Four-Color Shadows

Master Mystic-Green Giant Comics-1939

2012-01-30T00:01:00.000-05:00

We're back down to only three colors here but the art (by yet another artist forgotten to time), is too strikingly odd and cool not to post it! This is from the semi-legendary GREEN GIANT COMICS, brought to you by Funnies, Inc., the shop that also created the mega-controversial MOTION PICTURE FUNNIES WEEKLY # 1 as well as the contents of MARVEL COMICS #1.

Battle Flag of the Foreign Legion-Alex Toth-1950

2012-01-29T00:21:00.000-05:00

So many of the DC artists of the 1940's evolved so rapidly that by the end of the decade they were light years ahead of their earlier work. This was never more true of anyone than of Alex Toth, seen here in a 1950 issue of DC's DANGER TRAIL with some absolutely stunning art and letter-perfect storytelling.

TNT & Dan the Dyna-Mite-Louis Cazeneuve-1943

2012-01-28T10:14:00.000-05:00

A great splash here from the prolific Louis Cazeneuve in a typical tale of this long-running duo from STAR-SPANGLED COMICS by request from what has to be this blog's biggest fan!

Mighty Mite-Tony Di Preta-1946

2012-01-27T00:22:00.001-05:00

Okay, now this is kinda fun--a parody, or perhaps better looked at as a reimagining-- of Billy Batson and Captain Marvel! Art is by TonyDi Preta whose work was pretty much everywhere in comics of the late forties and early fifties. Di Preta finished out his career with long runs on the long lasting newspaper strips, JOE PALOOKA and REX MORGAN, M.D.

Neon the Unknown-Alex Blum-1940

2012-01-26T00:39:00.000-05:00

GCD speculates that this beautifully drawn strip, written by Jerry Iger, was drawn by Alex Blum. Since nearly everything from Quality Comics at this time was drawn to look like it was by Will Eisner, I suppose it can be heard to tell for sure. Note that this stylish mystic literally makes the bad guys' heads explode at the end!

Terry Vance the School Boy Sleuth-Bob Oksner-1943

2012-01-25T00:38:00.000-05:00

Terry Vance was a longtime backup character in MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS. Described as a genius inventor and a schoolboy detective, his sidekick is a monkey named Doctor Watson. What really makes him interesting though is the very early art of Bob Oksner, later known for his work in DC's humor features and SUPERGIRL. Known also for drawing some of the most beautiful girls in comics, there's nary a female to be seen here in this boys strip.

Doctor Fate-Howard Sherman-1942

2012-01-24T00:36:00.000-05:00

In the sixties there seemed some confusion sometimes as to whether Doctor Fate--as Kent Nelson--was an archaeologist or an actual doctor. This story, the first with him as the wisecracking, capeless brawler rather than the mystic, helmeted wizard, seems to be where that confusion came from. In this Gardner Fox tale, Kent reveals that he's "secretly" been attending medical school!

Calling All Cars Featuring Sandy Kean and the Radio Squad-by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster--1937

2012-01-23T00:56:00.000-05:00

Here's yet another of Jerry and Joe's stylish pre-Superman series, this one a serial from MORE FUN COMICS which also featured the duo's DOCTOR OCCULT. It was still a year and a half until ACTION COMICS # 1 but note that Sandy looks very familiar with Joe's stock "hero" face.

Nick Carter-Bob Powell-1948

2012-01-22T00:17:00.000-05:00

Bob Powell, subject of Craig Yoe's most recent collection, was arguably best known for his work on THE SHADOW comic book. A back-up in that comic was another Street & Smith pulp property/radio character, the venerable NICK CARTER, DETECTIVE as played on the air by Lon Clark. Some lovely art in this post-war tale of the gray market with Powell drawing Nick to look very much like his radio actor would a few years later!

Scribbly and the Red Tornado-Sheldon Mayer-1941

2012-01-21T10:29:00.000-05:00

Sheldon Mayer was a driving editorial force at DC in its earliest days but his heart was in cartooning and the evidence shows him to have been one of the best there ever was! Here's an episode of his long-running SCRIBBLY series starring his young alter-ego and the original version of the Red Tornado!

Choo Choo-Gill Fox-1945

2012-01-20T00:33:00.000-05:00

CHOO CHOO seems to want to be a Good Girl Art strip. In fact it's drawn by Gill Fox, known for his Good Girl Art. The problem is there really isn't much of what one thinks of as Good Girl Art. Still, a fun strip, oddly found in MILITARY COMICS from Quality.

Fly Girl-John Giunta-1962

2012-01-19T00:54:00.000-05:00

PEP COMICS revisited the superheroes of its early days when it featured a few solo FLY GIRL stories (and JAGUAR, too) in the early sixties. This one has some very stylized artwork credited by GCD to John Giunta. Giunta had a very unique style that I didn't care for at all as a regular in DC's sci-fi comics of the same period but here I like it. Credited with being an influence on Frank Frazetta, I can't help but notice a few panels here reminiscent of later work by Steranko so presumably Giunta influenced his work, also.

