MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 688: THE HUNCHBACK HORROR

MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 688: THE HUNCHBACK HORROR

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(Pep Comics 004, 1940) We open on Inspector Bentley in the midst of a cocktail party to celebrate the engagement of his friend the Earl of Crackenthorpe. By way of entertainment, the Earl recounts the legend of the Crackenthorpe Curse: a thousand years ago, the progenitor of the Crackenthorpe line made his fortune the old-fashioned way, by summoning a demon and asking it for riches. Ever since, the brides-to-be of the heirs to the Crackenthorpe title must present themselves to…

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SUPERCUT: PEARL HARBOR

SUPERCUT: PEARL HARBOR

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All the times prior to December 1941 that someone in comics tried to blow up Pearl Harbor and the fleet therein: Russian-analog villains the Mosconians make an attempt but are foiled by the Shield (Pep Comics 004, 1940) Rance Keane deals with some pseudo-Nazis who try to weaponize an innocent-seeming schooner to do the job. (Feature Comics 044, 1941) This is a weird one: the Germans attempt to trick the Japanese into attacking Pearl Harbor one year before the actual…

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MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 687: PRINCESS LING FOY

MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 687: PRINCESS LING FOY

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(Pep Comics 004, 1940) Princess Ling Foy probably belongs in the Problematic Round-Up with all of Fu Chang’s other enemies (and Fu Chang himself, of course) – she’s just as steeped in racist tropes as any of them, right down to her dumb name. But… I have to say that I like her hat. I also like her minions, the Warriors of Brass, which strongly resemble robots but which are by all accounts magical creations. Let’s spit the difference and…

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PROBLEMATIC ROUND-UP 003

PROBLEMATIC ROUND-UP 003

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This edition of the Problematic Round-Up is devoted to minor MLJ character Fu Chang and his foes. Fu Chang: Reading Charlie Chan comics has absolutely messed my head up in a specific way: because Charlie Chan is so clearly a project with the set goal of having a Chinese character who is not an overt racist Yellow Peril stereotype (while, yes, being pretty racist in a bunch of other ways) I give it more of the benefit of the doubt…

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FASCIST GOON CLEARING HOUSE 008

FASCIST GOON CLEARING HOUSE 008

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Will they ever mend their evil ways? Like the Purple Shirts before them, the Black Legion exists mainly to represent the Forces of Unamericanism that Uncle Sam stands against, as they seek to win the hearts and minds of in this case the small Midwest community of Glen Valley (by shooting anyone who resists). The only real bit of innovation that they bring to the table are these rad machine gun motorcycles they go into battle on. They also have…

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MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 686: COUNT ZONGARR

MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 686: COUNT ZONGARR

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(Pep Comics 003, 1940) Someone has been using super-fast jet planes to mine New York Harbor and the Shield wants to know why, and not just because he happened to be on one of the ships that was exploded as a result. He manages to grab onto one of the planes the next time they come around and finds out first hand that they are not only super fast but able to convert into submarines as well. And that their…

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MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 685: SATAN

MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 685: SATAN

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(Pep Comics 002, 1940) Dateline: Florida! A huge and monstrous face has begun appearing in the clouds across the state to demand fealty! Coincidentally, armoured cars have been disappearing up and down the peninsula at about the same time as the facial appearances. The Comet is of course intrigued by this coincidence and decides to investigate. Plotting out the robberies on a map, he proceeds to the swamp located at the central point, and I’ve just realized that it’s a…

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MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 684: THE TERROR OF ROCKY POOL

MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 684: THE TERROR OF ROCKY POOL

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(Pep Comics 002, 1940) Like the Mayfair Monster before him, the Terror of Rocky Pool is interrupted mid-murder by Inspector Bentley of Scotland Yard. Just like last time, his trusty stick has little effect, though instead of breaking over a head of iron it meets no resistance at all. Unlike last time, Bentley is too late to save the victim, who swiftly bleeds to death from a too-small wound. Bentley is informed that the culprit is the Terror of Rocky…

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