vaillant Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 That was precisely what I was thinking! (thumbs u An amazing series is the "Corporal Collins" feature on Blue Ribbon Comics, where Charles Biro starts by portraying the character stranded in France, and then he goes on in real time keeping an eye on the war events. Unfortunately they are pretty rare and expensive, but I’d need some stories for my research. And yes, two months before seems to have always been the average time lapse between cover date and newsstand offering of the books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabcom Posted March 7, 2013 Author Share Posted March 7, 2013 This week's musical entry is dedicated to John Denver. It will make sense with my next post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB-Gun Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 I like those Shelly Hawkman covers but any Flash cover is fun too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabcom Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 (thumbs u Those large logo covers are the light to this moth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabcom Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 (edited) Entry #16Issue #10October 1940Rating: 5 Judging by the ad in the comic, this issue was on the newsstands in August 1940. It interesting that the stories foreshadow real world events that was about to happen. U-boats attacks off the cost of Panama, US Empire in far off pacific islands coming under attack. These early Flash stories are still developing the Flash persona as a protectorate of the common man – and children. The Hawkman is more a shadowy figure that is not interested in using his occult skills for the service of the general public like the Flash. His talents are best used for assisting individuals. DC acknowledges these traits even today with the relaunch of the NEW 52! series. Note the John Denver character in this story. The other stories in this issue are also very entertaining to read. Once again, the classic Flash cover is not reflective of what the story is about in this issue. Edited March 15, 2013 by tabcom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaillant Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 August 1940, we were already involved in the war. Yes, that’s why I like so much certain superhero titles (but even non-superhero) from 1939-1942. The stories are often simple, but so much is put into them. I am impressed by Moldoff’s art on the Hawkman. How long are the Hawkman stories in general? I was impressed to see how much stuff Lou Fine was able to put into a single 7-8 page story of Uncle Sam. Thanks for keeping up with this, it’s MUCH appreciated! (thumbs u Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabcom Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 August 1940, we were already involved in the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedFury Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Flash #10 has always been my favorite cover of the run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaillant Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 (edited) Thanks for sourcing this, the Istituto Luce documentary footage, and the istitution per se has been one of the happiest "byproducts" left to us by fascism "efficiency": http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istituto_Luce In 2009 it merged with another society: http://www.cinecitta.com/wp/?page_id=2 and it still produces new documentaries of amazing quality, both in text and content. Edited March 15, 2013 by vaillant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabcom Posted March 23, 2013 Author Share Posted March 23, 2013 (edited) Entry #17Issue #11November 1940Rating: 5 This issue is the last of the cover not being featured in the story. The splash page of the Hawkman story is best paired with the cover of issue #17. Although there isn’t anything noteworthy about them, the stories are enjoyable to read. Judging from the frequency of early Hawkman panels posted, he is easily the most popular character in year one of the title. Edited March 23, 2013 by tabcom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabcom Posted March 23, 2013 Author Share Posted March 23, 2013 Newsreel 08/40September 1940 began the Blitz of London. 300 German bombers leave bases in France for England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabcom Posted March 27, 2013 Author Share Posted March 27, 2013 No Flash Comics Journal entry today. Just a personal note. Today is our son's 5th birthday. So I thought I'd share family pictures. Me, Kara, Elijah, and Thomas II next up . . . Flash Comics #12 (my favorite cover of the early issues) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabcom Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 Entry #18 Issue #12 December 1940 Rating: 5 Although Flash Comics #14 gets the ‘classic cover’ designation, I think this issue is worthy of classic distinction. By the end of 1940, The Flash story has now focused on the looming war in a far off land. Although the name of the countries is imaginary, the content of the story is not lost on the readers. After witnessing the raging war for too long, the Flash proclaims, “This has finally brought home to me how evil war really is – and how everyone should do everything in their power to help stamp it out!!’ With Flash style, coming to the aid of the the Kurtavians, their enemies, the Nuralians, weapons and uniforms are whisked away. Their U-boats disabled. Along with their power stations destroyed – peace is finally won. Following the Flash story is a new strip. Les Watts: Radio Amateur. Where as the Flash is called to duty in war, Les Watts represents the American spirit of innovation and progress in technology. Or as the police officer in the last panel proclaims, ‘. . . real American boys – the kind all boys want to be.’ Having read the twelve installment of Johnny Thunder, I see a strong similarity between his powers and the popular sixties TV show ‘Bewitched’. Much like the comical spell casting of Samantha and her family on the helpless mortals, Johnny can turn ordinary people into animals or make them do things against their will, all for his simple minded whimsical desires. Here is a sample of the the Whip by Homer Fleming. “He keeps coming to the club and making violent love to me! Doctor, I tell you the man’s insane!!” “Well, I’ll admit, Miss Lewis, that he is very erratic. But there is no one in the field of Bio-Chemistry who can equal him. So please humor him a bit or he may have another stroke – Now I must say ‘Good Night’”, says Dr. Ray. I thought I would quote this particular panel from the first installment of “Minute Movies”, by Ed Whelan. Mad Doctor in search of a Bio-Chemical serum that makes young women do whatever he commands them to do, ‘make violent love’. The Hawkman story continues the mythos making hero of the murky underworld themes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabcom Posted April 4, 2013 Author Share Posted April 4, 2013 Entry #19 Issue #12 December 1940 Rating: 5 DC House Ads for this issue: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabcom Posted April 7, 2013 Author Share Posted April 7, 2013 Entry #20 Issue #13 January 1941 Rating: 5 The end of 1940 closes the first chapter of the Flash Comics series. The themes of fighting political bosses, underworld gangsters, and Karloff-like mad scientist are going to be sharing space with the new genre that emerges in 1941 – war. Hints of these new stories are seen in this issue’s Les Watts and Cliff Cornwall stories. The former tracks down a Bela Lugosi type thespian that wants to blow up destroyers while they are being launched in the harbor. The latter is invasion of Snowland (Greenland) by Korova (Japan) and Cliff is sent into action to protect the Monroe Doctrine! Both of these stories are an odd mixture of genres that fun to read. The King Standish stories are also unique. Drawn by Flash Comics #1 artist Harry Lampert and scripted by Fox, they are more about a secret love affair between the King, a quasi-good guy and the Witch, an unrepentant criminal. The King, more interested in frustrating the Witch then being a protectorate of the Law, enjoys seeing the Witch fail in her schemes. He joyfully turns her loose in order to play the game again – rather than turn her over to the Police. The art in the Flash becomes more fluid and expressive in the emotions of the bad guys as they confront the speed of the Flash. The cover art would best been used for the Ione Craig stories back in issue #5 and 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabcom Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 Entry #21 Issue #14 February 1941 Rating: 5 War themes begin to take shape within this issue . . . Another King vs. the Witch match of wits . . . Les Watts . . . Gardner Fox looks to the construction of the Midtown Tunnel, completed on November 15, 1940, for inspiration of this Flash story. Playing on the anxiety of cave-ins during construction of the tunnel, the Flash uncovers two competing mayoral candidates in a battle to win public support for their leadership in the public works project. The Hawkman meets the Mighty Scorio. Scorio’s mystery religion is resurrected with malevolent intentions. The encounter foreshadows the Silver Age Hawkman #7 in “Attack of the Crocodile-Men!” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabcom Posted April 19, 2013 Author Share Posted April 19, 2013 Entry #22 The following comparison shows the similarities between the Hawkman story from Flash Comics #14 with Hawkman #7 that was published over 24 years later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabcom Posted April 27, 2013 Author Share Posted April 27, 2013 New Orleans Carnival Week, February 22, 1941 German Newsreel from February 12, 1941 Partial translation of the scenes. Solemn burial of the Hungarian Foreign Minister Count Czaky in Budapest. Receipt of the outgoing Japanese ambassador Kurosu by the guide. Reichsjugendfuehrer Arthur Axmann take you to a visit of several days in Norway, wreath on the German military cemetery in Oslo. Winter Sports in Oslo. Winter Aid concert in Lucerne Hall in Prague, conducted by Herms Niel. The district of Silesia is divided into the two provinces of Lower and Upper Silesia, Karl Hanke as new Gauleiter of Lower Silesia, the appointment of Fritz Bracht Gauleiter of Upper Silesia. Presentation of certificates of appointment and talk of Reich Minister Rudolf Hess. Request concert donations will be distributed to mothers in the kingdom. Kapitaenleutnant Schepke and his crew are invited to Ruhpolding in Gau Munich-Upper Bavaria. Kapitaenleutnant Schepke speaks in the Berlin Sports Palace on German youth about his experiences as a submarine commander. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabcom Posted April 27, 2013 Author Share Posted April 27, 2013 Entry #23 #15 March 1941 Rating: 5 The Circus is used yet again as the vehicle for this superhero yarn. The Flash clowns around with the bad guys. This is the last we see of the King vs. the Witch match up for a while. The Hawkman meets the Hand. A supernatural spirit conjured up by a jealous brother. Early stories such as this would add to the pathos of the Hawkman’s darker nature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaillant Posted April 27, 2013 Share Posted April 27, 2013 The countryside cover of #14 is very fascinating. It looks also pretty european to me. And Moldoff's art is fantastic – I wasn’t familiar with it as with my little golden age purchases I haven’t ventured in Timely and DC territory – too expensive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...