The Atom Wizard-XVenture-1947

The best part of this superhero origin is the splash. Reminds me of sixties fanzine comics. The art might be by Al Cammerata (CAM) who drew the character in his second (and last) outing. 

Captain Marvel in Cincinnati-1944

In the mid-forties, Fawcett's Captain Marvel was the most popular comic book of them all according to a number of sources. In 1944, Billy Batson and Cap took a tour of the US, visiting different cities in stories with local tie-ins. Being from Cincinnati myself (on the Kentucky side) I couldn't resist sharing Billy's Queen City visit. Local references include the long-gone Reds player Johnny Vandermeer and their long-gone Crosley Field. Also the still very much there Union Terminal, Fountain Square and WLW radio. Other than that it's a fun story but nothing special. But that's just it about the Golden Age Captain Marvel stories. They didn't need to be special to still be better than most other companies' stories. 

John Carter of Mars-John Coleman Burroughs-1941

Okay, okay....here's the real thing! The art here, derivative of Alex Raymond and Hal Foster, is apparently by ERB's son, John Coleman Burroughs who also did the John Carter newspaper strip and illustrated his father's later books. 

Scott Rand On Mars-the Binders-1940

The heck with John Carter, here's Scott Rand on Mars, a collaboration between writers Earl and Otto Binder (or more likely just Otto writing under the duo's "Eando" pen name) and their older brother, Jack!

The Man Germ-Howard Nostrand-1952

Here's some Howard Nostrand from Harvey's pre-Code CHAMBER OF CHILLS, here channeling more Bob Powell than his typical Jack Davis. Often written off as an art mimic, Nostrand is finally getting his due in recent years. 

Midnight-Alex Blum-1943

The logo is what got my attention. GCD says: Very awkward pencils with wildly disproportioned figures and horse - one more indication that it is unlikely that Blum was drawing the horses. He usually had shop specialists assist on his animal art.

The Phantom Detective-Edmund Good-1948

This one's interesting. See that kind of cool looking dude in the top hat, cape and mask? Well...he isn't in this story. At least not without a disguise.  Drawn by Canadian cartoonist Edmund Good who came to the US to take over the newspaper strip SCORCHY SMITH and stayed to start DC's long-running TOMAHAWK, THE PHANTOM DETECTIVE has recently been revived .