Mr. Scarlet and Pinky-America's Greatest Comics-1942

2012-01-18T00:06:00.000-05:00

"What are we gonna do tonight, Brain?" "Same thing we do every night, Pinky--fight crime!" Actually, there's no evidence that Mr. Scarlet's oddly named young sidekick ever called him "Brain." This anonymous Fawcett story goes out to Stephen DeStefano as a cheap birthday gift! Happy birthday, sir!

Baby Snooks-Doc Savage Comics-1943

2012-01-17T00:18:00.000-05:00

DOC SAVAGE COMICS seems an odd place for radio stars to be in comics but there they were--Gildersleeve, Jack Benny, Henny Youngman...and here, Fanny Brice as Baby Snooks. Snooks was a shrill and not particularly likable character, a holdover from the singer's Follies days. She was popular enough to last for many years on the air, however. No idea the writer or artist here unfortunately but I've cleaned up the scans as best as I can for your viewing pleasure.

Espionage-Will Eisner-1939

2012-01-16T00:41:00.000-05:00

The monocled super-spy known as Black X was created by Will Eisner several years before The Spirit. First appearing in Quality's FEATURE FUNNIES, the strip would continue to appear for more than a decade. If you thought Eisner was good with those 7 page Spirit stories, look what he managed to squeeze into 4 pages here!

Presto Pete the Magic Bunny-Howie Post-1947

2012-01-15T00:35:00.001-05:00

Here's yet another wonderful, creative and delightful series from Howie Post, the man behind SPOOKY, JIMMINY and ANTHRO. This magic bunny appeared in issues of DC's lesser-known funny animal title, ANIMAL ANTICS.

To read another Post Presto Pete story, go to today's BOOKSTEVE'S LIBRARY.

The Black Terror-Ruben Moreira-1949

2012-01-14T00:32:00.000-05:00

Here's another BLACK TERROR adventure, this one featuring some truly impressive superhero art by Ruben Moreira, best remembered (apparently unfairly) for his serviceable but generally dull art on DC's ROY RAYMOND, TV DETECTIVE series in the 1950's.

Mitzi-Rusty-1947

2012-01-13T00:16:00.000-05:00

Another unfortunately anonymous strip, MITZI was a back-up in the late Timely female ARCHIE comic called RUSTY. It isn't great but, to my eyes, is much better cartooning than its parent feature!

V Man-Ramona Patenaude-1941

2012-01-12T00:01:00.001-05:00

Here's one of the lesser-known patriotic heroes of the WW 2 era in a long and exciting adventure from the january, 1942 issue of THE BIG 3, meaning that it was most likely on the stands just as the US had to deal with Pearl Harbor in December, 1941. This Fox strip credits one "Jay Foster"but GCD suggests that it is one Ramona Patenaude, about whom I know as much as I do Jay Foster.

Pint-Size Pete-A.W. Nugent-1944

2012-01-11T16:44:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure who A.W. Nugent was (is?) but in 1944 he was doing things like this which looks so very much like an underground comic from the late sixties or early seventies. You can't tell me that the Crumb brothers and Jay Lynch and others weren't influenced, at least indirectly, by this Nugent guy!

Talking Corpse-Joe Sinnott-1952

2012-01-10T00:39:00.000-05:00

Often considered the world's best comic book inker, Joe Sinnott was and is no slouch at pencilling either as seen in this 1952 Atlas horror tale. Interesting color on this one also.

Two-Bit, The Wacky Woodpecker-Dave Tendler-1951

2012-01-09T00:09:00.000-05:00

How do you do a woodpecker character and make him different from the already popular Woody? Why, that's easy! make the new version a WC Fields clone. Never mind that the comedian had died about 6 years earlier and in those days, with no television showings or re-releases of his films, was probably totally unknown to your kid audience.

Gangbusters-Dan Gormley-1941

2012-01-08T00:47:00.000-05:00

DC Comics would publish a long-running comic book adaptation of radio's popular GANGBUSTERS series later on but here we have an early Dell version. As violent as any episode aired--or indeed as violent as any of the notorious crime comic books that followed, this POPULAR COMICS feature, later recollected in FOUR-COLOR COMICS, was one of the very first Crime Comics.

Secret Tower-John Romita, Sr-1957

2012-01-07T00:54:00.000-05:00

Even the best had to start somewhere. Here's Jazzy Johnny Romita, one of THE great, successful mainstream comic book artists, with an early Atlas war story, nearly a decade away from proving himself to be perhaps the ONLY artist who could have successfully followed Ditko on SPIDER-MAN at that point.

Windy-Joseph Sulman-1946

2012-01-06T00:07:00.000-05:00

Here we have a story with Windy Braggart, a MORE FUN COMICS character who appeared also in ALL FUNNY COMICS. The art here is by Joseph Sulman, a fun Al Capp-inspired artist who came along at DC in the late thirties but about whom I can find no real information.

