Comic Books – Page 20 – Coke & Comics

PRELUDE: Young Allies #16, Story B

Battle of the Giants!

Featuring: Tommy Tyme
Release: May 16, 1945
Cover: Summer 1945
10 cents
5 pages

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Daring Mystery Comics #5, Story H	PRELUDE	Venus #5
Daredevil #9	Reading order	Journey Into Mystery Annual 1

Geez! Am I dumb! Here am I wishin’ for sumpin’ right in me mits! Let’s go Clock! I’m gittin’ me a ringside seat!

That loin cloth better hold; this is a children’s comic.

No credits are visible. The GCD credits the art to Charles Nicholas and Al Bellman.

We’ve read two appearances of Marvel’s first characters named Hercules. We then sort of met the “real” Hercules in his reincarnated form as Marvel Boy. But now we meet the actual Hercules of myth.

I admit to trepidation when learning that his introduction was in Young Allies, and I was so relieved to learn I didn’t actually have to read the Young Allies story. Give me Tommy Tyme any day. Tempted to give extra points to this story for not being Young Allies.

This story adapts a famous Hercules legend, the defeat of Antaeus the Giant. In the classic story, Hercules’ labours were in the service of Eurytheus in penance for killing his own wife and children. On his quest to find golden apples, Hercules battled Antaeus. The comic leaves out these details and just shows the battle.

We sort of met Tommy Tyme once before. I’d wanted to see the original Marvel versions of Merlin and the Black Knight, though had been reluctant to bother to read the issue. So we talked about it here.

I’ve apparently since grown less picky about what Marvel stories to read. Little Hercules. Tommy Tyme. It’s all one big soup.

Tommy Tyme stories tend to have a similar structure. His “wonderful Clock of Ages” takes him back to some famous time and place to meet some famous people, like Robin Hood or Benjamin Franklin. Think of the series as a precursor to Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

PRELUDE: USA Comics #7, Story C

Marvel Boy

Featuring: Marvel Boy
Release: December 30, 1942
Cover: February 1943
10 cents
7 pages

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Daring Mystery Comics #6	PRELUDE	Young Allies #16, Story B
Daredevil #9	Reading order	Journey Into Mystery Annual 1

The only wrecks in this subway will be Nazis– not trains!

We read about Marvel’s original Marvel Boy from 1940, and now we jump ahead almost 3 years. Online sources differ as to whether this is the character’s second appearance, or the first appearance of a new character with the same superhero name.

There is textual evidence to support and refute both positions.

I have my own opinion, but let’s read the issue and consider the evidence.

To remind us of the previous Marvel Boy for comparison: Hercules was a master of the Egyptian art of reincarnation and a staunch defender of America and its ideals. When he died, his soul went to Valhalla, which is presided over by Jupiter. When Hercules realized the threat Hitler posed to America, he had himself reincarnated as young Martin Burns. Martin Burns was a very strong baby, and on his 14th birthday, he learned his true identity and purpose, and was given a name and costume to enable him to battle Germany spies and saboteurs: Marvel Boy.

Hypothesis A: These are the same character.
Hypothesis B: These are different characters.

Examine the evidence.

PRELUDE: Daring Mystery Comics #6

Introducing– Marvel Boy

Featuring: Marvel Boy
Release: June 15, 1940
Cover: September 1940
10 cents
10 pages

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Daring Mystery Comics #5, Story H	PRELUDE	USA Comics #7, Story C
Daredevil #9	Reading order	Journey Into Mystery Annual 1

Do not be sad, for I do not really leave you– I shall be back– when America needs me the most–

Well, that’s an unfortunately racist cover from Jack Kirby and Joe Simon.

When we met Marvel Girl in X-Men #1, we took the excuse to meet Marvel Boy from 1950. That was actually not Marvel’s first character named Marvel Boy, and perhaps we should have met the other(s) then. We didn’t.

We’ll read about him/them now due to his/their connections to Hercules. (Join me in the next post to see why I seem so confused about singular vs. plural pronouns.)

This Marvel Boy is a creation of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, before the same team created Captain America, and before Jack Kirby and various collaborators would go on to create… a lot of famous superheroes.

I think there is a case to be made this might be Kirby’s first superhero co-creation, which makes Marvel Boy quite notable in itself. Moreso because you can see elements that made their way into Captain America, including the basic mask shape, the boots and gloves, using Hitler as an enemy.

Two notes against that point. Kirby had previously co-created with Martin Burstein the feature “Mercury in the 20th Century”. This was about the classic god Mercury. Not precisely a superhero, but if Thor counts, perhaps he should too. (We’ll probably read that Mercury story in the near future when we are ready to meet Pluto.)

