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{{short description|Boy aviation comic character}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox comics character
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image   = 4AirFightersComicsVol1No7.jpg
|caption = The cover to ''Air Fighters Comics'' vol. 1, #7, featuring Airboy. Art by [[Fred Kida]].
|converted      =
|real_name      = David ("Davy") Nelson II<br>David ("Davy") Nelson III
|publisher      = [[Hillman Periodicals]] <small>(1942–1953)</small><br />[[Eclipse Comics]] <small>(1986–1989)</small><!--<br />[[Moonstone Books]] <small>(2009–2010)</small><br> [[Antarctic Press]] <small>(2012)</small><br> [[Image Comics]] <small>(2014)</small>-->
|debut          = ''Air Fighters Comics'' #2 ([[cover-date]]d Nov. 1942)
|creators       = [[Charles Biro]] & Dick Wood (writers)<br>Al Camy (artist)
}}

'''Airboy''' is a fictional [[Golden Age of comic books|Golden Age]] [[aviator]] [[hero]] of an American comic book series initially published by [[Hillman Periodicals]] during the World War II, before ending his initial run in 1953. The hero was the costumed identity of crack pilot Davy Nelson II, and created by writers [[Charles Biro]] and Dick Wood with artist Al Camy.<ref name=markstein>{{cite web |last1=Markstein |first1=Don |website=Don Markstein's Toonopedia |access-date=April 2, 2020  |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/airboy.htm |title=Airboy}}</ref>

The character disappeared from publications until a 1980s revival under [[Chuck Dixon]] that lasted for several years, focusing on the original Airboy's son, Davy Nelson III, and reviving much of the Hillman library of supporting characters before ending in 1989.

Since then the original Hillman creations and stories have fallen into the [[public domain]]; as a result Airboy and his supporting cast have appeared intermittently since under multiple publishers, sometimes updating his story to the present day or continuing previous adventures.

==Publication history==
===Hillman Publications===
{{Infobox comic book title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| title = Air Fighters Comics / Airboy Comics
| italic title = no
| image = AirFightersComicsVol2No2.jpg
| caption = The cover to ''Air Fighters Comics'' vol. 2, #2, featuring Valkyrie. Art by [[Fred Kida]].
| schedule = [[Month]]ly
| ongoing = y
| publisher = [[Hillman Periodicals]]
| date = November 1942 – May 1953
| issues = 89
| main_char_team =
| writers = [[Charles Biro]]<br>Dave Wood
| artists = Al Camy<br>[[Tony DiPreta]]<br>[[Fred Kida]]<br>[[Ernie Schroeder]]<br>[[Dan Barry (cartoonist)|Dan Barry]]<br>Maurice Del Bourgo<br>[[Carmine Infantino]]
| editors =
| pencillers =
| inkers =
| colorists =
| creative_team_month = 
| creative_team_year = 
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}}

Airboy debuted in ''Air Fighters Comics'' #2 ([[cover-date]] Nov. 1942), an anthology series featuring a variety of aviator heroes; the first issue of the title had been published a year before, featuring a completely different cast of characters who were never seen again.<ref name=markstein/><ref name=AH145AFC/> The series was renamed ''Airboy Comics'' with the twenty-third issue, vol. 2, #11 (Dec. 1945), and ran 89 issues, through vol. 10, #4 (May 1953).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Mike |title=Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History |date=1992 |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company |location=Dallas |isbn=0-87833-808-X |url=https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent/page/146 |access-date=April 1, 2020 |page=146}}</ref>

In the early issues, Biro wrote the scripts with Dave Wood and drew the covers, Al Camy was the initial story artist. He was followed by [[Tony DiPreta]] and, beginning with ''Air Fighters'' #10 (July 1943), [[Fred Kida]], who would become closely associated with the series. [[Ernie Schroeder]] became the regular artist with ''Airboy Comics'' vol. 5, #11 (Dec. 1948), through the end of the series' run, with [[Dan Barry (cartoonist)|Dan Barry]], Maurice Del Bourgo, [[Carmine Infantino]], and others supplying an occasional story.<ref name=gcdairfighters>[http://www.comics.org/issue/2509/ ''Air Fighters Comics''] at the [[Grand Comics Database]]</ref><ref name=gcdairboy>[http://www.comics.org/series/426/ ''Airboy Comics''] at the Grand Comics Database</ref>

One of Airboy's most frequently recurring supporting characters was the German aviator Valkyrie, who fought on the side of the Axis as one of the Airmaidens but then defected to the Allies.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Kurt |last2=Thomas |first2=Roy |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940–1944 |date=2019 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490892 |page=226}}</ref> The [[Cleavage (breasts)|cleavage]]-baring [[aviatrix]] was one of the most popular characters in the series, making numerous appearances. [[Chuck Dixon]], writer of the 1980s revival, would describe Valkyrie as "a cross between a [[Milton Caniff]] siren and [[Veronica Lake]]", and declare her the "sexiest character of Golden Age comics bar none".<ref name=archives1/>

