The Claw

A monstrous Asian warlord and would-be world conqueror, the Claw debuted as one of comics' earliest supervillains in 1939. Possessing enormous size and supernatural menace, he became a recurring enemy in Lev Gleason's Silver Streak Comics.

Few villains can claim a Golden Age pedigree stretching all the way back to 1939, but The Claw — conjured by Ray Gill and Bill Everett in the very first issue of Silver Streak Comics — is one of the genuine originals, a menacing figure who helped define what a comic book threat could look like before the medium had even found its footing. Born under the Lev Gleason banner, this sinister character carved out a legacy across titles like Silver Streak Comics and Daredevil, sharing those pulpy, action-packed pages with the likes of Bart Hill and Daredevil himself. What's remarkable is the sheer reach of The Claw's story — from those raw Golden Age origins through appearances as recent as Savage Dragon in 2013, a span of roughly 74 years that speaks to an enduring grip on the imagination of comics creators and collectors alike. With two key issues to the name and a place in the founding mythology of American superhero comics, The Claw is essential reading for anyone serious about where this art form began.