The Black Marvel has the distinction of be0ng one of the first creations of future Marvel editor-in-chief, publisher, and all-around comics superstar Stan Lee. His first run was in Mystic Comics from 1941-1942. According to Wikipedia:

[Dan Lyons] was chosen by a "Black Feet" (sic) Indian chief (not specifically tied to the real-life Blackfoot tribe) to be a champion of justice, after besting 100 challengers by outrunning a deer, outswimming a salmon upstream, hitting the bullseye while blindfolded and then catching arrows that were fired at him, and wrestling a bear, finally winning by breaking its neck with his bare hands. He was given a long bow into which he carved a notch whenever he performed a good deed. When he had attained 100 notches, he would be judged worthy of having taken the mantle of the Black Marvel.