Number 2324: Enter the Fighting Yank!

The origin of Fighting Yank was published in 1942, the year that America entered the war. Patriotic heroes were popular, so Startling Comics editor, Richard E. Hughes, wrote the origin story, and it was drawn by Jon L. Blummer. The story, which has a supernatural cause for Bruce Carter’s powers as Fighting Yank, is fairly typical for the time; patriotic hero goes after Nazis. The character went on for several years and several artists, including a run by Jerry Robinson and Mort Meskin in the late '40s, before Fighting Yank hung up his cape and hat.

I have been doing some thinking about all of the heroes introduced in the wake of Superman, before official hostilities were declared, and then after the war began. Who bought all of these comic books that continually repeated themes? Despite much criticism, comic books had certainly come into their own, and they enjoyed huge sales. Kids bought comic books, or their parents bought comic books for them. Some of it was the convergence of the comic books with America’s entry into the war. Paper rationing was instituted, so each publisher had a paper allotment. With thousands of troops being drafted the comics sold extremely well in PX's. What I have read is that anything that was printed was sold. Publishers were encouraged to stay in the business because comic books were money in the bank...10¢ at a time. At least until the end of the war, when tastes changed from what had been traditional in comic books. My feeling is that troops were attracted to reading material that even for the less literate servicemen, could be “read” by looking at the pictures.

The comics were good for morale, the war was good for the comics.

The story is from Startling Comics #10 (1942):

Number 2035: Lance Lewis battles Mr Potato Head

Lance Lewis, Space Detective, was born of the Buck Rogers tradition. In this untitled adventure he and his girlfriend, Marna, zip off to Mercury (just like a trip to the corner grocery is the impression given by the old school of science fiction) to track down a force dragging both Venus and Earth into the sun.

That is when Lance and Marna meet the Mercurians, who look a lot like Mr Potato Head. You remember Mr Potato Head, don’t you? He was invented in 1952, but now is much improved from my childhood. My parents bought me the parts, and then Mom handed me a real potato to play with. Oh, what joy...a 'tater rotting in your hand after a couple of days of play time. (Digression over.)

Artist Bob Oksner, who eventually went to work for DC Comics, could draw funny. Adventures of Bob Hope and Adventures of Jerry Lewis — no relation to Lance — stand out for me. It looks like he had fun with the Sun King of the story, making him as silly as possible. It is the mustache that does it for me.

The story is from Startling Comics #47 (1947), and the bondage cover is by Alex Schomburg.

Number 1968: Pyroman lights up the Black Boas

The name Pyroman is close enough to pyromaniac that one might assume Pyroman is a villain who commits arson. But Pyroman, a good guy who fights America’s enemies, is yet another comic book survivor of something that would kill the rest of us. In the origin story wrongly convicted Dick Martin survived being electrocuted in the electric chair. He then became a costumed, super-charged superhero.

Pyroman’s superpower is something I would like to have: being able to zap people with electricity. He is a kind of walking stun gun. Very cool. I wouldn’t use the power indiscriminately, of course (“with great power comes great responsibility” and all that rot), but if you are talking too loud on your cell phone or weaving in and out of traffic, or an annoying politician (in other words, being a jerk), then fear the stunning blasts from the fists of Pyropappy!

In this story, from Nedor’s Startling Comics #20 (1943), Pyroman goes up against saboteurs who look a lot like hooded Ku Klux Klan members, and conveniently identify themselves as Nazis with a big swastika on the front of their robes. Oddly, they call themselves the Black Boas. Those tricky Nazis...just full of surprises.

Grand Comics Database says Ken Battefield did the pencil artwork.

Here is another Pyroman story. Just click on the thumbnail:

Number 1773: Fighting Yank and the young old man

I feel a kinship to Osborne Witherspoon in this story from Startling Comics #45 (1947). Osborne is feeling his age. Me too. There are days when I creak like a rusty gate. I could use a charm to feel younger, like old Witherspoon gets from a Native American.

Fighting Yank, aka Bruce Carter, is guided by an old spirit, the ghost of his ancestor, who fought in the Revolutionary War. Bruce is no stranger to old people.

The artwork and story are unattributed by the Grand Comics Database.