The Curse of Skeleton Munroe

Category: wound man

  • CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 014

    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 001, 1940)

    the Falcon:

    The Falcon gets a classic head creasing. (Human Torch v1 002, 1940)

    Ferret:

    Despite the fact that these crooks manage to capture Ferret and force him to remove his bulletproof vest, they not only then choose to shoot him in the head but fail to actually shoot him in the head fatally and instead do a classic skull crease. (Marvel Mystery Comics v1 008, 1940)

    the Flame:

    The Flame gets in on the classic skull crease game. (Wonderworld Comics 018, 1940)

    the Masked Rider:

    Not to be left out, the Masked Raider sustains a head crease, classic. (Startling Comics 001, 1940)

    And again a few issues later. (Startling Comics 004, 1940)

    the Spirit:

    The Spirit (who I’m sure will be a frequent visitor to the Catalogue of Wounds) is shot in the left shoulder by Dr Cobra. (Spirit Section, June 9, 1940)

    A few months later: shot in the right shoulder. (The Spirit Section, September 22, 1940) 

    And a few months after that, the right shoulder again, this time by the Black Queen. (The Spirit Section, November 10, 1940)

    Thor, God of Thunder:

    Thor’s alter identity of Grant Farrel is shot in the back, wounding him badly enough that it takes weeks for him to recover. (Weird Comics 003, 1940)

    Yarko the Great:

    Even Yarko’s great magic cannot save him from occasionally being shot in the right arm. (Wonderworld Comics 004, 1940)

  • CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 014

    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 001, 1940)

    the Falcon:

    The Falcon gets a classic head creasing. (Human Torch v1 002, 1940)

    Ferret:

    Despite the fact that these crooks manage to capture Ferret and force him to remove his bulletproof vest, they not only then choose to shoot him in the head but fail to actually shoot him in the head fatally and instead do a classic skull crease. (Marvel Mystery Comics v1 008, 1940)

    the Flame:

    The Flame gets in on the classic skull crease game. (Wonderworld Comics 018, 1940)

    the Masked Rider:

    Not to be left out, the Masked Raider sustains a head crease, classic. (Startling Comics 001, 1940)

    And again a few issues later. (Startling Comics 004, 1940)

    the Spirit:

    The Spirit (who I’m sure will be a frequent visitor to the Catalogue of Wounds) is shot in the left shoulder by Dr Cobra. (Spirit Section, June 9, 1940)

    A few months later: shot in the right shoulder. (The Spirit Section, September 22, 1940) 

    And a few months after that, the right shoulder again, this time by the Black Queen. (The Spirit Section, November 10, 1940)

    Thor, God of Thunder:

    Thor’s alter identity of Grant Farrel is shot in the back, wounding him badly enough that it takes weeks for him to recover. (Weird Comics 003, 1940)

    Yarko the Great:

    Even Yarko’s great magic cannot save him from occasionally being shot in the right arm. (Wonderworld Comics 004, 1940)

  • CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 013

    If I see a wound, I catalogue it.

    Camilla, Queen of the Lost Empire:

    Shot in the back with an arrow. (Jungle Comics 019, 1941)

    Captain Flag:

    Nearly dies of the Black Hand’s horrible hand disease. (Blue Ribbon Comics 016, 1941)

    the Cat-Man:

    Stabbed in the chest, to death (he gets better). (Crash Comics Adventures 004, 1940)

    Killed by a blood-freezing ray. He gets better again. (Crash Comics Adventures 005, 1940)

    Dynamo:

    Dynamo gets his skull creased by a bullet in the classic fashion. (Science Comics 005, 1940)

    the Green Mask:

    Michael Shelby is shot in the chest, prompting pal Professor Lascomb to stick him in the machine that turns him into the Green Mask. (Green Mask v1 001 1940)

    Domino the Miracle Boy:

    Later in the same issue, the boy known only as Don gets seriously exploded and must also be placed in the machine. (Green Mask v1 001, 1940)

    Kaänga: 

    Not even being an off-brand Tarzan can save you from being shot in the left shoulder,, as Kaänga learns here. (Jungle Comics 010, 1940)

    the Mask:

    District Attorney Colby is blinded by acid as part of his journey to becoming the Mask. (Exciting Comics 001, 1940)

    Tabu, Wizard of the Jungle:

    Tabu is shot in the right shoulder by this jerk. (Jungle Comics 019, 1941)

    Just one issue later, Tabu is speared in the right arm by a different jerk. (Jungle Comics 020, 1941)

  • CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 012

    If I keep at this long enough then we will find the super-hero with the most comically-long list of wounds sustained in the course of their adventures. Currently in the lead: the Green Mask! Unless we’re talking about head traumas, in which case I must direct your gaze to the Blue Beetle.

