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

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Mystery Men #14

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Mystery Men #15

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

"The Coffin Maker"

One more story from This Magazine is Haunted. I didn't have the scans clean for the last post, but they are all vividly horror-filled now.

26 // 27 // 28 //29 //30 //31 //32 // 33

No artist listed, but I'd hazard a guess it was Sheldon Moldoff. Thoughts are welcome.

Let Doctor Death Tell You a Tale...

Cover of #1 by Sheldon Moldoff

This Magazine is Haunted was Fawcett’s first foray into horror comics. In Alter Ego #4 (Spring 2004), Roy Tomas revels the company’s reluctance to publish horror. Even after finding a sales market Fawcett often left off their logo and rarely went as dark or gruesome as other horror comics.

There was money to be had in the growing horror comics market that Fawcett Comics couldn’t ignore. It was very different brand move for the company, who was known for superheroes and teen humor.

Leading the charge to darker fare for the company was Sheldon Moldoff. According to Moldoff, he approached EC’s comics new owner William M. Gains with the pitches for This Magazine in Haunted and Tales of the Supernatural after Gains expressed a concern over closing the company and Fawcett had already said no to the ideas.


Gains offered a contract for the titles, and took the first issue already produced. Moldoff waited for word on when to started the second issue. In waiting he spotted Tales from the Crypt and other horrors coming from EC.
Gains reneged on the contract, and Moldoff was threaten to be blackballed from the industry if he tried to sue. Meanwhile Gains took the four stories he had from Moldoff and published in other works. Approaching Fawcett again, Moldoff stuck a deal of $100 for the title and all the work he wanted.

Here is a taste from This Magazine is Haunted #1

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Fawcett turned out a string of several titles, staring in 1951 until they stopped publishing comics in 1953. Their titles were then sold to Charlton Comics, who started doing reprints and publishing unused stories (source). When the reprints started in 1954, scholars estimate the horror genre comics market was 1/6, but it quickly died off with the comics code.

The comics received another round of mixed reprints by Gredown in This Comic is Haunted in the 1970s. The comic baned together a lot of pre-code works. It offers especially high amount of Steve Ditko's work. (Find more out about that here.)

Horror is Approaching...

In a month traditionally filled with spooky things, I find that this blog should be no different.

Horror comics from the Fawcett line posted soon.

Fawcett, because their horror comics are underrated.

Fawcett’s Surprise Suspense Stories (1953)

"The Duel"

From The World Round Us #30....

Art by Unknown

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Page 54

EDIT (10/02/2012): Oh dear, this is a mistake. This comics is from 1960. It isn't golden age at all. Bad filing on my part! Please take Mary Marvel's tears as an apology. 

Mary Marvel #4 (1946)

"Knothead Nellie"

She shared the pages on Dizzy Dames #1 (Oct. 1952) with Moronica and Man-Huntin’ Minnie. Let those names might clue you in to the fact that this comic didn't think high of women.

Art by Dan Gordon (pencils) and Lyn Karp (Inks)

I guess she stayed with the Monkeys?

In Dizzy Dames #5 there was "Knothhead Nancy."

She didn't last long either.

Coming soon to Tumblr!

This have been slow here, but I have a good excuse!

College.

I also have an excuse that might make a bit for my absence.

GoldenAgecomics.tumblr.com

There is a lack on golden age comics on Tumblr, which suports a massive comic fandom. The few that did share golden age goodness Have not posted for months. In an effort to fill in this gap I have started a golden age based tumblr.

I will be linking to other blogs and reblogging whatever golden age comic posts of merit I pass. The content will not be as in depth as it is here, but I will put forth effort to make sure if it interesting and relavent.

This isn't a replacement for this blog, but an expansion in hope to bring more comic fans to the Golden Age.

Edit: In response to some questions I got on Tumblr, I would like to say this is a posting one daily kind of blog until I get a queue built up. Then they it will be three or so a day.

Summer Olympics, Crack Comics, and Golden History

July 27 the 2012 Summer Olympics will being!

I bolded it so you won't forget.

Did you know there was no 1940 Olympics? These games were orginaly to be held in Tokyo, Japan, but Japan dropped there support for the games in 1938, moving to war. 

The Olympic Games were to be held in Finland after this, but were then suspended indefinitely following the outbreak of World War II. There were no Summer Games until the London Games of 1948.

This page from Crack Comics #1 (1940) looking at famed american runner George J. Saling, winner of the gold medal for 110 m hurdles at the 1932 Summer Olympics.

An interesting side note, July 27 is George Sailing birthday.

Super Snooper

What do you do when you just can't stay out of people business, but aren't really all that skilled about your snooping? Clearly you become a comedic detective. The pay is not so good, but you get top billing even if it isn't deserved!

This is Super Snooper, a regular from Police Comics.

Police Comics #1 

Super Snooper final appearance was Police Comics #23. From issue #1 to his end, Snooper stayed under the pen of Gil Fox.

Police Comics #9 (left) Police Comics #23 (right) 

"The Big Drag"

There is a time for back story, historical facts and in-depth analyses.

There is also a time to just embrace the oddness of the golden age.

This is Sargent Boyle in "The Big Drag" from Pep Comics #6.

 36 //37 //38 //39 //40 //41 //42

Written by Abner Sundell (Madam Satan creator)

Art by Charles Biro (Airboy creator, 16-year run on Daredevil Comics)

Lt. Drake and The Skull

Last year for the 4th of July I shared with you patriotic heroine Miss Victory. Rather than post another star-spangled superhero, this year I bring you a often forgotten hero from Fox.

Lt. Drake's only real claim to fame is that Klaus Nordling did the strip's art. It is his earliest confirmed work. (Fun fact: Nordling did a lot of work for Fox, signing his name as Spark Stevens, F. Klaus, Ed Norris and Clyde North.)

Lt. Drake of the U.S. Naval Intelligence started running in Mystery Men Comics #1 (1939) when the magazine was still under the name Bruns Publications. Drake's last appearance is in #25. He fal away from the line up with no note or fan fare.

An interesting point for the strip is the early mark of a share universe between the superheroes in house. Villains in Lt. Drake were normally one shots. In a way The Skull is no different, but his appearance in Lt. Drake is not his first in Mystery Men Comics. In #14 The Skull, apparently the same man, is the villain for Blue Beetle. 

Meet The Skull as he face off with Lt. Drake below!

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Read More Lt Drake!

Slap Happy Pappy in "The Lazy Hillbilly"

This blog is long over due for a Jack Cole gag comic. 

Meet Slap Happy Pappy, originally a Gil Fox creation. Pappy started in Crack Comics #1, staying under the pen on Fox until issue #8. This page is from Crack Comics #22, a few issues into Jack Cole's run.

Cole's early work often relies on Hillbilly humor. Here is a prime example. 

A big part of Cole's work in comics was the creation of one and two page gag pages, published across various Quality Comics. In just the 1940s Jack Cole wrote and drew well over 400 of these gag strips for Quality. His work with these is largely ignored as a half-effort for filler pages.

I really do believe this a shame, so I want to share with you wonderful study of his work.

Coles Comic on blogspot, run by Paul Tumey, is a long study of Cole's work. The blog also includes pages of other comic artist and writers, but Tumey's expertly done notes on Cole's work make this an invaluable research resource.