First appeared in Pep Comics #1 in 1940 and was created by Harry Shorten and Irv Norrick. Joe Higgins was a chemist, whose father Lieutenant Tom Higgins was killed during the Black Tom explosion, while working on a serum for super-strength. Joe decided to continue his father's work and apply the chemicals to certain body parts while exposing himself to an x-ray. Then, he received superhuman strength and decided to operate as the superhero, the Shield, alongside his sidekick Dusty. His identity is only known to F.B.I. Director J. Edgar Hoover.