Power Nelson
Power Nelson/Gene West
Real Name	Gene West
First Appearance	Prize Comics #1 (Mar 1940)
Original Publisher	Prize
Created by	Paul Norris

Contents 1 Golden Age Origin 2 Historic Notes 3 Golden Age Appearances 4 See Also

Golden Age Origin Edit

In the year 1982, exhausted by the second and third World Wars, civilization has been conquered by Mongols led by Emperor Seng I. He rules from his palace in New-New York. Gene West is chosen by a group of scientists to be the test subject for a special experiment. It works, giving him the strength of a steam engine and the hardness of tempered steel. With these powers, he fights as Power Nelson against the rule of Emperor Seng I, wearing an eye patch as Gene West to protect his secret identity. He has a psychological aversion to fighting women, even the armed Amazons who served the tyrants of Uranus.

In his last few stories, the writers inexplicably discarded the future setting and depicted Power Nelson as a contemporary superhero who fought Nazis in the 1940s.

Historic Notes Edit

While the New New York's rulers were referred to as Mongols, their depiction was similar to standard comic book depictions of Japanese military (down to a stylized "rising sun" crest). Emperor Seng I was basically a caricature of Emperor Hirohito.

Golden Age Appearances Edit

• Prize Comics #1-23

See Also Edit

• International Hero
• Comic Vine
• Golden Age Heroes Directory
• Power Nelson story from Prize Comics #4