Posted in: Comics, Heritage Sponsored, Vintage Paper | Tagged: Bulletdog, bulletman, Fawcett Publications, golden age, pre-code horror

The Debut of Fawcett's Bulletdog in Bulletman #10, Up for Auction

Bulletdog was arguably the first "superdog companion" of the Golden Age, setting the stage for Krypto and other superpets to follow.

In modern times, super pets have become a staple part of superhero franchises, and like those franchises themselves, the origins of such super animal companions can be traced back to the early Golden Age. Bulletman #10, featuring the first appearance of Bulletdog, a historically significant comic book due to its introduction of what is arguably the first "superdog companion" of the Golden Age, setting the stage for the popularity of canine characters Green Lantern's Streak the Wonder Dog and Superman's Krypto.  A fascinating footnote to Golden Age comic book history, there's a CGC FN- 5.5 copy of Bulletman #10 (Fawcett Publications, 1942) up for auction in the 2025 July 18 Golden Age Comics Century Showcase at Heritage Auctions.

Notably, Bulletdog's unusual history actually begins in Bulletman #9.  In a story that issue called "The Amazing Case of the Canine Criminals," Bulletman and Bulletgirl faced a gang of dogs who were being forced to help commit robberies.  Eventually, a courageous puppy and its mother break free and help stop the man who was forcing the dogs to commit crimes.  At the end of the story, it is implied that the unnamed puppy and its mother will become police dogs.  In the lead story of Bulletman #10, it appears that Susan Kent (Bulletgirl) has adopted the puppy, who is now colored differently than he was in the previous issue.  Embarking on a new case, Bulletman refers back to the puppy's bravery in the previous issue and decides that he can help them fight crime on a regular basis.  He creates an anti-gravity collar for the dog using the same techniques used to create their helmets, and Bulletgirl declares him Bulletdog.  In Bulletman #11, the dog's real name was revealed to be Slug. However, this name was short-lived, as Bulletman #12 included a call for reader entries to rename Bulletdog. The winning name, "Tracer," was announced in Master Comics #39.

The creation of Bulletdog might be attributable to legendary writer Otto Binder, known for his contributions to Fawcett franchises with spin-off characters and villains like Mary Marvel, Uncle Dudley, Mr. Tawky Tawny, Black Adam, and Mr. Mind. Similarly, Binder is well-remembered today for co-creating Supergirl and Krypto for DC Comics in the Silver Age. While it's uncertain if Binder indeed created Bulletdog, his track record and known work on the Bulletman title at this time make him a likely candidate.

Beyond the superhero stories, Bulletman #10 is a noteworthy example of war-era comic books of the early 1940s. The two-page text story, "Only the Bravest Live," is a stark departure from the costumed heroics, detailing a dogfight between a U.S. Navy pilot, Ensign Jack Alden, and Japanese Zero fighters over the Louisiade Archipelago. Furthermore, the issue's humor strip, "Ambitious Armbruster," concludes with the hero of the story successfully using his earnings to purchase a War Bond, a direct and tangible call to action for civilian readers on the home front

With only 17 copies on the CGC census, the debut of Bulletdog in Bulletman #10 is a surprisingly elusive issue. But there's a CGC FN- 5.5 copy of Bulletman #10 (Fawcett Publications, 1942) up for auction in the 2025 July 18 Golden Age Comics Century Showcase at Heritage Auctions.

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