An unusual feature of the series was that Airboy broadly aged in real-time, starting out as a young teenager at the start of his adventures; Kida credited the idea for this development to ''[[Terry and the Pirates]]''.<ref>{{cite comic|publisher=Ken Pierce, Inc.|title=Valkyrie!|story=Airboy Meets Valkyrie|writer=[[Cat Yronwode]]|date=Spring 1982}}</ref> Following the Allies' victory in World War II in 1945, the series re-orientated and featured Airboy battling against the new terror, [[Communists]].<ref name=archives1/>

The two consecutive series also contained backup stories about other aviators, including Skywolf, Iron Ace, the Black Angel, the Bald Eagle, the Flying Dutchman and the Flying Fool, before Hillman stopped publishing comics in 1953 due to the fall-out from [[Fredric Wertham]]'s infamous ''[[Seduction of the Innocent]]'', the incoming oversight of the [[Comics Code Authority]]<ref name=archives1>{{cite comic|title=Airboy Archives|issue=Volume 1|date=2014|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]|writer=Chuck Dixon|story=Why Airboy?}}</ref> and a general downturn in the market.<ref name=markstein/> Hillman subsequently left the publishing business altogether in 1961.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pulpartists.com/Hillman.html|title=Catalog|website=www.pulpartists.com}}</ref> Two issues were reprinted in 1973 by Don Maris' Nostalgia Inc. ''Comic Reprints'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comics.org/series/12562/|title=GCD :: Series :: Comic Reprints|website=www.comics.org}}</ref> and a trade paperback entitled ''Valkyrie!: From the Pages of Air Fighters and the Airboy'' was published in 1982 by Ken Pierce Books with five stories featuring the femme fatale.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comics.org/issue/514659/|title=GCD :: Issue :: Valkyrie!|website=www.comics.org}}</ref>

====Synopsis====
Airboy was David ("Davy") Nelson II, the son of an expert pilot and, despite his youth, a crack flyer himself; he was also an expert mechanic and a skilled hand-to-hand combatant. His friend, inventor and [[Franciscan]] friar Brother Francis Martier, had created a highly maneuverable prototype aircraft that flew by [[ornithopter|flapping its wings]], like a bird; it also had claws for grabbing opponents, twin [[machine gun]]s and could be summoned by radio. However, Martier was killed while testing it, and Davy inherited both the plane and a uniform, which had apparently been in the friar's family since the [[French Revolution]]. Davy soon christened himself "Airboy", and in his seemingly sentient new plane, "Birdie", helped the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] during World War II.<ref name=Nevins>{{cite book |last1=Nevins |first1=Jess |title=Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes |date=2013 |publisher=High Rock Press |isbn=978-1-61318-023-5 |page=7}}</ref>

Airboy confronted such weird [[antagonist]]s as the mysterious Misery – whose mould-encrusted Airtomb imprisoned the souls of dead pilots – and his [[bad girl art|bad girl]] nemesis, Valkyrie, a [[whip]]-wielding German aviator clad in a green tunic split to her navel, [[jodhpurs]] and riding boots. She led the crack all-female flying squad the Airmaidens before defecting and becoming an ally after witnessing the cruelty of superior Herr Oberst towards her charges. Other opponents included the hideously deformed Nazi fanatic the Black Ace and immortal CroMagnon occultist Zzed.<ref name=Nevins/> Allies included the prototypical comic book swamp monster, the [[Heap (comics)|Heap]], a [[World War I]] German aviator transformed into a shambling creature after crashing in a bog.

The other Air Fighters were a host of colourful heroic Allied pilots – the wolf-cowled Skywolf and his unit, consisting of a [[Cockney]] known as Cocky Roche, overage [[Royal Air Force]] veteran the Judge and [[Morse code]]-communicating mute [[Polish government-in-exile|Free Pole]] The Turtle, who all flew combining 'semi-planes' and fought the [[cyborg]] Half-Man; the vengeful Flying Dutchman, who warred with the Deathless Brain, the cerebrum of an English-speaking [[Imperial Japanese Army]] officer that operated [[Isolated brain|out of a jar]] equipped with [[tentacle]]s; the blaze-depilated Bald Eagle and his fatalistically named 'Flying Coffin' plane; the improbably [[Plate armour|armour-suited]] Iron Eagle and his similarly ironclad but still flightworthy plane, who battled Nazi [[arson]] enthusiast Firebug; and English [[Aristocracy (class)|aristocrat]] Black Angel, who operated out of a secret hangar in her castle with partner Black Prince, with whom she fought the sadistic Baroness Blood and the son of [[Grigori Rasputin]].

