Hale the Magician: 1941, Dynamic Comics #1 (Chesler). In 1541, Hale and his father, an impoverished nobleman, are part of the Spanish Conquistadors in South America. They look in disdain at the cruelty of the Conquistadors and seek to aid the Maoni Indians. His father dies but Hale is taken in by Chief Xingu to learn of their ways and succeed him as leader. This tribe has mastered the science of elecricity and magic and when Hale has proven himself, a mighty spear embodying both is made for him. However, another tribesman, Numi, seeks it all for himself. He stabs Hale and is in turn killed by Xingu. Xingu claims that Hale has been given an immortal soul and will rise again, thus he is taken and buried. In the years that follow, the tribe is torn by internal strife, they and their knowledge pass from this world.

In 1941, scientist Henry Starrett and his beautiful daughter hear wind of the legend of an immortal man coming back to life, and find the mountain top tomb and come to investigate. Tired of waiting, Starrett tries to break into Hale's tomb, hoping that will prompt him to waken. It does, but Starrett mysteriously dies in the process (heart attack? mystical sacrifice?). Hearing of America, Hale vows allegiance to the country and what it stands for. His spearhead is much like Ibis' wand, it makes whatever he wishes for come true. No real good images of him in full costume, he has blue cape and cap ala Felix Faust, loose fitting red pants and sash, possibly a shirt, though his torso was flesh colored.

Lance Hale: 1940, Silver Streak Comics #2 (Lev Gleason). Lance Hale is one of those heroes, who depending on the source, you'll have a different background. And the reason is that he probably went through more high concepts than most other characters and they all have bits of the truth. He was a space hero. He was also jungle hero superhero who preferred the wilds to civilization. He helped Daredevil in his fight against the Claw and Hitler.

In his first appearance, he's a red-headed soldier of fortune/adventurer/explorer in the African jungles. He meets up with a scientist (named Dr. Grey in the next issue) with a spaceship that will carry the two of them to the stars. He also has an invention that he gives Lance, an arm-band that has a small needle that under exertion will inject a formula that makes the possessor super strong (able to easily lift at least 500 lbs), strong enough to survive the pressures of piloting the space ship. Grey also has a beautiful daughter, Myra. In issue 3, he's fighting King Loti and the spiritmen, with the blurb of the battle to continue in the next issue. However, in issue 4, it's about Hale investigating a diamond mine left to him by his uncle. There he discovers a hidden society of cave-men ruled by the beautiful blond queen Aldia who knew his uncle when he was Hale's age. She gives him the secret of eternal youth, he just has to walk through a magic flame. It transforms him into a physical marvel and he aides the Queen in her battle against the Lizard Men and then escapes to the surface with part of the wealth with which he hopes to aide a good many people on the surface. In some scenes, he still wears the arm-band that Grey had given him. In issue 5, he seems to have no powers and fights a sorceress and then in issue 6 it's back to the jungles of Africa where he dresses as a Tarzan type. Here he rescues Jackie, a young boy about to be killed by a lion. No mention is made of the boy's parents, just that he's lost in the jungles and soon he too is just wearing a loin cloth. They befriend a baby elephant which Jackie names Yamba and rides. As Jackie does not appear in later stories, presumably he was reunited with his parents. Skipping issue 7, in #8 he adopts the jungle-superhero outfit seen to the left. Still no powers, maybe he lost that arm band. At this point, he's as good with various jungle weapons as the best jungle lords and continues in this vein for awhile.

Chuck Hardy: 1939, Amazing Man Comics #5 (Centaur). Chuck Hardy is a scientist and adventurer, part of a small party of American scientists headed by Professor Kingsley of Portmouth University on the boat "Research" along with his girl Jerry Peterson. A near volcano erupts while the two are exploring the oceans bottom. They are buffeted by the currents and the bottom of the ocean floor gives way and the two find themselves in a strange world of incredible beasts. Chuck and Jerry find they possess superhuman strength when they save a strange native by the name of Mogba from being eaten by a large beast. They are also able to leap great distances in this weird subterranean world. They soon find themselves meeting and befriending King Kurstan of Aquatania and Oxan, a mighty champion that Chuck bests in combat as well as the enmity of Princess Istrid who sees them as lowly inferiors. Aquatanians look much like humans but have a pair of antennae or horns.

When they help Queen Irena, she gives Chuck a magic crossbow: When used for just purposes, it always hits its mark, when used for unjust, the culprit dies a sudden death. Accompanying them from that point is also Jumbo, one of her diminutive subjects with pincer hands who developed a strong loyalty to Oxan and his friends.

Dan Hastings: 1937, Star Comics #1 (Centaur). Dan Hastings is a Lieutenant with the International Earth Squadron in the future having all sorts of adventures.

1944 Dynamic Comics 8 (Chesler). A Flash Gordon ripoff, Dan is the personal rocket navigator for Dr. Carter and is in love with Carter's daughter Gloria. In issue #19, a rare thing occurs, the hero actually proposes to the girl. He stumbles over the words, but she agrees to marry him.

NOTE: It's not all that unusual for characters to jump companies during the golden-age, often with some minor changes.(see Lt. Lank and the Clock for other examples). Dan Hastings was also published by MLJ so he and Phantom Lady may hold the record for being at 3 different companies during this time. Often, the particulars with Hastings changed (much as Phantom Lady had some subtle and not so subtle costume changes with each company), though he remained a space sci-fi hero in all his incarnations..