Twinkle--Calling All Kids--1949

2012-01-05T00:13:00.000-05:00

PARENTS magazine put out a series of comics and activity magazines for youngsters starting in the mid-forties. This anonymous but lively children's book-like strip is from a 1949 issue of CALLING ALL KIDS.

Mystico the Wonder Man-Leo Morey-1942

2012-01-04T00:15:00.000-05:00

This one is lousy quality scans, I know, but it's yet another comic book magician and one with which I was not previously familiar. The artist is identified as Leo Morey, a pulp and magazine illustrator who also did comics through the Funnies, Inc shop that also brought Carl Burgos and Bill Everett into the field.

Plastic Man-The Invisible Invaders-1952

2012-01-03T00:48:00.000-05:00

A number of folks drew Plastic Man after creator Jack Cole moved on but GCD doesn't want to commit on who this might be. Many of the later stories, this one included to an extent, offer an unusual combination of drama and the strip's trademark comedy.

Dick Tracy Minute Mystery-Dick Tracy Monthly-1949

2012-01-02T00:18:00.001-05:00

Most of the DICK TRACY comic books over the years have been reprints of he Chester Gould comic strips. Dell, Harvey, DC, Gladstone and Blackthorne each had Tracy reprints and there were others, too. From time to time, though, one of these reprint titles would try something new, not by Gould but instead either an assistant such as Dick Locher or an imitator such as Joe Simon (who did some of the Harvey covers). No idea who did this one. In case you can't dope out the strip's mini-mystery, there's no need to flip your computer. Just double-click the solution box I've already flipped down at the bottom.

EXCERPT--Dr. Strange-Colan/Palmer-1969

2012-01-01T00:03:00.000-05:00

What we have here is a brief excerpt from a 1969 DOCTOR STRANGE story which was, in itself, a small part of a larger, multi-issue storyline that, for our purposes, doesn't matter at the moment. This part, however, with a clever script by Roy Thomas, innovative layouts by Gene Colan, masterful finishes by Tom Palmer and lovely coloring (Palmer?) is a wonderful, romantic, nostalgic and nicely presented New Year's Eve vignette. Presumably meant to correspond with the actual point where 1968 became 1969, this issue--following a fill-in reprint--was delayed until several months into the year but still hit me memorably when I first read it.

Note also the cameo from real-life author Tom Wolfe, now a sixties icon himself.

Georgie Visits Timely Comics-1946

2011-12-31T00:11:00.000-05:00

GEORGIE was an ARCHIE or ALDRICH FAMILY-style comic put out by Timely as their superheroes began to fade in popularity. In this particular story by an unidentified artist (Timely experts please feel free to chime in), the characters actually visit the company that puts out their comics! Note that the editor they meet looks not a bit like real-life editor Stan Lee or even publisher Martin Goodman.

Ken Shannon-Reed Crandall-1952

2011-12-30T00:57:00.000-05:00

Quality's big lug private eye, KEN SHANNON, gets a bad rap from some comics fans because he bounced Plastic man out of POLICE COMICS. Hey, if it hadn't been Ken it would have been someone else. The day of the superhero was ending...for a while. This series, largely drawn by the former BLACKHAWK team of Reed Crandall and Chuck Cuidera, was actually pretty good, though, with the unique looking title character reminding me from my own, modern, perspective of TV ELLERY QUEEN Jim Hutton, perhaps crossed with a bit of former GOOD MORNING AMERICA host David Hartman. This particular story, from POLICE COMICS 116, showcased both the ending, as well as the murderer's identity, on the cover! Luckily for you, I'm not showing that cover!

Electro-Steve Dahlman-1940

2011-12-29T00:12:00.001-05:00

Steve Dahlman came from the same group that brought Bill Everett and Carl Burgos into comics, Funnies, Inc. Like those two, his work appeared regularly in early issues of MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS. His character, the robot Electro, never gained the fame of Sub-Mariner or the Human Torch but, as visually sort of a Golden Age Iron Man, he had some well-drawn adventures.

Hawkman-Joe Kubert-1948

2011-12-28T00:07:00.000-05:00

Yesterday's post mentioned how I made my own action figure of Blazing Skull when I was a kid. That reminded me of my favorite custom action figure--the Golden Age Hawkman! I knew the character from his JLA appearances with the yellow mask so I made the mask out of the end of a yellow balloon. I made the wings out of bendable straws--a relatively new invention at the time--with shredded paper towels taped over them. Definitive Hawkman artist Joe Kubert drew this late story of the character from 1948.

Blazing Skull-Mystic Comics-1942

2011-12-27T08:29:00.000-05:00

As a kid, I made a Blazing Skull action figure! I took Captain Action's Aquaman costume and modified it with paper towels. I had a skull mask that I painted red. I don't even know where I would have seen the character at that point but I even used his real name, Mark Todd. I did get one thing wrong, however. I called him Flaming Skull, not Blazing Skull. When the character cameoed in an AVENGERS issue I was thrilled!

