Thursday, May 31, 2012

Superman: The High Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero


In addition to being a Neiman Fellow while at Harvard University and award-winning journalist for The Boston Globe, author Larry Tye has written books on railroad Pullman Porters, the Jewish Diaspora, electroshock therapy, and a biography of legendary baseball pitcher Satchel Paige. Tye also loves the character Superman, and you just can’t fault him for that, because who doesn’t really.

His latest work, “Superman: The High-Flying History of America’s Most Enduring Hero” is a biography not just of the iconic character, but also of the creators, writers, artists, publishers and others, who’ve depicted him in various media over the last seven decades. Larry Tye very effectively reveals how Superman has changed to meet the needs of his audience in ways that always kept the famous hero at the forefront of a fluidly evolving cultural environment. Hey, I thought that I knew everything that there was to know about the Man of Steel, but I discovered trivia snippets that I had never read before, and not simply as footnotes. Ingrained within the body of the 300+ page volume is an engaging and entertaining look at the popular history of the fictional Last Son of Krypton, and the real world that warmly embraced him.

I particularly appreciated how the author covered well-known aspects of how young Siegel and Shuster originally crafted their hero and the sad legacy of how they ultimately came to lose control of their creation, and the still-ongoing legal battle to reclaim him for their estate; and Tye relates this controversial information without making harsh judgment calls on the individuals involved. You also get to tag along as the legend of Superman grew from one era to another, see the impact of major historical events against which this comic book champion played against within his own four-color milieu and like Larry Tye, recapture the imagination of youth and what it meant to have a hero like Superman to aspire to.

I am grateful to Tye’s intern Nick Catoni and the fine folks at Random House for providing me with the review copy. I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially comic book fans. It is as clear and captivating a depiction of Superman as I have ever read, and it will grab you right from the start. The book was obviously a labor of love for the author, as there are over 100+ appendix, index, bibliography, and note and photo pages. Give this book a shot, folks!

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Princess Pantha in "The Land of the Rainbow Light!" (Better;1947)


Princess Pantha stars in "The Land of the Rainbow Light!" from Thrilling Comics #63 (Dec.1947); originally published by Better/Standard/Nedor, and nicely illustrated by Art Saaf. The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Ty-Gor, Son of the Tiger "In the American Jungle" (MLJ;1940)


Taken as a baby, Tyrone Gorman was offered as a living sacrifice to tigers in the jungles of Malaysia. Instead, the tigress Malma raised him. "Ty-Gor" was unknowingly heir to a vast fortune back home while he roamed the jungle accompanied by Malma. In this story from Blue Ribbon Comics #8 (Dec.1940); originally published by MLJ/Archie Comics, Joan Davis & her father continue their efforts to civilize the son of the tiger. "In the American Jungle” is written Joe Blair and illustrated by Mort Meskin. The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: the copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

Monday, May 28, 2012

Zegra, Jungle Empress in "The Flying Death" (Fox;1948)


"Tegra" was first introduced as the star of a rewritten "Rulah, Jungle Goddess" story, but with this issue she became a wholly separate character whose name was quickly changed to Zegra and whose hair color was changed from brunette to blond with Zegra Jungle Empress #2 (Oct.1948); originally published by Fox Feature Syndicate. She was apparently the “Empress” of a village filled to bursting with blond, brunette and red-headed jungle gals. Today’s tale is called “The Flying Death” and sadly page #6 is missing (the very reason why I've held off on posting this story), however this is the last Tegra/Zegra tale that I have, and the artist is not identified in the GCD. The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Thun'da in "The Price of Murder!" (Magazine Enterprises;1954)


Today's classic jungle story comes from Cave Girl #13 (Jul-Sept.1954); originally published by Magazine Enterprises, written by the legendary Gardner Fox and illustrated by the great Bob Powell. Thun'da, King of the Congo helps solve a murder in the ranks of the French Foreign Legion in the aptly titled "The Price of Murder!" The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and are reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

Friday, May 25, 2012

"Gal" Friday! Lolo Jones


American track and field athlete Lolo Jones specializes in the 60 and 100 meter hurdles. She won three NCAA titles and garnered 11 All-American honors while attending LSU. She also won indoor national titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in the 60 meter hurdles, and a pair of gold medals at the World Indoor Championship in 2008 and 2010. Although she was favored to win the 100 meter hurdles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she tripped on the penultimate hurdle ultimately finishing in seventh place. Trivia: Jones is currently the American record holder in the 60m hurdles. Lolo made headlines in recent days with her candid admission that she remains a virgin at the age of twenty-nine, and that staying a virgin before marriage has been the hardest thing she’s ever done in her life; harder than training for the Olympics, harder than graduating from college. I admire her sticking to her guns, and hopefully having done so, she will end up with someone who deserves her sacrifice (lucky bastard).
Photo from ESPN/2009

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Fantomah in "The Turbaned Monkey" (Fiction House;1941)


Although she began her golden age career as a super-powered, fright-visaged "Mystery Woman of the Jungle" illustrated by Fletcher Hanks, Fantomah later changed her appellation to "Daughter of the Pharaohs." In between those vastly differing roles, she starred for a time as a garden variety jungle girl (albeit with lingering supernatural elements) in tales like today's previously untitled adventure that I've dubbed "The Turbaned Monkey" from Jungle Comics #16 (Apr.1941); originally published by Fiction House and illustrated by Robert Pious. This wild story features transformed ape-men, plus a vengeful sorcerer and other peculiar perils. The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or creators, and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Camilla in "Beyond the Phantom Road" (Fiction House;1941)


Camilla, Queen of the Lost Empire stars today in a previously untitled story from Jungle Comics #14 (Feb. 1941); originally published by Fiction House and with art by Robert Webb. The usual jungle scenario shifts over to science-fantasy territory in “Beyond the Phantom Road” which nicely concludes with the villain of the piece being transformed into a lowly potato (I kid you not). The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Jo-Jo, Congo King in "Ransom for the Dead" (Fox;1948)

"Ransom for the Dead” is from Jo-JoCongo King #10 (Jan.1948); originally published by Fox Feature Syndicate. The GCD gives no credits for the artwork but Jack Kamen predominantly worked on this feature around this period (so that’s my guess). The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publishers and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!