Comics Podcast Crossover #11

Posted on November 1, 2006 by Bill Jourdain

The Golden Age of Comic Books Podcast made a guest appearance on Comics Podcast Crossover #11, where we focused on horror comics. In the GAC segment, we discussed the great EC Horror Comics from the early 1950’s. Bill Gaines and the rest of the EC gang went all out with terror and gore when they published Tales from the Crypt, The Vault or Horror and The Haunt of Fear. These three titles are still considered some of the best examples of the early 1950’s horror genre, and are guaranteed to raise the hair on the back of your neck. Unfortunately for the early 1950’s comic book industry, these titles (along with EC cime titles and crime and horror books from other publishers) are often cited as the reason for the decline of the comic book industry and regulation through enactment of the Comics Code Authority. In this segment of the CPC show, we also discuss the Crypt Keeper, the Vault Keeper and the Old Witch, who served as narators of the EC horror stories. I previoulsy devoted a complete GAC episode to the EC horror comics, and you can download that segment here.

There are some other great horror related segments in this episode of the CPC, so be sure to check it out!


Comics Podcast Crossover #11



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Golden Age of Comics October 29, 2006 – #46

Posted on October 29, 2006 by Bill Jourdain

In the 46th installment of the Golden Age of Comic Books Podcast, we discuss the Golden Age Frankenstein created by the great Dick Briefer for Crestwood Publications for their titles, Prize Comics and Frankenstein Comics between 1940 and 1954. The Golden Age comic book version of the Frankenstein Monster first got his start in Prize Comics #7 in December of 1940. The character started out as a terrible and destructive creature, causing death and destruction around the City of New York. Ultimately, the monster’s creator, Victor Frankenstein, was phased out of the comics so a superhero character, Bulldog Denny could take his place and battle the Frankenstein monster. As WWII came to end, Crestwood changed its focus to humor mags, and Briefer followed suit, making Frankenstein a humorous feature starting in 1945. The “Merry Monster” got his own title, Frankenstein Comics in 1945. Crestwood stopped publishing the humorous Frankenstein stories with Prize Comics #68 and Frankenstein Comics #17 in 1949. With the rising popularity of horror comics in the early 1950’s, Crestwood brought back the Frankenstein monster for more horror stories with Frankenstein Comics #18 in March of 1952. Briefer’s monster rampaged through the pages of this magazine until it came to an end with issue #33 in October of 1954.

If you are interested in reading more about the Golden Age Frankenstein by Briefer, check out Alter-Ego Magazine #41 (October, 2004) and The Monster of Frankenstein: Dick Briefer’s 1950’s Horror Classic by IMP Publications in 2006.

In this edition, we also talk about the new Marvel Masterworks Atlas Era edition devoted to Tales of Suspense. As mentioned in the show, Michael Kelleher is responsible for some of the cover and art recreations in this book, and is auctioning some of his work to support the Hero Initiative. You can learn more about this November , 2006 auction at http://www.michaelkelleher.com.

Happy Halloween! Enjoy the show!



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Golden Age of Comics October 8, 2006 – #45

Posted on October 8, 2006 by Bill Jourdain

In the 45th episode of the Golden Age of Comic Books Podcast, we talk about the Hangman who was created for MLJ Comics. The Hangman first appeared in Pep Comics #17 (July, 1941). He came into being after the death of The Comet, another MLJ Superhero who got his start in the pages of Pep Comics #1 (January, 1940). The Comet was the first superhero to die in the Golden Age of Comic Books. As the story goes, the Hangman’s origin flows directly from the death of The Comet. At the end of the story the Hangman exclaims, “And now, I’ll carry on his work! The Comet has died, but his spirit lives on…in the Hangman! Beware criminals, you cannot outrun your own conscience…nor escape the gallows!” You’ll find all of the details in the podcast! You can find reprints of all of the Hangman stories at Goldcomics.com.

 

I mention the new collected edition, Disney Comics: The Classic Collection. This hard cover edition (complete with plastic dust jacket) reprints the following stories from the pages of Four Color Comics:

  • Four Color (1st series) #17 – “Dumbo the Flying Elephant” (1941)
  • Four Color (2nd series) #12 – “Bambi” (1942)
  • Four Color (2nd series) #49 – “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1944)
  • Four Color (2nd series) #331 – “Alice in Wonderland” (1951)
  • Four Color (2nd series) #446 – “Peter Pan” (1953)

This is a great collection for the fan of Disney movie adaptations and movie related comic books from the Golden Age of Comics.

