The Shield debuted in MLJ's 

Pep Comics #1 (cover-dated Jan. 1940). Writer Harry Shorten and

artist Irv Novick created the character.[4] With the American populace reacting to the beginnings
of World War II and wartime patriotism stirring, the Shield debuted as the first patriotically themed
hero. He was soon followed by three other patriotic comic characters: Captain America (March
1941), Minute-Man (Feb. 1941), and Captain Battle (May 1941).[5]
In 1959, a new Shield, Lancelot Strong, appeared under the Archie Adventure Series imprint in a
series titled, The Double Life of Private Strong. It was cancelled after two issues.
Red Circle Comics reintroduced Lancelot Strong in a new series titled, Lancelot Strong: The
Shield in June 1983. The series was retitled twice, first with Shield-Steel Sterling in December 1983
and then with Steel Sterling in January 1984. In July 1984, the series ended with its seventh issue.
In 1984, Red Circle Comics also released a series starring the Joe Higgins version of the Shield in a
series titled Original Shield. It lasted four issues.
In 1991, Archie Comics licensed their superheroes to DC Comics who created an imprint
called Impact Comics. The company launched a fourth solo series, The Legend of the Shield. It
featured two Shields, Joe Higgins, who led the series for the first thirteen issues, and Lt. Michael
Barnes, his replacement. Barnes continued as the Shield until the title ended in October 1992. [6][7]
In 2015, Archie Comics announced the Shield's return in a new series penned by Adam
Christopher and Chuck Wendig. This version of the character is a woman named Victoria Adams.
The series will be published under the Dark Circle Comics banner. [8] It was originally set to be
released in April 2015 but was delayed until September 2015. [3]

Joe Higgins[edit]
MLJ Comics[edit]
Fictional character biography[edit]
The origin story of The Shield appeared in Shield–Wizard Comics #1 (Summer 1940). He is really
chemist Joe Higgins, the son of Lieutenant Tom Higgins. Tom was working on a chemical formula
for super-strength which the Germans were after, and is slain by German saboteur Hans Fritz in
the Black Tom explosion, for which Tom was blamed. After Tom's death, Joe continues to work on it
while continuing his studies of chemistry. Joe finally figures out the solution, which requires applying
the chemicals to certain parts of his anatomy (Sacrum, Heart, Innervation, Eyes, Lungs, Derma), and
exposing himself to x-rays.[9] This gives him super strength, the ability able to make great leaps, and
invulnerability. Joe uses the initials S.H.I.E.L.D. as his secret identity. His white costume becomes
the familiar colors under the process. He becomes an FBI agent (whose secret identity is known only
to FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover) after clearing his father's name, and fights foreign agents and other
threats to the U.S.[10] At the start of the strip, Higgins' partners are fellow G-Man Ju Ju Watson, and
girlfriend Betty Warren.[11]
The Shield is joined by a kid partner, Dusty the Boy Detective, in Pep #11 (Jan 1941).[12] Dusty's
father had been killed by foreign agents, and he is adopted by Joe and given a costume. Both
heroes wear their patriotic costumes beneath their street clothes and change for action whenever
the need would arise. Dusty also partners with The Wizard's kid partner, Roy, as the "Boy Buddies".
In Pep #20, Joe is called "The One and Only Shield" at the start of the story and "The Original
Shield" at the end of the story because of the success of Captain America, another 1940s-era
patriotic superhero. In his first appearance, Captain America had a shield similar to the main part of
The Shield's costume, but it was changed to a round shield for the second issue over accusations of
plagiarism.
The Shield and Dusty were featured in the first crossover storyline in American comic books. [13] The
storyline had them team up with the Wizard (the headlining character from Top-Notch Comics) to
stop the invasion plot orchestrated by Moskovia (a fictional country made up of elements from Nazi
Germany and the Soviet Union).
The Shield was one of MLJ's most popular characters, even spawning a club, the "Shield G-Man
Club". He starred in Pep, and several other MLJ titles: Shield-Wizard, Top-Notch Comics. But then a
new character arrived who would overshadow him: Archie Andrews. He would take the Shield's
cover spot on Pep, take his fan club, and cause the end of the MLJ superheroes.
An older Joe Higgins appears in New Crusaders as the sole survivor of the Brain Emperor's attack
on his fellow Crusaders. He gathers their teenage children to form a team dubbed "the New
Crusaders".