Number 2579: The short-lived Stuntman

The story I have told once or twice over the years is that Stuntman, a comic book from Harvey Comics, written and drawn by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, was canceled over a glut of comic books after the war. Simon and Kirby moved on to Hillman, and then Prize. The latter publisher was aptly named. Simon and Kirby hit the prize with romance comics for Prize.

Stuntman may have suffered a bit by changing tastes among comic book readers. Stuntman wore his circus costume, then added a helmet and went from circus stuntman and daredevil to two-fisted costumed hero. The artwork is dynamic, but costumed heroes were passé, and if comic books truly glutted the market, then many potential readers might not have seen it. It is also possible the distributors didn’t give shelf space to a comic book with no sales record.

Harvey not only published the original Stuntman #1, but also reprinted “Killer in the Big Top” twice, in Black Cat #9 (1948), and Thrills of Tomorrow #19 (1955). What I think is precedent is the first page banner that asks the reader to “Save this first issue of Stuntman comics...it will be a valuable souvenir someday.”

From Stuntman #1 (1946):

Number 2578: ...and the 2021 Thanksgiving Turkey Award goes to...

It is that day.  I put on my tuxedo and stand on the dais declaring the award to my readers. The Thanksgiving Turkey Award has been given every year since the inception of this blog, with the exception of one Thanksgiving (and perhaps someone out there gave thanks that I didn't show it that year). The Award, as I usually say at this time, is judged and given by me and is up to my choice alone. This year I have broken one tradition, which is to find a story (singular) to present, instead I am giving two stories. Both are by the inimitable Fletcher Hanks. Hanks got the Award last year, also, which makes him the first repeater in our yearly tradition.

With Hanks it is almost too easy, but stacked up against other comic book creators from the early years of the comic books, he was then an original, and still lives in our hearts as the man whose creations, artwork, dialogue, etc., are unique. I say “unique” although several comic book creators from the late '30s and early '40s had their own bizarre visions, but no one seemed to be as bizarre as Hanks, and that isn’t just my opinion, but the opinion of everyone who writes about Hanks.

I rarely give four turkeys as an award, but Hanks undoubtedly gets about as close as one can get to my vision of a perfect turkey, therefore today’s choice earns the rare four turkeys.

The episodes of “Space Smith” and “Stardust” by Hanks were published in the same issue of Fantastic Comics #3 (1939].

Number 2577: Jo-Jo’s hot medicine

Jo-Jo Congo King was yet another white man swinging from trees in the comic book jungle. Published by Fox Features, and done for Fox by the Jerry Iger shop, where artists, even one or two, did the actual drawing in the familiar Iger style.

Fox had a comic book called Jo-Jo Comics, which was designed for young children. It was canceled and the former title became the Congo King's name. It was done because second class mailing permits were expensive. Keeping the title, albeit with totally different contents, made it possible to continue the title and not have to pay for a new permit. A tactic I have mentioned a few times in this blog.

The Public Domain web site gave the names of women, who appeared as Jo-Jo’s girlfriend (“love interests," as claimed by PDSH). In this story the voluptuous two-piece garb wearer is Gwenna. Other names of the sexy female leads are Geesha, Yolda, Safra, and Mioa. Jo-Jo’s girlfriend list was packed.

From Jo-Jo #7A,* 1946:

*There were two issues numbered “7”, so for purposes of keeping track, one is #7A, the other #7B. This story is from #7A. The Grand Comics Database says, “There are two #7s. Numbering is corrected with #14, skipping #13.” Skip #13? Was someone at Fox Features superstitious?

Come back tomorrow for the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Awards. 

Number 2576: The comic artist who became the fine artist

A few months ago I showed a story by artist Everett Raymond Kintsler. It was a romance comic, like today’s posting. Far back in my past (50 years ago...yikes) I saw a couple of Kintsler comic book stories and thought his work didn't belong in comic books. My prejudices at the time were that comic book stories should look more like comic books than illustration. My complaint was that Kinstler’s art style looked more like those illustrations in slick magazines. Comic books just seemed like a whole other place, and purpose, than the illustrative work Kinstler did. I have changed my mind over those years, and now see his work as being solid story telling, but drawn with lines that were in vogue during the time of James Montgomery Flagg. Kinstler said more than once that Flagg was his inspiration, so an acolyte of Flagg ended up drawing comic books. Kinstler never disavowed his years in the comics, and I am sure they helped him learn how to draw just about everything needed in comics, which was also useful in his later art career.

Kinstler left comics and went into fine art. I admire that. He went on to do some great work. He died in 2019, age 92.

From Realistic Romance #8 (1952):

Number 2575: “...and a parrot called Snoopy”

Twilight was a short-lived character, and as a guess perhaps Twilight failed because of his costume. Furry and brown. It’s unusual, but also not colorful enough for super hero fans of the era.

How many characters of the early war years were in the armed services, and when the enemy struck the home front, dropped their uniforms for a (usually) colorful, masked character? Twilight, in that way, is not very original, but his parrot, named “Snoopy,” is colorful, at least.

Artist John Cassone did his usual superb job on the drawing. From Clue Comics #3 (1943).