The Evil Oak

Oooo! Tree Scary!

Here we a a short crime story written by Gardner Fox (Paul Dean) and illustrated by Creig Flessel from Atomic Comics #1, a reprint from Detective Comics #4.

Happy New Year!

Barry O'Neill and Fang Gow of China

No one speaks normal English
in this comic

Not too long before the publication of Superman and the rise of the capes, there was Barry O’Neill. Barry is lauded as the first modern action hero in comics. He has a strong jaw, quick punch, and blank personality.

Barry is a creation Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson. A idea born to help his new business a line of comic books containing all original material. Barry started appearing in National Periodical Publications' (DC) very first comic, New Fun Comics, in 1935. He moved to More Fun Comics when the title changed, continuing in two pages installments until #25.

His arch villain, Fang Gow, was yet another Fu Manchu-styled stereotype. The plots and side characters could have easily been lifted from the pages of Sax Rohmer's Fu Manchu.

Fang Gow was never really as interesting as his fellow yellow peril villains. His only unique feature is his directed hatred for France rather than some vague white, western enemy.Given China history with France at the time, this effort makes some historical sense.

He did make a serum to turn men in to wax dummies one time. That was interesting.  Sadly, like most really cool serums of the 1930s and 40s, it was never heard from again.

Barry and his side kick Legrande returned to fight their genius adversary in 1946. Atomic Comics reprinted 12 of their adventures with new art by Leo O'Mealia. With World War II over negative Chinese stereotypes were deemed usable again. See his reprinted adventures from Atomic Comics #1 below.


32//33 //34 //35 //36//37//38 //39

Leo O'Mealia also did the art for the news strip adaption of Fu Manchu in 1931 to 1933.

Commercial Interruption #4

Suzie Comics #60 (1945)

Nancy Likes Christmas

We break from comic books for Christmas eve. Enjoy this Nancy news strip from 1943.

The Dandy: Barney Boko

Although often ignored in the discussion of Golden Age Things, British comics magazine The Dandy is the the world's third-longest running comic, after Detective Comics (beating it by several months in 1937) and Il Giornalino (started in 1924). 

This month marks the final print issue of The Dandy. The publication will now be online only. 

In honor of this changing giant, I offer a golden age favorite on mine, Barney Boko. Barney is tramp whose long nose often caused him trouble and could be used for anything. It ran for seven years from the very first issue.

1938

1937

See www.dandy.com for the new online comics.

Commercial Interruption #3

From Best Romance #7 (1952)

Commercial Interruption #2

From This Magazine is Haunted #1 (1951)

That face.

The Lynx and Blackie

Since I'm going back over all the Fox Comics posts, I figure this need reposting as much as anything.

Meet the Lynx and his kid sidekick Blackie in there first appearance in Mystery Men Comics #13 (Aug 1940).

Art by Jim Mooney.

 01 //02 //03 //04//05

The Lynx and Blackie ran in Mystery Men Comics 13 to 31. Unfortunately, Lynx didn't keep the costume. By Mystery Men Comics #21 he has a shirt with a logo. Blackie still has to save him from a deathly peril classically reserved for women.

The Lynx and Blackie seem familiar somehow? DC thought so too, This was one of the titles DC Comics sued Fox Comics over, winning $2,000.
You can also find this comic here.

Chen Chang, Villian of Many Faces

Angered by the Western world's exploitation of China, Warlord Chen Chang plotted to "to bring disaster upon the white race." His opposition in this nefarious effort is American Richard Kendall, who success in thwarting evil plans and surviving is only by sheer luck.

I first posted about Chang in '08. For a fuller introduction to this wonderful villain, check it out.

All the stories I've read with Chang are written inconsistently. Sometimes he is a brainy, pure evil mastermind, and in the next issue he acts like he was raised by parrots. If you need an example, look that the henchman here.

Mystery Mean Comics #13
30 //31 //32 //33 //34//35

I know that I am not suppose to come out of this liking Chen Chang more than Ken Doll Kendall, but I do.

I mean, come on! This guy has fairly elaborate death traps ready to go at moments notice with no repeats. In his many travels he has no trouble picking up spies and murderous curious performers. He is innovative, and has great networking skills. Also, the only reason he is not seven kinds of dead is because he is just that good. That is most of what you need to be a good bad guy.

Kendall tries to be witty and gets tied up a lot. A lot. And the man has no sense of style!

Commercial Interruption #1

From Suize Comics #60

Billy Bounce, The Kid Detective

Billy Bounce wants to be a detective, but things aren't going so well. Although it would appear from the art above he can levitate, it seems to only be a power he possesses in front of billboards. No flying detective high-jinks here.

The first strip is signed Norman Lee. The rest vary, but normally have Lee in the name some where. The name Norman Lee looks like a pen name, only ever appearing in these first few issues of Mystery Men Comics.

Mystery Men #12

01 //02

Mystery Men #14

01 //02

Mystery Men #15

01 //02

Billy Bounce appears in Mystery Men Comics #1-15. No relation to this Billy Bounce.