Friday Fiends: Foreign Femme Fatales

Our twin masters of materializing, MLJ's minor league hero Bob Phantom and Charlton's major league villain the Ghost, had more in common than teleporting into troublesome situations. Or their flair for capes and cowls.

Both encountered foreign femme fatales that continually plagued their existence and nearly cost them their lives. Matching their mastery of manipulation of men and machines, Phantom and Ghost outsmarted Japan's Ah-Ku and Sunaria's high priestess using a combination of their potent prowess and their persistence patience even in the face of danger.

While the grand advisor of the Sunarian race of warrior women operated behind-the-scenes until the final confrontation between her people's Faceless One (although the Ghost was not, in fact, their legendary leader... he only looked exactly like him for some strange inexplicable reason), Ah-Ku repeatedly quarreled with Bob Phantom over several cases until she was finally defeated by her adversary.

There are a series of tales chronicled elsewhere on the web that preserve this little known fictional fiend for future fans of fabulous fab fighters of freedom. Although, from the picture above, it was Bob Phantom who was the "fiend" in her eyes, much like the Priestess. And, from a certain perspective, that is definitely true as both enigmatic entities were a thorn in the collective sides of our greedy gals and their minions.

Separated at Birth? Faux Phantoms

This pair look spookier than they actually are. While both were named Ghost (the one on the left Ghost Rider), neither actually was such a myth. In reality, Carter Slade setup a nice gig as a crime fighting Ghost Rider dressed in a phosphorescent white costume, clad in a full-face mask, cape and the requisite white hat. Much like MLJ's Black Hood, he started a legacy of several men down through the ages wearing the same costume to continue his legacy at Marvel Comics.

Alec Rios was a poor scientists who stumbled upon teleportation technology, which he incorporated into his only uniform as the Ghost, a criminal who stole to supplement a lavish lifestyle. Unfortunately for him, he ran across Captain Atom and Nightshade, who perpetually defeated him. During one clash, he encountered aliens from another dimension and a legacy that he somehow resembled of their "Faceless One". This mystery was never solved over the years.

Each was modeled, apparently, after the Ghost Rider of the 1949 Magazine Enterprises' Tom Holt, who was kept out of obscurity by a classic look.

Team-Up Tuesdays: The End of an Era

At last...the end of the twin tales of silver age teams Crusaders and Captain Atom-Nightshade from Mighty Crusaders #6 and Charlton Bullseye #1. How will our heroes stack up to their foes...the mystery Maestro with his myriad of traps and the Ghost's Sunurian slave girls? Check it out...

The dynamic duo of Comet and Black Hood on the first page of part 2 illustrate the typical banter between the Crusaders during this period of time. You knew they fundamentally got along on some level... they were all good guys... yet they did not seem to have the comradery of other teams during this era. Trying to emulate the magic of a certain four heroes of fantastic abilities? Try harder. Although the devilish face of the Maestro peeking out from amidst the flames? Classic stuff, folks.

Working as a tandem, the men of the stars and of mysteries out maneuver their malignant musician, circumventing his seemingly clever death trap. Forget the flames... it is the Comet's own fashion sense that may be the death of them both. Why he traded out of his classic blue and red costume for this garish arrangement of colors is a mystery even Black Hood can't seem to decipher. At least he has the Tony Stark 'stache going for him allowing his to exude a suave demeanor.

"Whatever cluck writer writes your material... Maestro, has my deepest sympathies". Um, that would be Jerry Siegel. Better be careful, Comet, a certain big "S" boy scout might fly over to your dimension and bench press you for slamming his creator! I mean... that's the co-grandfather of ALL superheroes that you are slamming with that reference (oh wait, it was gramps who wrote that hambone line!). At least the gang is all together for the roundup on swinging steeds, gitty up pardners!

