Captain Marvel Jr. #37 (April 1946- The Greybeard!)

The GreyBeard!

Apparently real time exists in Capt. Marvel Jr. stories as Greybeard was convicted in 1846. Since 99 years would have been 1945 from 1846 it seems likely this story was delayed from that year. The art style is anachronistic as three pages use a four-tier panel approach that was more in style in the late 1930s/early 1940s than in the post-war years. The layout and draftsmanship by August Froehlich is markedly different from any of the other stories in the issue. Froehlich obvious copies some of Raboy's poses as he use the same back shot of Cap Jr. in three different panels. Froehlich seems to be one of those artists (at least as far as Captain Marvel Jr. is concerned) who was more of an illustrator and didn't quite understand the dynamics of the panel-to-panel comic strip visual continuity. His work is some of the dullest on the Captain Marvel Jr. strip.

Captain Marvel Jr. #37 (April 1946, "Sees Stars!")

Sees Stars!

This is a delightful human interest story that shows an infatuated Freddy Freeman being kissed by the beautiful movie star, Lona Twister (Cap Jr. is equally infatuated). Lona Twister seems to be a take off of real life movie star, Lana Turner. However, there are a couple of problems. One, Lona Twister seems not to realize Freddy is the Blue Boy even though he turns into the World's Mightiest Boy in front of her in locked room (Though in the last panel while planting a kiss on Freddy's cheek Miss Twister coyly says, "And this is for your friend Capt. Marvel Jr.! I'll always be indebted to him."). Second, Cap Jr. uses deceit to help the motion picture star succeed with the movie studios. He declares while clobbering the kidnappers with a high heeled shoe, "These high heel marks will convince the reporters. Now, I'd better leave so nobody will suspect I had anything to do with it." Art by Bud Thompson.

Captain Marvel Jr. #36 (March 1946, "Monkey Shines! ")

Monkey Shines! 

Here we have another POF (Pets of Freddy) story this time with a monkey. An over-aching theme is the naming of the small simian. At the end of the story Freddy calls the monkey, Jeep. He also lists several readers who sent in the right name. While this comic did not have a letters page this acknowledges the importance of its readers and apparently the responsiveness of those readers. Comic book letter columns in the 1940s were a rarity at best.  Some of the panels (showing the monkey) could easily have been in a funny animal comic of the period with its animated quality. The artwork (probably) by Bud Thompson shows the his versatility as an artist. He is able to go from realistic draftsmanship to excellent cartoon work. This story has standard copies of Mac Raboy poses for Cap Jr.

San Diego Comics Fest

I will be at the San Diego Comics Fest this weekend. I will be speaking on the history of American Comics from 1930-1970. Below is the description of my presentation. This will be on Friday night, Oct 4. If you are coming to the Con stop by and say hi.

6:15pm – 7:15pm: The History of American Comic Books, 1930-1970- Don Ensign presents an illustrated history of American comic books, from 1930 through the Silver Age. His presentation begins with the reprint comics of the 1930s, then goes into the rise of Superman and other super heroes. Don discusses the other trends and major companies and personalities of the 1940s. Then he goes into the 1950s with the crime and horror comics and Dr Wertham, followed by the rise of the Silver Age and Marvel Comics and 1960s comics fandom. Panelist: Don Ensign Room: Eaton. - See more at: http://www.sdcomicfest.org/friday-october-4th-programming-schedule/#sthash.q4PBFevR.dpuf

I've also be on a panel late Sunday afternoon.

Don Ensign

Captain Marvel Jr #36 (March 1946, A Monument of Peace!)

With its themes of espionage and apparent German spies this tale is probably an inventory story left over from the war years.  By the time this issue appeared the war with Germany had been over for six to eight months. The artwork on this stories is "rougher" and not as well rendered as the other stories in this issue. Stylistically the art is reminiscent both in layout and basic drawing) of the late 1930s or early 1940s. It seems out of place in the post war era. This artwork was done by August Froehlich who also drew the Greybeard stories (CMJ #37-39). After a few stories Froehlich is gone from Captain Marvel Jr. 

Captain Marvel Jr #36 (March 1946-- Capt. Marvel Jr. Battles Sivana, Jr.)

Capt. Marvel Jr. Battles Sivana, Jr.

Sivana Jr (the World's Worst Boy) makes his first appearance in Capt. Marvel Jr. by providing "Jitterbug Pills" to dancing teenagers to give them more energy to dance.  Sivana Jr. was introduced the previous month in Captain Marvel Adventures  #52 February 1946. The Fawcett editors decided to clone Dr. Sivana so that each member of the Marvel Family would have their only Sivana to deal with. Sivana Jr. was a son of Dr. Sivana who secretly grew up on Venus. Some of the early dancing panels in this story could have easily fit into a teen humor comic (e.i. Archie) of the period. Agewise, Freddy and Cap Jr. fit well into this story as they would have been between 16 and 18 years old during this time. After Sivana Jr has been stopped by the Blue Boy he vows that he will escape. "You'll hear from me again, Capt Marvel Jr!" This is surely a promise Sivana Jr. kept again and again and again. Script by Otto Binder and art by Bud Thompson.

[Blue Boy Chronicles #1 contains a full biography of Captain Marvel Jr. arch-villain, Sivana, Jr. See August 31, 2013 entry this blog, The Blue Boy for ordering information.]

Captain Marvel Jr. #35 (January 1946 The Underworld Tournament)

Sorry for the late posting this week. I've been away from the internet. there won't be posting over the next two

weeks but should be back September 23rd.

Capt. Marvel Jr. and the Underworld Tournament

  

This story is actually the cover story for the next issue (#36). This tale shows Cap Jr., as a good boy scout, helping out a man who made a bad judgment call. The plot includes two criminal gangs doing a highly unlikely event, fighting each other in a medieval knight's tournament. This is unlikely for the 1940s but is somewhat more probably now with groups like the Society for Creative Anachronism recreating medieval battles.This story does show a clear cut choice between right and wrong and the consequences of bad decisions. Story by Otto Binder and art by Bud Thompson.