Captain Marvel Jr #22 (CMJ Rides the Clermont) Aug. 1944

Over the next several weeks we'll be jumping back again to an earlier issues in CMJ's run to Captain Marvel Jr #22, August 1944.

CMJ Rides the Clermont

This tale has a historical connection with Robert Fulton's steamship the Clermont being the focus of the story. We also see Freddy Freeman's friend the boy inventor Sylvester Jones ( first appears in CMJ #17-96, 99). The geography of this story shows that Freddy Freeman was hawking newspapers in New York City or a nearby city. Skyscapers are shown in the background (panel 2 page 1). Al Carreno is credited by GCD with the art on this story.  This researcher believes that Bud Thompson (though perhaps not doing all the penciling) not Al Carreno was involved with the art.

Captain Marvel Jr #79 (CMJ and the Unhappy Clown) Aug. 1949

The moral of this yarn is don't try to be something that you aren't. Do what you are fitted and designed to do. Rico the clown rightly concludes, "Captain Marvel Jr., You've convinced me! From now on, I won't try to be a second rate hero! I stick to what I do best--making people laugh!" The art, by Bud Thompson, fit the story perfectly--it has gentle, whimsical, light-hearted drawings that works very well with this tale. The stories in this issue all have clear moral statements--perhaps Facwett included these obvious moral lessons as a way to counter the growing criticism of comics at the time.

Captain Marvel Jr #79 (Timber of Terror) Aug. 1949

This is an example of a "coincidence story"--with a Twilight Zone feel to it. The writer concludes, "Coincidence? Perhaps...but no one can deny that the fate of Sidney Norton was inextricably bound up with the giant tree that served him as weapon and as agent of justice!..and least we forget, serves him still--as a coffin!" Also we see CMJ using super breath to blow out a fire. Joe Certa provided the art for this story.

Captain Marvel Jr #79 (Captain Marvel Jr Loses His Courage) Aug. 1949

CMJ Loses His Courage

CMJ's secret identity was not all that secret as Professor Ega is able to discover it by careful study. Professor Ega's Zeta ray devise is used to transfer courage from one individual to another. The Zeta beam of the Adam Strange series (first shown almost ten years later in Showcase #17, Nov-Dec. 1958) transfers people from one planet to another. CMJ is, maybe, physically invulnerable but his soul can be tampered with. Bill Ward  (GCD) did the art on this tale.

Captain Marvel Jr #79 (Captain Marvel Jr Battles Anarchy Aug. 1949

In this story CMJ gives a civics lesson on law and order. It shows a society where  anarchy reigns and there is no law. Toward the end of the story CMJ proclaims "Well, you fools! Why don't you make laws? Don't you see that anarchy gives any unscrupulous person the chance to lord it over others! That's why laws were invented in the first place! Fair and democratic laws are the cornerstone of civilization itself!" This moral education story was drawn by Bud Thompson.