Team-Up Tuesdays: Sentinels VS Society

Charlton had an inordinate number of "street-level" superheroes, i.e. non-powered costumed crusaders. The only ones that had demonstrative superhuman attributes during the silver age "Action-Heroes" era was Captain Atom and Nightshade. Nevertheless, these individuals harkened back to the 1940's Justice Society of America, which also had several "normal" members amongst their ranks. How would these twin teams compare in a head-to-head matchup? Let's see:

• Sandman vs Peacemaker - Two helmeted heroes with non-lethal guns designed to immobilize their foes. Armed with tremendous wealth, inventive minds and true tenacity. Howeve, Peacemaker had more technology on his side. Advantage: Peacemaker.
• Doctor Mid-Nite vs Blue Beetle - Each man wore special goggles, devised special guns (Doc's cryotuber and Blue's bb-gun), distorted vision (Doc's blackout bombs and Blue's flare gun), and had "fauna" for sidekicks (Doc's Hooty the Owl and Blue's Bug). Both athletic and inventive, the Bug vehicle tips the balance devisely here. Advantage: Blue Beetle.
• Starman vs Captain Atom - Energy-weilding avengers, harnessing cosmic radiation unabling them to manipulate fundamental forces. In a matchup, both would fare well in battle, however Starman depends on his Cosmic Rod to empower him while the Captain possessed his superpowers due to his accidental origin. Advantage: Captain Atom.

• The Atom vs the Question - Fierce fist-fighters, charging into battle unreservedly showing the depth of their courage and conviction. Question can talk a mean blue-streak on philosophy and so forth, however when atomically powered the Atom's superstrength and "atomic punch" makes him hard to beat in this head-to-head. Advantage: The Atom.
• Mister Terrific vs Peter Cannon...Thunderbolt - The Man of 1000 Talents versus another man of 1000 Talents. Physical, psychological, tactical, intellectual... these gamely clad crusaders would have the most epic of confrontations. Advantage: Toss Up.
• Wildcat vs Judomaster - The heavy weight champion of the world and the judo master of the world. Fists and feets a-flying. Random rage against methodic might. If this thing went more than a couple rounds, and it would... Advantage: Wildcat.
• Black Canary vs Nightshade (neither shown) - The fine fighting femmes are skilled in multiple disciplines in the martial arts. Each came equipped with various gadgets as well. However, Nightshade is able to phase into shadows. Advantage: Black Canary.

Amazingly Agile Americans Attain Asian Abilities

Even within a comic publisher, often creators will conceive characters with similar attributes to function within the same fictional universe. Sometimes with startling results... assuming they are able to interact to any measurable degree.

Sadly, while Judomaster and Thunderbolt were appearing in their own self-titled comics under the Charlton banner of the late 1960s, ne'er twain the two did meet! Perhaps there was a reason.

While each was distinct in specific ways, each spawned from the minds of equally gifted artist writers, they had some fundamental similarities:

• Americans trained in the proficency of an Asian artist style of self-defense
• Champions developed by seasoned masters to combat insidious international threats
• Positive mind-sets propel their physical abilities to their peak efficiency
• Spunky sidekicks assisted these masters in both their self-training and their adventures

Were they to have met in am epic duel, what may have transpired?

Undoubtedly, Peter Cannon's superior mental disciplines coupled with his muscular conditioning would more than match that of Rip Jagger, if for no other reason than the special scroll that Thunderbolt had access to as well as decades of training from childhood onward, as opposed to Judomaster who was trained as an adult. Still, after the requisite superhero smackdown ala Marvel Comics style, the two heroes would then team-up to protect the world from any threats that may endanger their precious Earth-Four!

Escelsior!

Action-Heroes in a Parallel Universe

What may have been in a parallel universe, had DC Comics published the Action-Heroes in the mid to late 1960s rather than Charlton.

When you get down to it, some stark realities reveal themselves through this exercise:

• All of these characters except one (Adam Strange) were principally defined by the teams they joined.
• Two had their own self-titled comics (Atom and Karate Kid...although Strange had a mini-series later).
• All were all zapped by energies (Thunderbolt/solar/Zeta/White Dwarf/chronological) which sent them to unexpected locales throughout the multiverse. 
• All of them were B-level characters that shined most when they were underestimated by those around them.

