Number 1762: The sewer Spirit

The Spirit #1 (1944), is a collection of Sunday newspaper stories published during the time creator Will Eisner was at war. Occasionally Eisner found time to help out. This story, called “Yellow-Eyes Janus” by the Grand Comics Database, and “Manhunt” on the inside cover of the actual issue, is credited to Eisner and Lou Fine, with the writing by Eisner. Some of Eisner’s ghosts were better at his style than others, but there is a lot going on in this episode that tells us he worked on it. The scenes in the sewer are vintage Eisner.

The story originally appeared May 2, 1943.

A six-week Spirit daily newspaper story, from the Real Free Press Daily Spirit. Just click on the thumbnail.

Number 1761: Wallace Wood: Vengeance of the Armored Arm!

I picked up Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery whenever it featured one of my favorite artists. Wallace Wood is someone whose work I have always collected. This story, from issue #9, 1965, is a one of my favorites from that period. I thought Woody had fun with medieval themes. The Grand Comics Database credits him with both pencils and inks. Experience tells us one or more of Wood’s assistants helped him.

In my opinion, this was one of Wood’s finest jobs for EC, the 3-D version of his Mad story, “V-Vampires!” The original art, yet! Just click on the thumbnail.

Number 1760: Joe Spook, two and out

Joe Spook is really an American named Joe Devaney, hired to “Americanize” young king Nickie, in a very short-lived series: two issues of Fox’s The Eagle. Both stories were done by different artists, the second episode inferior to the one I’m showing today. I like the artwork by the unidentified artist. I think the panels of Joe as a ghost are nicely done. But the giant hand, and the bulbous and bald, spectral figure calling Joe into the afterlife...is it supposed to be God?

A howler in this story is the Nazis trying to get the king to sign an abdication, rather than attempt to take over his tiny kingdom by force. These would be the same Nazis who, in real life, took over much of Europe by overwhelming military force or threats of same.

From The Eagle #3 (1941):

Number 1759: Walt Kelly’s Goblin Glen

Hmph. Preparing the scans for this wonderful tale by Walt Kelly, a thought occurred to me. When I bought my copy of this comic back in the early '70s I did not realize that over 40 years hence I would be looking at a caricature of myself .

Enjoy it, anyway! It is from Fairy Tale Parade, Dell Four Color #114 (1946).

Another great artist who worked on Fairy Tale Parade has been called “THE Great Unknown”. This is a fine version of “The Sorceror’s Apprentice” from the same issue of Fairy Tale Parade as the Kelly story. Just click on the thumbnail.

Number 1758: Captain Daring is run aground by beauty

It is appropriate that Reed Crandall’s inspiration for Captain Daring should have been movie star Erroll Flynn. Flynn had a reputation as quite a swordsman...in more ways than one, heh-heh.

Captain Daring has an eye for a lovely lass like Quilla, the sexy savage of this tale. Even Lady Dolores, who is his lady love, is jealous of such beauty. Especially when Captain D. piles it on with comments like, "I find it hard to believe such beauties dwell in jungle huts!” In the last panel Dolores makes sure that Captain Daring knows she is available when she tells him, “And you know what welcome awaits your return!” Flog me if that isn’t an invitation to tussle with the lady’s bustle.

From Buccaneers #21 (1950):

Buccaneers had only an eight issue run. Here is the first Captain Daring story from Buccaneers #19, and the last from #27. Just click on the thumbnails, buckos.