedom and justice. Unfortunately, the Defender and Rusty would only operate in this capacity for a short while before fading into obscurity.
Rusty
In the late summer months of 1941, Don Stevens, (better known as the Defender) gains a partner in the young lad named Rusty. Neither of them appears to have any super-powers, just a patriotic desire to fight tyranny. The Defender (see individual entry) and Rusty have a very short career of less than a year. No background information on Rusty currently exists.
Comments
The Defender was one of Timely’s attempts to cash in on Captain America. He was the lead in U.S.A. Comics # 1, possibly indicating that Timely was hoping for another Captain America for their patriotic comic, but by the second issue he was just a back-up and was soon cancelled. Timely decided to make Captain America the logical star of U.S.A. Comics.
Though Joe Simon and Jack Kirby did a one-page intro for the Defender in U.S.A. Comics # 1, but little is known of the character other than that he is a Marine and Rusty is his ward/companion. They have no special powers or origin other than a desire to see justice done and the athletic abilities to back it up. Charles Nicholas and George Klein did the artwork for the characters.
Two of the duo’s enemies were the Fog, a gas-mask-wearing villain who spread a debilitating fog, and Dame Kackle (I am not making this up). They have not appeared since the Golden Age.
Click Image to Enlarge