Bo Bunny-Sheldon Mayer-1954

2011-12-26T01:00:00.001-05:00

And now, for your post-holiday reading enjoyment, may we present once again the masterful comic stylings of Mister Sheldon Mayer (NCS), highlighted here with one of his lesser known but no less amusing characters, one Bo Bunny.

A Very Merry Christmas...-Don Martin-1957

2011-12-25T00:08:00.003-05:00

Sometimes, as we all learn, life isn't always in black and white. Conversely, not all comics are in four colors. We here at Booksteve's Blogs thank you for your support and hope you have a MAD-ly enjoyable holiday season!

The Spirit-Will Eisner-1946

2011-12-24T00:20:00.002-05:00

Like many of the great Comic Book artists and writers of the Golden Age, Will Eisner was Jewish. That did not keep him from becoming identified with the Christmas holiday via his annual CHRISTMAS SPIRIT stories. This one is from 1946, his first holiday season back from the War. As with many of the best SPIRIT stories, the main character himself is incidental to this one and barely appears.

Chip 'n' Dale-Yule Log-1961

2011-12-23T00:18:00.000-05:00

One of the fun aspects of Dell's Disney Annuals and Specials was that often, various characters from different Disney stories would be teamed as either friends or antagonists. Here. for example, everybody's favorite future Rescue rangers, Chip 'n' Dale, run into the now practically banned SONG OF THE SOUTH's Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox.

To Santa's Rescue-Dan Noonan-1946

2011-12-22T00:47:00.002-05:00

Golden Age Santa One Shots

2011-12-21T00:48:00.001-05:00

Wonder Woman-H G Peter--1944

2011-12-20T01:19:00.000-05:00

Here's a typically wacky Golden Age WONDER WOMAN tale, this one with a holiday theme, written by her creator, the eccentric William Marston and drawn by her old, OLD school original artist, Harry Peter.

Jeminy's Christmas-Walt Kelly-1949

2011-12-19T10:56:00.000-05:00

Walt Kelly was long associated with Dell's Christmas comics, even when POGO wasn't involved. Here's a delightful tale of familiar Mother Goose characters at holiday time!

Christmas One Pagers-Santa Claus Funnies-1940's-'50's

2011-12-18T00:41:00.002-05:00

Archie-Christmas Treasure-1995

2011-12-17T00:35:00.001-05:00

Here's a lovely, sentimental Christmas tale featuring Archie and the gang. No idea of the artist on this nicely drawn story although he's clearly DOING DeCarlo. Perhaps it is DeCarlo? Or maybe one of his sons? Doesn't look like Stan Goldberg or Dan Parent to me. Archie Comics being what they are, this story may well be a reprint from an earlier time.

Frosty the Snowman--Santa's Helpful Helper--1960

2011-12-16T00:03:00.004-05:00

Another unknown artist, this one on FROSTY THE SNOWMAN's 1960 FOUR-COLOR COMICS issue from Dell. The three little elves somewhat resemble Snap, Crackle and Pop, the Rice Krispies elves who were quite prominent on TV during the late fifties and all through the sixties. Coincidence?

Mickey and Friends- Jose's Gift--1944

2011-12-15T00:41:00.000-05:00

Mickey Mouse-Firestone Giveaway-1946

2011-12-14T00:49:00.000-05:00

Dennis the Menace-Fred Toole-1960

2011-12-13T00:24:00.001-05:00

Ah, Dennis. The Dennis the Menace comic book stories are entirely a different breed than the daily single panel cartoons. And when they're written by Fred Toole, they're sure fine comics indeed. Often partnered with artist Al Wiseman, I'm not certain who the artist is here and neither is GCD (as always, it's done in the style of creator Hank Ketcham) but a fun story nonetheless with some colorful, expansive art and some very realistic holiday themes!

The Crusoes-Albert Micale-1941

2011-12-12T00:11:00.001-05:00

The Crusoes was an original backup feature in CRACKAJACK FUNNIES, one of those many Golden Age titles that mainly reprinted newspaper comic strips. This holiday tale appeared in the final issue although the series itself transferred to POPULAR COMICS. Although no great shakes as a cartoonist, artist Al Micale was a popular pulp and children's book illustrator throughout his career as well as latterly doing CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED covers.

Mr. Bear's Reward-Mel Crawford-1956

2011-12-11T00:34:00.000-05:00

From a late issue of Dell's SANTA CLAUS FUNNIES, here's renowned children's book illustrator and sometime comic book artist Mel Crawford with an original take on Santa that sees him actually losing his trademark beard...just in time for Christmas!

Archie's Christmas Stocking-1950's-'60's

2011-12-10T00:02:00.000-05:00

A bit of a change today as we present just a series of covers instead of one full story. As a kid, I never read the ARCHIE'S CHRISTMAS STOCKING title although I remember seeing it so often I began to think it was published year-round. By the time I discovered Archie Comics in the mid-sixties, there were already a whole bunch of back issues dating back a decade and waiting for me to discover them. Here they are now!

