![](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgq8899-5nBkbL_VZZMURORsmdCw-2_f4JIh9DgZSlzoxsBrHTEPHQ3mGFovD7RnJzTIkE4XsbHpkcmtoGtniR9ohNO77FBlRFQl8BqrwDcPo-NtV0IgSWSaJBPnJcLuCJ4zLhg-S1C-LRtPUHvOIPshkR0K162RTahOvmwHUJscz6RulLICEZsi_LUHhPe\/w640-h286\/scorpians%20a%20whiz%20005,%201940.jpg\" "\\"scorpians\\"")
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<\/a><\/div>\nWhen crack reporter Scoop Smith and his photographer pal Blimp Black fly to Mexico to investigate reports of an “invisible revolutionary army” they get the story in a very direct way when they are shot down and taken captive by the Scorpians, who dwell in the underground kingdom of Scorpia and are extremely on-theme about the scorpion thing at all times, as can be seen in in the throne room of Scorpian King Cortes and its five distinct bits of scorpion decor.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\nScoop and Blimp are escorted to the Horror Chamber to be eaten by giant scorpions, because even the Scorpian methods of execution are on brand. They escape thanks to a thrown rock and a handy earthquake and discover the Subterrines, a second<\/i> underground civilization that is also<\/i> seeking to overthrow the Mexican government. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n While the Scorpians under King Cortes kind of vaguely evoke the conquistadors of old, the Subterrines are pretty explicitly the descendants of native Mexican peoples who fled underground and now seek to reclaim their lands (and may I say that “everyone has long white beards now” is about the most benign version of becoming troglodytic cave-dwellers). The two groups of course hate one another and set to battling to the death for the honour of conquering Mexico, only to be annihilated together by the Mexican army. (Whiz Comics 005, 1940)<\/p>\n Ape Men<\/b>:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n If you’ve ever wondered if there was a version of the Paul Bunyan story in which he had an ape man for a companion, well wonder no more, because it happened in National Comics<\/i>, when King, the ape man in question, wanders out of the woods and starts attacking lumberjacks, only to find himself on the receiving end of a beatdown from Paul Bunyan himself. After this, the impressionable King adopts the lumberjack way of life and joins Paul’s supporting cast. (National Comics 006, 1940)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Joins Paul’s supporting cast for one issue, that is, because in National Comics <\/i>007 a scientist shows up at camp with a lead on where King might hail from, prompting Paul and the lads to set out to return him to his people, and if you’ve ever wondered if there was a version of the Paul Bunyan story in which he traveled through India to the Himalayas, well, you are in luck. Paul and the lads find King’s tribe and for the second time in as many issues, Paul Bunyan has to fist fight a Himalayan Ape Man in order to make peace.<\/p>\n Bat-Men<\/b>:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n