And all of them are near spitting images of their brethren over at Derby, if form if not always in substance.

Crossover Month: Thunderbolts Squared

Two more different individuals you could not find than Johnny Thunder and Peter Cannon. Peter is Mr. "I can do it. I must do it. I will do it!" while Johnny is Mr. "Say You". One had his powerful Thunderbolt handed to him with relative ease, the other dedicated his life from youth onward to become Thunderbolt. John has tremendous power but not the wisdom to use it appropriately, Pete is able to accomplish seeming miracles though a mortal man.

Imagine the power of Johnny's Thunderbolt controlled by Peter Cannon! It staggers the imagination, although it would probably not make for a good comics series.

Fawcett Fridays: Red-and-Blue Heroes True

Pair up these paragons of power and you have a truly dynamic duo. Jack Weston was a career soldier enlisted to be a one-man-army in his Minute-Man clad splashed in blue, red and white. With no origin nor explanation for being at peak physical condition and seemingly doing the impossible. He simply accomplishes various feats with one-part daring-do, one-part foolhardy bravado unmatched even by some more famous non-powered golden agers. Minute-Man was the standard bearer for the costumed crusader supreme and eventually teamed up with fellow heroes to honor the Marvel Family... and find himself frozen in time for decades then decide to retire and become a restaurant owner to wile away his days until boredom brought him back as an unmasked man once more.

There was a definite explanation for Peter Cannon's Thunderbolt identity, raised in remote Tibet a student to ancient disciplines leading him to a "can do it...must do it...will do it" mentality which allowed him to achieve feats unimagined by others, save perhaps for Mr. Weston over on Earth-S. Reluctantly protecting his own Earth-Four, Peter rarely mixed with his fellow superheroes until a Crisis graced the skies of his world.

Neither hero garnered the long-term reputation nor mainstream appeal of their contemporaries, yet each earned the respect of friends and foes alike during their brief yet memorable careers. And proved that wearing loud clothes does not diminish your street rep.

John Raymond the Web similarly made the most of no abilities on Earth-MLJ, while a non-powered Joe Higgins as the Shield preferred a similar colorful plumage to Minute-Man's and seemed to be capable of righting wrongs with or without his superpowers during World War II.

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In 1954, aspiring comic book publisher Charlton purchased the rights to several prominent characters from the expiring Fawcett Comics, such as Ibis, Golden Arrow and Lance O'Casey. In 1980 and 1985, DC Comics purchase Fawcett's Marvel Family then Charlton's Action Heroes, and the two were linked once more, now on parallel Earths, Four and Shazam.Now the MLJ has been added to their stable of characters, we examine the parallels in this series.

Battling Blondes: Round 6 - Int'l Intrigue!

Once more we return to that tried and true well of battling blondes, Peter Cannon aka Thunderbolt and John Raymond Jr aka the Web, for one more round of our stylish superheroes of the sizzling sixties. This time, each faces an international threat and gangs that are low-tech. So let's inspect this tale we're about to dissect!

For the Web, we advance to the eighties for his first (sorta) solo tale of that era, backed up half way through by his just then revealed brother-in-law, the Jaguar. This story is from Blue Ribbon Comics #14, a MLJ / Mighty Comic's  Red Circle's anthology title as its swan song. Now under the doomed Archie Adventure Series banner.

And in a major case of deja vu (say isn't that an Eastern thing?), and we don't mean the repeated head shots and lightning bolts on the cover, Thunderbolt goes back to the Himalayas for issue 58th issue. And like the 54th issue, he faces an assortment of dinosaurs on the cover. For this go around, he's saving someone other than Tabu, and could it be the love bug might finally bit our hero? Nah.

What an awesome intro that shows a quiet confidence that was quite lacking during Web's silver age run. In an interesting twist, no doubt to differentiate himself from his legendary father, John Jr. is no longer a criminology instructor but now changed careers to become a superhero CSI! He and Barry Allen could've had a rip roaring CSI-DC, couldn't they? Forensics would never be the same!