500th Post!--Batman-Jerry Robinson, et al-1942

2011-12-09T00:01:00.001-05:00

According to Jerry Robinson, who died Wednesday evening, this early Batman Christmas story is by Don Cameron with art by Bob Kane, inks and backgrounds by Robinson with George Roussos. Jerry, of course, should have known but the whole thing looks pretty much like Robinson's work to me. Either way, it's a gorgeous example of the strip's style just as it was hitting its early forties peak.

Captain Marvel-Pete Costanza-1944

2011-12-08T00:05:00.001-05:00

CAPTAIN MARVEL ADVENTURES is probably, as far as I'm concerned at least, the most consistently impressive comic book of the Golden Age in both story and art. C.C. Beck established the unique style of the strip early on and his stable of artists carried that straight though the end of the title's run. Otto Binder wrote most of the stories but even those he didn't write retain the wonderful characterizations he cemented for Billy and all the strip's wonderful supporting characters and evil villains. It's not a kids' strip and yet it's written and drawn like one. It's also the most original superhero concept since Superman.

Superboy--John Sikela/George Roussos--1946

2011-12-07T00:45:00.000-05:00

In spite of the signatures above, this is longtime SUPERMAN and SUPERBOY ghost artist John Sikela inked, according to GCD, by George Roussos. The super strips almost always did special Christmas covers and stories in the early years, in spite of the fact that many of the creators who worked on the series were themselves celebrating Hannukah.

Bucky Bug-Roger Armstrong-1951

2011-12-06T00:20:00.000-05:00

Premiering in comic strips in 1932, Walt Disney's BUCKY BUG was never a film star (he appeared in only one film early on) but became a longtime fixture of Dell's Disney comic books and specials. This particular holiday appearance comes from WALT DISNEY'S CHRISTMAS PARADE in 1951.

Santa's New Suits-Frank Jupo-1948

2011-12-05T00:03:00.000-05:00

Frank Jupo was a children's book author and illustrator from the mid-forties into the seventies. Here he offers up a fun and educational fable of Santa in Dell's SANTA CLAUS FUNNIES.

Albert and Pogo's Christmas-Walt Kelly-1949

2011-12-04T00:27:00.000-05:00

Walt Kelly's POGO had just graduated from ANIMAL COMICS to his own title when he and Ol'Albert the Alligator turned up unexpectedly with this typically wonderful holiday story in the back of SANTA CLAUS FUNNIES, an annual Dell publication to which Kelly was often the main contributor.

Suzanne-Al Hubbard-1959

2011-12-03T01:48:00.001-05:00

Meet Suzanne Bright, an ersatz Chuck Jones character who had a fairly extensive career as a backup strip in several of Dell's LOONEY TUNES titles of the fifties and early sixties. The big-headed kids and the black and white dog, of course, signal that this was, in fact, a PEANUTS ripoff...albeit a pretty good one.

Sticky Mitt Stimson-Russell Cole-1938

2011-12-02T15:11:00.000-05:00

Here's one of the back-up stories from ACTION COMICS # 1 that the in the news anonymous buyer of the best surviving copy ever (at more than two million dollars) will never see and probably wouldn't care about if he did. "Alger" was Russell Cole and loaded down all four of DC's books at the time with these types of lovely if only marginally funny strips.

The Little Sheriff-Dave Berg-1951

2011-12-01T15:17:00.001-05:00

I've long been amused by the fact that artist Dave Berg's earliest work in comics is more like early MAD than his earliest MAD work where he quickly developed his now-classic LIGHTER SIDE and pretty much just stuck with it forever. This pre-MAD but recognizably Kurtzmanesque madness is from the generic title, KID COWBOY.

The American Crusader-Max Plaisted-1943

2011-11-30T08:25:00.000-05:00

Max Plaisted started out in risque pulp comic strips but had a steady career in more traditional adventure strips through the forties. I really like his superhero work here on this obscure patriotic hero, especially the "Zam!" panel on the last page. You'll know it when you see it.

The Angel-Sekowsky/Bellman-1944

2011-11-29T17:10:00.000-05:00

When I first saw, in Steranko's history, how prominent The Angel had been in Timely's Golden Age, I began to wonder why the character wasn't revived in the early sixties along with those many who were. It's not that he was a great character, being essentially a costumed variation on The Saint/ Falcon style hero. Still, for a brief period in the second run of MYSTIC COMICS in 1944, he at least seemed a little livelier. GCD says this is Mike Sekowsky--later the initial JLA artist--inked by Allen Bellman, an artist who's lived long enough to be rediscovered and can be found here!

The Mad Planet-Virgil Finlay-1954

2011-11-28T01:01:00.000-05:00

Here's something one doesn't see every day--a complete, full-color comic book sci-fi tale drawn by the legendary pulp illustrator, Virgil Finlay! The artist did a few "Just Imagine" fillers for National but virtually no other full stories other than this one from a 1954 MYSTERY IN SPACE, reprinted in 1971, the year of Finlay's death, in STRANGE ADVENTURES.

