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.

Under the Hood: The Makings of a Peacemaker

Christopher Smith grew up the sole child whose father was an army officer turned statesman and whose mother was a research scientist mother. His wealth, skill at flying fighter aircraft and scientific aptitude derived from them both.  Smith was employed as a pacifist diplomat working as a U.S. Peace Envoy for the Geneva Arms Conference.

These two distinct worlds came colliding into one another with an international named Bork threatened the world's security. Donning the alias of Peacemaker, Smith utilized his various gadgets to full effect to topple the aspiring dictator.

This incident led to his fully adopting a new role into his already complex life, as a world-traveling troubleshooter/costumed hero, a venture which would ultimately claim is role as diplomat.

Behind the scenes, Peacemaker incorporated several key pieces of technology into his state-of-the-art costume. Chief among these is his helmet which included a powerful laser always at his disposal, and a jet pack allowing him low-altitude flight when time was of the essence.

Additionally, with such items as his nitrocellulose pack, fire bomb vile and derringer, Smith always had to assess the situation to assure that the maximum effect to resolve a crisis was utilized  while attaining the minimum amount of devastation when such tools were used.

Although most of his career has been left undocumented, those few cases assessable to public record indicates he fearless and intelligently employed his inventions adequately.

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: Jetpack Jockeys

Jet packs, laser blasters, intellect, beautiful sidekicks, alien intrigue. This is a crossover that would've been worth seeing.

Both Adam Strange and Peacemaker were thinking man's heroes, they had high tech gadgets but often they had to use their minds in battle which made them their greatest weaponry. While Peacemaker didn't do the planetary hopping Strange did, he faced his share of non-human rogues like the subterranean shape-changers and such. So he'd fit right in on Rann, maybe swapping places with Adam who temporarily protects Earth-Four from evil.

Charlton Meets MLJ Week: Can't Escape the Law!

This is a battle we'd LOVE to see between two volatile vigilantes!

Team-Up Tuesdays: Ancient Adversaries Attacked!

We carry on with our review on the battle between the Mighty Crusaders and their foe the Nameless One, in their self-titled issue #5, and Golden Pharaoh's battle with Peacemaker in an unpublished adventure.

So let's get started:

Well how do you like that? It was a rival villain, Spider-Spry, that unseated Nameless' plans, it left the door open for nigh-omnipotent Mr. Justice to turn the tables on the mastermind's power neutralizer and give the Crusaders/Terrific Three/Ultra-Men their powers back! And for the dynamic duo of Peacemaker and his lovely assistant, it was Nora who ultimately tipped the scales on the Pharaoh and left him and his criminal empire in ruins. Despite all their high tech gadgets and strategies, they were no better against our incredible Team-Ups!

Friday Fiends: Modern-Day Ancient Dictators

We begin another two-parter with two of our longest running features here: Friday Fiends and (next week) Team-Up Tuesdays. Today, we introduce a bare of modern-day despots who carve their hidden kingdoms in hidden locales and seek to enslave humanity. Only they each have to face a team of heroes bent on their defeat, the Mighty Crusaders and the Peacemaker duo of Christopher Smith and his assistant Nora O'Rourke.

Captain Kangaroo! A dated reference to be sure, but definitely a knee slapper. More Captain Flag never seems to get much respect. With that giant bird half the time I'd confuse him with Bird-Man!

The situation definitely looks dire for our heroes. Possessing the upper hand, the Nameless One and Golden Pharaoh named Chufru may actually succeed in their mad schemes! Ummm.... nah. Next week we'll wrap up this two-parter with some fancy fighting by our fearless freedom fighters! Until then.

Nothing New Under the Sun: War and Peace

In the file of "Nothing New Under the Sun", as the old adage goes, is this stunning theft of character design. I mean...within the same publisher? It's not like these guys (and no...the Comet wasn't THAT good a scientist to clone two Shields...that came about thanks to some good old fashion Papa Shield and Mama Shield leading to bouncing behemoth Baby Boy Shield...and some thawing of Papa after decades as a stone cold operator thanks to an Altroxian generator  ol' faux Tony Stark stole from the depths of the Mighty cosmos).

No that was on purpose. For Charlton, that was maybe to cross-promote their product? Like a crossover wouldn't work better...but no this is the "we play in are independent playpens" style that sank this publisher into last place Any who...on to our guests of honor...or dishonor as it were...

Was Christopher Smith inspired by Barbo the Deadly?

Or was the Hidden One inspired by a certain Action-Hero?

Who would come out on top? Peacemaker?

Or the ancient adversary of all-things altruistic?

Barbo fell down go boom! Peace out!

Sideline Sundays: The Gals Behind Type A Dudes

Our comparison today is about as close as you can come to two characters that parallel each other. Both are strong-willed blonde women who do not back down. Both found themselves in relationships with heroes carrying HUGE chips on their shoulders, men with a cerebral side who invent the blunt instruments they use to bring justice to others. One of our ladies, Thelma Gordon had existed for decades, since her first appearance in Pep Comics, as a reporter for the Daily Star (a popular employer in the 1940's, apparently) investigating the Comet She was later retroactively inserted as the love interest of Comet's alter ego, John Dickering right from the beginning. The other gal, Nona O'Rourke, found herself gainfully employed by former diplomat turned scientist Christopher Smith, aka the Peacemaker, in the 60's. Let's examine their histories...on the sidelines:

 

Right away, we must begin questioning fare Thelma's taste in men. But it doesn't stop there! John isn't the only wacko.

 

Nona O'Rourke "beat out" her competition to be Christopher Smith's secretary (sorry, personal assistant). Note that shiner on her face! Whata chick! YOWZA!