That same issue introduced Jack Kirby’s science fiction hero Comet Pierce. In the Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers mold. Again, not exactly a superhero.

Marvel Boy is Kirby’s first standard superhero co-creation.

Except the second note is I have no idea who created Marvel Boy. Harry Mendryk explains the creation of this issue as follows on the Kirby Museum blog. He credits Joe Simon with the initial 3 pages which introduce the character and lay out his origin, and then Kirby with the rest. It’s thus quite possible that Joe Simon created the character on his own, and then gave the partially completed issue to Kirby to finish.

Often, history doesn’t tell us with much certainty what the division of labor going into an issue was. So I usually find it easiest to credit the writers and artists of a character’s inaugural issue as co-creators. By my normal intentionally naive standards, I would say Marvel Boy was a co-creation of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

But there is probably room for disagreement and assertion this was a Joe Simon creation.

The character only lasts one issue, though there is a sort-of revival 3 years later we will consider in the next post.

I’ve expressed before my opinion that initials are generally the worst logo for a superhero uniform. Imagine that chest with a better logo, like say a star. And imagine he wore pants. Now lose the cape and add some little wings to the cap. You’re getting closer to a good superhero design.

PRELUDE: Daring Mystery Comics #5, Story H

Introducing Little Hercules

Featuring: Little Hercules
Release: April 11, 1940
Cover: June 1940
10 cents
By: SAG
4 pages

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Mystic Comics #2, Story B	PRELUDE	Daring Mystery Comics #6
Daredevil #9	Reading order	Journey Into Mystery Annual 1

Marvel’s second character named Hercules debuted just days after the original, this one known as “Little Hercules”.

The comic is signed SAG, referring to Bud Sagendorf.

It’s a gag comic, not the “serious” adventures we’ve been reading. Little Hercules is only 12, but he’s the smartest and strongest boy on Earth. The comic opens with him being awarded a doctorate in all the sciences.

PRELUDE: Mystic Comics #3, Story B

Hercules

Featuring: Hercules
Release: March 29, 1940
Cover: June 1940
10 cents
7 pages

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Two-Gun Kid #77	INTERLUDE
	PRELUDE	Daring Mystery Comics #5, Story H
Daredevil #9	Reading order	Journey Into Mystery Annual 1

Crime cruelty! Maybe I can stop such things!

In preparation for meeting Marvel’s Hercules, let’s meet Marvel’s first character with that name. Not the Olympian god but a forgettable superhero who bears his name. Recall that 1940s Marvel had more superheroes than anybody can name.

No credits are given. The Marvel Masterworks reprint credits story and art to Arnold Hicks.

INTERLUDE: Two-Gun Kid #77

The Panther Will Get You If You Don’t Watch Out!

Featuring: Two-Gun Kid
Release: June 1, 1965
Cover: September 1965
12 cents
Edited by: Stan Lee
Written by: Al Hartley
Pencilling by: Dick Ayers
Inking by: Carl Hubbell
Lettering by: Artie Simek
17 pages

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	PRELUDE	Mystic Comics #3, Story B
Daredevil #9	Reading order	Journey Into Mystery Annual 1

He wore two guns and a mask?

We are reading Marvel’s superhero line, which they started back up in 1961. We’ve occasionally read stories older than 1961 that seem vaguely relevant, and refer to those as PRELUDE posts. We occasionally read stories long after 1961 and call those POSTLUDE posts. We will also be doing INTERLUDE posts, which we will read at the time they came out, but are disconnected from the normal superhero universe.

If you’ve been following along, this will be the first INTERLUDE post you’ve come across. But I’ve retroactively made a few other posts be INTERLUDE posts. Those stories featuring Medusa, Merlin, Odin, or Zeus that weren’t really properly connected to the superhero reading.

Superheroes are on the rise and starting to crowd out other genres, but Marvel is still publishing its romance and western comics. Marvel had a single western hero, the Masked Raider, way back in the beginning in Marvel Comics #1. But they’ve been regularly publishing westerns since 1948, starting with Annie Oakley and the Two-Gun Kid.

That’s the original Two-Gun Kid, mind you. Not to be confused with the character we are about to read about. The original Two-Gun Kid was Clay Harder.

In 1962, Lee and Kirby introduced a new hero with the same name, lawyer Matt Hawk.

Marvel’s other continuing western titles are Rawhide Kid, and Kid Colt: Outlaw.

Former western heroes include Wyatt Earp, Apache Kid, Outlaw Kid, Blaze Carson, Tex Morgan, and Tex Taylor.

One of Two-Gun Kid’s steadfast allies is Boom-Boom Brown, a former boxer turned blacksmith.