===Eclipse Comics===
{{Infobox comic book title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| italic title = no
| image = Airboy6EclipseComic.jpg
| caption = The cover for ''Airboy'' #6, by [[Timothy Truman]].
| schedule = [[Bi-weekly]] <small>(#1–33)</small><br>[[Month]]ly <small>(#34–50)</small>
| ongoing = y
| publisher = [[Eclipse Comics]]
| date = July 1986 – October 1989
| issues = 50
| main_char_team =
| writers = [[Chuck Dixon]]
| artists = [[Timothy Truman]]<br>[[Stan Woch]]<br>[[Ron Randall]]
| editors = [[Timothy Truman]]
| pencillers =
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| subcat = 
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}}
While editing Pierce the collection,  [[Cat Yronwode]] – then editor-in-chief of [[Eclipse Comics]] – discovered that the copyright to the ''Air Fighters'' characters expired in 1986. She and Eclipse publisher [[Dean Mullaney]] planned to revive the characters, and sat on the information for four years in the hope that other publishers would not discover the lapse. As a result the Air Fighters cast became one of the few properties the company apparently owned, with the remainder being [[Creator ownership in comics|creator-owned]]. However, unlike properties owned by the American major publishers of the period the creative staff of ''Airboy'' would retain ownership of their work, and any additional characters created for the series.<ref name=AH099NEU>{{cite magazine|date=July 15, 1986|title=New Eclipse Universe|author=[[John Lustig]]|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=99}}</ref>

[[Timothy Truman]] was approached to write and draw the new series on the basis of his success with ''[[Scout (comics)|Scout]]'' for Eclipse; a fan of the originals, he readily agreed.<ref name=AH099NEU/> However, when Truman's friend [[Chuck Dixon]] heard Airboy was being revived he was determined to be involved, and would end up writing the series.<ref name=archives1/> Mullaney, Yronwode, Truman and Dixon worked together on the initial idea, and opted to update the action to the present day and have Davy Nelson III, son of the original Airboy, take over his father's legacy.<ref name=AH099NEU/> Supporting characters Valkyrie, Misery and Skywolf were all included, while Truman updated Hirota – a Japanese pilot who was the first 'kill' for Nelson Sr. during '' Air Fighters'' to now serve as his batman and tutor to his son. While the costumes of Airboy, Misery, the Heap and Valkyrie remained largely unchanged, Skywolf was updated to have a more modern costume<ref name=archives1/> – Yronwode would describe the wolf-pelt original look as "the dumbest costume ever invented"<ref name=AH099NEU/> – and now piloted an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.  Realising Valkyrie's plunging neckline and sultry looks were an important draw,  Dixon devised a storyline where she was kept in suspended animation by the villain Misery, allowing her to remain youthful while also providing a plausible reason for David Nelson II's fall from grace.<ref name=archives1/> He briefly considered omitting Airboy's possibly sentient aircraft Birdie as it was too far fetched but ultimately Truman persuaded him it was part of the character's charm, likening it to the [[Batmobile]]. The update to the modern day allowed Dixon to have the Air Fighters' escapades reference the Cold War foreign policy of both the USA and the USSR, albeit through thinly veiled fictional countries.<ref name=archives1/>

''Airboy'' was initially published in an innovative format of a 50c bi-weekly consisting of 16 pages, allowing Eclipse to undercut Marvel and DC (a typical 32-page colour comic from "the Big Two" cost 75c).<ref name=AH090NF>{{cite magazine|date=March 1, 1986|title=Newsflashes|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=90}}</ref> It would alternate with another bi-weekly 16-page title, ''[[The New Wave (comics)|The New Wave]]'', as part of Eclipse's plan to build a connected fictional universe; the Heap was planned to be the common denominator for the two titles.<ref name=AH099NEU/> ''Airboy'' launched to strong sales. As planned, after two issues Truman stepped down as artist to be replaced by [[Stan Woch]]; Truman would however remain as the series' editor. Among the cover artists were Truman, Paul Gulacy,<ref name=AH101NL>{{cite magazine|date=August 15, 1986|title=Newsline|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=101}}</ref> [[Dave Stevens]] (who got to draw the cover for the third issue, which announced Valkyrie's return to consciousness)<ref name=AH099NEU/>  However the 50c price was deemed unsustainable, and from #9 the title was priced at $1.25, though unlike ''The New Wave'' (which was soon to be cancelled) it remained bi-weekly. The new expanded format saw Skywolf receive his own back-up feature from #9, written by Dixon. Initially this featured art from [[Larry Elmore]]<ref name=AH123TOTN>{{cite magazine|date=August 15, 1987|title=Top of the News ''(advertisement)''|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=123}}</ref> before he handed over to [[Tom Lyle]] (pencils) and [[Romeo Tanghal]] (inks) from #12 onwards.<ref name=AH103NL>{{cite magazine|date=September 1, 1986|title=Newsline|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=103}}</ref>  However, Woch felt the schedule was causing a drop in the quality of his work and left; [[Bo Hampton]] drew two issues before [[Ron Randall]] took over as regular artist.<ref name=AH109NL>{{cite magazine|date=January 1, 1987|title=Newsline|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=109}}</ref> ''Airboy'' #25 spotlighted concerns about California's environment, leading to mainstream news coverage of the issue on [[CNN]],<ref name=AH130TOTN/> while  #28 set up crossover one-shot ''Airboy-Mr. Monster Special'', pairing the characters with [[Michael T. Gilbert]]'s ''[[Doc Stearn...Mr. Monster|Mr. Monster]]''.<ref name=AH128CIR>{{cite magazine|date=November 1, 1987|title=Comics in Review|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=128}}</ref>

