Action and adventure
Action and adventure |
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Page 20 of 42  Cover to the first edition of Batman (DC Comics, 1940). Art: Bob Kane. Historians usually identify four significant examples. The first, Captain Marvel (Fawcett, 1941), by CC Beck and Bill Parker, had an alter-ego as a kid reporter, who becomes a scarlet-clad strongman when he utters the word 'Shazam!' (a moment always accompanied by plenty of thunder and zig-zag lightening). This 'world's mightiest mortal' was a little too like Superman for National Periodicals' liking, and there followed a legal battle over copyright. Fawcett finally gave up on the Captain in the mid-1950s, though not before sales of the comic had briefly outstripped his rival. The second example, Captain America (Marvel, 1941), by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, was the embodiment of American patriotism during the Second World War. This genetically engineered super-soldier even wore a costume that resembled the American flag, and the first issue had a cover depicting him socking Hitler on the jaw. The title was also remarkable for its artwork by rising star Kirby, which experimented with panel layouts to inject more movement into the balletic fight scenes. Thirdly, there was Wonder Woman (National Periodicals, 1942), a super-strong Amazon princess, and one of the very few female characters to be successful. Fourth, and finally, Plastic Man (Vital, 1943), by Jack Cole, was about a reformed gangster with extendable limbs. This engagingly odd title did not take itself too seriously, and tapped into the public's current fascination with plastic, then being hyped as 'the miracle material'. Every month the hero would thwart criminals by stretching like a firehose, or flattening himself like a parachute, much to the delight of his substantial readership.  Pages from Detective Comics (DC Comics, 1967). Art: Anon. The influence of the Batman TV show is very evident.  Stills from the show, a sensation in its day (1966), but never forgiven by serious Bat-fans for its campy Pop Art sensibility. |