Number 2550: Wildcat murder masquerade

At first look I thought the art for this Wildcat story was by Joe Kubert. A closer look told me it was either not Kubert or someone inking over his pencils. The Grand Comics Database credits the artwork to Gil Kane, and it appears to be at least inspired by Kubert’s style.

Both Gil Kane and Kubert started work in the comics business early on when in their teens. They did the typical flunky work at first, erasing, drawing panel borders, etc. They both went to art school, and before long were drawing and inking. Kane had a reputation as an action artist, which is how I have always thought of him. The Green Lantern and Atom revivals in the early '60s are where I first saw his work. His style was perfect for superhero work, although he did the jobs he was assigned, no matter the subject.

Wildcat is a DC character whose Golden Age career spanned the first 90 issues of Sensation Comics. Not a bad run, but Wildcat, like a lot of other secondary characters, never got a star spot in those years. According to Don Markstein’s Toonopedia (one of my go-to references for many super characters of that era) Wildcat was a boxer who inadvertently killed an opponent, and was on the hitlist of the gangsters who put a poisoned needle in his boxing glove. Markstein writes: “Wildcat was the creation of writer Bill Finger and artist Irwin Hasen. Finger (rhymes with ‘zinger’, not ‘linger.’)” See what you and I both learn? I have seen Bill Finger’s name for years, but the pronunciation is a surprise to me.

Wildcat in “Murder Masquerade” is from Sensation Comics #77 (1948).

Number 1646: Wonder Woman’s hot feet

Wonder Woman stories written by her creator, Charles Moulton (William Moulton Marston), seldom disappoint. They have elements that elevate the character above the run-of-the-mill super-doer. This delightfully oddball tale is set in Mexico with a beautiful eight-foot-tall señorita, bandits with bandoleros, Wonder Woman’s invisible plane, chains, bondage, and even Wonder Woman in bare feet walking over hot coals. Wow.

This Mexican melange is drawn by H.G. Peter, and is scanned from Sensation Comics #45 (1945).

More wonderful wacky Wonder Woman. Click on the thumbnail.

The New Yorker for September 22, 2014, had a fascinating article by Jill Lepore on the character and Marston. Click on the thumbnail.

Number 1558: “What in ding-dong goes on here?” Wonder Woman’s costume ruse

I love the crazy, kinky and cool Wonder Woman tales by the original crazy-kinky-cool crew who created her. They would be William Moulton Marston, writing as Charles Moulton, and Harry G. Peter, signing his artwork as H. G. Peter.

Here is a story of switched identities, an exotic spy, and tying up girls. It would hardly be a Wonder Woman story worth reading if it didn’t include the latter.


From Sensation Comics #40 (1945).

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Here are two more Wonder Woman stories, including the last issue H. G. Peter drew, and a Wonder Woman story unpublished until it appeared in The Amazing World of DC Comics #2 in 1974. Just click on the thumbnails.

Number 733


Brain Pirates From The Inner Moon-World!


This is one of those Wonder Woman stories I love so well. It's so goofy it's indescribable, so you'll just have to read it. It's from Sensation Comics #82, 1948.

H.G. Peter was 60 years old when he began drawing Wonder Woman in 1942. He went on until he retired in the mid-'50s. His work, although not traditional comic art, was so distinctive and lively it is in a category of its own. I wonder how his mind worked, and if he smirked when he drew the subliminal sex, panel 3 of page 7.

I think the title of this story would make a good name for a rock band.