We also have a Golden Age Market Report where we discuss the Davis Crippen “D” copy collection of 11,000 Golden Age comics from many genres. The collection was amassed by Mr. Crippen and was provided to Heritage Comics Auctions this year for sale during its August 12, 2006 auction. Some of the notable sales:

I hope you enjoy the show!

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GAC Guest Appearance on Komics Kast #41 – Ace: The Bat-Hound!

Posted on October 1, 2006 by Bill Jourdain

I was honored to have a guest appearance on Bruce Rosenberger’s Komics Kast episode #41. Having heard Bruce’s segment on the Silver Age Batwoman in Komics Kast #40, I told Bruce I would love to be on his show to talk about the Silver Age Bat-Hound. Bruce agreed and the rest is history! The Bat-Hound (Ace) made his first appearance in Batman #92 (June, 1955) at the very end of the Golden Age of Comics. He went on to have a total of 16 appearances in the pages of Batman, Detective Comics and World’s Finest Comics. While not one of the main characters in the entire history of Batman, Ace was certainly an important sidekick of Batman and Robin during the early Silver Age. Here’s a chronological listing of Ace’s appearances in the Silver Age, including his last cameo appearance after the “new look” Batman began in 1964, and many of the 1950’s elements of the Batman stories were abandoned.


 

  • Batman 92 (June, 1955), “Ace, The Bat-Hound!”
  • Batman 97 (February, 1956), “The Return of the Bat-Hound!”
  • Batman 103 (October, 1956), “Bat-Hound, Movie Star!” (1st Silver Age Appearance)
  • Detective Comics 254 (April, 1958), “One Ounce of Doom!”
  • Batman 123 (April, 1959), “The Fugitive Batman!”
  • Batman 125 (August, 1959), “The Secret Life of Bat-Hound!”
  • Batman 130 (March, 1960), “The Master of Weapons!”
  • Batman 131 (April, 1960), “The Dog that Betrayed Batman!”
  • Batman 133 (August, 1960), “Batwoman’s Publicity Agent!”
  • Detective Comics 289 (January, 1961), “The Raven and the Wasp!”
  • Batman 143 (October, 1961), “Bathound and the Creature!”
  • Batman 152 (December, 1962), “Formula for Doom!”
  • Detective Comics 318 (August, 1963), “The Cat-Man Strikes Back!”
  • Batman 158 (September, 1963), “Ace: The Super Bat-Hound!”
  • Batman 162 (March, 1964), “The Batman Creature!”
  • World’s Finest Comics 143 (August, 1964), “The Fued Between Superman and Batman!”

Komics Kast Episode #41 (Standard MP3 – 15 MB – 32:31)

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Golden Age of Comics September 12, 2006 – #44

Posted on September 12, 2006 by Bill Jourdain

The 44th episode of the Golden Age of Comic Books Podcast has been uploaded. I’m not sure how, but I actually went over an hour on this show, probably the longest GAC episode to date. The main focus of the show is The Golden Age Daredevil who got his start in Silver Streak Comics #6 (9/40) and who ultimately got his own magazine with the publication of Daredevil Battles Hitler in July, 1941.


This episode also features the return of the Golden Age Market Report. I visited the Heritage Comic Auction Website and learned about the John McGlaughlin Mile High Collection auctioned on September 7, 2006. On the show, I discuss many of the great books sold at that auction. Here are some of the highlights:

We also revisit our discussion of Kryptonite and I mention the excellent summary of the strange metal found at the Bob Rozakis site where he publishes, “BobRo the Answer Man.”

I was honored to have Bruce Rosenberger of Komics Kast provide a segment on the original Superman strips that appeared in newspapers around the country for 27 years. Bruce wanted me to mention thespeedingbullet.com as a source for more information about these strips. Thanks, Bruce!

I also discuss the newShazam Family Archives volume 1 from DC Comics. This book focuses on the Adventures of Captain Marvel Junior from Master Comics, and also has the origin and first appearance of Mary Marvel from Captain Marvel Adventures.

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