Comic Book Review: Golden Age Marvel Comics 2 by Various
This volume reprints the contents of Marvel Mystery Comics #5-8 from 1940. The introduction by Roy Thomas points up the contrast with the publisher’s other anthology title of the time, Daring Mystery Comics. This one had star characters like the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner, and decent backup features like Ka-Zar, while the other had a succession of characters who didn’t last more than a couple issues each and are known primarily for cameos in later Marvel comics.
Since this series had the good fortune to have a steady lineup for all four issues, let’s go by character rather than strict issue order.
The Human Torch (art and writing by Carl Burgos) is not, strictly speaking, human. He is an android, an artificial male humanoid constructed by Professor Phineas Horton. A flaw in his construction caused him to burst into flame without being consumed when exposed to air. He was sealed away until criminals tried to steal his body for nefarious purposes, and released him to their cost. He learned how to control his flames, and even at this point showed an almost mystical power over all fire. Fortunately, Professor Horton had programmed “Jim Hammond” with basic ethics, so he used his powers for good.
In these issues, first the Torch flies medical supplies to a snowbound town in Lake Superior, then battles arsonists who’ve stolen the plans for incendiary bombs, and joins the police force with his first target there being a crooked politician. Due to his habit of burning off his outside clothing whenever he flames on, the Torch is allowed not to wear the standard police uniform. As a representative of the law, the Human Torch is then asked to battle Namor, the Sub-Mariner.
Speaking of whom, Namor is the child of a surface-dweller man and an Atlantean princess, which makes him amphibious and gives him hybrid vigor and useful superpowers. He initially intended to conquer the land people, but was soon persuaded by pretty policewoman Betty Dean that they weren’t all bad. She even persuaded him to rescue a “neutral” American freighter from Nazi warships.
At the beginning of this volume, bored with escort duty, Namor gets permission from his grandfather the emperor to return to America. Unfortunately he decides to don a costume with a cape for the return, and when he tries to evade capture, it tangles in the landing gear of a plane and the Sub-Mariner is taken prisoner. He convinces Betty to let him go to rescue people from a subway flood, and stops Treasury robbers in their tracks.
Despite this, and other heroic deeds, it’s determined that Namor must still stand trial for his earlier crimes. As expected from Marvel civilians, the jury decides the possible good the Sub-Mariner could do if freed does not outweigh the possible harm he could inflict if he turned enemy again, and finds him guilty on all charges. Namor is sentenced to death in the electric chair and drugged to keep him from struggling. The voltage clears the drugs, Namor escapes, and swears off trying to work with the American justice system.
After checking with the Emperor to get permission to rampage again, Namor makes his headquarters at the Statue of Liberty and starts wreaking havoc. There’s only one being that might stand a chance against the Scion of Atlantis, the Human Torch!
And so in Marvel Mystery Comics #8, the first superhero crossover event! These first two chapters of the storyline are inconclusive, Namor dashing from place to place causing mischief that the Torch has to mitigate, clashing only briefly before the Sub-Mariner flies off again. They both underestimate each other, but it’s clear this is the first time either of them has had a nearly equal opponent. Thrilling stuff!
The Angel is socialite Tom Hallaway, here rendered by Paul Gustavson. He’s a non-powered hero who wears a costume, but not a mask, and doesn’t really hide his identity. (Later on he’ll get a cloak that allows him to fly, but doesn’t use it often.) Despite the lack of actual powers, the Golden Age Angel performs acrobatic and fighting feats that verge on the superhuman. The two covers he’s on depict battles against cults and monsters that don’t match any of the interior stories.
In the actual stories, the Angel first thwarts bank robbers by flipping cars on their sides so they can’t be used for a getaway, much to the bemusement of an old Irish-American cop who’s unconscious for most of the action. Then he assists a woman kidnapped for her (fake) necklace, another one whose father is being poisoned for the inheritance, and a third to force her dad to see his steel company shares. The women are different people, but all share a strong resemblance…I think Mr. Gustavson had a type.
The Masked Raider is a Lone Ranger-style Western character who wanders about righting wrongs while wearing a mask. Illustrated here by Al Anders, only recently has he gotten a modern Marvel counterpart. He “disguises” himself by taking off the mask. The Masked Raider helps a sheriff get re-elected despite a series of arrow murders framing “Injun Joe.” Next, he assists a man trying to buy back his border ranch from rustlers. Another ranch is rich in minerals, but when the Masked Raider tries to defend it, the town marshal wants to arrest him! And then there’s a bank robbery with a twist, and the Raider is joined by his new sidekick Mexican Pete. (A mild stereotype.)
Electro: The Marvel of the Age by Steve Dahlman concerns a remote controlled robot of immense power created by the wealthy Professor Zog to perform amazing feats. The Professor has a squad of young agents who go to the sites where Electro is needed to guide and control it. The first story in these issues has Electro going to the country of Molivia, which has been invaded by the dictatorial forces of Torpis. The leader of Torpis, Kalph Belgri, is a pretty transparent stand in for Hitler, and commits suicide when Electro dismantles his entire army.
Next, Electro deals with the national dope-running racket. (Some stereotypical Chinese people are incidental characters.) This is followed by flood relief in the Ohio Valley, but Electro also smashes a gang of looters taking advantage of the chaos. “Boss” Sarpo, their leader, returns in the next story to kidnap Professor Zog and force him to use Electro for evil. The professor is unable to figure out a way to escape before the dragonmen of planet Ligra show up to abduct Zog and Electro for their own nefarious purposes. Okay, suddenly aliens. Why not?
The Ferret is a long-nosed snooper with a pet ferret, Nosy, who acts as an amateur detective. (Stories by Bob Davis, art by Irwin Hasen.) First, he solves a murder by cadging an apparently blank piece of paper off the police investigators. Next, a case with a bald woman (this is a clue) which has multiple red herrings and a lift from Agatha Christie’s playbook. The third story reveals that Ferret is independently wealthy, as kidnappers expect he’ll be able to pay fifty thousand dollars in ransom. And finally, he tricks bank robbers into leading him to their loot. Nosy is in the tradition of pets that are way too well trained for belief. I don’t think Ferret has ever been brought back in the modern day.
Ka-Zar the Great by Ben Thompson carried over a character from the pulp magazines, a Tarzan clone. His name means “brother of Zar”, Zar being the lion that raised him after the young boy was stranded in the jungle by the murder of his father. #5 concludes his origin by allowing Ka-Zar to get revenge on his father’s murderer. Next, he fights an ivory poacher. This is followed by a story in which a botanist and his daughter are betrayed by their pilot, who is actually an escaped criminal. Finally, a greedy gold mine operator bribes a local chief to supply him with slaves for the digging.
To no surprise, there are stereotypical depictions of native Africans in these stories, worst in the initial story. But it’s worth noting that each tale also has an evil white man, who’s even worse than the black people in every case. Ka-Zar was eventually “modernized” by having him come from a hidden jungle of prehistoric creatures in Antarctica.
Each issue has a throwaway text story as well because of postal regulations back in the day.
Overall, it’s an amusing collection of early comic book goodness with mostly still pretty crude art. The Torch/Namor crossover is historically important, so Marvel fans will definitely want this and the next volume which completes the crossover. Less enthused fans might want to check this out at the library.
