Alter ego Peter Ward Notable aliases Thoth | Team affiliations SMASH Notable alias Thoth | |
Abilities Super-human strength, flight, invulnerability First appearance Startling Comics #34 (July 1945) Publishers Standard Comics, America's Best Comics Similar Scarlet Scarab, Liberator, Grim Reaper, Firefly, Samson | ||
The Scarab is a fictional superhero from the Golden Age of Comics. He first appeared in Startling Comics #34 (July 1945), published by Nedor Comics. The character was later revived by writer Alan Moore for America's Best Comics.
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Nedor Comics
The Scarab was the secret identity of Egyptologist Peter Ward. Ward was actually the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian high priest; by rubbing his magic scarab ring Ward would instantly transform into the super-powerful Scarab.
The Scarab debuted in Startling Comics #34, and became a regularly backup feature in Exciting Comics. His last Golden Age appearance was in The Black Terror #20 (October 1947).
America's Best Comics
Alan Moore revived the Scarab, along with many other Nedor Comics characters that had entered the public domain, for his Tom Strong series. In Tom Strong #12 (June 2001), the Scarab was revealed to have been one of the members of SMASH that had been placed in suspended animation after an alien invasion from the moon in 1969. Awakened 30 years later, the Scarab joined his former comrades in the fight against the alien. SMASH disbanded shortly thereafter, but reformed three years later. The Scarab is a member of the reformed group.
In the Terra Obscura spin-off series, the Scarab allows himself to be bonded with the ancient Egyptian god Thoth in order to control one-time superhero Mystico (who is himself bonded with the god Seth).
Dynamite Entertainment
Dynamite Entertainment introduced a loosely based update of the Scarab as part of their title Project Superpowers.
Film
A modernized version of The Scarab appears alongside other public domain superheroes in the independent film Avenging Force: The Scarab, a low-budget production likely attempting to capitalize on the success of the film Marvel's The Avengers.