Valkyrie remained a popular attraction for both readers and creators, and in May 1987 the character received a three-issue spin-off [[Limited series (comics)|limited series]], with art by Gulacy. Capitalising on her sex appeal, each issue featured pinups from popular artists including [[Brian Bolland]], [[Steve Leialoha]], [[Brent Anderson (comics)|Brent Anderson]] and [[Bruce Jones (comics)|Bruce Jones]], as well as a new piece by original Hillman artist Fred Kida.;<ref name=AH111TOTN>{{cite magazine|date=February 15, 1987|title=Top of the News ''(advertisement)''|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=111}}</ref> the series was soon collected in a trade paperback, ''Valkyrie – Prisoner of the Past'', with a new painted cover from Gulacy,<ref name="AH131TOTN">{{cite magazine|date=December 15, 1987|title=Top of the News ''(advertisement)''|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=131}}</ref> and was followed by the one-shot sequel the ''Air Maidens Special'', featuring art from Elmore.<ref name=AH123TOTN/> Dixon however was finding his attempts to set up 4Winds and launch new titles ''[[Strike! (comic book)|Strike!]]'' and ''Winterworld''<ref name=AH122FW>{{cite magazine|date=August 1, 1987|title=A New Wind Blows Over America|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=122}}</ref> were consuming his time, and from #33 ''Airboy'' switched to a monthly schedule.<ref name="AH127NL">{{cite magazine|date=October 15, 1987|title=Newsline|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=127}}</ref> This change did however mean that Woch agreed to return as artist,<ref name=AH130TOTN>{{cite magazine|date=December 1, 1987|title=Top of the News ''(advertisement)''|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=130}}</ref><ref name=AH133AB>{{cite magazine|date=January 15, 1988|title=Airboy|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=133/Preview Special 6}}</ref> while [[Dan Spiegle]] took over art duties for the ''Skywolf'' back-up feature from ''Airboy'' #34.<ref name="AH131TOTN"/>

To make up for the reduced schedule, Eclipse started the reprint series ''Air Fighters Classics'', reprinting Hillman material.<ref name="AH127NL"/> Despite the 1940s material depicting the Japanese in an offensive manner for [[Propaganda in World War II|propaganda]] reasons, the publisher chose not to censor the series.<ref name=AH133AFC>{{cite magazine|date=January 15, 1988|title=Air Fighters Classic|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=133/Preview Special 6}}</ref><ref name=AH142ETP>{{cite magazine|date=June 1, 1988|title=Enlarging the Penumbra|author=Bob Hughes|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=142}}</ref>  However, the original negatives for the material were lost, and as a result Eclipse had to strike new masters from vintage issues.

The characters also appeared in a crossover with Dixon's ''Strike!'', the [[D-Day]]-set ''The Airfighters Meet Sgt. Strike Special''.<ref name=AH133AFSS>{{cite magazine|date=January 15, 1988|title=Air Fighters Meet Sgt. Strike|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=133/Preview Special 6}}</ref> A further spin-off, a limited series focusing on the Heap and written by ''[[Swamp Thing]]'' co-creator [[Len Wein]], was mooted<ref name=AH133AB/> but instead appeared as a back-up in ''Airboy'' #38–40,<ref name=AH139TOTN>{{cite magazine|date=April 15, 1988|title=Top of the News ''(advertisement)''|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=139}}</ref> featuring art from [[Carmine Infantino]].<ref name=AH140NL>{{cite magazine|date=May 1, 1988|title=Newsline|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=140}}</ref> Skywolf would graduate to his own [[Vietnam War]]-set three issue mini-series in 1988, written by the prolific Dixon and drawn by Lyle,<ref name=AH133SKW>{{cite magazine|date=January 15, 1988|title=Skywolf|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=133/Preview Special 6}}</ref> while Valkyrie would also receive a second mini after the previous year's success,<ref name=AH133VV2>{{cite magazine|date=January 15, 1988|title=Valkyrie|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=133/Preview Special 6}}</ref> with Anderson joining as artist.<ref name=AH145VAL>{{cite magazine|date=July 15, 1988|title=Valkyrie|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=145/Preview Special 7}}</ref> Further spin-offs were the one-shots ''Target: Airboy''.,<ref name=AH134NL>{{cite magazine|date=February 1, 1988|title=Newsline|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=134}}</ref> ''Airmaidens vs. Airboy''.<ref name=AH136NL>{{cite magazine|date=February 29, 1988|title=Newsline|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=136}}</ref> (which Yronwode would describe as "the closest Eclipse comes to an annual [[Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue|Swimsuit special]]"<ref name=AH145ABAM>{{cite magazine|date=July 15, 1988|title=Airboy vs. the Air Maidens|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=145/Preview Special 7}}</ref>) and a crossover with Truman's [[Prowler (Eclipse Comics)|Prowler]] characters in ''Airboy Meets The Prowler''.<ref name=AH133ABTP>{{cite magazine|date=January 15, 1988|title=Airboy Meets The Prowler Special|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=133/Preview Special 6}}</ref>

