Comic Title: Secret Origins #19
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: October 1987
On Sale Date: July 7, 1987 Newsstand Date July 7, 1987
Source: DC Releases, #41

Newsstand Date July 7, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #120

Shipping Date June 16, 1987
Source: DC Releases, #41

Shipping Date June 16, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #120

Shipping Date June 16, 1987
Source: Focus, #1, Page BC

Copyright Date June 16, 1987
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1987
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Cover Price: $1.25
Page Count: 48
Editor: Roy Thomas

Title: "The Secret Origin of the Guardian and the Newsboy Legion"
Pages: 20

Feature(s):
Guardian (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciller: Arvell M. Jones
Inker: Greg Theakston
Letterer: Jean Simek (Izzo)
Letterer: Helen Vesik
Colorist: Julianna Ferriter

Feature Character(s)

• Guardian (Jim Harper; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Young All-Stars #3)

Supporting Character(s)

• Newsboy Legion (first post-Crisis appearance; next appearance in Superman Annual #2)
• Gabby (first post-Crisis appearance; next appearance in Superman Annual #2)
• Big Words (first post-Crisis appearance; next appearance in Superman Annual #2)
• Scrapper (first post-Crisis appearance; next appearance in Superman Annual #2)
• Tommy (first post-Crisis appearance; next appearance in Superman Annual #2)

Villain(s)

• A gang of kidnappers (no further appearances)
• Leo (Jim Harper's childhood friend; dies in flashback; no further appearances)
• Frankie the Fence, Chips Carder, and their gang (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Joe Morgan (aka Nat Milligan; in flashback; first post-Crisis appearance; last appearance in Secret Origins #25; no further appearances)
• Mr. Hinkle (a hardware store owner; no further appearances)
• Judge Collins (no further appearances)
• Several Coast Guard officers (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• All-Star Squadron (in flashback to their battle with Joe Morgan)
• Atom (in flashback to the battle with Joe Morgan)
• Wildcat (in flashback to the battle with Joe Morgan)
• Green Lantern (in flashback to the battle with Joe Morgan)

Comments:
This story is an adaptation of the first story from Star Spangled Comics #7 and takes place in January, 1942.

Synopsis:
Jim Harper was an orphan on the streets of New York. A trainer named Nat Milligan saved Jim from a life of crime. When Jim's childhood friend turned criminal Leo was killed, Jim abandoned Nat and joined the police force.

As a rookie beat cop, Jim earned a reputation for coming down hard on criminals. When the gangs struck back and beat him, Jim put on a costume and fought back as the Guardian. After apprehending a gang of kidnappers, the new Guardian was wisked away by a globe of energy. He then met members of the All-Star Squadron who had also been trained by Nat Milligan under the name Joe Morgan. An alien possessing Joe fought the trio and lost.

After the encounter Jim planned to give up his costumed identity. When he apprehended a gang of newsboy's who were committing small-time crimes, Jim stepped up and offered to be their guardian. The boys were not convinced to give up their criminals ways. They offered to help Frankie the Fence, but he set them up to cover for his robbery. Jim helped the boys as the Guardian. He then trailed Frankie to his boss and with the help of the Newsboy Legion apprehended Chips Carder. In the process, the boys went straight and became suspicious that Jim Harper was the Guardian.