New blog alert

Frank M. Young (of the wonderful STANLEY STORIES) recently flagged another impressive site, Rosebud Archives. Here we see a different (if not more enlightened) side of Dick Tracy creator, Chester Gould.

And you thought Veronica was a bad girl

Before they decided to specialize in teen humor and change the name of their company to Archie Comics, MLJ was known for publishing some of the most violent and family-unfriendly comics of the Golden Age, including the Comet and the Hangman.

Madam Satan, servant (and possibly something more) to Lucifer, fit right in.

from Pep Comics #17

More Spillane

From Target Comics volume 3, number 9

I miss Vincent

"Death in the Sea" -- more Golden Age Spillane

From Target Comics, volume 3, number 7

Like Capra on acid

Like Namor, Frankie started out as a superpowered enemy of mankind whose hatred was, if not justified, then at least understandable. Briefer often implied that some people could be just as monstrous as the title character.

There are echoes of Lady for a Day here (if the film had been set in hell*). Even for a product of the depression, this portrayal of high society is remarkably dark.









* Coincidentally, Pocketful of Miracles is often shown in hell.

"Ill Wind" -- another text story by Mickey Spillane

From Target Comics.

Dr. Drew and the Philosopher's Stone

Another well drawn tale from Jerry Grandenetti (with not-too-surprising oversight by Will Eisner).









Fiction House, 1953

A few moments with Basil Wolverton

Basil Wolverton objected strongly to the decision to make Spacehawk an earthbound WWII hero, but the move did allow for some great aerial combat scenes (and one of the most unlikely of sidekick names).

Ira Glass would make a great superhero secret identity

And while you're contemplating the thought of a caped avenger who talks like Glass, go by This American Life and download an entire show about superpowers, including an essay with our favorite expert, John Hodgman, and an interview with blogger Jonathan Morris.

We are living in the Golden Age of radio journalism. You should really be taking advantage of it.

p.s. While you're there, slip them a few bucks. They can really use the money.

After It/Heap/Grundy/fillintheblank-Thing, explaining this should be a piece of cake

Captain Marvel was perhaps the most popular superhero of the Golden Age, outselling even Superman and outlasting all but a few of his competitors.

Given Stan Lee's fondness for borrowing character names (and sometimes quite a bit more) from other, now defunct publishers. It's surprising that it took until 1967 for Marvel to come up with their own captain. It could be that Lee was reluctant because because the rights were still out there (DC would license the original big red cheese in the Seventies and make him a permanent part of their universe).

There is speculation that Marvel finally got around to creating their own version because a vanishingly obscure publisher put out their own Captain Marvel, an android alien (hey, at least they left out mutant) with one of the great goofy powers of all time.

From Carl Burgos (who had more notable things in his resume), here is one of the almost forgotten moments in comics history.