Who was the first masked crime fighter in comic books?

The first masked crime fighter to appear in comic books was the Clock, who was introduced by Centaur Publications in 1936.1

While characters such as Zorro, Doc Savage, and the Phantom served as important precursors in prose, pulp magazines, and comic strips, the Clock holds the distinction of being the first to debut in the comic book format. It is important to note that while these early figures established the archetype of the masked vigilante, the modern definition of a superhero—characterized by an altruistic mission, a defining costume, and extraordinary powers—was later solidified by the introduction of Superman in 1938.1