BLUE RIBBON COMICS #4

(On Newsstands in March 1940)

Having been a few months, Blue Ribbon Comics returned this month with their 4th issue, and in keeping with the war theme, Corporal Collins graced the cover in full action, courtesy of Charles Biro!

(from Blue Ribbon Comics #4 - on newsstands March 1940, artwork by Charles Biro)

Long before, Peter Parker (the Amazing Spider-man) thought of it, there was the Fox, using his rigged camera to take pictures while in action!

(from Blue Ribbon Comics #4 - on newsstands March 1940, artwork by Irwin Hansen)

Jungle fun in The Origin of Ty-Gor! (For some of you who might get traumatized over this panel, they DON’T actually sacrifice him, but rather raise him to be a Tarzan like character of the jungle.)

(from Blue Ribbon Comics #4 - on newsstands March 1940, artwork by George Storm)

TOP NOTCH COMICS #5

(On Newsstands in March 1940)

Another bigger than life rendition of the Wizard by Edd Ashe, and of course, keeping in the war theme!

(from Top Notch Comics #5 - on newsstands February 1940, artwork by Edd Ashe)

I’d been wanting to put one of these in… it’s pretty cool to see some of this stuff today and remember… well, I don’t remember THESE, I wasn’t even born yet, but I DO remember when comics had stuff like this for sale in them… 

(from Top Notch Comics #5 - on newsstands February 1940, artwork by ?)

Returning the favor from Pep #4 (actually, it appears THIS meeting happen first) the Wizard and Shield have yet another historic meeting, making thistle first superhero team up! (I think. Kinda.)

(from Top Notch Comics #5 - on newsstands February 1940, artwork by Edd Ashe)

"When Jack Sheridan’s father was killed by the invaders in 1931, young Jack was adopted by his father’s wise and wealthy old friend, Chan Sing-Tan. Jack vowed to avenge his father’s death and swore never to rest until he had driven the invaders from the land of the peaceful Chinese, and to this end he trains himself to become a marvel in the sciences, the Hindu art of escape, boxing and jiu-jitsu, and ancient Chinese magic and illusion." - from the first story.

Here, Chan gives some… good insight?

(from Top Notch Comics #5 - on newsstands February 1940, artwork by Irv Novick)

Vola as the aliens object of affection in ‘Streak Chandler on Mars’, from Harry Shorten (with artwork by William Wills). 

(from Top Notch Comics #5 - on newsstands February 1940, artwork by William Wills)

PEP COMICS #4

(On Newsstands in March 1940)

Ira Novick’s covers were always great for this series, and here the theme of war once again plays a part. Almost a year before Captain America show up we had the Shield already protecting the U.S.!

(from Pep Comics #4 - March 1940, artwork by Irv Novick)

Two months before the epic battle between the Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch in Timely Comics, we had the FIRST meeting of two established superhero in MLJ Comics! That’s right… here the Wizard meets the Shield and help each other out over the course of a few panels, so… THIS is the first official Superhero Team-up!

(from Pep Comics #4 - March 1940, artwork by Irv Novick)

Writer/artist Jack Cole’s ‘The Comet’ is still on the run from the Police… who have no problem shooting at him right out on the streets!

(from Pep Comics #4 - March 1940, artwork by Jack Cole)

Long before it would be considered ‘political’, The Comet took an accountant’s path to crime fighting and exposing big business for their manipulation!

(from Pep Comics #4 - March 1940, artwork by Jack Cole)

Fu Chang deals with metal robot’s, voodoo spells, and tiny imp helpers… Manly Wade Wellman was pulling out all the stops on this one!

(from Pep Comics #4 - March 1940, artwork by Lin Streeter)

Broken down in it’s simplest form, the aliens see us as women for wives and men as food! More Manly Wade Bellmen fun from Rocket and the Queen of Diamonds.  

(from Pep Comics #4 - March 1940, artwork by Lin Streeter)

ZIP COMICS #4

(On Newsstands in March 1940)

Charles Biro could come up with some exciting covers and here, with the emerging specter of war, he shows that Steel Sterling is ready for action!

(from Zip Comics #4 - March 1940, artwork by Charles Biro)

Being the early days of comics, most of these stories took a pretty standard form to their storytelling… crime committed, female in danger, hero to the rescue, misstep, and then finale. Steel Sterling was no different, and here we see the classic female in danger scene, suitably spiced up for a younger reading audience! These were some of the small touches to the art that were used to separate their work from others. 

(from Zip Comics #4 - March 1940, artwork by Charles Biro)

Another great example… Steel Sterling punches one of the henchmen through the wall in classic Bugs Bunny indention style!