His most trusted ally of course is his horse Thunder.

Daredevil #9

That He May See!

Featuring: Daredevil
Release: June 1, 1965
Cover: August 1965
12 cents
Fundamental plot and script by Smilin’ Stan Lee
Basic layouts and delineation by Wondrous Wally Wood
Comprehensive pencilled graphics by Bouncy Bobby Powell
Balloons, orders and blurbs by Sammy Rosen
20 pages

Previous	#375	Next
	INTERLUDE	Two-Gun Kid #77
Fantastic Four #43	Reading order	Journey Into Mystery Annual 1
Daredevil #8	Daredevil	Daredevil #10

I can’t let them shoot me at sunrise! I hate getting up so early!

Wally Wood took over as artist on Daredevil with issue 5. In the coming issues, he introduced Daredevil’s iconic costume, some of his trademark weapons and moves, and told one of the greatest Marvel stories ever as Daredevil fought Sub-Mariner.

Now his short but impactful run is wrapping up. Because he did not get along with Stan Lee.

He was an industry veteran. He knew what the breakdown of responsibilities between artist and writer was. He knew he was doing a writer’s work on this comic, but only being paid as an artist.

The credits claim Stan Lee plotted this issue. Wally Wood would disagree. He admitted he and Stan did get together for plotting sessions to work out the stories together, but he described these sessions as them staring at each other in silence until Wood would suggest a plot. Which Stan then took credit for.

He’s not quitting just yet. We’ll see next issue he’ll get the credit and the pay for writing the issue, but that won’t become a regular practice. Wood will leave instead.

In some sense, Wood’s proper run on Daredevil is over, as this issue is really drawn by Bob Powell. Powell is a veteran artist as well, but one of the non-superstar artists we’ve been seeing on the weaker titles. Wood is credited with layouts and delineations, sketching out the story and character positions, but leaving it to Powell to draw the details.

Wood will be associated with the title for 2 more issues, but last issue was the final time we’ll really see Wood’s full artwork on Daredevil.

A short, but memorable run. His greatest contribution to early Marvel is probably to walk out the door. Marvel’s other superstar artists will do the same soon enough.

June 5, 1962

Sixty years ago today. Probably the most important date in the history of Marvel.

Dr. Henry Pym decided to use his shrinking formula once more and assume the identity of Ant-Man.

Dr. Donald Blake found a cane in a cave of Norway, which transformed into a magic hammer bearing the inscription: “Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of… Thor!”

High school student Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider and gained the powers of a Spider-Man. He sought to use these powers for selfish ends and sneered at an opportunity to help others. A karmic twist led to personal tragedy and taught him: “…in this world, with great power there must also come– great responsibility!”

Spider-Man is my single favorite fictional character ever. Happy 60th birthday, Peter.

With all respect to Thor and Ant-Man, I propose that June 5 is Spider-Man Day!

In fact, I met two Spider-Men at Glasgow Comic Con just yesterday.

Fantastic Four #43

Lo! There Shall Be an Ending!

Featuring: Fantastic Four
Release: July 8, 1965
Cover: October 1965
12 cents
Daringly written by Stan lee
Dazzlingly drawn by Jack Kirby
Dramatically inked by Vince Colletta
Docily lettered by Artie Simek
20 pages

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Fantastic Four #42	Reading order	Daredevil #9
Fantastic Four #42	Fantastic Four	Fantastic Four #44

You thought you were the equal of the Fantastic Four– and nobody is!

Another great cover, and showing off Kirby’s versatility. Last issue had a cover beautiful in its simplicity, focused on two men locked in combat. Now we see a lot of complexity, that intricate machinery Kirby is so famous for drawing, but where the complexity frames the emotion of a defeated Fantastic Four.

When we left off, the Frightful Four had brainwashed Ben and Johnny into joining them. Now it’s up to Reed and Sue to fight off 6 enemies and restore their teammates’ minds. The startling conclusion of a 3-part battle.

Fantastic Four #42

To Save You, Why Must I Kill You?

Featuring: Fantastic Four
Release: June 8, 1965
Cover: September 1965
12 cents
Produced by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Inking: V. Colletta
Lettering: S. Rosen
20 pages

Previous	#373	Next
Fantastic Four #41	Reading order	Fantastic Four #43
Fantastic Four #41	Fantastic Four	Fantastic Four #43

I am to blame for what happened to him! I can never escape that responsibility!!

Pretty awesome cover.

Last issue ended with Thing about to kill a helpless Mr. Fantastic. Let’s see what happens.

While his back is glued to the board, Reed’s plan of attack is to expand his belly. I didn’t need super powers to be able to do that.