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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243 – Alfred Thins
Speaking of continuity problems in the DC universe, the writers of Batman comic book wanted Alfred to resemble the actor who played him in the Batman serial, William Austin. So they sent Alfred away on vacation, where he went to a health resort and slimmed down and grew a mustache.
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242 – The Return of the Susie
Speaking of challenging Superman, the writers brought back Lois’ niece Susie Thompkins in Action Comics #68 (November 1943). Continuity problems already DC? For shame! Lois seems to have forgot that she introduced the two earlier in the year and Susie’s hair color has changed! I also liked two things about this issue: 1) The banter […]
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241 – Mercury, meet a New God
Speaking of over-powered god-like beings, the Roman God Mercury awakens in Superman #20 (November 1943) and causes mischief for Superman. Eventually, Superman takes scissors and snips off Mercury’s ankle and helmet wings… a little harsh! Humiliated, Mercury stops clowning around and helps clean up the mischief and goes back into hibernation for another 1,000 years. […]
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240 – Moar Powers
Wonder Woman’s powers continue to grow as she uses her power of astral projection in Sensation Comics #25 (November 1943) to track down criminals. Speaking of newfound powers, over in Superman #20 (also November 1943), we learn that Superman has super-control over his super-facial-muscles: And so the super-powers arms race continues…
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239 – Batman, Dick-less
Bruce Wayne loses ward-ship over Dick Grayson for the first time in Batman #20 (October 1943), a recurring story idea that comes up in later years. Dick’s shifty Uncle George and Aunt Clara come to claim him, take Bruce to court claiming his playboy ways are a bad influence, and then use the opportunity to […]
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238 – There She Is
In September 1943, Otto Binder created Miss America for Marvel Mystery Comics #49, because we needed more patriotic-themed super-heroines, apparently (remember Liberty Belle?). Miss America is Madeline Joyce, the daughter of a billionaire who encounters a freak accident in an experimental electrical laboratory and gains superhuman strength and the ability to fly.
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237 – Early Vultures and Moles
I picture Stan Lee in the 1960s poring through old Marvel comic books in search of new villain ideas and coming across Captain America #32 (Sept 1943). In that issue, Captain America faces off against two new Nazi villains in two separate stories: The Mole Man and The Vulture. Not to be confused with their […]
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