    Domino the Miracle Boy:

    Shot in the right shoulder by Dr Moru while heroically leaping in front of a gun to save the Green Mask. (Mystery Men Comics 029, 1941)

    the Green Mask:

    Slashed on the left side of his head by the Manx’s weird wrist-claw. (Mystery Men Comics 026, 1941)

    Mr Justice:

    Mr Justice is a ghost-type super-hero, so his origin involves a gruesome death, in this case being hacked to pieces by some historically-questionable Englishmen. (Blue Ribbon Comics 009, 1941)

    It’s not quite as universal a trait, but Mr Justice also maintains a human form for times when he is not engaging in super-heroics, and since he’s already dead it doesn’t matter how often he sustains mortal wounds, such as this instance of him being riddled with bullets. (Blue Ribbon Comics 009, 1941)

    Or here, when he is fatally blasted by a beam. (Blue Ribbon Comics 010, 1941)

    (and again a few minutes later)

    Or just plain shot in the head. It’s just a shortcut to the emergence of Mr Justice from his mortal shell. (Jackpot Comics 002, 1941) 

    Sergeant Spook: 

    And speaking of ghostly super-heroes and their fatal origins, here’s Sergeant Spook blowing himself up with his poor lab safety. (Blue Bolt v1 001, 1940)

    Simba:

    Simba, newly-reformed nemesis of Dick Cole, gets his skull creased with a bullet by Dr Karno (Blue Bolt v2 006, 1941)

    Sub-Zero:

    Sub-Zero also gets his skull creased, but since he’s so cold he’s bulletproof Professor X has to use a white-hot bullet to do it. (Blue Bolt Comics v1 005, 1940)

    the Wraith: 

    Finally we have the Wraith, who becomes a ghost thanks to being riddled with bullets during a drive-by.  (Mystery Men Comics 027, 1941)

  • CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 011

    We regret to inform you that more super-heroes have been wounded.

    the Blue Beetle: 

    The very first thing that happens in the very first Blue Beetle comic: Dan “the Blue Beetle” Garret gets shot in the left arm. (Mystery Men Comics 001, 1939)

    Domino the Miracle Boy:

    It’s a miracle (a boy miracle?) that Domino survives 1941, because he gets hit by a dang car. (Green Mask v1 006, 1941)

    Not two issues later, Domino gets shot in the ever-popular left shoulder (Green Mask v1 008, 1941)

    the Green Mask:

    I’ve been going through some old Fox Features comics for head traumas at the same time as reading The Green Mask v1 for the first time, which means that I’ve hit a real rich seam of injuries to the Green Mask in particular. Let’s review:

    The Green Mask gets shot in an unspecified place while swinging across a gorge and seemingly falls to his doom. Don’t worry though: he’s okay. (Green Mask v1 004, 1941)

    The Green Mask continues this trend of getting shot in an indeterminate location from close range in his next appearance, first at the hands of freelance spy Dr Tsu…

    And then by fascist spy chief Kurt Ebler. Despite Ebler’s assertion that the Green Mask is not bulletproof, I am beginning to suspect that he is at the very least bullet resistant. (Green Mask v1 005, 1941)

    Stepping back a bit: the Green Mask gets stabbed in the left shoulder. (Mystery Men Comics 013, 1940)

    One issue later: shot in the left shoulder. (Mystery Men Comics 014, 1941)

    Lest he be accused of neglecting the classics, the Green Mask sustains a textbook skull crease late in 1941. (Mystery Men Comics 022, 1941)

    And finally: the Green Mask’s left shoulder is “grazed by a bullet” hard enough to knock him off a car. (Green Mask v1 007, 1941)

  • CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 010

    CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 010

    I’m beginning to think that the super-hero scene is pretty hazardous.

    the Blue Bolt: 

    The Blue Bolt’s first outing against the Green Sorceress is marred by the fact that he gets near-fatally clawed by her vulturoid monsters. (Blue Bolt v1 001, 1940)

    the Cloak: 

