Tuesday, December 30, 2008

The Furious Debut of CAPTAIN BATTLE! *clack! clack!*

For some reason, as I was scanning this story, I thought Captain Battle had made a bigger impact while he was around. I mean, I'd heard of him, so surely he had been somewhat enduring. But it turns out he only appeared in 16 comics over a two-year period and that was it. Although, I guess, by Golden-age standards (the number of one-appearance characters and all) he did okay.

He appeared in SILVER STREAK COMICS #10-21 (May 1941-May 1942), CAPTAIN BATTLE COMICS #1-2 (Summer-Fall 1941), #3 (Winter 1942) and #5 (Summer 1943). Whatever happened to CAPTAIN BATTLE COMICS #4 is a mystery, I guess.

Nothing really exceptional about this story, but I just love the Deaglos!! They crack me up! *Clack! Clack!*

from
SILVER STREAK COMICS #10 (May 1941)
story by Carl Formes; art by Jack Binder




Thursday, December 25, 2008

EDISON BELL's Sleigh Ride!

I was gonna do a Green Lama Christmas story today, but the Golden Age Comic Book Stories blog beat me to it a few days ago. You can go read it there if you want.

So here's some Edison Bell!

from
BLUE BOLT COMICS vol 3 #7 (December 1942)
by Ray Gill and Harold De Lay




Tuesday, December 23, 2008

WILDFIRE's Ice Capades!

Here's another wintery tale.

Wildfire had a short run from SMASH COMICS #25-37 (Aug 41-Nov 42). Roy Thomas wanted to use Wildfire in ALL STAR SQUADRON, as he was reviving many of the Quality heroes that were in the DC stable, but since there was already a Wildfire in the Legion of Super-Heroes, DC nixed the idea. So Roy created a female version of Quality's non-powered hero, Firebrand, and gave her Wildfire's powers. Nifty how that works!

Read all about her at Toonopedia and Wikipedia.

Yeah, that big splash panel on the first page...I don't know either.

from
SMASH COMICS #31 (February 1942)
story by Robert Turner; Art by Jim Mooney



Saturday, December 20, 2008

SKYMAN and the Deep Freeze!!

I wanted to do some Christmas-y stories, but there don't seem to be a whole lot that don't feature DC Comics characters! So here's a snow-y story featuring Skyman!!

Snow is Christmas-y!!

Skyman had a pretty healthy career: He appeared in BIG SHOT COMICS #1-101 (May 1940-May 1949) along with 4 issues of his own series, spread out from 1941-1948.

You can read more about Skyman at Wikipedia, Toonopedia and International Super Hero.

from
BIG SHOT COMICS #8 (December 1940)
story by Gardner Fox (as Paul Dean); art by Ogden Whitney
cover by Ogden Whitney




PARTING SHOTS:


His mouth is saying, "impetuous little idiot!"
But his eyes are saying, "Mmmm, tasty!"


Just because I couldn't not use this panel...


Again with the "idiot." Misogynistic much?
(Not to mention that he already knew she had parachuted out of the Wing.
He saw her stuck in the tree and left her there!!
A scientific genius with a short-term memory! Kinda scary!)


And we learned--

Skyman is a size queen.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Golden-age DAREDEVIL No More!!

In this titanic tale, Daredevil's secret identity (and more!) is exposed!!

WONDER why Bart Hill would switch identities out in the open anyway!!

THRILL at the sight of Bart running around in a skimpy little towel!

BE AMAZED by Bart's now-you-see-it-now-you-don't chest hair!

HYPOTHESIZE as to why Bart thinks the nudie pics that Kilroy snaps of him are "sweet!"

from
DAREDEVIL #42 (May 1947)
story by Charles Biro; art by Dan Barry and Charles Biro