The Claw, here making his appearance from
Daredevil Comics #27 (1944), was billed as “The World's Worst Villain.” The thought struck me when looking at him, he may not have been exactly the world's
worst, but he was the tallest. I'm sure that if the Claw was around today some sharp sports agent would find a way to get him a multi-million dollar contract playing professional basketball.
I also like the little devils that do the Claw's bidding. But someone, for lack of a better name, came up with “Clawites.” It has a certain ring...the Claw and the Clawites. Could've been a rock band from the era in which I grew up.
Artwork on this tall tale is by Bob Q. Siege, who also worked for editors Charles Biro and Bob Wood on
Crime Does Not Pay.
The Claw's final comment is an anti-climax.
ReplyDeleteOverall it seems indicative of the 'Yellow Peril' fears of the time, even if China was an ally at the time
Howdy,
ReplyDeleteThe "Clawites" remind me of the cover of "Haunt of Fear #14". Wonder if Ingels had these in the back of his mind?
Also, does any one know what's going on over at Golden Age Comic Stories? Haven't had a new post since December 5. Beginning to worry.
Thanks for posting,
Brian Riedel
While normally I like to be overly analytic, I just can't get past the glory that is Page 7, Panel 5.
ReplyDeleteIt's so goofy but it tries so hard. The artist was really attempting to do a interesting shot, but just with the worst elements and the most humorous position possible. An absolute failure but everything is made better for it!
Brian Barnes, I always thought Bob Q. Siege was one of the more decent artists of the Lev Gleason group. Charles Biro wanted to "see everything" as he told Alex Toth years later, so they drew what was written, and if the scripter described a panel they did their best. As you say, the panel mentioned is an absolute failure as art, but successful in that off-kilter way that endears these comics to us.
ReplyDeleteKeir, I'd say that despite China being an ally, in those days Asians were still part of "the other" — those races that seemed sinister and so alien to us. So despite being on our side against a common enemy, they were still fodder for racist caricature.
ReplyDeletebzak, as I write this Golden Age Comic Book Stories is still hanging on at December 5. I hope everything is all right. It seems appropriate at this time to promise Pappy's readers that if something happens to me I've given Mrs. Pappy instructions to post it on the blog itself. I'm never happy when blogs just go quiet, with no word as to whether they'll ever be back again.
ReplyDeleteTo you potential bloggers, if you find it's too much work or you get too busy to do your blog anymore, please have the courtesy to announce it to your readers.