The Three Stooges-Norman Maurer-1954

2011-11-27T02:03:00.000-05:00

By the time the Three Stooges came to comics at St. John, it was Shemp in the third spot, not Curly. With delightful MAD-style art by Norman Maurer, these early tales were amazing fun! Maurer would remain associated with the Stooges throughout the rest of his life, marrying Moe's daughter, helping them revive their career through television, producing their later features with Curly Joe and keeping a hand in later, lesser comics versions. Along the way, he and Joe Kubert developed the concept of 3-D comics!

Rockhead McWizzard-Jack Farr-1949

2011-11-26T02:01:00.000-05:00

This ALLEY OOP rip-off strip (If there's any doubt, note the "OOOP!" in the last panel) appeared in various Golden Age National titles including ALL-STAR and FLASH COMICS. In fact, this one is from an issue of ALL-STAR in 1949 but that "FL 86" on the splash panel would seem to indicate that it had been originally meant for FLASH COMICS 86. The really nice art and storytelling here is credited to longtime cartoonist Jack Farr who apparently died months before this was published and yet who continued to have stories come out as late as 1951.

Kitty Carson-Bob Powell-1950

2011-11-25T00:17:00.001-05:00

I'm reading Craig Yoe's new collection, BOB POWELL'S TERROR, which is making me hunger for more and more comics work by Bob Powell. Luckily, the artist was very prolific throughout the 1950's and into the early '60's. Here's a Harvey back up strip from1950 as reprinted in 1955.

The Witness-Syd Shores-1948

2011-11-24T00:38:00.000-05:00

The Witness was Timely's version of National's Phantom Stranger...although the sole issue of THE WITNESS was out several years earlier. The character is also similar to radio's Mysterious Traveler or The Whistler, which probably inspired all of these types of guys that turned up in comics during that period. This wordy story has art credited on GCD to Syd Shores.

Homer Ghost-Stan Lee/Tony DePreta-1957

2011-11-23T01:59:00.000-05:00

Originally by Stan Lee and Dan DeCarlo (as "Stan and Dan"), this straightforward rip-off of CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST was given an almost unprecedented amount of tries. Beginning in the early fifties as HOMER THE HAPPY GHOST, the series was revived at the end of the decade as THE ADVENTURES OF HOMER GHOST and then again in the early seventies with reprints! This particular story is from the middle period and is signed in an interior panel by artist Tony DePreta who would later go on to draw JOE PALOOKA and REX MORGAN, MD.

Sun Girl-Ken Bald(?)-1948

2011-11-22T07:26:00.000-05:00

I'm sure some of the Timely-Atlas experts know whose distinctive art style graces SUN GIRL but GCD does not. Ken Bald was the creator and regular cover artist so maybe...? Sun Girl was also the latter day partner of the Human Torch who, like Captain America before him, ditched his teenage boy sidekick when he discovered girls.

Barbie's Baton-Barbie and Ken-1963

2011-11-21T00:37:00.000-05:00

Here's everybody's favorite doll, Barbie, in one of a surprising amount of comic book adventures she's had over the years from various different companies. This one, says GCD with a question mark, is maybe by Vince Colletta. I'll give you probably his inks but I'd guess the pencils are more likely the prolific Tony Tallarico who worked a lot at Dell after the split with Western that led to the creation of Gold Key.

Perils of Pauline-Calling All Boys-1947

2011-11-19T18:19:00.000-05:00

This is odd, It's the story of silent film star Pearl White...only it isn't really. It's an adaptation of the then-new 1947 motion picture THE PERILS OF PAULINE starring Betty Hutton as Pearl White. Thus the unnamed artist draws the actors and scenes from the film. There isn't much regard for continuity either as most panels show individual moments rather than actually tell any continuous story. But then what do you expect when you adapt a 90 minute movie in three and a half pages?

Inferior man-Al Stahl-1943

2011-11-18T00:14:00.000-05:00

Al Stahl did a ton of these smoothly drawn humor pieces and characters, mostly for Quality, and here's another. INFERIOR MAN was a back-up in FEATURE COMICS in the mid-forties. Stahl would eventually start his own animation studio which he ran into the 1990's.

Chuck-Louis Ferstadt-1944

2011-11-17T00:38:00.001-05:00

This is the story of Chuck Conners, the Riflema...wait. No. Not THAT Chuck Conners. No, this guy was yet another in the long line of Archie clones, found in the back pages of SUPER-MYSTERY COMICS. Not only does this dude look the part but this time we even get an ersatz Mr. Weatherbee and a bargain basement Miss Grundy!

