Rod Reilly, son of a millionaire steel tycoon Ed "Emerald" Reilly, was bored of his playboy lifestyle, so he decided to become a crime fighter. Assisted by Slugger Dunn, his ex-prize-fighter valet and best friend, Firebrand used his fighting prowess and skills with a lariat to fight crime. He also has vacuum cups for climbing the buildings in New York. He was engaged to Joan Rogers, a wealthy socialite.

During his early adventures, Firebrand was wanted by police for crimes he did not commit. Like many other heroes, he left a signature item wherever he stopped crimes - in his case, it was a lit torch.


Golden Age Appearances 

    Police Comics #1-13 

Notes

    While the golden age version of Firebrand is public domain, all subsquent versiosn used by DC comics are NOT. DC Comics used the character briefly in the mid-1980s in All-Star Squadron. Eventually, Reilly's sister took up the name and costume, after finding she had fire-based costumes.
    DC has also used the name for another hero, not related to the above one, in 2008's "Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters".