A
super-hero created by
Charles Reizenstein &
Hal Sharp for
DC Comics.
Mr. Terrific first appeared in
Sensation Comics
#1 in January 1942.
Terry Sloane grew up exceptional, a prodigy. He was gifted
both mentally and physically, and was able to turn his great
intellect into financial success. Bored with life and with
lack of challenge in his pursuits, Sloane decided to end his
life by throwing himself from a bridge. Before Sloane was
able to carry through with his plan, he saw a young woman
throw herself from the bridge. Acting on instinct, Sloane
dove in after her and rescued her.
The woman was named Wanda Wilson and she explained to Sloane
that she was driven to suicide by the actions of her younger
brother. He had joined a criminal gang led by the mobster, the
Big Shot.
Wilson's story gave Sloane a new purpose in life. He decided
to take his skill and wealth and put them to a new life: fighting
crime. Unlike many of his spandex-wearing colleagues, Sloane
decided to be proactive in his fight against crime, forming
a club for youth called the Fair Play Club to teach them
right from wrong. But unlike Thomas Baden-Powell who just
formed a boy's club, Sloane created a costumed identity known
with the words Fair Play upon his chest. So was born Mr.
Terrific.
Mr. Terrific fought crime for many years, becoming a member of
both the All Star Squadron and the Justice Society of America.
In Justice League of America #171, Mr. Terrific was killed
by his arch-nemisis, the Spirit King who possessed the
ability to possess others. The story written by Gerry Conway
was rather arbitrarily written, killing off Mr. Terrific for
seemingly no reason. Also, Conway introduced Mr. Terrific's
arch-enemy in the same story where he killed Sloane.
Of late, another prodigy named Michael Holt has taken up the
mantle of Mr. Terrific, using his gifts to fight crime.