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)

ARCHIE COMICS #50

(On Newsstands in March 1951)

The final cover of this classic Bob Montana run would prove to be his most iconic. Betty's pose and provacative statement exemplified the fantasies of a generation of Post War America where dreams can come true!
Or... it was... ya know... kinda hot! 

(from Archie Comics #50 - March 1951, artwork by Bob Montana)

On the inside though, the change coming to Archie Comics was evident, as we again get a story disguising a public service announcement, again involving public safety. This was a pre-Rock n Roll generation, but I suppose the interest in coming of age and getting your first car was already quite the thing. And since, the information age was still a long ways off, Archie Comics was doing it's part to remind young drivers to BE SAFE.

(from Archie Comics #50 - March 1951, artwork by Samm Schwartz?)

The other Archie trend of social commentary in the their stories continued as well (many erroneously believe that started in the mid-60's), as here they lament the pay of good School Teachers vs employment as a Secretary - something that could still be lamented even today!
This is also another story speculated to be drawn by Dan DeCarlo, pre-B&V #4, the issue traditionally thought to be his first Archie Comics work. 

(from Archie Comics #50 - March 1951, artwork by Dan DeCarlo?)

Addressing the DeCarlo speculation - it IS early in his career, but you can see in this cover he did for Atlas/Marvel a few months earlier, that the DeCarlo style was already there, and he would begin his Yardbirds work in G.I. Joe soon after this. That's not to say he wasn't trying to alter his style to fit what Archie Comics asked for, or what he believed they were looking for, but, personally, if I had to put money on it, I don't think its his work.
I certainly could be wrong, but the Dark Horse Archie Archives Series is getting close to these issues and have access to the original files, so another year and maybe we'll know for sure!
AND it was fun to post the earliest (100% sure) DeCarlo Atlas cover of the tough to find Georgie #30!

(from Geogie #30 - December 1950, artwork by Dan DeCarlo)

Maybe one of the more frightening panels ever posted in one of Archie's comics, as the Andrews and Lodge's dress down for relaxation and Mommy Andrews is showing a little more than we need to see. Is this revenge for Betty on the cover???

(from Archie Comics #50 - March 1951, artwork by Samm Schwartz?)

Some things never change though, and Reggie continues to have some of the snarlier comebacks!

(from Archie Comics #50 - March 1951, artwork by Dan DeCarlo?)

Not only are the stories disguised as psa announcements, but the psa ad's are disguised as stories!
One day I might do a post featuring JUST psa spots in Archie Comics!

(from Archie Comics #50 - March 1951, artwork by ?

Though we have here two real ads, one a Bazooka Joe Dubble Bubble Gum Ad (memories!) and a clever ad for Jughead Comics!

(from Archie Comics #50 - March 1951, artwork by Samm Schwartz?)

And though it certainly didn't seem like it at the time, we can still find some interesting colorful descriptions that probably wouldn't make it in today's Archie Comics....

(from Archie Comics #50 - March 1951, artwork by ?)

The subtle sexuality of some of the interior stories has started to go away, but using my Dr. Frederic Wertham decoder device to read the issue, I can still find some provocative things they try and sneak in...

(from Archie Comics #50 - March 1951, artwork by ?)

The highlight of the issue, is a Samm Scwartz Jughead story, where Juggy FALLS IN LOVE! Granted, it's a girl with Six Pounds of Hamburger, but it's still funny to watch him go through the type of body contortions that Archie usually does over females. Samm is one of the most UNDER rated of all the Archie greats!

(from Archie Comics #50 - March 1951, artwork by Samm Schwartz)

ARCHIE COMICS #49

(On Newsstands in January 1951)

Another great Bob Montana cover... his classic cover run was coming to an end here (topped off with one of his most iconic next issue), but what a run it was!

(from Archie Comics #49 - January 1951, artwork by Bob Montana)

Hey! We get a Bob Montana story to kick things off, and this time, it's Jughead buying a jalopy! Archie and his gang are starting to seep into the American culture of the times, and Archie Comics embraced it, and took the responsibility of having a voice within the culture seriously.

Yes, we'd still see the typical hi-jinks, but this issue would feature an extension of the story as Archie and Jughead (after a reckless through the town 'free-wheelin' debacle are called upon by the city leaders to give 'safety tips' to young drivers in the community.

Archie Comics was growing up!

