A neat story in which Billy Batson is transported 1000 years into the future results in a mixup when he tries to change into Captain Marvel by saying Shazam! I thought it was interesting is the clarification that Captain Marvel seems to be a completely different persona than Billy, and is just “answering” Billy’s call. […]
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Five years after the debut of Action Comics, we get the first time that Lois Lane gains super-powers in Action Comics #60 (March 1943). After a car accident in which Lois gets a head injury, Superman gives her a blood transfusion which results in her gaining all his powers. Lois decides on costumed adventuring. Note […]
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Captain America has a “continued next month” story in February 1943. I’m starting to notice this more now so it seems like some comic book companies feel comfortable enough with their readership to pull this stunt. The next issue even has a “previously” panel:
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Batman’s rogue gallery of villains get two more additions in the form of Tweedledee and Tweedledum in Detective Comics #74 (February 1943), created by Don Cameron, who was busy in the DC Universe in 1942 and 1943! Dumfree Tweed and his cousin Deever Tweed look so much alike they are often mistaken for brothers… they […]
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Ok, time for some more comic relief. Clark Kent discovers that Lois’ niece Susie needs to be looked after. He reads her the story of Cinderlla, falls asleep, then dreams he is Superman and needs to help Cinderella. The obnoxious Susie keeps Clark and Superman a little busy, throughout her appearances and gives Superman something […]
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Frank Borth took over the art for the Phantom Lady stories in Police Comics #17 (January 1943). Apparently he was not satisfied with her already-scanty costume (basically a one-piece bathing suit and a cape) and removed the back and added a split to her navel. Despite there being more female costumed adventurers, most of them […]
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In Batman #16 (February 1943), a third character is introduced to the “Batman Family”: Alfred the Butler. He was created by Don Cameron. Alfred starts out as an overweight aspiring criminologist who stumbles onto Bruce Wayne’s secret identity. Batman and Robin accept Alfred into their lives. Alfred is the beginning of what I will call […]
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I don’t know if DC decided to give origin stories to some of their superhero partners or if this was a coincidence, but Green Arrow and Speedy are given an origin story in More Fun Comics #89 (January 1943): Roy Harper is orphaned and marooned on a mesa while Oliver Queen chases after an archaeologic […]
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Woops – one more post before we leave 1942 behind for good! I thought it would be a good time to skip back a month and cover at least one superhero debut that I missed: Liberty Belle makes her debut hiding out in Boy Commandos #1. Liberty Belle was a World War II heroine who, […]
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Well it’s 1943 – and the World War II rages on. In Star Spangled Comics #18 (January 1943), the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy are given an unlikely origin story: two strangers decide, at the same time, independently, to take up costumed adventuring, on the same case, and choose different parts of the flag as their […]
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