Master Comics #61 (May 1945-Capt. Marvel Jr.)

CMJ Meets Uncle Marvel!

This is a humorous story with Uncle Marvel ( a sort of good-natured W.C. Fields) providing comic relief. Uncle Marvel's landing which startled the nearby sunbathing girl, the hilarous fight and the cactus incident showed the writer (Otto Binder) and artist (Bud Thompson) were enjoying themselves with this story. Uncle Marvel knows that Freddy is CMJ ever though they never met before. This is one of the best seven-page CMJ stories.

With this story we close out 2011. We will be back in early January with more Fawcett era Captain Marvel, Jr. stories. Thanks to everyone who has become a follower of this blog and those who read without becoming followers. I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. God bless!

Master Comics #61 (May 1945-Bulletman)

Bulletman-The Prophetic Press

This shows again the formerly popular Fawcett costumed hero falling on hard times due to wartime paper shortages and shifting public interest with a mere five page story. Perhaps the best thing about this story it the plausible criminal motive is one that Bulletman can cope with—without Bulletgirl or super strength (though his super fast costume change to save Alderman Coates (p. 2) is jarringly uncharacteristic). Bulletman was super strong in his earlier stories. Possible art by Jack Binder (GCD).

Master Comics #61 (May 1945) Nyoka

Nyoka  "Flames of Fear"

This is the third part of a four part serial (Adventure of the Terrible Tiara) with art by Jack Sparling and perhaps written by Rod Reed (GCD). This story format follows the "Perils of Pauline" mode about the adventures of a young girl who at the end of each episode experiences a near death situation only to be saved (or escapes) at the beginning of the next episode. Sparling does some quite good Caniff inspired art (note page 16, panel 4) and the story moves along very well.

Master Comics #61 (May 1945)

Master Comics #61

While I've noted that Master Comics #61 has just been uploaded to the Digital Comics Museum website. However since it is not the entire issue I will upload it to the Blue Boy website. I'll be uploading each story plus ads and filler material over the next several days. Captain Marvel Jr. got shoved to the back of the book. Merry Christmas.

Radar and the Jap Bargain Peace

This is  a fairly innovative plot with the Japanese trying to broker a separate peace agreement with the United States. This issue is cover dated May 1945 which was the month Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies. It is likely when this story was written (perhaps late 1944 or early 1945) the Axis defeat was pretty much assured. Radar foils the plot and ends with restating the Allies pledge for unconditional surrender from the Japanese. Art by Al Carreno

Captain Marvel Jr #78 (The Voodoo Clock) October 1949

The Voodoo Clock

This is a well plotted story which proves the contention that a good comic book yarn can be told in such a short space (in this case 7 pages). This is a tale of prophesy but the fulfillment of each prophesy is different than what the reader might expect. Excellent art by Bud Thompson.