    Jeff Cardiff, aka the Spy-Master, aka the Spay-Chief and the future Cloak, gets a classic skull crease. On purpose! This is the way that that goon chose to knock him out! Such confidence! (Big Shot 002, 1940)

    Jeff’s choice to adopt the Cloak identity comes after his identity as a government man gets around and enemy agents start gunning for him. Specifically, they gun him in the left shoulder. Twice! (Big Shot 015, 1941)

    Being a costumed super-hero is no guarantee that you won’t be shot, however, and Jeff gets his skull creased once more on his third outing as the Cloak. (Big Shot 018, 1941)

    the Flame:

    The Flame turns off his bullet-melting heat aura for just an instant to pick up a lady in need and gets his skull creased by a bullet. (The Flame 007, 1941)

    Phantasmo:

    Phantasmo is one of the last super-heroes who one would expect to get injured, seeing as how his whole deal is supposed to be sending out a huge, invulnerable astral form to fight crime. Nevertheless, he keeps on starting adventures in his very vulnerable human body, and so he inevitably gets shot in the left shoulder. (The Funnies 061, 1941)

    Skyman:

    Skyman dodges a bullet at close range – an impressive feat – but he still gets a bloody gash across his enormous chest. (Big Shot 003, 1940)

    Zanzibar the Magician:

    Zanzibar takes an arrow in the right shoulder courtesy of a dastardly Walrus Man. (Mystery Men Comics 005, 1939)

    A couple of years later but the same shoulder: Zanzibar is shot. (Mystery Men Comics 023, 1941)

     And what Golden Age super-hero goes very long without getting his head creased by a bullet? (The Flame 006, 1941)

  • CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 009

    How can we have nice things if they keep getting so dinged up?

    the Black Terror:

    It might look like the Black Terror (‘s secret identity) is knocked out by falling down a flight of stairs onto his head, but according to him it was actually a bullet creasing the old skull that did the trick. (Exciting Comics 010, 1941)

    This is a tough one: the Black Terror is shot and nearly killed, and he kind of seems to be clutching his head but the gun is aimed at his torso as it fires. Guess we’ll file this under “shot, unspecified.” (Exciting Comics 012, 1941)

    the Black Fury:

    Shot in the left shoulder and tossed out of a moving car. (Fantastic Comics 020, 1941)

    Chuck:

    The Black Fury’s sidekick Chuck is shot in the ever-popular left shoulder and knocked clean off of a building by one of the Fang’s henchmen, but makes out okay nonetheless. (Fantastic Comics 019, 1941)

    Dr Hypno: 

    I never expected a fellow whose whole shtick is putting his mind into animal bodies to get mixed up in the action enough to take a wound, but here he is: poor ol’ Dr Hypno getting branded on the chest by a crook. (Amazing-Man Comics 018, 1940)

    the Mask:

    The Mask, in his civilian identity of District Attorney Tony Colby, joins the “skull creased by a bullet” club. EDIT: I wrote this without checking and it turns out that this is the second time that the Mask’s skull has been creased, so he was already a member of the club. My apologies. (Exciting Comics 011, 1941)

    Mighty Man:

    Mighty Man gets shot through the left shoulder. Considering his size at the time (enormous) he’s lucky that the guy didn’t score a headshot. (Amazing-Man Comics 014, 1940)

    the Shark:

    The Shark (temporarily weakened by the loss of his magic knife) gets whipped with belts by a bunch of jerk Nazis. (Amazing-Man Comics 011, 1940)

    A couple of issue later, the Shark gets stabbed in the gut by his own dang knife. Yes, the stab wound is swiftly turned back on his attacker by the weapon’s magic, but you can’t tell me that the Shark doesn’t get stabbed first. (Amazing-Man Comics 013, 1940)

    Super Ann:

    In one of Super Ann’s handful of adventures she gets a real one-two: a bullet-creased scalp followed by a near-drowning. (Amazing-Man Comics 025, 1941)

  • CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 008

    CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 008

    Everybody gets shot now and then.

    the Bronze Terror: 

    The Bronze Terror is shot in the left arm during his first adventure by the wicked Scar Thornton, which gives him an excuse to show off his penchant for knocking out crooks’ teeth. (Daredevil Comics 002, 1941)

    Whiz, King of Falcons: 

    Whiz is shot through the left wing by a Lord Haw-Haw analog, and since this is the one issue in which he has the power of speech, he gets to complain about it. (Daredevil Comics 001, 1941)