(from Zip Comics #4 - March 1940, artwork by Charles Biro)

And… another nice touch… here the female in danger, gets to take out her revenge on her captors! Now that’s a fitting finale!

(from Zip Comics #4 - March 1940, artwork by Charles Biro)

More than a year before comics’ most famous Amazon, the Scarlet Avenger had a continuing storyline against Texa, the beautiful Amazon villainess!

(from Zip Comics #4 - March 1940, artwork by Irv Novick)

Steve Ditko was a huge Mort Meskin fan and would have been 12 at the time this issue came out.. and looking at these two pages here… you can SEE where Ditko was influenced. The clean style, body movement...

(from Zip Comics #4 - March 1940, artwork by Mort Meskin)

ARCHIE COMICS #52

(On Newsstands in June 1951)

George Frese (I'm pretty sure this is him) is the great unheralded Golden Age Archie artist. Here he does his best Bob Montana (which is the point) and even has the clever frustration of Betty, and the drool of Archie. His Veronica has little less hint of sexuality than BM might've drawn, but seriously, I'm ok with it!

(from Archie Comics #51 - June 1951, artwork by George Frese)

Further proof than Jughead had date(s), and Archie Comics wanted to let us know. Though some of the girls in that picture, I guess I can see why he downplayed it so much...
(from Archie Comics #51 - May 1951, artwork by George Frese?)

Mr. Weatherbee teaches the class First Aid with disasterous results, in one of my favorite stories from this era "Operation Band-Aid". 

(from Archie Comics #51 - May 1951, artwork by George Frese?)

Here at Undercover Archie Headquaters, we pride ourselves on finding panels in past issues that just wouldn't make it in today's Archie Comics. Come on Mark Waid, prove me wrong!
(P.S. Really enjoying the new Archie, the Riverdale TV show, AND my old Archie's. It's ok to like all three!)
(from Archie Comics #51 - May 1951, artwork by George Frese?)

Wow! In 1951, an 'expensive' car was $7000...

(from Archie Comics #51 - May 1951, artwork by George Frese?)

Another PSA comic story where Jughead gets bit by a dog. Not sure why I found this so funny, it's actually a pretty traumatic event... just not something you see everyday in an Archie Comic! Poor Juggie even had to go to the doctor...
(from Archie Comics #51 - May 1951, artwork by George Frese?)

Betty will occasionally sum up her Archie miscalculations in humorous ways, and this one even includes an extremely nervous looking Dilton! What's making you so nervous old boy?

(from Archie Comics #51 - May 1951, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

And finally, thanks to a little trickery, Archie finally gets a little play in with Veronica, though her reaction in that last panel means it's not exactly going so well...

(from Archie Comics #51 - May 1951, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

TOP NOTCH COMICS #4

(On Newsstands in February 1940)

February of 1940 must've been a great month for MLJ Comics, as all three books released had great covers, including this one for Top Notch Comics #4 featuring the Wizard. Edd Ashe takes some artistic liberty with proportions here, something we’d see more of in comics from the Golden Age. Was Alex Schomburg influenced by this cover later on?

(from Top Notch Comics #4 - on newsstands February 1940, artwork by Edd Ashe)

The Wizard battles the ‘Bundonians’, and we even get a peek at some of his brilliant inventions, and the inside workings of them. here we see the layout for his VB Ray Gun!

(from Top Notch Comics #4 - on newsstands February 1940, artwork by Edd Ashe)

And the Neuronic ‘Vacuum’ Ray Gun and the Contra Gravity Flask, which gives him the ability to float on air, natch!

(from Top Notch Comics #4 - on newsstands February 1940, artwork by Edd Ashe)

Seems like a reasonable request from Dick Storm, as the ‘Pruvians’ are preparing to invade Chile and only he can save them! 

Pruvians is probably used as a way to not offend PERUVIANS, yet still sound topical. Don’t believe Peru has ever tried to invade Chile, but pretty sure Chile has invaded Peru….

(from Top Notch Comics #4 - on newsstands February 1940, artwork by Mort Meskin)

Some bizarre fun and unique aliens in ‘Streak Chandler on Mars’, from Harry Shorten (with artwork by William Wills). Is this a replacement for Scott Rand?

(from Top Notch Comics #4 - on newsstands February 1940, artwork by William Wills)

ZIP COMICS #3

(On Newsstands in February 1940)

The third of three great covers for February of 1940, Charles Biro was the perfect artist to make Steel Sterling stand out from his MLJ stable of heroes. The ‘Man of Steel’ looked the part!

(from Zip Comics #3 - February 1940, artwork by Charles Biro)

The Scarlet Avenger faces a new threat in a female villain named Texa who is looking to steal the government’s gold bullion. Now there’s a lady who likes gold!

