Comments on: Scott’s Classic Comics Corner: Horrifying Last Gasps

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:57:58 +0000

Beginning in January, 1947 – many Timely books had a little ‘peel back’ logo in the top corner, announcing that the book was a Marvel Magazine. It was very temporary.

The little red circle ‘Marvel Comic’ logo, began with books cover dated February, 1949. It last appeared on comics cover dated June, 1950. It was used rather sporadically – and is feature more often on line drawn covers than photo covers.

Someone out there much better versed than me on the mind of Martin Goodman can probably provide an explanation.

By: Matt Beahan

Matt Beahan — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:39:04 +0000

I notice that the Captain America covers have “Marvel Comic” on them… If they date from late ’49/early ’50 wouldn’t that make them one of the earlier appearances of that (ie using it as a logo, rather than the title of the comic)?

By: David

David — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:32:23 +0000

I remember the same thing happening to the first (late 1960s) Spectre series, where the Spectre became a commentator for standard ghost stories with nothing directly to do with him.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:02:01 +0000

Dan

I don’t think that Wonder Woman’s stories took on a real ‘horror-mood’ feel. I believe there’s the occasional haunted house story, but that’s about it. I’d agree that Batman and Superman stories took on more of a ‘sci-fi’ feel than horror. As we all know, DC brought in 3 western titles to replace superhero titles, perhaps to hedge their horror bets.

Lt. Clutch
I agree – Maurice Whitman was a very talented artist. I’ll do a bit of digging on him and maybe we’ll come up with enough material for another Underappreciated Artist Spotlight.

By: Lt. Clutch

Lt. Clutch — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:07:48 +0000

Along with Sensation, DC also took Star-Spangled Comics towards the mystery route after introducing Doctor Thirteen. It was later renamed Star-Spangled War Stories and became one of DC’s great Silver Age war books.

Maurice Whitman’s cover for Jumbo Comics #166 is gorgeous stuff, truly worthy of Matt Baker. Ah, for the good old days…when dames were dames and ghosts were ghosts!

I wonder what happened to Whitman? There’s not very much info on the guy out there.

By: Dan Bailey

Dan Bailey — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:18:30 +0000

Although of course you address Wonder Woman & Sensation Comics. What I’m curious about, though, is whether those flagship characters’ stories were affected by the (with apologies to Archaic Al Hewetson) horror-mood of the early ’50s …

By: Dan Bailey

Dan Bailey — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:16:36 +0000

Seeing the Marvels in those settings makes me wonder whether the horror trend intruded at all in, say, Superman, Action, Batmanm, Detective, World’s Finest or Wonder Woman. I know Batman’s adventures in particular got pretty far-out sometime during the ’50s, but I’m thinking that was far more science-fictional than anything else.

By: Daniel O' Dreams

Daniel O' Dreams — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:12:39 +0000

The Marvels look positively embarrassed to be confronted with pirate ghosts. Thanks for the fun piece.