Golden Age of Comics – April 25, 2007 – #51

Posted on April 25, 2007 by Bill Jourdain

In this episode of the Golden Age of Comic Books we talk about DC’s Black Canary. She made her first in Flash Comics #86 (August, 1947) in a Johnny Thunder story. Her popularity skyrocketed to the point that a few issues later she knocked Johnny Thunder out of the comic and started her solo run (Flash Comics #92, February, 1948). In this story, we learned more about her identity as Dinah Drake (a florist by trade) and that she was actually a brunette (she had blond hair in the Johnny Thunder stories) and wore a blond wig to fight crime as Black Canary. In this issue we also meet for the first time her love interest, private detective Larry Lance. She continued her solo stories in Flash Comics until the title’s last issue, #104. Black Canary not only knocked Johnny Thunder out of Flash Comics, she also took his place in the Justice Society of America. She made her first appearance with the JSA in the pages of All-Star Comics #38 (January, 1947-February, 1948) and became a member of the JSA in issue #41 (June-July, 1948). Her last Golden Age appearance was in All-Star Comics #57 (February-Marcy, 1951).

Flash Comics #92

Flash Comics #92

Black Canary was revived in the Silver Age in a two-part story spanning The Brave and the Bold #61 (September, 1965) and #62 (October, 1965).

A previously unpublished Golden Age Black Canary story was published in the pages of DC Special #3 (June, 1969).

All of the Golden Age Black Canary adventures can be found in DC’s Black Canary Archives and the volumes 8 through 11 of the All-Star Archives.

In this episode we also discuss the origin of Fawcett’s Captain Marvel nemesis, Black Adam from the pages of Marvel Family #1.

I also mention some new Golden Age reprint material:

  • Wonder Woman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told
  • Marvel Masterworks Golden Age U.S.A. Comics
  • Superman Action Comics Archives Volume 5

 



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Golden Age of Comics – March 21, 2007 – #50

Posted on March 21, 2007 by Bill Jourdain

In the 5oth episode of the Golden Age of Comic books, we discuss the Golden Age Sub-Mariner first published by Timely (later Marvel) Comics in 1939. Namor made his first appearance in a giveaway title, Motion Picture Funnies Weekly in 1939. This title was never distributed to the public, and a few months later he had his “real” first appearance and origin in the pages of Marvel Comics #1 (May/June, 1939). The character continued as one of Timely’s big three characters in the pages of Marvel Mystery Comics, Human Torch Comics, Sub-Mariner Comics and All-Winners Comics as a member of the All-Winners Squad. Subby’s Golden Age run was interrupted in 1949, and Atlas attempted a revival of Namor and other Marvel heroes in the pages of Young Men Comics in 1953. This was followed by attempts at reviving the character in Men’s Adventures Comics, Human Torch Comics, Captain America Comics and his own title, Sub-Mariner Comics. This attempt to revive the character met with limited success, and he was retired again until he came back in the Silver Age of Comics in the pages of Fantastic Four #4.

 

In this episode we also have a special appearance from Bruce Rosenberger of KomicsKast who talks about the Wonder Woman newspaper strips. We also have a another special guest who discusses one of his favorite Golden Age stories.

I also mention some new Golden Age related reading material:

Superman Batman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told
The Superman Chronicles Volume 2
Batman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told Volume 2
Justice Society volume 2 (reprinting the death of the Golden Age Batman from Adventure Comics #462)



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Golden Age of Comics – February 9, 2007 – #49

Posted on February 9, 2007 by Bill Jourdain

In this episode of the Golden Age of Comic Books Podcast, we discuss the Golden Age Hawkman from DC Comics. Hawkman made his first appearance in Flash Comics #1 (January, 1940) and was written by Gardner Fox and drawn by Dennis Neville. Neville left the series and the great Sheldon Moldoff took over the art chores with issues #4. In 1945, Joe Kubert further defined the character was his excellent artwork starting with issue #62. Hawkman (Carter Hall) and his fiance and later wife, Shiera Sanders Hall (a/k/a Hawkgirl) had many great adventures in the Golden Age pages of Flash Comics and All Star Comics as regular members of the JSA. Hawkman last appeared in the Golden Age in All Star Comics #57 (February/March, 1951). He was later revived as a Silver Age character in the pages of The Brave and The Bold and eventually got his own Silver Age title.

