The Curse of Skeleton Munroe

Category: Aquaman

  • MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 406: CAPTAIN BLACK JACK

    (More Fun Comics 074, 1941)

    Captain Black Jack is your typical modern pirate, albeit a very charmingly-written one. He took a look at the nautical landscape of the early 40s and saw a niche that he could fill: that of the buccaneer. He raids a yacht and comes into conflict with Aquaman and almost comes out on top but makes the key mistake of trying to drown an amphibious man and ends up blown to Kingdom Come for his efforts.

    OR DOES HE? No, he doesn’t – he makes it to shore and swears revenge against Aquaman and actually carries through with it! I’m pretty sure that he’s Golden Age Aquaman’s major recurring foe! WE WILL SEE CAPTAIN BLACK JACK AGAIN!

  • NOTES – DECEMBER 2023

    Weaknesses: 

    A very specific weakness for the Spectre: a once-in-a-hundred-million-year alignment of constellations that surely will never happen again. (More Fun Comics 071, 1941)

    Misc:

    This is my first encounter with Golden Age Johnny Quick so I’m not sure if the slow-down formula that he uses in the third panel above is a regular thing or a one-off but it sure has been left by the wayside. (More Fun Comics 071, 1941)

    EDIT: He does it again in More Fun Comics 072! 

    Memes of Yore – Keep ’em Flying!

    Johnny Quick (More Fun Comics 073, 1941)

    Green Arrow and Speedy (More Fun Comics 074, 1941)

    Drawn without reference:

    A wonderful 11-legged spider! (More Fun Comics 073, 1941)

    Origins:

    Poor ol’ Earth-Two Aquaman. Nobody even remembers that he exists half the time, plus he got eliminated in the Crisis. Anyway, here’s his origin: his dad found Atlantis and trained his son to breathe water (also a cheeky Fate of Atlantis – it sank and now Aquaman lives there). (More Fun Comics 073, 1941)

    Great Folk:

    I had completely forgotten about this story, but the old man who hoots and hollers and calls for detective Russell Granville until he’s on the case is the spectacular character find of 1939. Really, really great way to build up the detective before his appearance and I’m a bit sad that this is the only Russell Granville story because that old man needs more panel time. (Keen Detective Funnies v2 011, 1939)