Federal Men-Siegel and Shuster-1936

2011-11-16T00:22:00.000-05:00

FEDERAL MEN appeared in NEW COMICS, the title that would become ADVENTURE COMICS and is being covered issue by issue at our sister bog, DAYS OF ADVENTURE. Although they had co-craeted SUPERMAN in 1933, the Man of Steel wouldn't see print until mid-1938. The pair was hardy idle in the meantime, selling a number of strips to Dell and National. FEDERAL MEN, although it started out a typical G-Man shoot-em-up, quickly progressed into something more with this particular episode's giant robots arguably inspiring the Fleischer SUPERMAN cartoons of the forties as much as anything that actually appeared in ACTION COMICS!

Murder On Time-Dick Giordano-1953

2011-11-15T10:23:00.000-05:00

Although he would later become a major player at DC, in the fifties and sixties, Dick Giordano was the image of Charlton. As an artist and later editor, he was represented all across the company. Personally, I have always found his earlier work to be a bit drab compared to the sleek stylishness he would later achieve but here's a nicely illustrated pre-code horror tale.

Oscar the Gumshoe-Bob Kane-1939

2011-11-14T07:52:00.002-05:00

It's always fun to run a Bob Kane strip that you're pretty sure was actually drawn by Bob Kane. This one page filler (with not one but two of Kane's trademark signature boxes) ran in an early issue of DETECTIVE COMICS immediately following that issue's BATMAN story!

Johnny Thunder-Stan Aschmeier-1945

2011-11-13T13:26:00.000-05:00

Reading the ending of this particularly slapsticky JOHNNY THUNDER tale, I can't help but wonder if Grant Morrison saw this as it presages his existential bits on his ANIMAL MAN run decades later. Johnny Thunder, of course, was (for some reason) a founding member of the Justice Society of America although his magic Thunderbolt--missing here--usually saved his hide.

Sky Wolf and the Heap-John Belfi-1945

2011-11-12T08:07:00.000-05:00

Here we have the third appearance and origin of The Heap, the original Swamp Thing, the original Man-Thing. Oh, and Sky Wolf, too, since it's in his strip. Sky Wolf was revived by Eclipse in the eighties and given one of the coolest costumes ever. The Heap was revived in the seventies at Skywald...in a way...and then officially also by Eclipse in the eighties. GCD has John Belfi's name on this with a question mark. Personally, I think Belfi's name in the last panel should erase that question mark. Belfi had been a longtime inker and assistant to various artists before getting some strips of his own at various companies.

Cindy-Bob Wickersham-1947

2011-11-11T06:11:00.000-05:00

Bob Wickersham was an animator for Disney, Warners, Fleischer and later on for himself, doing commercials for, among others, Green Giant products. CINDY was a regular gig for him in COOKIE COMICS and showcased his really attractive style very nicely. This particular amusing installment features special guest Tommy Dorsey, one of the leading bandleaders of the Swing Years.

Candy-Harry Sahle-1945

2011-11-10T16:59:00.000-05:00

Artist Harry Sahle worked at several Golden Age comic book companies but mainly was one of the artists who helped define the ARCHIE look at MLJ before he went into the army. Upon his return he worked for Quality, in essence reinventing a female Archie as CANDY, a POLICE COMICS strip that would continue there as well as having a long run in its own title, eventually lasting more than a decade. In fact, CANDY would outlast Sahle who died in 1954.

The Super Cook of Space-Mike Sekowsky-1959

2011-11-09T21:11:00.000-05:00

Most folks remember Mike Sekowsky for his JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA work for that title's first few years and that's rather sad because it's hardly his best work. The artist excelled at one-off stories such as this bit of lighthearted sci-fi inked by Bernard Sachs.

Mister Terrific-Stan Aschmeier-1944

2011-11-08T00:38:00.001-05:00

Today, by request for a Mister Zetz, we present MISTER TERRIFIC by Stanley Aschmeier--or was it Aschmier? I've seen it spelled both ways. Ol' Stan decided to avoid the issue all together by simply drawing as "Stan Asch." As Asch, he did many National--or to be more precise, All-American--features throughout the 1940's including JOHNNY THUNDER, DOCTOR MID-NITE and DOCTOR FATE. In this case, the character had no title. He was just a "mister." MISTER TERRIFIC and his Christmasy colored costume with it's memorable "Fair Play" logo didn't really last long, was rarely revived and was eventually killed off rather ignominiously in a storyline that was left dangling for decades. I'm not certain even now if it was ever resolved. Here he is, though! The one, the only...oh, wait...there's another one these days. Sigh...

MISTER TERRIFIC!

Starman-Emil Gershwin-1945

2011-11-07T19:24:00.000-05:00

For much of its run, STARMAN was graced with the truly exquisite artwork of sports cartoonist Jack Burnley. Here, however, we find him toward the end having to settle for the not bad but definitely minimalist art of the prolific Golden Age artist, Emil Gershwin. This story comes from ADVENTURE COMICS which, by total coincidence, is the subject of my brand new blog at http://adventurecomicsblog.blogspot.com/ DAYS OF ADVENTURE!