By this stage Airboy was firmly established as one of Eclipse's most popular characters, and the Air Fighters would occupy major roles in Eclipse's tenth-anniversary mini-series ''[[Total Eclipse (comics)|Total Eclipse]]'',<ref name=AH142ETP/> which also saw Hillman villain Zzed revived as the antagonist.<ref name=AH135TOTN>{{cite magazine|date=February 15, 1988|title=Top of the News ''(advertisement)''|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=135}}</ref> However, the output for the character would soon rapidly dwindle. While ''Air Fighters Classics'' continued to sell well<ref name=AH145AFC>{{cite magazine|date=July 15, 1988|title=Air Fighters Classics|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=145/Preview Special 7}}</ref> but would stall for several months while Eclipse searched for a copy of ''Air Fighters Comics'' (Vol. 1) #6.<ref name=AH154TOTN>{{cite magazine|date=December 1, 1988|title=Top of the News ''(advertisement)''|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=154}}</ref><ref name=AH157AFC>{{cite magazine|date=January 15, 1989|title=Air Fighters Classic|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=157/Preview Special}}</ref> A planned ''Airboy Graphic Album'' intended to bridge the gap between the Hillman and Eclipse material was instead reworked as the contents of ''Airboy'' #46–49,<ref name=AH145AB>{{cite magazine|date=July 15, 1988|title=Airboy|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=145/Preview Special 7}}</ref> a storyline named "The Diary of Airboy" and featuring [[Ernie Colón]] as artist afer Woch again left<ref name=AH155TOTN>{{cite magazine|date=December 15, 1988|title=Top of the News ''(advertisement)''|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=155}}</ref>

The title began to suffer delays; the double-sized ''Airboy'' #50 featured [[Andy Kubert]] on pencils, [[Adam Kubert]] on inks and a [[Joe Kubert]] cover, and appeared four months after #49. Inside it included a text piece from Yronwode taking up the letters page informing readers it would be the last issue "for the foreseeable future", listing difficulties in finding a suitable artist to replace Woch full-time as Colón had proved too slow, falling sales and alleged controversy over the book's political controversy.<ref name=AB50AM>{{cite comic|title=Airboy|issue=50|date=August 1988|story=Air Mail|writer=[[Cat Yronwode]]|publisher=[[Eclipse Comics]]}}</ref> With ''Airboy'' "on hiatus"<ref name=AH170AB>{{cite magazine|date=August 1, 1989|title=Airboy|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=170/Preview Special 9}}</ref> related titles were also halted, with ''Air Fighters Classics''<ref name=AH170MIA>{{cite magazine|date=August 1, 1989|title=M.I.A.|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=170/Preview Special 9}}</ref> and a mooted ''Skywolf'' one-shot with art from Alberto Maldonato.<ref name=AH157SW>{{cite magazine|date=January 15, 1989|title=Skywolf|author=Ed Sample|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=157/Preview Special}}</ref>

While Eclipse would issue the trade paperback ''The Return of Valkyrie'', reprinting ''Airboy'' #1–5 with a cover from [[Jim Steranko]],<ref name=AH167TOTN>{{cite magazine|date=June 15, 1989|title=Top of the News ''(advertisement)''|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=167}}</ref> Dixon moved onto other projects including ''Merchants of Death'' and the company's adaptation of [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Hobbit]]'' as the publisher moved away from ongoing comics. No new material featuring Airboy or his supporting characters appeared before Eclipse went out of business in 1995.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Newswatch: Eclipse Files for Bankruptcy|journal= The Comics Journal| number= 174 |date=February 1995|page=25}}</ref>

====Plot====
After the conclusion of World War II, David Nelson II continued to work as a freelance pilot and mercenary for a time, but he eventually retired from combat flying and stored Birdie in a barn outside his California estate. He had a son, whom he named David Nelson III, and founded an aircraft manufacturing company, through which he became very wealthy. In the mid-1980s, David Nelson II was assassinated by mercenaries from the South American nation of Bogantilla. When David Nelson III discovered that his father had been assassinated, he began to investigate the circumstances which had led up to his father's death. He soon discovered his father's mothballed plane and uniform and teamed up with a number of the surviving Air Fighters to face many of the same enemies as David Nelson II, as well as South American dictators, Soviets, pirates and corporate criminals.