What... mechanical horses? That's been done to death! Me thinks the winner would be Black Hood, from whom this idea was stolen. I mean... it's the same design as the original Nightmare... didn't Hoody take out a patten on his design? And now Maestro's true intentions are revealed! What, exactly, does T.R.I.U.M.P.H. stand for? And how'd Nick Fury get a receding hair line? By not taking his Infinity Formula... that is a Marvel trademark dontcha know?

At least T.RI.U.M.P.H. provides their meta agents cooler gadgets than had S.H.I.E.L.D. Now the Crusader's resident red-white-and-blue boy has his own portable projectile. A round shield made of Adamantium? Forget about it! He's got his shooting stars. TAKE THAT, CAP!  Why'd they skimp on the rest of the gang, aren't they deserving of a few nicknacks themselves? Wonder what killer do they'd give Ms. Brand that would make her a more FLY girl, no what I mean peeps?

Meanwhile over at Earth-Four also known as Charlton, the battle is at a more fevered pitch than at Earth-MLJ. Nightshade FINALLY has something to do in this plot, as she aids the Priestess at sabotaging the Sunurian defenses and allow Shade's boyfriend, Captain Atom to flex his muscles. At which point the Ghost pulls his famed disappearing act. And so ends the alien Amazon race with the faceless fetish. Ta ta gals, she you in comic limbo. Kinda like the rest of Charlton line?

Escaping Sunuria before it (apparently) self destructs, our heroes return to their native planet. And *finally* after several years of partnership, Nightshade's secret power is revealed to her partner. Why did she keep this a secret from Captain Atom? This was never explained, nor who the true "Forgotten One' was that Sunurians idolized. It wasn't the Ghost. But, hey, it wrapped up a dangling plot thread left hanging for several years! Next up, some lesser known team-ups highlighted!

Sideline Sundays: Far Out Alien Potentates!

Two races residing beyond the stars in the sky. Two monarchies ruled by powerful women controlling technology that would boggle the minds of scientists of Earth. And yet...each sought out a mighty male that would usher in a new age. For one race, it was for self-preservation against a deadly foe. For the other, it was for adulation for an image of their legend. Both drew to their sides destructive men wearing costumes that allowed them to play out their fantasies of devastation. What will transpire next?

We present to you Queen Naija and the people of Altrox...in need of a savior to protect their world from sentient robots run amok (no, not the Cylons). What better agent to enlist than that pre-Cyclops-ian hero known as John Dickering aka the Comet aka the psycho-villain-evaporator!

And for the Sunurians, dominated by umpteen statues to their "Faceless One" cluttering up their strange self-enclosed world, they soon discover learn that he may have returned manifested as Alec Rios aka the Ghost.

Realizing that, once he's done wrecking their dauntless adversaries, he may next turn on them to vent his destructive bolts of optical energy, the Altroxians send the Comet packing back to Earth... without so much as a sewing kit to help him mend his costume. Sheesh!

Back on Sunuria, the Ghost's new consort, a blond lass with normal skin pigment and hair style (the other ladies had a sorta Geisha thing going with their physical presentation), who appears to be a High Priestess to the Cult of the Forgotten One aka disgruntled millionaire scientist Alec Rios, sends the Ghost packing to Earth of his own volition.

Switching back to the Comet, his short crime fighting career in the 40's is capped off when he's capped by a vengeful gangster. Turns out Queen Naija of Altrox has a soft spot for psychotics and brings our goggled gumshoe back to her world to revive him.

The Ghost's new Number Two in the chain of Sunurian command helps him towards his quest for indomitable power...in the first panel. And in the last two, he's returned with his tail once more firmly planted between his legs. Although this only seems to endear him to his ponytail pawns. And interesting, the Priestess is nowhere to be seen! She will return!

Queen Naija ends up marrying King Comet... er Dickering... well whatever. And they live happily ever... weekly? Cause after just one week, on their honeymoon no less, turns out a rogue robot assassinates Naija. And eventually, the Comet returns (albeit powerless, having to adopt some Altrox technology that mimics his natural superpowers... which come to think of it the Alxroxians could have used themselves ring the robot uprising! Ah but that is what we call suspension of disbelief, folks!).

