Number 1908: Blackhawk, Red Laura, Nazis...and ratty Scavengers

This very early Blackhawk story looks a lot like Will Eisner’s work, but is signed by Chuck Cuidera. Eisner is credited with creating the feature, and Cuidera drew the origin in Military Comics #1. In this story, from Military Comics #5 (1941), the resemblance of Blackhawk, shirtless and tied to a whipping post, and the Spirit in many stories penciled by Eisner, is striking.

It also has some other Eisner hallmarks, including grotesque villains (the rat-like Scavengers) and a beautiful bad girl, Red Laura. Cuidera handled the feature until he entered military service, then returned after the war to become Quality Comics’ art director, and among other assignments, inker of Blackhawk. He went with his penciler, Dick Dillin, to DC, when Quality publisher Everett “Busy” Arnold sold his entire line to his former competition. Blackhawk continued on until 1968 with the Dillin and Cuidera team.

I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t point out Chop Chop. In this story he’s almost as ugly as the Scavengers. Cuidera was with Blackhawk long enough that later the depictions of Chop Chop became human. He was even a member of the team, not just a cartoon buffoon. But this early entry in the Blackhawk saga has Chop Chop in his full-on racist version. It was the times, folks...and we show 'em as they were.

In 2013 I showed the last Blackhawk story published by Quality, followed by the first story done by DC. You can see them by clicking on the thumbnail.

Number 1907: Agent of the Border Patrol

When I think of the U.S. Border Patrol I think of uniformed officers stopping people at the border and checking for contraband. According to Wikipedia the agency called the United States Border Patrol was founded in 1924, far too late for the tale I am showing today. “The Wandering Killer” is a story of an undercover agent of the BP, investigating some mysterious killings. Referring again to Wikipedia, as early as 1904 there was an organization of mounted guards, working for the U.S. Immigration Service, but they never numbered more than about 75, and as the article states, they only went to work when resources permitted. You could fit this story somewhere in that time frame, but for now I’ll just consider this posting from Border Patrol #3 (1951) an exaggeration using artistic license; it is anachronistic to call John Brand a member of the Border Patrol. But then, the story is actually a tale of Indian slaves, sinister Mexicans, and the hunt for buried gold.

The handsome drawings are by Harry Anderson.

Number 1906: Yankee Longago and gods in a slump

In a young man’s concussion fantasy the gods are not doing well: Vulcan has lost his job, Apollo is likewise unemployed. Mercury, who used to be the fastest mailman, has slowed considerably, and Venus, goddess of love, has lost her sex mojo. Even that old hedonist Bacchus, usually high on drink and partying, has gone dry. The only god who is still active is Mars, the god of war, here in the person of Hitler.

No wonder, this Yankee Longago story from Boy Comics #10, was published in 1943, when World War II was raging across Europe and the Pacific. So Yankee Longago, using his Yankee ingenuity, has an idea: get Vulcan to work drawing a superhero comic book (Ungodly Comics(!!!)), and it begins a series of events to change everyone's fortunes.

Dick Briefer drew this entertaining story. He even takes a gentle poke at Superman, by having Mercury put on a costume and cape, and “invent airmail.”

As you read this I am far away from my desk, visiting relatives for a week. I will be spotty at attending to the blog, so if you write a comment and I don't have time to write response don’t feel cheated.

From 2008, the first Yankee Longago story I showed. Just click on the thumbnail..

Number 1905: Bride of the swamp

Maranee Landau, who is the daughter of artist Ken Landau, contacted me a couple of months ago. Ms Landau is writing a book about her father, and would welcome any information about him anyone out there has. If you contact me via my e-mail, ParsLPost1097@aol.com, I will be happy to pass it along to her.

She informed me that Kenneth Landau died in 2012 at age 86. Landau went into animation after his comic book career. What we are concerned with here is the fine work he did in comic books, including some of my favorite stories from horror comics like Forbidden Worlds and the other supernatural comics published by ACG in the early '50s. I love the moody atmosphere of this swamp-saga of a young woman with a condition: she turns into an alligator. I would suggest Jergens Lotion for the rough skin, but undoubtedly it would not be enough.

This is from Forbidden Worlds #33 (1954):

Number 1904: Black Cat’s “skunk hunt”

Three Nazi saboteurs disguise themselves as American GIs in order to kidnap some Hollywood stars and ruin the soldiers’ morale. Eh? That seems like a plan that is bound to fail, and it does (sorry for telling). Movie star Linda Turner is actually Black Cat, and when it comes to kicking Axis ass she is nonpareil.

According to the splash panel, this was “written, drawn and directed” by Al Gabriele, an artist from the Simon and Kirby school of superheroics. Not much is known about Gabriele, but he did artwork in the comics up until 1949, at least. He has a link to the Black Cat. He drew her first story in Pocket Comics #1 (1941).

This story is from Speed Comics #29 (1943).

Black Cat surrendered her title to a horror anthology, and this is her last story under her own title. Just click on the thumbnail.