Meanwhile, Thunderbolt harkened back to his fictional roots way back in the 1940's, wherein his creator Pete Morisi attempted to replicate the nostalgia of the golden age Daredevil aka Bart Hill. Both were raised in foreign societies, acquire  great physical prowess, have similar fashion sense and have a long emnity with foes from the East, for double D it was the Claw... for T-Bolt it was the Hidden One. In this very issue we see the rivalry reignited.

In the opening scenes of his adventure, Web tracks down aspiring athlete Washington Hayes, who has turned to the wrong side of crime. This of course is a prelude to Web's battle with a South African terrorist for hire, the Freelancer, complete with a full scale battle suit and a plan to extort millions by sending a ferry boat into Staten Island using it as a moving bomb! This decades before 911! Very odd!

In what seems to be a regular ritual over at the Cannon-Tabu household, our dynamic duo are once more engaged in a no holds barred smack down to see who dominates once more! And yet again, Tabu ends up doubled over for all his futile efforts at camaraderie. And for once, Pete is already involved in tracking down a missing girl lost near his homeland! Tabu is getting slow in his old age. Or rather, he's slowly becoming less a character and more of a tired plot point.

After this confrontation with a common criminal, John sheds his costumed persona and reveals the creampuff underneath! Berated by his supervisor in the coroners office (Quincy was always a bit cranky before his morning coffee), we learn the young man Web cornered the night before was found dead... victim to a mysterious shadowy man who also stalked the zoo where Jaguar's civilian identity Ralph Hardy was employed at the riles the animals.

Now assuming his colorful garbs, Thunderbolt tracks the missing girl Lori Carson to a secluded fortress ran by the Hidden One (guess if you were a mayor named Hidden One, you'd pick an out of the way town) where she's merely bait for the mastermind to lure his limber rival into a series of death traps. Which he, of course, manages to circumvent with his fists and his feats of flying fanciful footwork. He always did make it look effortless, sorta like a 60's Jason Borne without all the angst and armaments, you know?

Battling Blondes Rating

1.) Story Drama: Regrettably, Blue Ribbon #14 was the last issue, but not due to the content in this or most past issues, at it was a remarkably strong run for a minor publisher in the superhero genre during this period of time. And this particular story focused on a gripping dilemma wherein our heroes Web and Jaguar face an implacable foe that tests their limits. For Thunderbolt, it seems a tad broiler plated from issue #54 of his title. No contest Web wins!

2.) Imaginative Use of Abilities: While Thunderbolt operates with his usual athlete flair of mid-air somersaults and seemingly endless stamina, it is the Web who seems to exert an unnatural ability, as in sticking to walls while merely holding a line while forming complete thoughts without a pant of breath! You go boy!

3.) Adversary: The Hooded One is once more implementing his machinations through agents, deception and some of his knowledge derived from the scrolls which Cannon ultimately obtained. Why does he complain so much he practically memorized the whole things before he had to hand it over to blondie. Anyway, he doesn't have nearly the hardware that Freelancer is equipped with... so he wins this for his arachnid adversary.

4.) Intangibles that Worked: The interpersonal plot points interspersed in the Blue Ribbon story, including Rose reading about her husband's soon-to-be foe's path of destruction in the local newspaper... as subconsciously goading John on to right wrongs. Of course, as is true to form, Rose in the end objects to hubby's involvement in the case (while not carrying one wit about her superpowered brother's well being, nucleon belt notwithstanding). And the conversation between brothers-in-law Ralph and John, wherein they both walk away looking down on each other (John thinks Ralph is a womanizer and Ralph things John is a doormat...yes on both points!) .Not much in T-Bolt #58 that hasn't been recycled from earlier in the series.Once more, make mine Red Circle!

And so the Web has a clear cut victory in this round, and the score is now 2-2-2 with 2 wins for both blondes and 2 ties! Will a seventh battle lead to a knock out? We have one more round to go!

