Religion: religious/ethical 
Name: Bert Runyan
Classification:
supporting character
Publisher(s): 
First Appearance: Superman (vol. 1) #7 (Nov.-Dec. 1940): "Superman's Cleanup Campaign"
Creators: Jerry Siegel, Wayne Boring
Number of Appearances: 3
Enemy of: Ralph Dale, Nat Burly
Ally: Clark Kent
Occupation: attorney
Gender: male
Note: urged by Clark Kent to run for office of prosecutor
Bert Runyan was one of the main supporting characters in the story retroactively titled "Superman's Cleanup Campaign," published in Superman #7 (Nov.-Dec. 1940). In this story, the honorable attorney, a friend of Clark Kent, ran for the office of prosecutor. With the help of Clark Kent, Superman, and the Daily Planet, Bert Runyan managed to triumph over a corrupt political machine and get elected to the office.
Bert Runyan showed up again in the next issue of Superman. In "Parrone and the Drug Gang," published Superman #8 (Jan.-Feb. 1941), the prosecutor trying the case against gang leader John Parrone was not named. But he was identified as "the prosecutor" on more than occasion, and he looks like Bert Runyan from Superman #7. This prosecutor appears on pages 9, 10, and 13 in this story. He wears a solid green suit and green fedora. His highly-principled efforts to prosecute criminal leaders in Metropolis is identical in both stories.
"The prosecutor" appears again in the story retroactively titled "Jackson's Murder Ring," published in Superman #9 (Mar.-Apr. 1941). In panel 1 on page 12 of this story, Lois Lane asks Superman to drop her off at the prosecutor's office after she and the Man of Steel have essentially solved the murder case they were investigating. In the prosecutor's office (as shown in panel 6 on page 12), Lois Lane shows the prosecutor a ledger she snuck from a jewelery company that was a front for a murder syndicate. This prosecutor is not mentioned by name, but one can imagine it is Bert Runyan. He is a tall, slender, well-dressed man with brown hair. His hairline is receding somewhat, but he is still handsome.
Superman
Suggested links for further research about this character and the character's religious affiliation:
- http://comicbookdb.com/character.php?ID=15870
- https://www.comics.org/issue/1089/
- http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=5705