Master Comics #78 (April 1947-Corny Cobb)

As mentioned previously the artist of this strip used perspective to add some depth to his mostly linear drawing style. Page two which shows the two protagonists in their law office shows perspective used in odd angles which gives the pages rather flunky and disorienting feel. Also note panel three has a silhouette panel which one of the very few "spotting of blacks" in the entire four pages. Perhaps this was an intentional mirroring the frivolous, silly nature of the subject matter.

It should also be noted the text story "Wrong Number" is by John Broome who later wrote some of the best Silver Age Flash and Green Lantern stories. This brings up the intriguing possibility that Broome may have written some of the Captain Marvel Jr. stories of this period.

Master Comics #78 (April 1947- Nyoka)

This Nyoka tale takes the jungle girl to the wilds of Australia in search of that continent's exotic animals. She is accompanied by the aptly named Professor Skatterbrane and has a series of comedic encounters while trying to capture various local fauna. Skatterbrane has no real use as a intellectual--a perfect stereotype of a forgetful and bumbling academic. Skatterbrane does redeem himself by masking the villain allowing Nyoka to administrator the knock out blow. Except for the encounter with Killer King and the liberation of the gold mine's discoverer this story is played for laughs.

Master Comics #78 (April 1947- Bulletman)

Perhaps the main importance of this story is that Bulletgirl becomes the star of the show by rescuing Bulletman. The premise that Bulletman and Bulletgirl coming to the same conclusion about the street repair and the steamroller isn't too far fetched as husband and wives often think the same things (albeit Jim and Susan are not yet married but are partners nonetheless). Perhaps the major problem has to do with them not confiding their suspicions with one another. The artwork is very simple yet tells the story very well. The use of perspective is employed the effectively through the story. The comment by Jim on page one regarding the Hopalong Cassidy movie is a good reminder to the reader of Hoppy's Fawcett comic book adventures as well as his B movie Westerns.

Master Comics #78 (April 1947-Captain Marvel Jr.)

Captain Marvel Jr.

This story shows Freddy having fun with a girl somewhat younger than himself. Babs Randall actually asked the newsboy out for a date. Freddy certainly likes her but as a friend not a romance, at least at first. At the end Babs, after being rescued by the Blue Boy, shows concern for Freddy and CapJr. assures her that he has, also, saved Freddy. The World's Mightiest Boy muses, "Gosh! she really does like Freddy! She wasn't playing a joke on him!" This is a sweet story--simply told with a good moral about friendship and greed (by cousin Malcolm). It seems a pity Babs did not reappear in subsequent adventures. (Collector's Note: On the cover is a date-Feb 24, 1947. This apparently is a stamp date when the retailer received the comic and displayed it for sale. )  Art: Bud Thompson

The Blue Boy Chronicles

Soon to be published is the first issue of The Blue Boy Chronicles. This is a magazine devoted to Fawcett's Golden Age Captain Marvel Jr.

The first issue contains an extensive three-part biography of Freddy Freeman, the outer space stories of Captain Marvel Jr., the Boy stories of Captain Marvel Jr, the publishing history of Captain Marvel Jr, a Sivana Jr profile and much more.

Watch this blog for publication and availability dates. Coming Soon!

Captain Marvel Jr. Story Pages Graph

This week we are including a graph of the page count for Captain Marvel Jr. stories
published between 1941 and 1953. It should be noted that the highest point was
in 1943 for the number of story pages. The lowest point came in 1945 (except for the
final year of publication 1953) this very likely due to the wartime paper shortage.
The next high is in 1948 which also was the year the most CMJ stories were published
(though they were shorter in page length than in 1943). After that there was a
gradual decline in page output until 1953 which was only a partial publishing year.

Next week we have a big announcement that we are sure will beof interest to
Captain Marve Jr. fans.

The weeks following we will be back to our reprints with Master Comics #78
and #79.

Captain Marvel Jr. (1953 Story Listings)

Today we are concluding our listing of Captain Marvel Jr. stories with those published
in 1953. Of course, the Blue Boy continued to be published as a member of The Marvel Family the last issue dated #89 (January 1954). One speculation: It seems likely that part of the agreement between Fawcett and DC to cease printing of Captain Marvel Adventures (and related titles) was that Fawcett be permitted to published their inventory stories before they closed down shop. It seems as if the final court ruling against Fawcett happened sometime in 1952. Thus Master Comics ceased with #133 (April 1953) which probably hit the stands in February and Captain Marvel Jr. with #119 (June 1953) likely sold in April 1953. It is interesting to note that CMJ #117 is January 1953 and CMJ #118 is April 1953. For steady readers of the title this may have caused some apprehension that things were not going well.
Captain Marvel Jr. would not be published again in the United States until Shazam #1(February 1973).


1953

Captain Marvel Jr.  #117  January 1953

585. Captain Marvel Jr and the Werewolf of London (8 pp)
Art; Joe Certa (GCD)*

586. CMJ and The Lost Space Ship (6 pp)
Art: Bud Thompson (GCD)*

587. CMJ Becomes The Funniest Looking Boy in the World" (7 pp)
Art: Bud Thompson. (GCD)*

Master Comics #132  February 1953

588. The Note From Nowhere (6 pp)
Art:  Bill Ward (?) (GCD)*

Master Comics #133  April 1953

589. The Living Dead (7 pp)
Art: ? (GCD) Bill Ward (?) or Sheldon Moldoff (?) (DE)

Captain Marvel Jr. #118  April 1953

590. The Hammer of Hate (7 pp)
Art: Joe Certa (GCD)*

591. The Lazy Genie (5 pp)
Art: Bud Thompson (GCD)*

592. In the Days of Robin Hood (8 pp)
Art: Bud Thompson(GCD)* Writer, Bill Woolfolk (GCD)

593. The Great Vacuum (6 pp)
Art: Bud Thompson (GCD)*

Captain Marvel Jr.  #119 June 1953

594. The Regiment That was Afraid to Fight (7 pp)
Art: Joe Certa (GCD)*

595. CMJ Guilt of Murder (6 pp)
Art: Bud Thompson (GCD)*

596. The Fourth Dimension Elephant (5 pp)
Art: Bud Thompson (GCD)*

597. The City in the Maelstrom (8 pp)
Art: Joe Certa (GCD)*

The Marvel Family #84, June 1953

Triple Trap of Terror (Marvel Family Story)

598. Chapter 2 The Boiling Menace (CMJ solo) (4 pp)
Art: Kurt Schaffenberger (GCD)*

599. The Victim of Circumstances (7 pp)
Art: Bill Ward ? (GCD)**  or Sheldon Moldoff (DE)

The Marvel Family #85, July 1953

600. Vampira's Beast of the Battlefield (8 pp)
Art: Bud Thompson (GCD)*