Silver Agent
From Herocopia
The Silver Agent symbolizes the new era of the sixties, "the best and the brightest."
He burst onto the Astro City super-hero scene in the mid-50s and was an immediate, popular sensation, garnering admiration and respect for his heroic activities.
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Vital Statistics
Status: Deceased.
Real Name: Alan Jay Craig
Debuted: In Astro City Comics 1:2, a flashback sequence from 1959. This issue is is his earliest published adventure to date. It also alludes to earlier activities, but they have yet to be shown in detail.
Earliest known appearance: 1956
Affiliation: An original member of Honor Guard, and it's earliest (first?) known group leader. The Silver Agent also has a very active solo career.
Base of Operations: The majority of the Silver Agent's solo adventures focus on Astro City, but his affiliation with Honor Guard broadens his operational range to include more global activities.
Uniform and Weaponry
- Carries a small pistol that fires various kinds of trick bullets, including ones that act much like smoke bombs upon impact.
- Upper part of body is covered in chain mail, with shield shaped armor over the chest and upper back.
- Same metallic material is used for arm gauntlets. Note: they do not cover the hands.
- Helmet is also metallic and is a half-style, with Germanic knight design influences. Wears chain mall leggings and cavalier boots.
Speculations, Observations and Theories:
The motivations, personality and character make-up of the Silver Agent are still something of a work-in-progress. No specific story material has been presented to nail this down. Perhaps the best insight is from his first published appearance 1:2. He seemed to have a significant amount of peer admiration, which gave him leadership skills and the ability to motivate others and call upon them for help when needed. He was also very good at making tactical decisions in battle situations. We will undoubtedly see more revelations into the Silver Agent's personality as new story material about his life and death is presented.
It is doubtful that a personality like the Silver Agent would have had much of a personal life. He was dedicated to his work, passionate about doing the best he can. Accommodating personal time and family responsibilities would have proven difficult. Still, not all people are wise enough to know this limitation, but the Silver Agent seemed disciplined enough to understand the sacrifices of his choices.
The Silver Agent was born in 1932, and died in 1973. There is a great shame associated with his ultimate sacrifice, as attested to on his statue. He is a symbol of all that is good in man, while his death is a reminder of a weakness in human nature, that of not maintaining a stronger faith and commitment to heroic ideals.
Headlines
- April 8, 1968: Silver Agent Quells Riot in Bakervile District
Appearance List
Timelines of Interest
Footnotes
Some Interesting Comic History Related Alignments of the Silver Agent:
- His debut appearance in a 1959 flashback, references the Silver Agent first appearing just a few years earlier, coinciding with Showcase Comics #4, the generally agreed upon beginning of the Silver Age.
- His death in 1973 symbolically aligns with the Death of Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man comics, considered by many Silver-Age fans as the last major event occurring within the overall framework of the Marvel Silver-Age comics material.
- Named for comic book fan, comic historian, and Comic Buyer's Guide writer, Craig Shutt (Mr. Silver Age)
