Quite often the two big publishers would reprint material from this period in Annuals or collected editions. I recall reading early Batman, Superman stories from DC and Sub Mariner, The Human Torch and the All-Winners Squad from Marvel. As a child I found these tales to be a bit "primitive" and wasn't really interested. That attitude changed as I grew up.
Although comics in the forties seem very "primitive" by today's standards these books set the scene for the growth of the super-hero and it all began with a certain "man of steel" who could bounce bullets of his chest, run faster than a speeding train and jump over tall buildings.
Gradually men put on the American flag and carried a shield or a cape and a cowl in the shape of a Bat or a boy said the magic word and transformed to join others such as Wonder Woman of the Amazons. So many characters, so many comics. Much of this tradition survived into the modern age.
This edition of Comics Unlimited begins with a look at the first American "patriotic" hero The SHIELD from MLJ Comics (now Archie) who predated Captain America by nearly a year. The good Captain survives to this day and is even stars in blockbuster movies.
However back then the creators of Captain America Joe Simon & Jack Kirby were Jewish:
...received antisemitic hate mail, threatening phone calls and even reportedly had shady-looking characters hanging around outside. The home grown Nazi group known as the German American Bund (who themselves made an appearance in Captain America #5 objected to their Fuehrers sore face and the reasons for it. It came to the point where employees (who were mainly Jewish) were afraid to leave the building.
Fortunately they received police protection and New York's Mayor an avid comics fan told them the "City had their back". Kirby of course eventually got drafted and took part in the D Day landings.
There is so much rich history to learn here. There's a quite fun 3-part article spread through the journal looking at failed heroes including Ka-Zar who was not the man with a sabre tooth tiger that Stan lee penned in the sixties but an apparently very poor imitation of Tarzan.
All Star Comics gets a feature showing co-operation between the companies that eventually would form DC comics and features the adventures of the Justice Society of America. In the silver age these characters would be revived on a parallel Earth numbered as 2 even though they came first....
Also of interest is a feature on Marvel Comics #1 which starred Bill Everet's Sub-Mariner who seems to aged well given his current staus in the modern Marvel Universe but then Aquaman is also still wandering about from the forties. Maybe seafood has that effect who knows?
Other features include a look at the origins of Superman and Batman plus a look at everybody's favourite Plastic Man. In fact along with articles on early Disney comics, Godzilla and various golden age artists there's something for everyone in this edition.
There's even Romance comics via Simon & Kirby. Not my thing really. In fact I've never read one but these things were big sellers just like girls comics over here in the UK but sadly no longer with us.
This 100 page special is full of great articles and there should be something for everyone here. Certainly the importance of the golden age is made plain.
Rating: 5 Stars Recommended.
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