The High Priestess decides to bury her face behind a mask and condemn the Ghost for his incompetence. While her people turn against her, siding with Rios, she turns the tables by sabotaging a battle royale between their Faceless One and Captain Atom. Assisted by Cap's darling of darkness, Nightshade, she ends up apparently destroying Sunuria to eliminate the Ghost. Why... we don't know. But don't worry, he returns even if she and her people fade from memory. Except on this blog.

And there you have it. The two most prominent alien races to mix with the Mighty and Charlton Comics heroes. They did not have the same impact as Kryptonians, Skrullians, Kree, Thanagarians, Rannians, or the like. But hey, they filled up a few pages for their respective publishers.

Team-Up Tuesdays: Crusaders Cornered

It's crunch-time for our courageous crusaders as they're cornered by corrupt criminals. You can catch up on part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4 in case you've missed our silver  age tales. From Mighty Crusaders #6 and Charlton Bullseye v1 #1 and 2. Our combatants the Crusaders known as Shield, Comet, Black Hood, Fly-Man and Fly-Girl versus the malevolent Maestro...and future Sentinels of Justice Captain Atom and Nightshade against the Ghost and his Sunurian love-slaves. Let us commence.

Cancelite was an element used to neutralize Mighty-heroes powers, as previously experienced in the Crusaders' battle with the Hangman. Maestro is obviously testing the heroic quintet for some purpose...but what? The Sunurians also want to see whether Earth's super humans are as 'super' when they are normal. How will our combatants fare? Find out next week as we finally conclude both of these defining stories of valor.

Team-Up Tuesdays: Showdowns in the Stars

Last week, we presented the third installment of two silver age tales. In fact, the last team-ups of the silver age for the Comet's band of Crusaders and the duo of Captain Atom and Nightshade. This week, we find both teams hijacked into the stars...for the Action-Heroes it was to the alien world of Sunuria where their foe the Ghost awaits them, and for the Mighty men and lady of Mighty Comics, quite literally as their own Star-olator collapses leading to a death trap of epic proportions! Or is it?

Yikes, turns out Black Hood was duped as the hooded police detective Kip Burland ends up dunking his own chief of police! Not a good time to slip up if you are a Crusader. Looks like he's at least in good company as the Shield and the Comet, and Fly-Man and Fly-Girl haven't made the best of names with law enforcement authorities, despite their best efforts. Time to lick their collective wounds. And figure out how to turn this ship around. They hope!

Unlike most heroic groups, the Crusaders didn't have a headquarters, per say, but rather built a Star-olator that helped them track down crimes across the globe. How exactly it did this was never explained, and why they never placed the blamed thing inside somewhere... even a a cave was acceptable back in the day....is beyond me. Thankfully it never rained on their parade...and they always had sense to meet during daylight or at least dusk.

Okay please explain this if you would...some "force" is drawing the ever-loving Star-olator into a deep cavern... maybe a cave? (Anywhere close to Happy Harbor?) However, three of the five members CAN FLY and defy gravity! Two of these have superhuman strength and could lift the other two dead weights out of this trap. Yet they all submit to plot convenience... and we submit to suspension of belief. Well.... at least now we now who the master manipulator of bad circumstances is, the Maestro. 

Yeah that is really original, thankfully Jerry Siegel never met an idea he couldn't pillage. And thoroughly stretch beyond on credulity. As for the villain himself, it appears that the Maestro is hitting some sour notes... unleashing a bee against the Fly-Man. Who can control all insects with but a wave of his hand. Yeah... right. And what clever predators with Mister Bad Jangles present to the remaining Crusaders? Come back next week and you'll find out!

The Ghost falls into the classic "taunt the hero when he is at your mercy and give him time to regroup". Such a thing happens to the Ghost who can't resist showing his two foes that he is really Alec Rios, their missing scientist friend. Of course he unmasks to do this...and suddenly the Sunurian's Faceless One has a face! The idiot kept that mask on for years (man he must have stunk under that thing). Atom realizes this in his five minutes there! Rios is now a big fat fraud with his fräuleins. Dummy!