The Mouthpiece-Fred Guardineer-1942

2011-11-06T06:13:00.000-05:00

There were a lot of comic book crimefighters in the 1940's who wore blue suits, fedoras and little blue masks. The most memorable ones were, of course, Will Eisner's SPIRIT and Jack Cole's MIDNIGHT. Here we have THE MOUTHPIECE by Fred Guardineer. Interestingly enough, note the last page where you find a plug for MIDNIGHT!

Captain America-Syd Shores-1948

2011-11-05T10:00:00.001-04:00

Timely Comics had a habit of sticking CAPTAIN AMERICA stories in just about every title they had shy of GAY COMICS. This one's from the first issue of the 1948 revival of ALL WINNERS COMICS. GCD says it's by Syd Shores and it may well be but the style seems different to me from his later Cap tales. Very nice art, though.

Vinny the Vet-Mort Walker Studio-1962

2011-11-04T06:09:00.000-04:00

VINNY THE VET was a backup strip in Dell's BEETLE BAILEY comic book. It's a mildly amusing look at a character who, based on his appearance (courtesy of anonymous artists at Mort Walker's studio) and his designation as a vet could well be considered Beetle after he gets out of the army...if that ever happens.

Ghoulash-Bill Savage-1954

2011-11-03T13:05:00.000-04:00

Here's a very EC-like black-humored horror tale with a twist ending (which one can spot a mile away) by one Bill Savage. the absolute only thing I can fid out about Bill Savage is that he drew comic books in the fifties. I could have guessed that part.

Superman-Tim from 1947

2011-11-02T00:18:00.006-04:00

We lose color today in order to present an extremely rare Superman story! The first time I ever heard of SUPERMAN-TIM was in Overstreet's Price Guide in the mid-seventies. For the whole story on this little known series, go here.

As "Robby Reed" put it on DIAL B FOR BLOG, "Reading them is like finding a whole ’nother Man of Steel in a parallel universe. In these stories, Tim uses the “Whirlaway Watch,” a device he invented with Superman to travel into the past and explore different cultures and civilizations firsthand. Not even Jimmy Olsen's famous signal watch could do that!"

Thor, God of Thunder-Pierce Rice-1940

2011-11-01T07:43:00.000-04:00

Minimalist cartooning taken to the extremes--giant panels, virtually no backgrounds, all with a pre-war version of the Thunder God that really isn't all that different than the one that would be popular decades later.

Kookie Koyote-Laurel and Hardy-1963

2011-10-31T06:11:00.000-04:00

Larry Harmon's Kookie Koyote here appeared as a backup in Dell's early sixties LAUREL AND HARDY title. Most likely, the character was one that Harmon (who was also Bozo the Clown) had created or planned for animation but, as near as I can tell, only appeared here with anonymous--not great but not bad-- art.

Zatara the Master Magician-Ralph Mayo-1950

2011-10-30T11:44:00.000-04:00

One of the first Golden Age comic boo artists I became aware of was Ralph Mayo. I saw his name on a JOHNNY QUICK reprint in a FLASH ANNUAL or 80 PAGE GIANT. He was one of those utility players who was all across the board in the forties and fifties, drawing all kinds of strips for a dozen different companies. Here he is on an atypical late tale of Zatara from WORLD'S FINEST in 1950. Zatara's first name, by the way, is apparently Giuseppe. I just learned that last week! His daughter is, of course, Zatanna, apparently her first name, making her Zatanna Zatara. Yeeks!

Tune in Channel 1 Tonight-Jack Sparling-1967

2011-10-29T19:07:00.000-04:00

Jack Sparling is yet another comics artist whose work I have appreciated much more in recent years. He was often found at Dell and in SICK magazine and other lower-profile areas but he really did have an interesting style and a good storytelling skill. This is from a late issue of THE OUTER LIMITS done for Dell long after the series itself had left the air.

Aquaman's Sea Cops-John Daly-1950

2011-10-28T00:28:00.001-04:00

Here we have an early AQUAMAN strip drawn by John Daly. To me, one of the unsung hallmarks of this series is that no matter who drew it for most of its prime years--Paul Norris, Ramona Fradon, Nick Cardy, Jim Aparo--the character always seemed to have a unique face. It wasn't just Bruce Wayne or Barry Allen in an orange shirt. Daly, an advertising artist in the '20's who ended up in comics, is certainly no exception. This is a fun story from ADVENTURE COMICS.

The Man Hunters-Jim Mooney-1956

2011-10-27T07:31:00.000-04:00

Originally best known for his sci-fi and superhero art for DC, one can actually find Jim Mooney art at many other companies in the forties and fifties. Here we have some amazingly smooth work from post-Code Atlas, recognizable as his and yet in a way much more detailed than his DC work of the same period.

Blue Eyes and a Gun: The Story of Stella Irwin--Gangsters Can't Win-1948

2011-10-26T07:34:00.000-04:00

No idea on the artist but GCD notes the distinct swipes from movie stills--notably Gable and Mitchum. This is an interesting but typical example of the "crime does not pay" style comics that exploited the violence before letting the law win out in the end almost as an afterthought.