 













Turns out gangsters try to rub out the Comet by kidnapping kid brother Bob. Then they kill the hero (he survives but disappears). Thelma rejects character limbo & latches on to new series lead Bob aka Hangman aka overbearing Jerk.

Like Thelma, Nona is terrified at the obsessive nature of her "man". He's more level headed than John. But he's also a big flirt . Who can't commit. But definitely smirks a lot! Because that was cool back in the swinging 60's.

Peacemaker #6, which itself was unpublished, was the last we would see this incarnation of Peacemaker's spunky sidekick. Thelma, however, was the supporting character that WOULD NOT DIE even when her first protagonist boyfriend bit the dust. That's not saying much, as all the Dickering men in her life, even her son (messed up by his father's abuse above) had serious issues that she couldn't help them resolve. Very tragic. But so is character limbo, where both are gal pals are in right now.

Friday Fiends: Bad Dudes...Bad Breath!

Last week we considered a a couple of hot customers. Well, turns out we have another pair a bit hot under the collar, More specifically, hot under the larynx. Inferno and Mister Blaze. Let's introduce both side-by-side.

Inferno was a circus fire breather who seemed to emit from his mouth heat at will. He was lured into crime named Frank Verrano. This brought him into conflict with the man of steel, Steel Sterling.

Another circus performer, known only as Mr. Blaze also turned to a life of crime when his own act proved a dismal failure. And  he met Mr. Smith!

Now in prison, Inferno revealed a softer side despite his gruff demeanor, as he learned a new inmate may have cause the fare Dora Cummings to unnecessary danger. He soon learn that this prisoner is his old enemy, disguised as a fellow captive to ferret out a rumored prison break. Steel begins to realize that Mr. Verrano may have more in common with him than he knows. What will Inferno's future have in store for him?

Now coating himself and his special suit in Chris Smith's compound, Mr. Blaze is about to reveal his trump card, as he had discovered a  hidden race of underground lava men (all the rage in the hip 60's) ready to yield to his will when he displays an invincibility to fire. Still there is one obstacle... ex-diplomat now masked man... Peacemaker.

After Sterling's testimony, Inferno embarks on a heroic career getting one of those neat uniforms. From his initial appearances in Zip Comics 10-13... he then had his own series in Blue Ribbon Comics  13-19.

After drawing Peacemaker back to his hidden lair, Blaze does what all psychotic would-be world conquerors would do as reveals his scheme...to steal his rival's jet as a heat  missile of sort, and topple Washington D.C. 

Coming out of retirement, Inferno joined two other heated heroes, Firefly and  Fireball in Mighty Crusaders #4 in order to join the team. Sent to combat the threat Hangman (himself a former applicant of this team...turned evil on a reverse career path from Inferno). Later on, Inferno fights alongside with former foe and ally Steel, although neither seem to have much to say after all these years. And our hero leaves after his request to join...along with that of the others...is rejected by the Crusaders until later on.

Of course, Smith doesn't take the news of his invention being used as a weapon of war well, and pursues Blaze in his backup aircraft. Fortunately, he knows the flaws of his device well and this proves to be the undoing of Mr. Blaze, who disappears after ejecting. There is a hint that he would return...and had Peacemaker's series continued past issue #5, which was Blaze's debut, our turban tormentor may well have as he had potential. Oh...and the lava men slithered back into the hole they crawled out of. They got burned.


Both Inferno and Mr. Blaze started out in the same career, then followed up as felons. Would Blaze have also eventually repented and become a force for good? Doubtful but who know? Or cares? Meanwhile, Inferno makes one more silver age appearance...and it appears he may have turned back to the dark side! We'll leave that for a future Battling Blondes.

Team-Up Tuesdays: High Camp Heroes

Both Mighty and Charlton were prone towards a bit of camp humour, popular at the time, especially when introducing their heroic teams. While Mighty took the concept farther into a continuing series, Charlton was hesitant in teaming up all their big guns at one time and show them (sort of) only once).

Allow us to introduce the Mighty Crusaders in their debut appearence in Adventures of the Fly #31:

Next we present to you the "Mightiest Armada of Enemies of Evil" in Charlton Premier #3:

The members of the Mighty Crusaders were Fly, Comet, Shield and the Black Hood...brought together by the Fly's arch-foe Spider-Spry. Fly-Girl joined later. Others attempted to join the foray, including Captain Flag:

Meanwhile, the "Mightest Armada" included heroes we've already covered, including Peacemaker and Blue Beetle, as well as a more obscure trio: Superguy, Captain USA, and the Green Spider:

While Superguy filled the niche for the goofiest of the caped set, the honor among Archie/Mighty characters fell to Captain Sprocket who had once mixed up his dry cleaning with a few of the Crusaders!  Aside from a cameo with Fly, Comet, Black Hood and Shield, he mostly kept to himself. Then there were the Captains, Flag and USA. Finally there was the fairly useless Green Spider, more of a hinderance then a help as seen in the accompanying panels, and the aforementioned rogue Spider-Spry, a criminal genius whose intellect was matched only by his ineptitude.

While Captain Flag had a short but memorable career in the 1940's. any exploits of Captain USA beyond this issue were left unchronicled (although we here suspect he may have moonlighted in the 1940's as Captain V, a backup feature in Blue Beetle's comic, as the two are very similar), as were those of Superguy and Green Spider. The villain of the piece Sinestro seemed to know of them, so they had some notoriety.

And each team had inventive adversaries to bedevil them such Boy Fiend, Sinestro, and alien scientist, Inferno the Destroyer.

Alas such heroic teams from our two aspiring comic publishers were short lived and would take years before they reappeared. Still, there are tales to tell of heroic pairings in the silver age of comics, which we'll next consider.