Captain Marvel Jr #33 (The Remorseful Robot) Nov-Dec. 1945 For June 27, 2011

The Remorseful Robot

Dr Quiddle appeared before in "Dr Quiddles Zombie" (CMJ #12-October 1943). Dr Quiddle's absented-mindedness is a big part of the humor in this story. Quiddle is not the villain he was in the previous story. Freddy uses somewhat plausible thinking in this story when he turns back into CMJ, "I may be wrong about him! Perhaps he's not a monster [Rollo the robot]...in that case I'll be more likely to find him as plain Freddy Freeman!" This is apparently the first of several CMJ robot story and it is a fairly good one. The art is by Bud Thompson.

Captain Marvel Jr #33 (CMJ Stamps Out A Paper Menace) Nov-Dec. 1945 For June 20, 2011

CMJ Stamps Out A Paper Menace

Stamp collecting was a major hobby for young people during this time. Having Freddy Freeman as a collector would appeal to many readers. However on p. 6  the Blue Boy commits a Federal crime (called mail tampering or mail fraud) by opening mail not addressed to him. This story is one where CMJ special powers are not needed (except for catching the dissolving solution on the last page).  A plain clothes police detective could have handled the case. The artists for this story are unknown. A similar style (a watered down Mac Raboy) appears on an number of CMJ stories during this period.

Captain Marvel Jr #33 (The Ant Bear) Nov-Dec. 1945

Today's postings will be different from our usual weekly offerings. I will be away from my computer for the next two plus weeks so I will be posting three stories (an entire CMJ issue) today. The story below is for the week of June 13. The next story will be for the week of June 20 and the last story for the week of June 27.

CMJ Meets the Ant Bear

This is one of the early humorous animal stories that appeared in the CMJ run. The Ant Bear appears again in CMJ #35 (January 1946). Mrs Scroggins, Freddy's mean land lady, was not a frequent member of CMJ's early cast. This may be her only appearance. Bud Thompson did the art with many Mac Raboy CMJ photostats or tracings.

Captain Marvel Jr #39 (The Phantom Crook)

(I'm posting this early as I'm be away from my computer on Monday)

Lightning Larry Davis is one of those infrequent early cast members in the pre-1947 CMJ stories. Larry Davis was sort of a one-note character with his excessive sleeping getting him into trouble. He played roughly the same role as Jimmy Olsen later did with Superman. He also appeared in CMJ #s 21, 22, 45. and Marvel Family #5. It seems likely that Bud Thompson had some artistic involvement with this story with many recycled Mac Raboy CMJ drawings evident.