In this show, I also mention the great new Masterworks from Marvel, Atlas Era Heroes Featuring Marvel Boy, Human Torch, Captain America & Sub-Mariner. This is a great book featuring some hard-to-find reprints of Atlas superhero revival stories. This book is approximately 290 pages and retails for $54.99.

Don’t forget to check out our ComicSpace site!

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Golden Age of Comics December 17, 2006 – #48

Posted on December 17, 2006 by Bill Jourdain

Merry Christmas! For the 48th installment of the Golden Age of Comic Books Podcast, I discuss three of my favorite Golden Age Christmas Stories. I start with “Christmas Around the World!”, the Superman story from Action Comics #93 (February, 1946). In this story, Superman travels the world on Christmas eve reuniting refugee children with their parents. In his role as Santa, Superman manages to cover the four corners of the globe with Lois Lane, four gliders, a sleigh and reindeer in tow! This is a classic Superman story written by Don Cameron and drawn by Ira Yarbrough and Stan Kaye. This story has been reprinted in Superman in the Forties.

I then move on to another Christmas tale written by Don Cameron, pencilled by Bob Kane with inks by Jerry Robinson and George Roussos. This story, “The Loneliest Men in the World!” first appeared in Batman #15 (February/March, 1943). In this story, Batman and Robin decide to bring Christmas cheer to the three loneliest men in the world; a doorman, a radio humorist and a lighthouse keeper. In the end, they bring a vicious criminal to justice while keeping their promise to brighten the lives of these three “lonely” men. This is a classic war-era Batman and Robin story that has been reprinted in Dark Knight Archives, volume 4.

Finally, I talk about one of my all-time favorite Golden Age Christmas stories, “A Christmas for Shacktown!” from Four Color Comic #367 (January/February, 1952). In this story, Donald Duck, Huey, Dewy and Louie, Uncle Scrooge, Daisy Duck, Gladstone Gander and more of the gang, engage in several misadventures that ultimately lead to the gift of Christmas to the poor children of Shacktown. Along the way, Uncle Scrooge nearly looses his fortune, which is saved due only to the ingenuity of Huey, Dewy and Louie and the Junior Woodchucks. This story was masterfully written and drawn by the great Carl Barks.

Of course, I couldn’t talk about Christmas stories by Carl Barks without also briefly mentioning “Christmas on Bear Mountain” from Four Color Comics #178 (December, 1947) where the great “Duck Man” introduces Uncle Scrooge to the world.

In addition to talking about some of my favorite Golden Age Christmas stories, I also mention some recently published Golden Age books:

Merry Christmas and Enjoy the Show!

 Golden Age of Comic Podcast #48 (Standard MP3 – 25.8 mb – 55:59)

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Golden Age of Comics November 19, 2006 – #47

Posted on November 19, 2006 by Bill Jourdain

Happy Thanksgiving! In the 47th installment of the Golden Age of Comic Books Podcast, we discuss the Golden Age Doll Man published by Quality Comics. Doll Man first appeared in Feature Comics #27 in December, 1939. He was first written by Will Eisner under the pen name, William Erwin Maxwell. His earliest adventures were drawn by Lou Fine and later by Reed Crandall. Doll Man ran in Feature Comics until issue number 139 in October, 1949. His title, Doll Man Quarterly (later, Doll Man) ran from its first issue in the Fall of 1941 until issue number 47 in October, 1953. For some strange reason, there was a three-year gap between issue 7 (Fall, 1943) and issue 8 (Spring, 1946). Issue number eight is also well-known for its introduction of Bill Ward’s Torchy. Doll Man (along with other Quality characters) was purchased by DC Comics and brought back as the Freedom Fighters on Earth-X in the pages of Justice League of America nos. 107 and 108 in 1973, and in their own title, Freedom Fighters that ran between 1976 and 1978.

Doll Man market report from Heritage Auction Galleries:

Feature Comics #27 (First appearance of Doll Man)

Feature Comics #30 (first Doll Man cover appearance – from the Lamont Larson Collection)

Feature Comics #s 40-51 in bound volume
In this installment of GAC, you’ll find a surprise segment, but you’ll have to listen to the show to learn more!

Don’t forget to visit the auction of original Marvel Comics art recreations at Michael Kelleher’s website. The proceeds from this auction will go to benefit the Hero Initiative.

Enjoy the show!

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