You’d have to be living under a rock to not know who Spider-Man is, and though he’s small Ant-Man has dominated the silver screen on several occasions. But while everyone knows these bug-based heroes, how much do you know about Bee-Man? 

Barry E. Eames, a/k/a Bee-Man, was created by Otto Binder and Bill Draut for Harvey Comics during the Silver Age. Following the rising popilarity of Marvel Comics, and DC’s success with the campy Batman TV series, Harvey Comics decided to branch into the superhero field. The publisher hired Joe Simon to create the Harvey Thriller imprint which included such titles as Double-Dare Adventures, Thrill-O-Rama and Unearthly Spectaculars. Bee-Man made his debut in Double-Dare Adventures #1 in 1966. His entire career was captured in the seven-page “Origin of Bee-Man” in issue 1, followed by the 12-page “Revolt of the Queen Bee” in issue 2. 

Before becoming the Bee-Man, Barry E. Eames was a low-level technician working for NASA. Feeling unappreciated, Barry chose to sabotage a space probe returning from Mars in the hopes of cashing in on whatever valuables the probe may contain. Upon opening the hatch, Barry was stung repeatedly by Martian bees that had returned within the craft. Barry was found stumbling through the desert mumbling about bees, before being taken to a hospital and thoroughly examined. Despite the obvious change to his blood stream, and his newly acquired super-strength and accelerated healing, Barry escapes the hospital relatively unfazed. He then wanders back to the Martian craft and seals himself within it. 

Shortly thereafter, the craft began a return trip to Mars, where Barry is imprisoned by giant bees on the planet’s tiny satellite, Deimos. Here, the bees inform him of their plans to conquer the Earth and for whatever reason grant him a perfectly tailored costume complete with bee-themed weapons. Although he escapes his captures and returns to Earth, Barry initially sides with the bee-like conquerors. Following his betrayal of humanity, Barry is taken in by government scientists who cure him of his psychological condition. Freshly reconditioned, Barry goes on to work for an organization called the F-Bee-I.

Despite his shortly lived comic career, the Bee-Man developed a small cult following among the obscure superheroes of the Silver Age. Today, the character is fondly remembered for his un-bee-lievable puns and firmly holds his place with the strangest superheroes ever to see print.