Number 2462: Black Cat: one tough kitty

No one ever seemed to question why the masked Black Cat showed up when there was a mystery simultaneous with her secret identity, Linda Turner, making a movie. My guess is it was her costume. She wore a cute little outfit as Black Cat (little being the operative word), which kept the eyes of observers on her low-cut top and her legs. She was also good at judo, so she had no superpowers, just fighting skills.

In this story, Rick Horne, who is her boyfriend, can’t put two and two together and realize Linda’s bright red curly short hair is also Black Cat’s hairstyle.

The Black Cat was created for Harvey’s Pocket Comics (which had a short run), then on to Speed Comics. She also showed up in All-New Comics, from which this tale of Japanese saboteurs is taken. Her character was aptly handled by some talented artists, and she kept in print throughout the 1940s. My first ogle...excuse me, I mean look...at Black Cat was in the three 25¢ Giant Size reprint comics from Harvey in 1962 and 1963, in stories drawn by Lee Elias. Al Gabriele, credited for the art by the Grand Comics Database, drew the story I am showing here.

From All-New Comics #9 (1944).

Number 1904: Black Cat’s “skunk hunt”

Three Nazi saboteurs disguise themselves as American GIs in order to kidnap some Hollywood stars and ruin the soldiers’ morale. Eh? That seems like a plan that is bound to fail, and it does (sorry for telling). Movie star Linda Turner is actually Black Cat, and when it comes to kicking Axis ass she is nonpareil.

According to the splash panel, this was “written, drawn and directed” by Al Gabriele, an artist from the Simon and Kirby school of superheroics. Not much is known about Gabriele, but he did artwork in the comics up until 1949, at least. He has a link to the Black Cat. He drew her first story in Pocket Comics #1 (1941).

This story is from Speed Comics #29 (1943).

Black Cat surrendered her title to a horror anthology, and this is her last story under her own title. Just click on the thumbnail.

Number 1391: Kidnapped to the future!

Blonde Phantom, alter ego of mousy secretary Louise Grant, lusts after her boss, Mark. But like many comic book masqueraders, she finds herself in a love triangle with herself. Tsk tsk. My advice to Louise is to tell Mark — don’t keep secrets; they lead to mistrust. (Short lecture over.)

Louise and Mark are kidnapped by a group of future men who put them in a zoo to be studied by the thirtieth century citizens. If Louise had been a guy she would have just used brute force and whupped on the kidnapers. But Blonde Phantom uses her brain to overcome her adversaries...and she does it all in an evening dress and high heels. This entertaining story, from Marvel’s Blonde Phantom #21 (1949) is credited by the Grand Comics Database with art by Al Gabriele and Harry Sahle.

Number 914


Subby nontraditional


I've got some Sub-Mariner stories here that probably aren't what you think of when you think of this classic character.

First we've got a version attributed by the Grand Comics Database to Al Gabriele, from Sub-Mariner #31, 1949. This is a very wacky story, close to the end of Sub-Mariner's 1940s run. Second we have a version by Bob Powell from 1954's Human Torch #36. This could be an inventory story, in case regular Subby artist Bill Everett was late or missed a deadline. As much as I normally like Powell, his visualization of the character seems wrong.

Finally, the Sub-Mariner that isn't. This Tony Mortellaro-drawn story looks like Namor. It's from issue #1 of Adventures Into Mystery, 1956, produced during a period when Sub-Mariner was in limbo. His comic had been canceled, and he was still five years away from being revived in Fantastic Four.

Scans for these stories are provided by Pappy friend-contributors John Kaminsky and Jim Sharpe. Thanks, guys!

Number 680


Scourge of the Nazis! The origin of Miss America


After a long hiatus, Miss America returns to Pappy's, this time with her two-part origin story from Marvel Mystery Comics #'s 49 and 50, from 1943.

Her look was a bit different in her earliest adventures. I like the hood; later on it changed and looked like a beanie perched on her hair.

According to the Grand Comics Database, the origin was written by Otto Binder. Part 1 in Marvel Mystery #49 was drawn by Al Gabriele, and Part 2 by Charles Nicholas.

I've shown some other adventures of Miss America, a very entertaining second banana feature from 1940s Timely Comics. Click on "Miss America" in the link below to see the others. I took the scans from the internet about 2003, on a website devoted to Miss America. I'm glad I saved these because I believe the site is gone. The only thing I did to the scans was enlarge them from 500 pixels to 600 for easier reading.