Number 1521: Big wheels

Fans of both Airboy Comics and Blackhawk might have been surprised to see two similar contraptions on the covers of each, close together. Blackhawk was out first, cover-dated September 1952, while Airboy Comics followed shortly in an issue dated December 1952.

Blackhawk cover by Reed Crandall

So...is the Airboy wheel a retread? (Yuk, yuk.)

From Airboy Comics Volume 9 Number 11 (1952). Art by Ernest Schroeder.

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Number 1478: Reed Crandall keeps his feet on the ground

Classics Illustrated #167A was a special issue called Prehistoric World, published in 1962. Because the information in the issue is over 50 years old I would not rely on it for accuracy. Science marches on and new things are discovered all the time, but this is probably up-to-date as to what people thought of early people back in those days.

Reed Crandall did the artwork for this nine-page segment of the special (he did other pages, also, but they are interspersed with the work of other artists throughout the book). The Grand Comics Database credits George Evans with the inking. With tall panels in two tiers on the pages Crandall was able to do more full-figure drawing. Crandall’s figures had weight, and their feet were firmly planted on the ground. This is a good example of that. I have said once before I thought that later in his career Crandall’s figure drawing got a bit stiff, but when you see those figures there’s no doubt you’re looking at a Reed Crandall drawing.

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Number 1426: Firebrand and the Brick Batman

It appears that the Firebrand, who appeared on the covers of the first four issues of Quality’s Police Comics, was intended to be the star of the comic. The feature was drawn by Reed Crandall, in a style obviously inspired by Lou Fine. Crandall’s figures stiffened up in his later years, looking something like statuary rather than the fluid, action-packed poses of the Firebrand. The Firebrand’s costume looks like something between a circus performer and ballet dancer, and maybe it's the see-through tunic, or a panel on page nine of Firebrand running — which looks like Nureyev leaping — that make me think that way,

711, who is a prison trusty, apparently has his own in-and-out door, unbeknownst to the warden (who seems a little too palsy-walsy with him). It’s drawn by comics veteran George Brenner. The story features a character in a Batman cowl. I don’t know how else to describe it. It reminds me of the “bad Batman” story we showed a few months ago, which you can go to by clicking on the thumbnail:

This issue, Police Comics #5 (1941) is the first issue with Plastic Man on the cover, and he kept that spot for the rest of his time in Police.

Wednesday, two more stories from 1941, this time from Fawcett.

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Number 1313: Twenty-three Squidoo

Blackhawk battles the pirate Captain Squidd in this well-drawn tale from Modern Comics #74 (1948). Art is by Reed Crandall, and according to the Grand Comics Database, the inking is supplied by Chuck Cuidera.

The story answers a question about the Blackhawks — boxers or briefs? We see in the panels of them lounging on the beach and swimming in the waters surrounding Blackhawk Island that to a man, Blackhawks wear boxers. Make a note of that in case it comes up sometime as a trivia question.

I’m also including a funny Torchy story by Bill Ward from the same issue. It’s got less glamor than the usual Torchy story; even though she’s hoofing in the hills on her stiletto heels we don’t get any lingerie  or negligee panels (unless shots of stocking tops count). Instead we have a hillbilly setting to provide some comedy.

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