More aliens? Just how many more can there be? Fantasans: When time/space traveller Whiz Wilson visits Earth of the year 4400 CE, he finds that it is being bombarded by comets originating from the far-off planet Fantasa. Going there with the aid of his trusty Futuroscope, he learns that Molla, the rightful ruler of Fantasa, has been deposed by the wicked Gorano and that Gorano has a fanatical (and unexplained) hatred of humanity that is his reason for the comet…
Forget lost media, here are some media that only exist in comic books Movies: A Modern Macbeth is one of innumerable in-comic movies that we never really learn anything about. Is it a musical? Is that why a singer is speaking at the premiere? Is it a reference to another movie? The only pre-1941 movie with a similar title that I can find is 1917’s A Modern Monte Cristo and that seems a bit of a stretch. (More Fun Comics 072, 1941)…
Time for a heaping dose of real folk from Golden Age Marvel comics. Adolf Hitler: Kalph Belgri, dictator of Torpis, takes his own life when his invasion of neighbouring Molivia is thwarted by Electro. (Marvel Mystery Comics v1 005, 1940) The Human Torch encounters Adolphe Hiccup, dictator of Slaveland, while foiling a plot to fool his sidekick Toro into aiding their war effort. He is seen colluding with his ally Benny Musclein, who is such a clear Mussolini stand-in that…
The Looming Spectre of Death: Death rides, menaces the Human Torch in a flooding tunnel, advances as a glacier and looks over Hitler’s shoulder, all from the same busy issue: Human Torch v1 005b, 1941 The Looming Spectre of War: Also from Human Torch v1 005b: the looming spectre of war, in the form of Mars, menaces the USA and rejoices in the flooding of Berlin.
Time to revise the Comparative Religion curriculum again because we found some new gods. Adobi: Just to what extent these Molemen worship the god Adobi is impossible to say. This particular Moleman hold him in high enough esteem to implore him to sanctify a forced political marriage, if that counts for anything much. I really wish we had a better angle on Adobi’s front side so I could see the big gems in his chest and forehead better. God Style:…
(Lightning Comics v2 002, 1941) The Green Hood Gang, who are unsurprisingly a gang who wear green hoods (and please note the rare and stylish nose cutouts on those numbers), make their debut by barging in and robbing the Raven after he himself had just gone to the trouble of holding up the guests of a party at the home of retired gangster Joe Russo. From there, the Green Hoods embark on a crime spree so ambitious in scope that…
Comic book aliens: one of the few inexhaustible resources. Martians: Just as Doc Strong and his followers are starting to get the post-apocalyptic, WWII-lasted-a-century world of 2041 sorted out, a bunch of robot-looking Martians show up to ruin things by invading their territory on the Isle of Right. It’s just one thing after another with that year. Though they are fairly generic hostile invaders, these fellows really distinguish themselves among their class by immediately abandoning whatever plans that they had…
(Lightning Comics v2 001, 1941) The Chief is that most low-tier of costumed criminals: the masked manager of an underground casino. And not a particularly well-hidden casino either, seeing as Detective Danny “the Raven” Dartin just kind of stumbles upon its existence one night while eating in the beanery that is its front business, and Dartin’s boss Chief Lash leads a raid on the place almost simultaneously. I guess that’s why he wears the mask. Here we must explore the limits of…
I’ve finally caught up on all the backlogged wounds! Only new wounds for the catalogue going forward. the Dart: The Dart has come all the way from Ancient Rome to the present day (1940) only to be shot in the left arm. (Weird Comics 006, 1940) Doc Strange: Though the text box says that Doc Strange is “riddled with bullets” in this exchange, the subsequent first aid suggests that his left arm bore the brunt of the damage. (Thrilling Comics…
(Lightning Comics v2 001, 1941) Lash Lightning, while aimlessly flying around the countryside at night, encounters a footsore scientist named Amy Lane. Turns out that her castle (!) has been stolen by a man named Mastermind and that she has been walking for several hours in an attempt to get help. In a move that always seems kind of rude to me, Lightning immediately flies her all the way back to the castle to investigate. The mysterious Mastermind is no longer present…