Battling Blondes: Round 5 - Saucy Sidekicks

After several weeks hiatus, we continue with our duel to the definitive defeat of either Peter Cannon...Thunderbolt or the Web aka Professor John Raymond. The score thus far is 2-1-1 with T-bolts two wins to Web's single score and a tied first round. Why do we continue to return to these two? Maybe because they are cool... timeless... rad... awesome! They typify the potential excellence of superhero comics when non super-powered men have the nerve to wear brightly clad plumage and exert their mental superiority!

This time we once more shift gears to the saucy sidekicks of our duo of daring do-gooders, and without a doubt both Tabu and Rose definitely can kick the daring dudes in the side where it counts like nobody's business. As in, they can at times be pains in the butt... but our blonde bombshells will still stand by them in good times and bad. And they know that Rose and Tabu will do the same for them. We see this in today's stories and whether they will prove a help... or a hindrance?

While Tabu seems to have what it takes... he trained in the same mountain fortress by the same masters as Pete... it seemed he never had quite enough for mano y mano with the MAN bolt. And he succumbs to a poison planted by their arch foe, the Hooded One. At times he was more a liability than an asset to our blonde battler!

Rose, however, could easily hold her own against any guy whom she came across, and typically left her man John on his knees scrubbing the floor. Here she trains to one up her costumed husband. And she would soon engage in similar covert activities in a new alias!

Launching into action, Thunderbolt crossed the globe and heads to his native Himalayas to locate the cure to his friend's ailment. He comes upon Mongolian bandits and dinosaurs in a secluded valley in order to save his friend. And save him he does, escaping the death trap laid out by the One who is Hooded. However he would seek revenge later using some automatons to do his bidding!

Assuming the identity of "POW" Girl (this was, after all, the "pow wham bam" era of TV's Batman), Rose quickly ended the threat of the Stunner, after hubby already cleaned up after Mr. Scare and his gang of generic thugs. She later considers continuing her heroic adventures... although this proved short lived, much to the Web's unknowing regret (since he never did learn that his wife aided him that evening in her gaudy get-up)! EEK!

Battling Blondes Rating

1.) Story Drama: Thunderbolt wins this category, since Tabu's life is in jeopardy and he has to race against the clock to save his friend. How he does this given the swiftness of the disease and the distance from North America to Asia... well that is left to your imaginations to reconcile!

2.) Imaginative Use of Abilities: Thunderbolt's will power wins out against the Web, who can't seem to face up to a return bout with his twin adversaries. I mean... if he can't face them then dinosaurs would've been the end of our webbed warrior! GASP!

3.)Adversary: The Stunner had a neat gimmick going for him which really seemed to work in his favor, while the Hooded One basically created a setup of superior numbers to try and take down his foe. He would have better and more creative outings then this, while Stunner's one time appearance cemented his success as a one hit wonder. Web wins this.

4.) Intangibles that Worked: This one is all in the sauciest of sidekicks, Rose, who kicks Stunner into tomorrow and kick starts the Web's affections for his long suffering (or sufferable?) wife. She adds a flair to this strip that would've definitely made it all the more endearing. Alas, she also was a one hit wonder in this alias. Still, she bags this for her boy!

And so, yet another tie performance! Will the Web come from behind? Will Thunderbolt finally triumph? Stay tuned!

Battling Blondes: Round 4 - Facing Fiery Fiends

We have been remiss in revisiting the duel between Peter Cannon, aka Thunderbolt, and John Raymond, aka the Web. So we present for you consideration (and consumption) Round 4. While this could just as easily have been slotted into "Friday Fiends", we'll have a different type of entry in that slot this week. So without further ado, let's get under way...are you READY to RUMBLE? Our blondes  are.

We had previously considered today's adversaries, the Dragon (or Dragon Master) and Inferno, in our last entry Round 3 - Cover Boys, and how each stacked up. Let's consider them more in depth as they go mano-y-mano with our battling blondes.

Interestingly enough, Web's tale begins while accepting an award alongside fellow crime fighter Inferno...from a crook as it turned out! Despite this apparent death trap of a ticking time bomb, what really concerns our masked marvel isn't impending death...but impending nagging from his fairer half Rose. Poor professor... he can never seem to catch a break where she is concerned. As a result, she takes a position at a museum as an assistant, leading to jealous feelings consuming Johnny.

