Combat Cool-John Severin-1966

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The great John Severin, still drawing comics today after more than six decades in the business, rarely toiled at DC but when he did, as much as readers might have loved to have seen him on Green Lantern or Hawkman, he not surprisingly drew war comics. Here's a back-up from a mid-sixties issue of the short-lived CAPTAIN STORM that somehow manages to have that DC clean house style while still recognizably Severin.

Master Mystic-Green Giant Comics-1939

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!