In Superboy #2 (March 1949), it is finally established, for the first time, that the young Clark Kent lives in a town named Smallville. As recently discussed, amidst many other superhero books getting cancelled and characters disappearing into the Golden Age, Superboy is the only superhero to get his own book. I think this is […]
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In Flash Comics #104 (December 1948), the Rival makes his first appearance. Though he is not the first evil speedster, he is the first recurring evil speedster and the first to style himself after The Flash. Dr. Edward Clariss worked on a chemical formula to give himself temporary superspeed after learning that the Flash was […]
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No, I didn’t quite lie. The last 1940s appearance of Two-Face was back in 1943, but Batman #50 (October 1948) brings us one last Two-Face story in the Golden Age. In it, Harvey Dent, cured with kindness and some plastic surgery these past five years, suddenly seems to be sleep-walking and moonlighting again as the […]
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The cowboy continues to replace the superhero in September 1948, as DC’s All-American Comics follows “More Fun” out of the superhero genre. It gets a name tweak to “All-American Western” and a new cover star: Johnny Thunder. This means no more solo stories for Dr. Mid-Nite in the Golden Age. Green Lantern still has his […]
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For the first time, in May 1947, one of Timely (Marvel) Comics superhero magazines have been completely renamed and had its genre changed: The short-lived All-Winners Squad has been retired and “All Winners Comics” has been renamed to “Hedy De Vine”. Not to be confused with Patsy Walker’s nemesis Hedy Wolfe, Hedy De Vine is […]
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In Star Spangled Comics #64 (November 1946), we say goodbye to another Golden Age creation from Jack Kirby and Joe Simon: the Newsboy Legion and the Guardian. Oh well, I can’t say I was ever really a fan :-/
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The Flash’s comic relief supporting characters (Winky, Blinky and Noddy – cheap knockoffs of the Three Stooges) make their first solo appearance in All-American Comics #73 (March 1946). This is another signal of non-superhero / humor comics becoming more prominent. Phew! only a few more years of this stuff to go through before the Golden […]
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In January 1946, More Fun Comics #108 jettisons all four of its superheroes (Aquaman, Superboy, Johnny Quick, and Green Arrow) and replaces them with other humor strips like Genius Jones. Don’t worry – all of those superheroes make there way over to Adventure Comics next month (February 1946), but it doesn’t bode well for other […]
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In Marvel Mystery Comics #17 (January 1941), the Human Torch and Namor appear together again, but this time as allies fighting the Nazis. The two still spar a bit with each other before they learn to cooperate. I had no idea this hallmark of Marvel Comics existed from the Golden Age!
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Sorry Bruce, but you’ve been hanging out with the boy too much and you won’t pick up the phone at night. Julie Madison breaks off the engagement to Bruce Wayne (Batman) in Detective Comics #49 (January 1941). This is the last appearance of Julie Madison in the Golden Age. Presumably she did well with her […]
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