Now we have a mano-y-mano battle between two bitter foes, left powerless thanks to Sunuria technology. To negate the Ghost's teleportation abilities is something... yet to negate Captain Atom's awesome powers if something else. Remember these same alien amazons created the stinker strings and hypno jewels of Punch and Jewelee, another pair of Atom/Shade adversaries. With the guys occupied, Shady gets some time with the girls to compare funky hairdos. Rowwwlll.

And so... equipped with primitive hand weapons... it seems like the Ghost might finally have the upper hand and gain the victory he has long sought against the costumed alias of Captain Adam. Can you just hear the music they played on that episode of Star Trek when Kirk battled the rock creature? Aw but we see that shedding blood isn't something foreign to the Atomic Avenger...although this stirs the ire of his the sinister spectral spook. Could this be the end?

With a whole world (nearly) behind him, Rios seems to have Adam on the ropes...until the good captain whips out his own rope to counter his opponents master fencing moves. There still appears to be no clear winner... although the Priestess definitely could tip the scales if her former opposition to the "Faceless One" is any indication. Stay tuned for more sensational storytelling (at least from Charlton) next week for part five of our Team-Up Tuesdays Silver-age Special! Until then.

Team-Up Tuesdays: Silver-Age Showdowns

We continue our coverage of the final tale of the Mighty Crusaders and (pre-)Sentinels of Justice prior to their brief 1980's incarnations. Click on the following links to catch up on part one and part two. In part three, things go from bad to worse as we Shield, Comet, Black Hood, Captain Atom and Nightshade with their hands full handling out-of-this world menaces in Mighty Crusader #6 and Charlton Bullseye #1-2. Check it out:

The Comet, doing his best Tony Stark impersonation, leaps into action using his near limitless gadgets he always comes equipped with, to remove the ruthless rogue rapidly! Alas, the Secret Service here at the White House is indeed correct... the Terror Globes never return and so remains the mystery of their maddening methods of malevolent mighty! And we begin to see a pattern of disgruntled federal employees unappreciative of the  Crusaders services.

They sure cranked out some strange cronies in the Mightyverse, didn't they? Nothing scares Officer Burland, who had spent several years with nothing else to do but improve his crime fighting techniques. Still, he breaks from pattern and resorts to fisticuffs rather than his handy dandy weapondry he has used in the past. Once this sinister scarlet schemer is caught by the Man of Mystery, how will said Man fair in the eyes of local law enforcement? Will the Hood get credit , or get a swift kick in the ol' gluteus maximus?

The Ghost shows his true megalomaniacal demeanor as he finally has both us hated foes in the palm of his hands. Although the Sunurian's honr code causes them to heal Nightshade from her injuries, the Ghost realized he has a pawn for his arch-enemy. Yet after years of exile from Earth, with amble time to meditate on when he failed previously and how to guard himself against his arch-enemy, he underestimates Atom!

The old adage "divide then conquer" is approp as that is exactly how the Ghost, his Sunurian amazon troops, and Mighty Comic's many moronic maniacs cause each hero more trouble then they expected. While the Crusaders' are definitely not currying public sentiment to their cause, Cap and Shade are very much outnumbered as they're thrust into a bizarre world that disables them. How will are champions triumph? Tune in next week and we'll find out.

Team-Up Tuesdays: Bothersome Bureaucrats

Continuing last week's Robots Attack episode of Team-Up Tuesdays, we were following allowing with the Mighty Crusaders (in their self-titled issue #6) and future Sentinels of Justice (i.e. Captain Atom and Nightshade, in Charlton Bullseye #1) as they partook in their final silver age tale as a team. Now given, the Atom/Nightshade story had been delayed in publishing until the 70's after the traditional "silver age" period of comics had concluded, so we're fudging just a bit.