====Reception====
Reception to the revival was largely positive. In 1987, ''[[Amazing Heroes]]'' reviewer R.A. Jones listed it as one of the 10 best titles of the previous year, calling it "a captivating action-adventure strip".<ref name=AH115T10>{{cite magazine|date=April 15, 1987|title=Comics in Review|author=R.A. Jones|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=115}}</ref> Don Thompson meanwhile lauded the fast pacing, while Roger Zelazny was also positive. Martin A. Stever reviewed the title in ''[[The Space Gamer|Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer]]'' No. 83.<ref name="SG">{{cite journal|last=Stever |first=Martin A. |date=October–November 1988|title=The Ruler|journal=[[The Space Gamer|Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer]]|publisher=[[3W (company)|World Wide Wargames]]|issue=83|pages=28}}</ref> Stever commented that "the key to this book's success has been the balance Dixon has stuck between adventure, humor, mystery, and romance. This, along with break-neck pacing and plenty of action in every issue have made ''Airboy'' a monthly even I look forward to".<ref name="SG"/>

The 1987 ''Valkyrie'' mini-series received a positive review Darwin McPherson in ''Amazing Heroes'', describing it as "a fun read" even if he felt characterisation was light.<ref name=AH155CIR>{{cite magazine|date=December 15, 1988|title=Comics in Review|author=Darwin McPherson|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=155}}</ref>
However, in the same magazine Gary D. Robinson was more reserved about ''Airboy'' #50, questioning the need to make the hero so flawed.<ref name=AH165CIR>{{cite magazine|date=May 15, 1989|title=Comics in Review|author=Gary D. Robinson|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=165}}</ref>

===Other publishers===
====McFarlane Productions====
Eclipse's intellectual property rights were later acquired by [[Todd McFarlane]] for a total of $25,000.<ref>{{cite journal|title=McFarlane Buys Eclipse Assets at Auction|journal= The Comics Journal| number= 185 | date= March 1996|pages= 14–15}}</ref> The purchase was widely rumoured to be entirely motivated by the then-common belief it included the rights to another Eclipse title, ''[[Miracleman]]'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2004/02/last-legal-post-for-long-time.asp |title=Neil Gaiman's Journal: Last Legal Post for a long time |publisher=Journal.neilgaiman.com |date=2004-02-25 |access-date=2013-10-15}}</ref> At the time it was also widely believed it included the rights to ''Airboy'' too, and in 1998 McFarlane produced a one-shot called ''Total Eclipse'' featuring radically redesigned versions of the characters in [[edgelord|his art style]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spawnworld.com/books/crossovers/anthologies/totaleclipse.htm|title=Total Eclipse; Spawn Comic Books; SpawnWorld|website=www.spawnworld.com}}</ref> Only the Heap would go on to any further appearances in McFarlane's work, making occasional guest appearances in ''[[Spawn (character)|Spawn]]''.

====Moonstone Books====
However, it was later learned that the [[trademark]] for Airboy had expired when Eclipse folded, and that despite Mullaney and Yronwode indicating otherwise in interviews to prevent rivals from using the character, the remainder of the ''Air Fighters'' canon remained in the public domain.<ref name=AH099NEU/> As a result in 2007 [[Moonstone Books]] announced plans to revive the World War II version of the character in new stories written by Chuck Dixon. However, the revival did not see print until March 2009, when Moonstone released the one-shot ''Airboy – 1942: Best of Enemies'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/JAN094365|title=AIRBOY 1942 BEST ENEMIES BRYANT MODERN CVR (JAN094365)|website=www.previewsworld.com}}</ref> followed by two issues of [[anthology]] ''Airfighters'' in 2010, with a variety of creators including Dixon and [[Tom DeFalco]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/Series/126738-AIRFIGHTERS|title=SERIES: AIRFIGHTERS|website=www.previewsworld.com}}</ref> and the one-shots ''Airboy Presents: Air Vixens''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/Series/128368-AIRBOY-PRESENTS-AIR-VIXENS|title=SERIES: AIRBOY PRESENTS AIR VIXENS|website=www.previewsworld.com}}</ref> and ''Airboy/G8'',<ref>https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/JUN131203 AIRBOY G8 GN (JUN131203)</ref> a crossover with fellow vintage comics aviator [[G-8 (character)|G-8]] The Moonstone material, which featured black-and-white interior art, was later collected in the trade paperback ''Airboy and the Airfighters – Dangerous Liaisons'', which also included the previously unprinted 30-page story "Insurrection", originally planned as one-shot ''Airfighters: L'Hospital St. Blaise''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/SEP121145|title=AIRBOY & AIRFIGHTERS TP DANGEROUS LIAISONS (SEP121145)|website=www.previewsworld.com}}</ref>

====Antarctic Press====
The character next resurfaced at [[Antarctic Press]] in 2012, again featuring the Golden Age version of the character. The five-issue mini-series ''Airboy: Deadeye'' was co-written by Dixon with Gianluca Piredda, with art from Antarctic founder [[Ben Dunn]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/Series/130030-AIRBOY-DEADEYE|title=SERIES: AIRBOY DEADEYE|website=www.previewsworld.com}}</ref>