    Trojak the Tiger Man: 

    Clawed across the chest by a lion. (Daring Mystery Comics 002, 1940)

    the Mask:

    The Mask gets his head creased by a bullet. (Exciting Comics 007, 1941)

    Sub-Zero: 

    Sub-Zero has an eventful 1941: first he gets shot in the right shoulder while parachuting… (Blue Bolt v1 012, 1941)

     … then breaks his right leg while in pursuit of a suspect… (Blue Bolt v2 001, 1941

    … and finally gets his skull creased by some trigger-happy miscreants.  (Blue Bolt v2 005, 1941

    the White Rider:

    The White Rider gets himself generically shot during his very first attempt to mete out vigilante justice, and it’s a lucky thing for him that he has Super Horse or there wouldn’t be a second. (Blue Bolt v1 001, 1940)

    Dr Miracle:

    Dr Miracle takes a thrown stiletto to the right shoulder while he is physically merger with his manservant Akim, which might also make this a stiletto to Akim’s shoulder as well. The physics of the situation are unclear. (Champ Comics 012, 1941)

    the Sphinx:

    Though he has in the past proved himself broadly invulnerable, the Sphinx is not immune to getting his skull creased by a bullet. (Exciting Comics 008, 1941) 

  • CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 008

    CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 008

    Everybody gets shot now and then.

    the Bronze Terror: 

    The Bronze Terror is shot in the left arm during his first adventure by the wicked Scar Thornton, which gives him an excuse to show off his penchant for knocking out crooks’ teeth. (Daredevil Comics 002, 1941)

    Whiz, King of Falcons: 

    Whiz is shot through the left wing by a Lord Haw-Haw analog, and since this is the one issue in which he has the power of speech, he gets to complain about it. (Daredevil Comics 001, 1941)

    Trojak the Tiger Man: 

    Clawed across the chest by a lion. (Daring Mystery Comics 002, 1940)

    the Mask:

    The Mask gets his head creased by a bullet. (Exciting Comics 007, 1941)

    Sub-Zero: 

    Sub-Zero has an eventful 1941: first he gets shot in the right shoulder while parachuting… (Blue Bolt v1 012, 1941)

     … then breaks his right leg while in pursuit of a suspect… (Blue Bolt v2 001, 1941

    … and finally gets his skull creased by some trigger-happy miscreants.  (Blue Bolt v2 005, 1941

    the White Rider:

    The White Rider gets himself generically shot during his very first attempt to mete out vigilante justice, and it’s a lucky thing for him that he has Super Horse or there wouldn’t be a second. (Blue Bolt v1 001, 1940)

    Dr Miracle:

    Dr Miracle takes a thrown stiletto to the right shoulder while he is physically merger with his manservant Akim, which might also make this a stiletto to Akim’s shoulder as well. The physics of the situation are unclear. (Champ Comics 012, 1941)

    the Sphinx:

    Though he has in the past proved himself broadly invulnerable, the Sphinx is not immune to getting his skull creased by a bullet. (Exciting Comics 008, 1941) 

  • CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 007

    CATALOGUE OF WOUNDS 007

    The right shoulder: unsung victim of the comics pages. 

    Captain Battle: 

    Captain Battle gets a fashionable bullet-creased skull on the docks of San Francisco. (Captain Battle Comics 001, 1941) 

    the Cloak:

    Being shot in the left shoulder is the inciting incident that leads Jeff Cardiff to adopt the Cloak identity in the first place. (Big Shot Comics 015, 1941)

    the Face:

    Shot in the right shoulder (Big Shot Comics 011, 1941)

    Shot in the right shoulder again. (Big Shot Comics 018, 1941)

    Shot in the left shoulder, which must have come as a relief. (Big Shot Comics 019, 1941)

    the Fox:

    Shot in the right shoulder. (Blue Ribbon Comics 012, 1941)

    Kaänga: 

    Shot in the right shoulder. (Jungle Comics 003, 1940)

    Marvelo, Monarch of Magicians:

    Shot in the right arm. (Big Shot Comics 012, 1941)

    In what is probably the most sever non-fatal injury we have seen thus far, Marvelo takes an ape-powered throwing knife to the chest and is just barely alive for the remainder of the comic. (Big Shot Comics 016, 1941)

    Skyman:

    Skyman is shot in the ever-popular right shoulder, and no wonder: it’s a big ol’ target. (Big Shot Comics 002, 1940)