Psst, Atlas! Your superhero revival attempt seems tinged with DC-envy when you describe Namor as “the original Aquaman”. Yes, Namor was introduced two years before the DC aquatic character. Yes, your anti-hero character is more complex and has a more interesting mythology. Yes, your character actually has a supporting cast. Not only that, your character […]
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In Captain America #78 (May 1954), Atlas (Marvel) continues to try to make their superheroes exciting by adding new super-villains. This time, the Commies create their own version of a “super soldier” to square off against Captain America. Ivan Kronov is given electrical powers and the name Electro. Like electric cars, he has one slight […]
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Atlas (Marvel) make the unusual move to turn Namor and Namora back into outsiders / antiheroes again in Men’s Adventures #28 (March 1954). After thwarting a commie plot, the red convinces a “yank” that Namor was responsible for the invasion. Namor and Namora plunge into the sea before they can be seized and Namor swears […]
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Oddly, all the Atlas/Marvel superheroes that were revived in 1953 happen to have girlfriends named Betty / Betsy. Someone must have loved that name – Stan Lee perhaps? Betty Wilson was introduced as a minor character for the Human Torch. Betsy Ross (no relation to the Hulk’s Betsy Ross?) used to be Golden Girl, but […]
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After taking Captain America out of retirement, Atlas (Marvel) puts Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes back into the Army where they belong, leaving his teaching job behind in Captain America #76 (January 1954).
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In the Captain America story in Young Men #26 (Dec 1953), a sneaky Kremlin secret agent calls together all the heroes in the Atlas/Marvel universe to fight the Reds, giving them the name “Champions”. By this time, DC had given up on the Justice Society of America three years ago and, apart from a Batman/Superman […]
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The Human Torch and Toro are not the only ones who have returned from the Golden Age. One of the Golden Age villains called “The Vulture” makes an appearance. Actually it’s not clear this is the same Vulture that appeared back during World War II, since that was a Captain America villain, but nonetheless it […]
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Atlas (Marvel) comics “flatters” EC’s Mad comic book by introducing their own satire comedy comic, Crazy #1 (September 1953). Most of the same shtick that’s in Mad is here: crazy antics and pop culture references (Dragnet-inspired narration of Frankenstein). The Crazy comic didn’t last long, it was later revived as a magazine, once again copying […]
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Just like the Human Torch and Captain America, that same issue of Young Men #24 (August 1953) brings Namor, the Submariner, out of retirement. And what has Namor been up to for the last several years? Well according to Betty: A few years ago he retired – went back to his home at the South […]
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The Human Torch revival was not the only Golden Age Marvel Comics character brought out of retirement in Young Men Comics #24 (August 1953). Captain America and Bucky re-emerge, with Steve Rogers still functioning as a high school teacher and Bucky as one of his students. What brings Cap out of retirement? Well, the Red […]
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