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Saturday, January 14, 2012

Adventure Comics # 68, November, 1941

This month addresses new additions to the new Editorial Advisory Board including one William Moulton Marston, an eccentric and fascinating man who might be said to have an ulterior motive to getting an "in" at DC as he would soon create his own superhero(ine) to promote his unusual beliefs.







I still would like to know what these Superman "films" were for the Krypto Ray Gun. Note also, Daisy's mascot, Red Ryder, who makes the first of three appearances in this issue here.

Speaking of Superman films, though, this issue also highlights this ad for the Fleischer/Paramount cartoons starring the Man of Steel.




Red Ryder appearance # 2


Red Ryder appearance # 3

Friday, January 13, 2012

Adventure Comics # 67, October, 1941

A stunning Starman cover this time around that does finally get around to plugging the new SHINING NIGHT feature, also.

This issue also introduces DC's Editorial Advisory Board, a group of high-falutin' folks whose endorsement was meant to show that DC had nothing but wholesome comics for kids (never mind the examples of violence we showed recently from this title alone). From what I have read, few of them took any real hands on interest and rarely saw any of the comics. The exception was Josette Frank whose influence would be felt immediately as she took over ADVENTURE's occasional book and movie review column. Her name would be associated with DC throughout the decade.


 This issue sees the debut of THE MIST, Starman's signature villain and, as drawn by Jack Burnley, a genuinely creepy character. I've wondered if perhaps Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's Red Ghost character in the later FANTASTIC FOUR title might have been inspired by vague memories of The Mist.






Thursday, January 12, 2012

Adventure Comics # 66, September, 1941

Since the previous issue, Starman (his star missing in the splash below) has owned the upper left-hand corner held so long by Sandman. Not only does that continue this issue but there is no mention at all of the new series debuting in this issue that will stay around for quite a while. 


 That new series is THE SHINING KNIGHT. This replaces COTTON CARVER and is credited to Creig Flessel, arguably the most important artist connected with ADVENTURE COMICS in its early days. The character would also appear with the Seven Soldiers of Victory in LEADING COMICS.













Here they go again. With Superman leading the way, DC rode its own wave by coming out with yet another superhero comic book. STAR SPANGLED COMICS in its early days toplined The Star-Spangled Kid, often in a couple of stories per issue. 


Was this the first appearance of Clancy the Cop? Although a minor, minor character, Henry Boltinoff would continue to use him for at least the next 25 years or so.