(from Zip Comics #3 - February 1940, artwork by Charles Biro)

Uh… scary thought… from Harry Shorten’s Mr. Satan story!

(from Zip Comics #3 - February 1940, artwork by Ed Ashe)

ARCHIE COMICS #51

(On Newsstands in May 1951)

Bill Vigoda had his own version of the Archie 'house style' down by this point, with Archie looking a little less goofy, and the girls looking much prettier. Vigoda's style had come a long way from his early days!

(from Archie Comics #51 - May 1951, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

Consistency within the Archie universe is everything and Mr. Lodge's annoyance with our hero is well established. Still, it's funny to see him physically booted from the residence! And called a 'shady character'!
(from Archie Comics #51 - May 1951, artwork by George Frese?)

It's rare that Jughead has an interest in girls, unless of course there's a gimmick attached to it (like last issue), but here he actually seems to have fallen for a very Ginger-esque young lady, and is so head over heels he doesn't notice his best friend!

(from Archie Comics #51 - May 1951, artwork by George Frese?)

Veronica lounging as she breaks off her date with Archie, and her use of Syzygy for reading material in this story is clever, but I have no idea who Ersatz Klaubenhooper is! Anyone? Little help?
(from Archie Comics #51 - May 1951, artwork by George Frese?)

It's interesting the differences in the way Betty influences Archie and the way Veronica does, and these two panels sum it up perfectly...

(from Archie Comics #51 - May 1951, artwork by Bill Vigoda?)

Another long time subtlety in Archie Comics is Juggie's well known soft spot for Betty...
(from Archie Comics #51 - May 1951, artwork by George Frese?)

Reggie gets in a lot of good one-liners at Archie's expense, but here, in another PSA ad, Archie gets the last laugh!

(from Archie Comics #51 - May 1951, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

PEP COMICS #3

(On Newsstands in February 1940)

Irv Novick once again renders the SHIELD for the cover of Pep Comics #3 (on stands in February 1940), hurling some underwater mine’s back at the bad guys! Even though this was a quieter time of the war, before Germany would attack France in the summer (and a year and a half before Pearl Harbor), war was on the minds of the American people, so... this cover probably really stood out on the stands!

(from Pep Comics #3 - February 1940, artwork by Irv Novick)

The Shield battles Count Zongarr and his underwater army of diverse nationality soldiers! It's interesting to note that the Shiled in his early battles squared off with a 'Stokian' spy ring, some Nordic sailors, and here and underwater army of diverse nationalities... seems to be trying very hard during some contentious times to not offend a specific country... while protecting the USA!

(from Pep Comics #3 - February 1940, Story by Harry Shorten with artwork by Irv Novick)

The Shield displays his ingenuity, reminiscent of the Batman, who Novick would famously pencil later in his career!

(from Pep Comics #3 - February 1940, artwork by Irv Novick)

Writer/artist Jack Cole’s ‘The Comet’ was pretty cool for various reason’s, but in Pep #3 he really stepped it up. Not only did his layouts and storytelling continue to have a flair that few other Golden Age artists had at this time, but his theme's and ideas were better than most of his contemporaries. Here, the Comet is hypnotized by Satan’s henchman, Zadar, and is sent on a crime spree, killing policemen in the process.

(from Pep Comics #3 - February 1940, artwork by Jack Cole)

And by the time he beats the hypnotic spell, he’s a WANTED MAN! 

To be continued….

(from Pep Comics #3 - February 1940, artwork by Jack Cole)

In the continuing adventures of the ‘Press Guardian', Mort Meskin continues his advanced layout and design...

(from Pep Comics #3 - February 1940, artwork by Mort Meskin)

 ...and even gives us some bondage and whipping!  

(from Pep Comics #3 - February 1940, artwork by Mort Meskin)

Fu Chang and Press Guardian moved up to the #3 and 4 spots in the reading order, so they must’ve gotten some good feedback on the them… maybe? Anyway, we’re rewarded with the best Fu Chang story yet, by Manly Wade Wellman, and Lin Streeter’s art for it is better as well. 1940’s drug addiction stories are always entertaining… 

(from Pep Comics #3 - February 1940, artwork by Lin Streeter)

...especially when the hero’s girl is jacked up!

(from Pep Comics #3 - February 1940, artwork by Lin Streeter)

Pep Comics #3 was the best full issue of an MLJ Comic yet, and considering it now contains it's most popular hero, it's no wonder that it's popularity would continue to grow. Of course, in a few years... it'd get a real boost!

(from Pep Comics #3 - February 1940, artwork by Lin Streeter)