The Comet-Paul Reinman-1965

The Golden Age version of the Comet was a violent hero drawn by Jack Cole who actually died and left his brother to avenge him as The Hangman! The Silver Age version first appeared as a mustachioed suitor for Fly Girl who wore a goofy helmet and later became a founding member of the Mighty Crusaders. Here's Jerry Siegel in what was probably an impossible attempt at merging the two backstories.

Boy Buddies-Paul Reinman (?)-1943

Looks a little too lively to me to be Reinman but GCD says it is with a question mark. And that ending! Whoa! The Comics Code would put an end to all THAT!

Li'l Teevy-Mell Lazarus-1954

Mell Lazarus, creator of MISS PEACH and MOMMA, passed recently. Here he is with a quick take on kids obsessed with television, a new thing then but something that got worse before it got any better.

Phantasmo-E.C. Stoner-1940

I feel remiss that we haven't featured this big, goofy super guy here before. He'll be appearing on the cover of Yoe Books' upcoming SUPER WEIRD HEROES 500 page collection! Watch for it!

When Mama Was a Girl-Paul Fung, Jr-1971

Paul Fung, Jr. passed earlier this year. R.I.P. 

Beezy-Bernard Dibble-1948

Here's yet another of the gazillion or so Archie-like strips from 1940s and '50s comic books. This one  offers up the smooth art of Bernard "Dib" Dibble, who at various times worked on many newspaper strips such as FRITZI RITZ, LOOEY DOT DOPE and THE CAPTAIN AND THE KIDS.

Li'L Abner-Al Capp-1941

Considering how early it was, this particular ABNER ad might actual be by Capp. Most later ones featuring his characters were done by assistants and, at best, had the faces retouched by Capp.

Suzie-Bill Woggon-1946

Here's our old friend Suzie in some GGA (Good Girl Art--an old fan term) with some clever layouts by Katy Keene's Poppa, Bill Woggon.

Pete and Pudgie-Win Smith-1940

I'm a sucker for the 1939-40 New York World's Fair and here's some really fun art with some characters I'd never met before. A fun story. 

Gems-John Severin/Will Elder-1951

This little gem has some little known early art by the Severin/Elder team. Both men, of course, would go on to legendary status in the field at EC and beyond but that was still several years later here.

Ted Parrish, Man of 1000 Faces-1942

Lon Chaney, of course, was the "Man of 1000 Faces" but Chaney had died a dozen years earlier so the nickname was up for grabs. In this series, it was grabbed by one Ted Parrish, an actor who used his acting and makeup skills in the cause of justice as often as he did for the benefit of the box office.