Black Prophet

BLACK PROPHET

Real Name: Captain Kortz

Class: Human

Occupation: Nazi spy

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Germany, 1940s era

First Appearance: (Captain Kortz) Green Lantern I #4 (Summer, 1942), (Black Prophet) Green Lantern I #5 (Fall, 1942)

Powers: Kortz was a master spy and orator.

History: (Green Lantern I #4) - Kortz was considered Hitler's master spy, and on December 7, 1941 Kortz led the German navy against America's east coast while Japan attacked the west coast. His men boarded an American ship carrying Alan Scott, Irene Miller, and Doiby Dickles. Kortz put the men in prison, and tried to force himself on Irene, but Alan changed into his mysteryman identity of Green Lantern and made short work of him. GL foiled the Nazi bombers attacking the east coast, and took the letter Kortz' had as an introduction to America's fifth columnists and their commander Dr. Zapt, infiltrating the Nazi organization. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and the U.S. officially entered WWII. On December 11 Doiby tried the same trick as Alan to infiltrate the Fifth Columnists, but both the heroes were undone when Kortz showed up and labeled them spies. Alan changed to GL, but was knocked out by a wooden chair. The Nazis tried to kill former anti-war man of industry Townsend Clay, who was being interviewed by Irene Miller. GL escaped his captivity, and foiled the Nazis, a number of whom died in an explosion caused by Kortz. Doiby had carelessly bragged about GL being immune to everything except wood, and thought Kortz and Zapt were on the run they had a new advantage. After Doiby and Alan enlisted Zapt and Kortz posed as hashouse cooks and tried to poison Doiby, but GL saved his life. Irene was eager for some spy-smashing, and picked up a radio transmission that indicated some Nazis were hiding in a nearby car yard, but she were captured by Kortz. GL came to the rescue, having to deal with a green shield the Nazis invented to deflect his power beams, but Kortz escaped with Irene, taking her on a plane to Germany, where they planned to force her to act as a radio broadcaster. GL rescued her, and Kortz seemingly perished.

(Green Lantern I #5) - Kortz survived his ordeal, and as the Black Prophet he was dressed in robes and sent to North Africa to stir up unrest among the Muslim tribes, and turn them against the Allies. Sheik Judar spoke to his people of honoring peace treaties, but the Black Prophet insisted they throw off the shackles of the French and English, and challenged the sheik to a trial by combat. He was victorious, and the other leaders were swayed to his side. The U.S. had learned of the Nazis plans and sent several soldiers, including Alan Scott and Doiby Dickles to put a halt to it. They were shot down by the tribes, and the wounded Alan was left behind while Doiby and his men were cast into prison. Judar again challenged the Prophet's methods, and the Nazi promised to show that Allah was on his side. The Prophet tried to demonstrate his power using a Nazi goon pretending to be a djinn, but GL ruined his act, and when the tribes showed amazement at his powers, he challenged the Prophet to trial by combat. GL defeated the Prophet and unmasked him as Kortz', who'd survived their last encounter. The tribes fully committed to GL's side when he showed them maps sent to Kortz by Hitler, maps that showed he wanted the Middle East to be a slave colony. The tribes chased Kortz, screaming for blood, but he fled in a nearby plane. GL and his army men shot down Kortz in a dogfight, as well as aided an Allied battle against Axis ships before returning to America. Kortz escaped custody again and rallied his Fifth Columnist allies, but GL took out the Nazis while Doiby boxed Kortz' ears single-handedly.

Comments: Created by Bill Finger & Martin Nodell.

In the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths DCU Kortz lived on Earth-2.