====Image Comics====
[[Image Comics]] began publishing a new Airboy comic in 2014, written by [[James Robinson (writer)|James Robinson]] and illustrated by Greg Hinkle. The [[metafiction]]al four-issue series begins with fictionalised versions of Robinson and Hinkle engaging in an orgy of drink, drugs and sex while trying to find the inspiration to write a new ''Airboy'' series, only for the "real" Airboy to enter their world, much to the clean-cut character's horror.<ref>Cornog, M. (2016). Airboy. Library Journal, 141(12), 69–70.</ref> The series was attacked by [[GLAAD]] and others for its [[transphobia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/fans-angered-transphobia-image-comics-airboy|title=Fans angered by transphobia in Image Comics' 'Airboy'|date=July 2, 2015|website=GLAAD}}</ref>

====IDW Publishing====
While the Hillman intellectual property is in the public domain under the conditions of his Eclipse contract Dixon and the other creators on the 1980s version of the title retained copyright to their work, and as such Dixon and Truman were able to coordinate a series of reprints for [[IDW Publishing]]. ''Airboy Archives'' ran through five volumes, reprinting all of the Eclipse material bar the main story of ''Total Eclipse'' (which featured numerous characters whose copyright was held by others – most notably Miracleman, who had recently been acquired by [[Marvel Comics]] and the special ''Target: Airboy'' (which had featured Clint from Don Chin's ''[[Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters]]''). Dixon edited the collection, and arranged the various mini-series and specials in their intended reading order.

====It's Alive====
Dixon then collaborated with Drew Ford of [[It's Alive Press]] to raised funds via [[crowdfunding]] website [[Indiegogo]] to continue the story from where ''Airboy'' #50 left off.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/chuck-dixon-needs-just-a-little-love-to-make-airboy-51-a-reality/|title=Chuck Dixon Needs Just a Little Love to Make Airboy #51 a Reality|first=Rich|last=Johnston|date=April 2, 2019|website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://downthetubes.net/airboy-returns-crowdfunding-continues-to-expand-revival-from-chuck-dixon-and-its-alive/|title=Airboy returns, crowdfunding continues to expand revival from Chuck Dixon and It's Alive!|first=John|last=Freeman|date=April 27, 2019|website=downthetubes.net}}</ref> After reaching its first goal ''Airboy'' #51, introducing  appeared in October 2019, featuring art by Brent McKee<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/AUG192038|title=AIRBOY #51 CVR A MCKEE (AUG192038)|website=www.previewsworld.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/chuck-dixon-airboy-comics-2019/|title=Chuck Dixon Writes New Airboy Comics For 2019|first=Rich|last=Johnston |date=November 11, 2018|website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors}}</ref> and variant covers by Paul Gulacy, Jim Steranko, [[Graham Nolan]], [[Don Perlin]], [[Matt Kindt]], [[Andrew MacLean (comics)|Andrew MacLean]], [[Dalibor Talajić]] and Emma Kubert.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/airboy-returns-after-30-years/|title=AIRBOY RETURNS AFTER 30 YEARS!|date=March 22, 2019}}</ref>''Airboy'' #52 was published in August 2022, drawn by Stipe Kalajzic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/AUG211848|title=AIRBOY #52 CVR A KALAJZIC (RES) (AUG211848)|website=www.previewsworld.com}}</ref> Ford's sudden death in October 2022 led to the shutdown of It's Alive Press.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news/drew-ford-obit/|title=Drew Ford, Publisher of It’s Alive, Dead at 48|date=October 4, 2022}}</ref>

