The Curse of Skeleton Munroe

Category: Neon the Unknown

  • FASCIST GOON CLEARING HOUSE 002

    FASCIST GOON CLEARING HOUSE 002

    More fascist chodes for your edification:

    The American Freedom Club AKA the Movement AKA the New Order were propagandists looking to corrupt the youth of the nation, starting with the Boyville Orphanage and ending with a beating from the Boyville Brigadiers (Feature Comics 047, 1941)

    The Anti-American Bund, a standard outsized play on the weenies that were the German-American Bund (remember them as the ones who ran away before Jack Kirby could ride the elevator down to beat them up). This version is for some reason forcing this lady who merely married a bundist to be their leader until she is rescued by Neon the Unknown (Hit Comics 008, 1941)

    The Double Cross! A non-specific Axis force poised to invade the US from within but foiled by the scientific acumen of Wizard Wells and the rough and tumble charm of his assistant Tug (Crack Comics 012, 1941)

    The Fasdicks/ the Fasdick Company, a fascist organization operating a business as a front for an invasion of the Phillipines and possibly a very oblique rude pun name? Foiled by Spin Shaw (Feature Comics 040, 1941)

  • MAD AND CRIMINAL SCIENTIST ROUND-UP 002

    Back again with another collection of science-villains who didn’t quite make the grade!

    Fritz Cardif here has a gunpowder-exploding ray and a lot of big plans. He probably would have made the main list except that I personally find his antics very dull, with the exception of the lil’ stinker moment pictured above. (Hit Comics 006, 1940)

    Dr Marko figured on using kidnapped scientists as research slaves in his Grand Canyon hideout, but he too was corralled by Neon the Unknown. (Hit Comics 013, 1941)

    Professor Dorn here is your typical Nazi scientist obsessed with replicating the powers of the Sub-Mariner for the glory of the cause. He ends up lasting about fifteen minutes after meeting the real deal. (Marvel Mystery Comics v1 023, 1941)

     Dr Sunga has a pretty good scheme going wherein he seeming kills people by sending them a cursed wand that is actually harmless – seemingly the perfect crime! But the Golden Age Falcon figures out the trick: it’s actually the box that the wand is sent in that does the killing. Sunga of course ends up dead by his own fiendish device. (Daring Mystery Comics 005, 1940)

  • MAD AND CRIMINAL SCIENTIST ROUND-UP 002

    Back again with another collection of science-villains who didn’t quite make the grade!

    Fritz Cardif here has a gunpowder-exploding ray and a lot of big plans. He probably would have made the main list except that I personally find his antics very dull, with the exception of the lil’ stinker moment pictured above. (Hit Comics 006, 1940)

    Dr Marko figured on using kidnapped scientists as research slaves in his Grand Canyon hideout, but he too was corralled by Neon the Unknown. (Hit Comics 013, 1941)

    Professor Dorn here is your typical Nazi scientist obsessed with replicating the powers of the Sub-Mariner for the glory of the cause. He ends up lasting about fifteen minutes after meeting the real deal. (Marvel Mystery Comics v1 023, 1941)

     Dr Sunga has a pretty good scheme going wherein he seeming kills people by sending them a cursed wand that is actually harmless – seemingly the perfect crime! But the Golden Age Falcon figures out the trick: it’s actually the box that the wand is sent in that does the killing. Sunga of course ends up dead by his own fiendish device. (Daring Mystery Comics 005, 1940)

  • MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 258: THE FOUR LAMAS

    (Hit Comics 007, 1941)

    If Tibetan Lams aren’t the top religious figures cast as super-villains then they at least have to be in the top three, along with druids and Catholic priests – we won’t see any of those for a while but once they get going they go hard.

    This bunch of Lamas have decided to turn their formidable mental powers (natch) to the task of world conquest, and have chosen to do so by influencing the mind of one President Karla of an unnamed European state to become a rabid warmonger.

    The “Scheming Oriental Mastermind” bit was old before comics existed, and honestly I’d be tempted to skip these guys if this story didn’t include two truly incredible bits: 1. Neon the Unknown flies Karla across Europe and Asia as a sort of human dowsing rod to determine exactly where the mental influence is being broadcast from.

    2. Neon resolves things via mental combat with all three of the Four Lamas (the artist lost track of one of them midway through the story). He of course wins…

    … and their brains explode! Truly a redeeming end for some cliched characters.

  • MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 258: THE FOUR LAMAS

    (Hit Comics 007, 1941)

    If Tibetan Lams aren’t the top religious figures cast as super-villains then they at least have to be in the top three, along with druids and Catholic priests – we won’t see any of those for a while but once they get going they go hard.

    This bunch of Lamas have decided to turn their formidable mental powers (natch) to the task of world conquest, and have chosen to do so by influencing the mind of one President Karla of an unnamed European state to become a rabid warmonger.

    The “Scheming Oriental Mastermind” bit was old before comics existed, and honestly I’d be tempted to skip these guys if this story didn’t include two truly incredible bits: 1. Neon the Unknown flies Karla across Europe and Asia as a sort of human dowsing rod to determine exactly where the mental influence is being broadcast from.

    2. Neon resolves things via mental combat with all three of the Four Lamas (the artist lost track of one of them midway through the story). He of course wins…

    … and their brains explode! Truly a redeeming end for some cliched characters.

  • MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 256: MORGAN CROOKES

    (Hit Comics 001, 1940)

    Hey, it’s Morgan Crookes, a retired man of great wealth! He tries to take over the world and gets stomped by Neon the Unknown in his first adventure! It’s probably one of the most racist comics of the Golden Age! Which is saying something!

  • MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 256: MORGAN CROOKES

    MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 256: MORGAN CROOKES

    (Hit Comics 001, 1940)

    Hey, it’s Morgan Crookes, a retired man of great wealth! He tries to take over the world and gets stomped by Neon the Unknown in his first adventure! It’s probably one of the most racist comics of the Golden Age! Which is saying something!