Number 1606: Chas. M. Quinlan — Green skull, Red Robe, Blue Beetle

Chas. M. Quinlan, who drew this episode of Blue Beetle, was one of the older artists who began work in comics during the early days of the industry. He had a son, Charles Quinlan, Jr. According to some information Quinlan, Jr, while in high school, helped his father by writing scripts for him. A reference to his father in Quinlan Jr's 2011 obituary claims Quinlan Sr at one time was a rodeo star.

These are just tantalizing bits of information about the elder Quinlan, who left a body of work in comic books, but about whom very little seems to be known. If any family members read this I hope they will supply some information.

Quinlan’s distinctive action-packed art style shows in this otherwise typical WWII Nazi saboteur story from Blue Beetle #14 (1942).

Number 1605: Cave Girl and the Amazons

Cave Girl, as recounted in Don Markstein’s Toonopedia, had an interesting origin. She and her parents were in a part of the African jungle they shared with neanderthal men and prehistoric creatures. Cave Girl’s name was Carol, and grew up without her parents, who were killed. At some point the prehistoric setting was dropped for more standard blonde jungle goddess types of stories, much like many of the other comic book jungle women. She had her own comic and appeared as a backup in Thun'da, King of the Congo as well, so as they say in showbiz, her character “had legs.” Literally. Artist Bob Powell, who could draw pulchritudinous females as well as anything else, did a good job on Cave Girl. But while physically attractive, story-wise she wasn’t particularly distinguishable from all of the other beautiful women who swung through trees.

In this tale, from Cave Girl #13 (1954), she mixes it up with some Amazons who are beating up on the local native tribesmen. We’ve seen this all before, but I don’t care. I have kind of a thing for jungle stories and jungle girls.

Number 1604: Flapping Head

“The Flapping Head” is a not untypical tale from Forbidden Worlds, but it has the distinction of being drawn by Al Williamson.

Williamson was known for his collaborators on a job, nicknamed the Fleagle Gang by Harvey Kurtzman: Angelo Torres, Roy Krenkel, Frank Frazetta, among others, but for this story the Grand Comics Database credits Williamson for pencils and artists Larry Woromay and King Ward for the inking.

This story has been reprinted several times in the past few decades, solely because of art by Williamson.

From Forbidden Worlds #6 (1952):

Number 1603: Heap big origin

“It walked in the woods. It was never born. It existed. Under the pine needles the fires burn, deep and smokeless in the mould. In heat and in darkness and decay there is growth. There is life and there is growth. It grew, but it is life and there is growth. It grew, but it was not alive. It walked unbreathing through the woods, and thought and saw and was hideous and strong, and it was not born and it did not live. It grew and lived about without living.”  Theodore Sturgeon, “It”

The classic story by Sturgeon, published in 1940 in John Campbell’s Unknown, has had an influence far past its initial publication.The novelette was hailed by readers as a classic. As far as I can tell the first “It” copycat was the Heap, who was a German flier of World War I. He died and then was resurrected during the next war as the shambling creature called Heap.

This is the origin of the Heap, told in Air Fighters Comics #3 (1942). The Heap was created by Harry Stein and artist Mort Leav, and probably wasn’t conceived as a permanent addition to the title. After appearing a few times, in 1946 the Heap found his way as a permanent back-up feature (sometimes featured on the cover) until Hillman closed out its comic book line in 1953.

The swamp creatures have come and gone in comics. They are always popular. Heap was, also, I believe, or he wouldn’t have been wandering about in different areas of the world for those years. But to the best of my knowledge all of those swamp creatures go back to Theodore Sturgeon’s incredible original story.

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 ...AND AS A BONUS FEATURE TODAY, HOME BUYING TIPS FROM PANIC AND JACK DAVIS

Today my son and his wife take possession and move into their new home in Western Pennsylvania. Mrs Pappy and I have their children staying with us, which is how we help the process. After all,we live 1600 miles apart (and it is a good excuse for me not to do any furniture moving and heavy lifting).

The last issue of EC Comics’ Panic (1955) featured this funny and well-drawn satire, “House Hunting.” The thing about the best satire is that it never gets too far from reality, just basically pointing out absurdities in any situation, such as looking for a house.