==Collected editions==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Collected Airboy comics
|-
!scope="col"| Title
!scope="col"| Publisher
!scope="col"| ISBN
!scope="col"|  Release date
!scope="col"| Contents 
|-
|scope="row"| ''Valkyrie!''
| Ken Pierce Inc.
| {{ISBN missing}}
|Spring 1982
|''Air Fighters Comics'' (vol. 2) #2 & #7 <br>''Airboy Comics'' (vol. 2) #12, (Vol. 3) #6 & #12.
|-
|scope="row"| ''Valkyrie – Prisoner of the Past''
| Eclipse Comics
| {{ISBN|091303536X}}
|December 1987
|''Valkyrie!'' (1987 series) #1–3
|-
|scope="row"| ''The Return of Valkyrie''
| Eclipse Comics
| {{ISBN missing}}
|1989
|''Airboy'' (1986 series) #1–5
|-
|scope="row"| ''Airboy and the Airfighters: Dangerous Liaisons''
| Moonstone Books
| {{ISBN|9781936814381}}
|January 2013
|''Airboy: 1942'', ''Airfighters'' #1–2, ''Air Vixens'', ''Airfighters: L'Hospital St. Blaise''
|-
|scope="row"| ''The Complete Golden Age Airboy & Valkyrie''
| Canton Press
| {{ISBN|9781934044025}}
|September 2013
|''Air Fighters Comics'' (Vol. 1) #12, (Vol. 2.) #2, & #7<br> ''Airboy Comics'' (Vol. 2) #12, (Vol. 3) #6 & #12, (Vol. 4) #10, (Vol. 9) #2
|-
|scope="row"| ''Airboy: Deadeye''
| Antarctic Press
| {{ISBN|9780930655099}}
|October 2013
|''Airboy: Deadeye'' #1–5
|-
|scope="row"| ''Airboy Archives Volume 1''
| IDW Publishing
| {{ISBN|9781613779002}}
| March 2014
|''Airboy'' (1986 series) #1–16
|-
|scope="row"| ''Airboy Archives Volume 2''
| IDW Publishing
| {{ISBN|9781631400100}}
| September 2014
|''Airboy'' (1986 series) #17–25, ''Valkyrie!'' (1987 series) #1–3
|-
|scope="row"| ''Airboy Archives Volume 3''
| IDW Publishing
| {{ISBN|9781631402166}}
| March 2015
|''Airboy'' (1986 series) #26–34, ''Airmaidens Special'', ''Airboy–Mr. Monster Special'', ''Airboy Meets The Prowler''
|-
|scope="row"| ''Airboy''
| Image Comics
| {{ISBN|978-1632155436}}
| April 2016
|''Airboy'' (2015 series) #1–4
|-
|scope="row"| ''Airboy Archives Volume 4''
| IDW Publishing
| {{ISBN|9781631403996}}
| April 2016
|''Airboy'' (1986 series) #35–40, ''Airfighters Meet Sgt. Strike'', ''Skywolf'' #1–3
|-
|scope="row"| ''Airboy Archives Volume 5''
| IDW Publishing
| {{ISBN|978-1631408106}}
| April 2017
|''Airboy'' (1986 series) #41–50, ''Valkyrie'' #1–3 (1988), ''Airboy vs. The Air Maidens''
|}

==Legacy==
Valkyrie was ranked 45th in ''[[Comics Buyer's Guide]]'s'' "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list.<ref>{{cite book| last = Frankenhoff| first = Brent| author-link = Brent Frankenhoff| title = Comics Buyer's Guide Presents: 100 Sexiest Women in Comics| publisher = [[Krause Publications]] | year = 2011| page = 34| isbn = 978-1-4402-2988-6}}</ref>

===Homages===
*The first volume in the ''[[Wild Cards]]'' novel series edited by [[George R.R. Martin]] includes a character called [[Jetboy]], an Airboy analogue created by [[Howard Waldrop]] who wanted to write an Airboy story.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.wildcardsonline.com/origins.html|title= Wild Cards – Origins|publisher= Wildcardsonline.com| access-date=June 15, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110717133727/http://www.wildcardsonline.com/origins.html| archive-date= July 17, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> 
*The lead character of publisher [[America's Best Comics]]' graphic novel ''[[Top 10: The Forty-Niners]]'' is [[List of Top 10 characters#Main characters|Jetlad]], whom historian [[Jess Nevins]] calls, "an analogue of [[Charles Biro]]'s teenaged aviator Airboy".<ref>{{cite web|author-link=Jess Nevins|first=Jess|last=Nevins|url=http://www.enjolrasworld.com/Jess%20Nevins/Top%20Ten/Top%2010%20Forty-Niners.html |title=Annotations for The Forty-Niners|publisher= EnjolrasWorld.com|access-date=June 15, 2011|archive-date=July 16, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716141156/http://www.enjolrasworld.com/Jess%20Nevins/Top%20Ten/Top%2010%20Forty-Niners.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
'''Grand Comics Database'''
{|
|-
| • [https://www.comics.org/series/253 ''Air Fighters Comics''] || • [https://www.comics.org/series/426 ''Airboy Comics''] || • [https://www.comics.org/series/3220 ''Airboy'' (Eclipse series)] ||• [https://www.comics.org/series/3470 ''Valkyrie! '' (1987 series)]
|-
| • [https://www.comics.org/series/3451 ''Airboy–Mr. Monster Special''] || • [https://www.comics.org/series/426 ''Airmaidens Special''] || • [https://www.comics.org/series/3449 ''Air Fighters Classic''] ||• [https://www.comics.org/series/3450 ''Airboy Meets the Prowler'']
|-
| • [https://www.comics.org/series/3688 ''The Air Fighters Meet Sgt. Strike Special''] || • [https://www.comics.org/series/3699 ''Skywolf''] || • [https://www.comics.org/series/3700 Target: Airboy] ||• [https://www.comics.org/series/3687 ''Airboy versus the Air Maidens'']
|-
| • [https://www.comics.org/series/3703 ''Valkyrie!'' (1988 series)] || • [https://www.comics.org/series/66346 ''Airboy: Deadeye''] || • [https://www.comics.org/series/89665 ''Airboy'' (Image series)] ||• [https://www.comics.org/series/155676 ''Airboy''(It's Alive series)]
|}
*[https://comicbookplus.com/?cid=3231 ''Airboy Archives'' at Comic Book Plus]
{{GoldenAge}}
{{Eclipse Comics}}

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