The Red Bee

It’s hard to suppress a laugh when reading some of the Red Bee’s adventures. But consider: he was preceded by the “Green Hornet,” and “Blue Beetle,” both successes. Blame it on the trained bee. Regardless, the character is immortalized as much for its absurdity as it is for having been featured on the cover of Hit Comics #1, 5 and 7—elegantly drawn by Lou Fine. Fine drew the Red Bee on the cover of Hit Comics #1, but did not draw the first adventure, which looks like it was drawn in the Iger studio. The art is poor, and resembles the work of Charles Nicholas (Wojtkoski), but it was always signed with the pen name “B. H. Apiary” (an apiary is a collection of beehives). Later appearances (beginning with Hit #10) are clearly the work of Witmer Williams (who sometimes signed his work “by Clark Williams”). Williams’ characters in the “Eagle Evans” feature in Police Comics are dead ringers for the forms seen in his “Red Bee.” Williams was also known to be an Iger studio employee at this time. (Alter Ego #21)

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Rick Raleigh, the assistant District Attorney Hawkes of Superior City, decided to expedite the process of law and order by becoming a mystery man—the Red Bee! He dared to fight crime with naught but his own two fists and a trained bee named Michael. In his first case, he brought about the conviction of Boss Storm, head of a corrupt political machine. (Hit Comics #1)

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[ Read the full profile in the Quality Companion ]

DC

The Red Bee’s DC and Quality histories mix seamlessly, especially because his original adventures were so few.

After the U.S. entrance into World War II, the Red Bee decided to enlist his services with the All-Star Squadron. At his first meeting, he met Uncle Sam and joined his splinter group, the Freedom Fighters. They moved to stop Baron Blitzkrieg’s invasion of Santa Barbara, California. There the Red Bee sacrificed his life in the effort; he was murdered by Blitzkrieg, who broke Raleigh’s body on a jagged outcropping. (All-Star Squadron #31-35)

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The Red Bee II

Rick Raleigh is succeeded by the granddaughter of one of his siblings, Jenna Raleigh (Red Bee II), who joined Uncle Sam’s newFreedom Fighters.

Jenna was among several heroes kept in reserve by Uncle Sam and called to action when the Presidency was infiltrated by the alien called Gonzo. (Uncle Sam & the FF #5) She had received Rick Raleigh’s old equipment from Uncle Sam and fashioned it into formidable mechanical weapons, including a suit that enabled her to fly, and robot bees that delivered a powerful “sting.” (#6)

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