Peter Cannon is the antithesis of John... and he would be the ideal mate for Rose formerly Wayne. Ah if only they had met across dimensional barriers! In any event, while on an international flight, Pete's plane is hijacked by the Dragon Master and his thugs, threatening to nuke their prey if their demands are not made. And to make good his threat, old D.M. turns on his mini blow torch and burns cigar chomping chump... showing all present that he means business. Thankfully Tabu had packed his pals suit.

"Down with culture. Up with barbarism"! "He's one of the town's swingingest playboys". You just can't make this stuff up! Well, Mighty Comics can and did so on a regular basis. Thankfully, Web's possessive nature leads him in the right place and time to confront...his old friend whom he JUST hung out with! Has his life turned topsy-turvy or what? More importantly, how will swingingest playboy Tom Alexander handle that portable blow torch that old "flaming carrot-top" insignia is flashing his way?

Over at Charlton, Thunderbolt is making the rounds in his introductions to this issues prime baddie, that Master of Dragons wearing that babuska hat (is this Chinese dude a fan of Russian styles or what). Watch it Petey, you almost ended up on the business end of that flame thrower like your tubby buddy above! Fancy footwork helps him sidestep a grilling from Mr. Fu-Manchu and quickly he out maneuvers his foe... leading to animosity that will lead to another confrontation a few pages later.

Now Web can impress all three.. his sly wife, his sinister enemy and his swinging rival... at one time. Using the element of surprise he quickly gets the drop on Inferno and soon his criminalist instincts leads him to conclude something ain't right in Smithsonian-town. He no doubt is aware of  Inferno's former criminal past, if not from Inferno's own mouth than from Steel Sterling (when they were paling around the back pages of Mighty Comics together). Still, since when did his former heroic colleague need to rely on a weapon

Returning to his secluded mansion outside New York City, he learns that Dragon Master as ascertained his duel identity and taken his loyal manservant Tabu hostage. Nothing gets Pete's lather up than when his buddy is in trouble, and he quickly tracks down both prey and predator. This leads to a trap set by the Master which he hopes will finally seal the doom of the red-and-blue action-hero. A sealed room transformed into a ready made coffin for the pair. Is this the end? Well, it is the last issue of Thunderbolt's 60's run... his creator the enigmatic writer known at the time only as P.A.M. had since vacated the title. So anything is possible.

Finally the real Inferno reveals himself and aids teh Web to take out his imitator and the generic gun wielding henchman that was all in vogue in the swinging 60's. Eat your heart out, Tom Alexander... this is how REAL men take out the trash. While you're dusting off those crusty old artifacts, our spandex supers are dusting off the criminal element in the city! To bad clueless hag Rose doesn't get the point... she goes ape over hubby varnishing the wood finishing at Raymond Casa. Sigh such is a lost art.

Steely willed resolve isn't just a mantra... it is literally a way of life for Mr Can... Must... Will. Finding a handy battering ram and the strength to swing it relentlessly despite blazing temperatures that would cause a mere mortal or patsy (read: Tabu) to faint in the presence of...Thunderbolt after two pages of indoctrinating us readers with the "can-do" pep talks all teens need to get out of bed in the morning...evacuates himself and his old ally. And not a moment to soon, for Dragon Master is making a hasty getaway!

And so ends yet another adventure of the Wonderful Web. Talk about "caught in a web of your own making", he knew this was going to happen and yet he still has to suck it up. It might help his cause if he changed out of his work clothes and back into his civvies, it no doubt irked dear Rose to see her love drapped in that wacked out garb. And so ends the silver age run of Professor Raymond... he would not return in a fresh adventure until the 1980's. Two decades didn't soften up Rose nor her stance to much.

Once more our Bolt of Thunder sidesteps a dreadful end at the end of his Asian adversaries barrel, and nearly allows gravity to grab hold of himself instead. Thankfully it is Dragon Master's own arrogance at his booby trapped weapon which cause a grisly end to both he and his own generic henchman (again...they were IT back in the day). And so wraps up the last silver age case of Mr. Raymond and not a moment to soon, as on a previous page he mentioned how every day of life as the Thunderbolt was one more day that Pete died a little more. Rest in retirement, pal.