(from Archie Comics #49 - January 1951, artwork by Bob Montana)

It didn't exactly stop there... in 'Love Thy Neighbor', Archie meets his new next door family, featuring a daughter who is blind (a redhead named Milly...Hmmm, shouldn't it have been 'Chili'?), who also turns out to be hot. Archie is of course kind to her, but a misunderstanding with Veronica, and hurt feelings, and a foreign eye surgeon who was a fraternity brother of Mr. Lodge...

Oh did I mention how she lost her sight? Car accident! Yikes!

(from Archie Comics #49 - January 1951, artwork by Sam Schwartz?)

In 'Video Rodeo' (which in 1951 I'm not even sure what that MEANT), Betty and Veronica compete with each other again for dates to the  dance...

(from Archie Comics #49 - January 1951, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

Even Mr. Weatherbee is confounded by the philanthropy of Archie and his friends!  It's been speculated that this story was drawn by Dan DeCarlo, which would pre-date his most commonly associated first Archie work (B&V #4) by almost a year...

(from Archie Comics #49 - January 1951, artwork by Dan DeCarlo?)

That's right! Hope for other kids in town to do the same thing... Archie and his pals were helping steer kids in the right direction! Archie Comics has successfully gotten on course and turned away from the ugly under belly of seedy comics on the market that.... wait a second. What's that an ad for?

Jim Steranko once told me he didn't think all that much of it, but I loved the wise crackin', hard fisted, suave, detective Sam Hill!  Crime comics were all the rage in 1951!

(from Archie Comics #49 - January 1951, artwork by Dan DeCarlo?)

If you're going to feature all the current Archie artists of the day it one issue, you can't forget George Frese!

Archie the poet? MmmHmmm... Betty knows something's up....

(from Archie Comics #49 - January 1951, artwork by George Frese

And just as we're about to finish another great issue...a reminder... be careful!

(from Archie Comics #49 - January 1951, artwork by ?)

ZIP COMICS #2

(On Newsstands in January 1940)

Zip Comics #2 hit the stands in January 1940, with STEEL STERLING. once again gracing the cover, courtesy of Charles Biro.

(from Zip Comics #2 - January 1940, artwork by Charles Biro)

How tough was Steel Sterling? He could even take on a pack of Polar Bears and hurl insults at them at the same time!

(from Zip Comics #2 - January 1940, artwork by Charles Biro)

Broken english leads to a broken jaw from Captain Valor in Mort Meskin's 'The Revenge of Hop-Lung!"

(from Zip Comics #2 - January 1940, story and artwork by Mort Meskin)

Zambian the Miracleman lives up to his name! I don't know where writer Joe Blair came up with some of his ideas for this series, but it would have a big influence on Batman throughout the years.... Blair wrote for MLJ and then...? Whatever happened to him?

(from Zip Comics #1 - January 1940, artwork byElmer Wexler)

TOP NOTCH COMICS #3

(On Newsstands in January 1940)

December 1939 and January 1940 were an exciting time for the growing comic book industry, as Planet Comics, Prize Comics, Whiz Comics, Blue Beetle, Shadow Comics and others made their debut on the newsstands…the Wizard was there, on the cover of Top Notch Comics #3, trying to hold his own in a growing market!

(from Top Notch Comics #3 - on newsstands January 1940, artwork by Edd Ashe)

Mort Meskin’s Dick Storm (gotta love that name), would only be around for a couple of issues, but he always had a few tricks up his sleeve that were popular with the ladies!

The name of the villain in this story is Kang the Terrible, not to be confused with Marvel’s Kang the Conquerer some 23 years later!

(from Top Notch Comics #3 - on newsstands January 1940, story and artwork by Mort Meskin)

Stacey Knight MD, made house calls! But not the kind bad guys liked!

(from Top Notch Comics #3 - on newsstands January 1940, artwork by Lin Streeter)

Again, many years before Marvel Comics, Thor and his hammer (actually it’s an axe here) were apart of an even more spectacular team than the Avengers: Scott Rand on Mars!

(from Top Notch Comics #3 - on newsstands January 1940, artwork by Jack Binder)

Buried as the last story, Jack Cole, outside of his funny animal work, was doing some trailblazing crime comic work here….the layout, the design, the storytelling, the art… it would all set the stage for a genre that would take comics by storm in a few years!

(from Top Notch Comics #3 - on newsstands January 1940, story and artwork by Jack Cole)