253 – Lois Lane Solo

A month after Alfred debuted in his solo feature, Lois Lane is given a shot with “Lois Lane, Girl Reporter”, debuting in Superman #28, March 1944. This first story does not feature Superman, though he is referenced several times as a running gag.

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252 – Agony and Torture

The stories in Timely (Marvel) Comics seem to veer off into the grotesque more than other comic book companies of the time. I found this particular Captain America panel of artwork by Syd Shores and Al Alvison pretty shocking and gratuitous from February 1944.

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251 – More Atlantis for All

Wonder Woman encounters a different version of Atlantis than the one introduced in Aquaman stories in Wonder Woman #8 (February 1944). In this version, Atlantis is rules by giant woman who have no respect for men, treating them as second-class citizens. As if to punctuate that, Steve Trevor is kidnapped and forced to wear butt-cheek […]

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250 – Supporting Feature

Alfred the Butler becomes the first non-sidekick supporting character to get his own stories in Batman #22 (February 1944). Mostly focusing on Alfred’s bumbling attempts to be a successful detective, Alfred’s stories came long before Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen got their supporting stories in Superman comics.

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249 – Plastic Innuendo

There are obvious lewd and bawdy places a character like Plastic Man could go, but this was the raciest panel I’ve seen so far from Police Comics #28 (January 1944). Why are his hands like that? Why are her hips like that?

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248 – Half Helmet Slumber

In More Fun Comics #96 (January 1944), Nabu – an ancient Chaldean wizard? – interrupts Doctor Fate’s sleep to take away his powers for 24 hours. But wait, more importantly – Doctor Fate sleeps face down in his full costume with his helmet on!

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247 – Jimmy Gets A Last Name

Up until now, Jimmy Olsen has had very few appearances in the comic books. Mostly as an unnamed office boy, sometimes with blonde hair and sometimes with red. The one named appearance as “Jimmy” was back in Superman #13 (August 1941), but as far as I can tell, it wasn’t until World’s Finest Comics #13 […]

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246 – Thor and Loki and Ibis

In Whiz Comics #50 (December 1943), Thor and Loki make an appearance over in the Ibis the Invincible story. Loki appears to cause mischief and Ibis summons Thor and his hammer Molnir to deal with him.

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245 – Holy Continuity, Batman!

In Batman #21 (December 1943), we find the first instance of a comic referencing a minor event in its continuity from a previous month in a footnote. In fairness, the thinning of Alfred the Butler was an atypical event in comic history at this point, since the goal was to generally keep the same formula […]

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244 – Hippolyta Hops

Queen Hippolyta leaves Paradise Island for the first time to help out her daughter in Sensation Comics #26 (December 1943). She finds out Wonder Woman is being threatened, prays to Aphrodite to let her leave, and is granted her wish but cannot reveal her identity to anyone – even Diana. I also notice that Wonder […]

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