Battling Blondes Rating

1.) Story Drama: Definitely the thrill of international intrigue lends this category in T-Bolt's direction. Still, how can you beat henpecking by a relentless antagonist that is close to the protagonist's heart? This is almost unheard of in comic book fiction and is a niche that Web fills nicely. However, a novelty doesn't replace a terrorist threat manifest in Thunderbolt #60. So Pete gets this one.

2.) Imaginative Use of Abilities: Thunderbolt and Web both used equal portions of physicality although Bolt tops him in the endurance department. Web just wilted under the scorching heat of his desert Rose. This goes to Thunderbolt.

3.)Adversary: As previously mentioned in our last entry, Dragon Master wins this item for Pete due to the scope of his scheme. The faux Inferno is strictly small potatoes in his scheme and in his organizational structure...although he's got a WAY cooler costume than D.M. Of course, he stole it so points for originality go to Dragon.

4.) Intangibles that Worked: We must reflect back to Tabu and Rose...and which intangible actually didn't hinder the hero as much as the other? Tough call... Tabu despite his years of training never seemed quite able to defend himself. The monks that raised him must've wanted their money back. Rose, however, was one tough cookie that rarely cracked under pressure. And she never sweated when facing near death by faux Inferno. So Web gets away with this category...if we skip the ending of Mighty Comics #50.

Thus Round 4 is Thunderbolt's victory by a score of 3-1. We have one or two more rounds to go before we find out who ends up the all time winner. Besides, of course, you their readers!

Hump-Day Humour: Groovy Baby....60's Style!

 

Hump-Day Humour: Nothing to Sneeze At!

Sorry folks, we've gotten a bit behind and haven't had a Battling Blondes round lately. Fear not, for we'll return to the scheduled proceedings here in the next couple of weeks. Until then, if you're late to the game or even if you've been keeping up with the battle royale between Thunderbolt and the Web, here is a link to their previous duels for your enjoyment.

Hump-Day Humour: Web's Wuh-Be-Luv

Friday Fiends: Bestial Bad Boys

Hangman and Thunderbolt battled this weeks pair of diabolic deviants, in Mighty Comics #48 and Peter Cannon--Thunderbolt #52. Two men ruling an isolated outpost imprisoning their fellow man, themselves enslaved by the savage pull of a bestial nature that seeks to overwhelm them.

Things start unassuming enough, as we're introduced to two authoritative men, Eric Gore and Warden Meggs. Each resides in an undesirable location that houses a terrible secret that would terrify all men!

Enter our fearless heroes, Peter Cannon in his civies (with his costume packed away during his sea voyage) and Bob Dickerson in his Hangman alias, himself recently reformed from a brief live of crime.

Gore reveals his secret origin, a transformation from research scientist to madman thanks to a transplanted ape hand. Meanwhile, the Prison Phantom appears  to strike down Hangman!

Pete dawns his costume to combat Gore, himself playing a mad game employing his bestial servants to battle T-Bolt. Prison Phantom does not ask his fellow inmates to rid him of his foe,  dealing with Hangman.

And it looks like he has gained the upper hand, preparing a ghastly execution for the gallows guardian.

Will the apes that swarm over T-Bolt continue to side with their master Gore when he shows how inhuman he is? The prisoners at the penitentary where Hangman is battling for his life are rooting for him to defeat the Phantom!

Having conquered the ape hordes, T-Bolt now much face the mad science of Gore himself! Things look dire! On the other hand, things are looking up for Hangman, who finally removes the metalic helmet of his hairy adversary!

Gore's end game leaves himself exposed to his death trap, with his ape saving T-Bolt! Hangman's trap catches the warden retiring who's split personality created Prison Phantom!



While Eric Gore's doom seemed to be permanent, the Prison Phantom would rise again to bedevil a new Hangman and his allies on a parallel Earth. A tale for another day. As is how they handled nasty head lice...ick.