Number 1692: Mooning the Phantom...the Lunar Cult

This adventure of the Phantom, written by Lee Falk and drawn by Wilson McCoy, is taken from scans of an early Indrajal Comic: #6, from 1964. Indrajal was a line of comics, now defunct, published by the Times of India. I have mentioned before that I have never seen an actual Indrajal issue, just what is posted online. So I thank those fans who have made them available.

I believe “The Lunar Cult” is adapted from a story called “The Thuggees,” which appeared in newspapers from August 22, 1949 to February 25, 1950. As Thuggees were an Indian murder cult there was probably some sensitivity toward the original title. There is internal evidence in some speech balloons that something (presumably “Thuggee”) has been whited out and replaced by the world “Lunar.”

The Phantom’s territory was a mix of India and Africa. There is more on that subject in a link below the 16-page story. For more about Thuggee go here.

UPDATE: On February 5 our friend J D LaRue furnished us with information that the story is not from the Thuggee continuity, but instead from “The Crescent Cult,” published as Sunday strips from April 10, 1955 to August 7, 1955. Thanks, J D,  for the information. As J D pointed out, there are many Muslims in India, so the change from Crescent to Lunar was done in response to cultural and religious sensitivies.

As promised, more on the blurring of India and Africa in the Phantom. Just click on the thumbnail. 

Number 1691: Hunt and his “friend”

Hunt Bowman, the appropriately named hero who wields a bow as a weapon against alien invaders, the Voltamen, takes an unexpected flight to Paris for this episode of “The Lost World.” It's drawn by Graham Ingels several years before his time as “Ghastly” at EC Comics. He has a sense of humor...check out the restaurant sign in panel 2 of page 7.

I also got a smile at the description on page 1 of Hunt’s companion, Lyssa, as his friend. A friend in a top with plunging neckline, mini-skirt and spike heels, who stalks the enemy with Hunt.* I assume they are friendly enough to keep each other warm at night.

*Hunt looks kinda kinky, himself.

Cover illustration attributed to Joe Doolin. From Planet Comics #30 (1944):

Here is an extra bit of Ingels for you. After EC folded Graham Ingels, like other comic book artists, was looking for work. Here is a short four-page strip from a 1957 issue of Treasure Chest, a wholesome comic book published for Catholic schoolkids.

Number 1690: The Claw’s family ties untied

Even the supervillain Claw has some family. In this case it is an uncle in Tibet, who has a formula the Claw needs. But the uncle believes the Claw is the disgrace of the family. I would also be ashamed of a grotesquely ugly criminal nephew who can grow to 25 feet tall and tosses henchmen to their deaths for any old reason.

I am amused by the flights to Tibet (quoting the Claw: “I will be back shortly”), which are treated as if that faraway land is no further than a drive to the corner drugstore.

For a time in the forties the Claw, created by Jack Cole, was a supervillain in the Lev Gleason comics. He was on the side of America’s enemies (which accounts for his henchmen hailing him with “Heil, Claw!”) and pursued by a costumed hero called the Ghost. For some reason the mixture of a cartoon style and hideous villain seems to work. Well enough, anyway, that the caption in the splash panel, “This is NOT a true story!” doesn’t strike me as any kind of revelation.

This is from Daredevil #18 (1943), with writing and art attributed by the Grand Comics Database to Charles Biro’s co-editor, Bob Wood.

For another tale of the Ghost and the Claw go back eight years (yow!) to 2007, and this early Pappy's posting, and then to 2011 when the Claw shows up as a WWII training unit emblem!

Number 1689: Black Angel and Baroness Blood

The beauteous Black Angel is back, and so is her adversary, Baroness Blood. These deadly enemies, one British, one German, vie for who can wear the kinkiest costume. I have shown another Black Angel story, also featuring the Baroness. The link below this entry in the sexy saga will take you there.

This story is from Air Fighters Comics #9 (1943). The art is credited to John Cassone.

Dry your sweaty hands, guys, and click on the thumbnail: