Religion: non-religious
Name: Jed Blanton
First Appearance: Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #7 (Feb. 1959): "Lois Lane's Kiss of Death!"
Creators: Robert Bernstein, Kurt Schaffenberger
Number of Appearances: 1
Ally: Pete Molloy
Ally: James Paxton
Occupation: con artist
Location: Metropolis, USA
Gender: male
Note: faked own death; impersonated Superman
James Paxton, Jed Blanton and Pete Molloy were con men who worked together to fake their own deaths. They clearly wanted to escape from authorities who were investigating them for various crimes and schemes.
The three men hatched an elaborate plot to allay suspicion about their deaths by making people believe they had died as a result of a curse surrounding reporter Lois Lane. In order to debunk superstition as part of a new story, Lois Lane had posed with the supposedly cursed crown of Isis. The three con men all arranged for a dog to die after coming into contact with Lois Lane. They fomented the idea that she had the "kiss of death." The three men arranged to be kissed by Lois Lane and subsequently "die." Jed Blanton even disguised himself as Superman and pretended to become weak after being kissed by Lois Lane. The real Superman arrived to help Lois Lane expose the truth and apprehend these con men.
There are some interesting aspects in this story pertaining to religious belief and religious studies. The topic of superstition is discussed quite a bit. The three con men used superstition, specifically a belief in an ancient Egyptian curse, to further their own criminal goals. But they probably had no real belief in this superstition themselves.
Suggested links for further research about this character and the character's religious affiliation:
- http://darkmark6.tripod.com/supermanind2.htm
- http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/story.php?storyid=18108
- http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Superman's_Girlfriend,_Lois_Lane_Vol_1_7
- https://www.comics.org/issue/14889
- http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=21762