The Blue Blaze-Newt Alfred-1940

This guy was sorta cool looking here but his look and the feel of the strip seemed to change from issue to issue, watering the character down considerably as time went on in his short career. 

Buffalo Bill-Doug Wildey-1949

Here's some not bad very early art from Doug Wildey, one of THE great cowboy artists in comics. Known for his photorealistic art and his work in the creation of TV's JONNY QUEST and later animated GODZILLA, he's got a way to go here before he gets to his crowning achievement, RIO. See below.

He got better.

Cuffy-Ellis Holly Chambers-1949

Here's a funny but more staid than usual offering from Ellis Chambers, the mysterious artist who signed himself as "EC" but was not, in fact, related to EC Comics. Was this the first time cosplay ever appeared in comics?

Clifford-Jules Feiffer-1949

Jules Feiffer started out in comics with Will Eisner and in time he transcended the art form as well as perpetuating its history and nostalgia with his 1965 book, THE GREAT COMIC BOOK HEROES. His later work for the VILLAGE VOICE is a unique comic voice. He has also been a playwright, a novelist, a lecturer, and a talk show guest.

Red Blazer-Pocket Comics-1941

This guy should be right at home in Craig Yoe's upcoming SUPER WEIRD HEROES volumes. I just proofed volume 1 and he's not there but he may make volume 2. If not, there are certainly enough possibilities for a volume 3!

The Hog-Joe Kubert-1954

He's so associated with DC that it's hard sometimes to think of Joe Kubert at Marvel but here he was with some cool car art. Kubert's developing style here was at the point when it likely had quite an effect on Steve Ditko's as the two styles looked much alike during this period.