Regardless, this week we see the Crusaders dilemma at legitimacy as heroes without governmental backing their actions. When last we left Fly and Fly-Girl, they were saving some kidnapped victims of a gigantic mechanical pooch. Turns out they have bigger problems...and they aren't alone as the Shield, Bill Higgins, himself finds his efforts are unappreciated:

This isn't a problem for the Atomic Ace and Darling of Darkness, however, as they have right from the start acted as operatives of the U.S. However, they too are about to come up against another authority...this one from another world...that stymes not only their actions but those of their arch-enemy, the Ghost. Let's see how the plot develops:

Evidently the High Priestess of the Sunurians does not appreciate her fine troops being manipulated by the power mad Evil One, also known as the Ghost. How will our pair of Charlton's finest play into her scheme to take back the reigns of power from him?

And why, exactly, are all these governmental agents causing our Crusaders so much trouble, after they've gone out of their way to save their lives? Will the Flys and Shield, alongside teammates the Comet and Black Hood, figure a way back into their good graces?

Tune in next week to find out...

Team-Up Tuesdays: Bad Boys & Blonde Babes

Mix in two guys in clown suits whipping ropes around, and two gals sporting alien jewelry to dassle friends and foes alike, and you have today's entry. From Charlton Comics, the larcenist pair, Punch and Jewelee:

 

So Punch uses his flight to maneuver above his intended victims, then zap them with his electrical strings to turn them into living puppets? Got it. And Jewelee uses her jewelry (get it?) to mesmerize and stun her adversaries? Yep. Seems their latest ploy is kidnapping poor Alec Rios (whom we met this time last week) while he's entertaining his frienemies Captain Adam and debutante Eve Eden, whom we'll next see in their spandex clad alter egos confronting the diabolic duo of devious deviltry. Lest we forget, let's meet our other...far nobler pair of power players, Hangman and Fly Girl.

So Hangman and his miraculous multi-purpose rope seems to demonstrate their usefulness to the Mighty Crusaders, and along with the Wizard  both seemed to endear themselves to ctress Kimberly Brand, she of the Fly-Girl brand granted insect abilities like the Fly's thanks to a gem ring she wore from another dimension. Decades earlier, Hangman was originally Bob Dickering, kid brother of the Comet who adopted his costumed alias shortly after watching his brother seemingly perish (don't worry, he was revived). How he claimed this rope is a mystery left unexplained.

And what of the origin of Punch and Jewelee with there wonderful gadgets? The devices originated from  the  Sunurians and then landed on Earth:

Returning to the tale, the comedic criminals soon face their stiffest opposition from the Agent of the Atom and the Darling of the Darkness:

 

That sneaky Ghost, snatching away the ill gotten gains of his criminal cronies right from under their nose. And with Punch...that's saying something! Both pairs seem evenly matched thus far.

And all is not peachy keen even in the campyverse of 1960's Mighty Comics, as we soon learn that the temptation of ill gotten gains is to powerful a lure for the newest Crusaders:

Hangman's cancelite was potent indeed! Shortly thereafter he cancelled the entire Mighty Comics line! By we digress, as Hangman and Wizard quarrel amongst themselves (over riches, or perhaps Fly Girls kisses...me thinks?) mustached Comet follows the mustached Rios' lead  by causing things to disappear in mid battle. much to the chagrin of our resident bad guys. This results in recently revived rotten rogues reeking revengence!!!

Back over at Charlton, things are heating up towards a climax as the plundering puppeteers get all they could ask from Capt and Shady:

In another go around with the heroes-turned-villians, Hangman attempts to rope the affections of that fly...girl and take his chief competition out. To bad the Black Hood has a different thought on the matter leading to the painful realization that this is NOT the way to pick up our heroine.

Hangman eventually reformed, and Fly Girl eventually ditched the Fly, yet they never made it back into each other's arms. Punch and Jewelee eventually reunited when their world was figuratively, and quite literally, falling apart. An adventure for another day, perhaps...