New Crusaders VS Before Watchmen: Brains!

A meeting of the minds between these two mentalists would be magnificent! The new Web is cut from a similar mode to that of his father, who was himself the second man with that alter ego, although unlike his pop John Raymond this lad isn't a henpecked husband. And hence, he would be able to obtain the full potential first unleashed by granddad the criminologist turned crimefighter of the 1940's. 

However, there is seemingly no comparison to Ozymandias, who was himself a one-and-only child prodigy who distanced himself from his own successful parents. When Adrian Veidt grew to maturity and assumed the identity of his alter ego, he realized that having the peak physical and mental condition amongst his fellow humans was insufficient to the task at hand... of saving the world. Before Watchmen, he was an erstwhile member of the shortlived Crimebusters, until he realized he must strike it on his own to acheive his amoral ends. Will the young Web fall into the same trap that had befallen Ozymandias, or will he lean heavily upon his comrades on the New Crusaders?

Team-Up Tuesdays: Crusaders VS Invaders

This would be an epic matchup. Consider the following duels between the Crusaders and Invaders:

• The heat-generating android Human Torch versus circus fire-breather Inferno (not show). The latter took on Steel just as Torch does in the picture. Advantage: Human Torch.
• Two elemental men in Blue Diamond (not shown) versus Steel Sterling. Superstrong and invulnerable, each was a paragon of potent power. Advantage: Steel Sterling.
• High-flying Miss America versus the bird-handler Captain Flag, considering the lady had strength as well she'd take out Flag's pet eagle Yank. Advantage: Miss America.
• The Vision aka Aarkus versus Mister Justice: Although Aarkus could control temperature, illusions and teleport... Justice could  do that and more. Advantage: Mister Justice.
• The Whizzer versus Bob Phantom (not shown): A superspeedster versus a master teleporter. Whizzer was quite fast, but Bob was as fast as thought! Advantage: Bob Phantom.
• Sub-Mariner versus the Wizard (not shown): His world's first mutant, the Mariner would meet his match with the mastermind turned man of might. Advantage: the Wizard.
• Union Jack (not shown) versus Black Jack: Two mighty fine fighters, nevertheless the Battling Brit has the edge with his superhuman lighting powers. Advantage: Union Jack.
• Bucky versus Dusty: The supreme sidekicks of the super-soldiers. In the golden age: As the Boy Detective, Dusty takes this. As a retcon secret agent, Bucky. Advantage: Toss Up.
• The Destroyer (not shown) versus the Web: Both the pinnacles of human perfection, matching physical attributes with tactical minds and great courage. Advantage: Toss Up.
• The Patriot (not show) versus the Hangman: Non-powered but superbly talented second-tier mystery men, the former an optimist and the latter a pessimist. Advantage: Patriot.
• Captain America versus the Shield: Here would be the epic battle of ages. Two twin titans. As his superstrong self, Advantage: the Shield. If he is non-powered, Advantage: Captain America.

Creative Crusaders: No-Charltons Allowed!

At long last, after an absence of two and a half decades, aside from the occasional cameos in crossovers with the Archie/Riverdale gang, the real Red Circle gang returns. Or at least, their forebearer... the Shield... several years older and showing his age at last. Introducing a new generation of heroes is an entice prospect, and given that the original publisher is stated as commiting to continuing the continuity of the MLJ originals is a project diehard fans will appreciate. It is our sincere wish that the Charlton crew likewise one days gain their own seperate niche, apart from the crowd scenes of DC's universe.

With that in mind, Judomaster would fit nicely as the Shield doppleganger in such an endeavor, as he as well would've aged somewhat since his last "Charltonesque" appearance on a separate Earth in the mid-1980s.  A new generation debuting in the style of the "Boys from Derbe" would definitely have a unique spin to it, as we'd previously seen with a new iteration of the Blue Beetle and characters like E-Man that took concepts such as Captain Atom and turned them on their head. With a newer version of the Comet, Web, Inferno, Web-Girl, Jaguar and Steel Sterling setting the  pace in Archie's updated universe... one wonders what became of the originals.. Are these the children of the Mighty Crusaders, carrying on their parents' proud tradition? Particularly, the though of a Web-Boy sired by John and Rose Raymond would be interesting, given his mother's apprehension towards heroics. And who would Jaguar-Girl's mom be, given that the original Ralph Hardy was a ladies man with at least three different love interests who formed his Jaguar Rescue Squad!

This Archie adventure excites yours truly than a "new 52" mired in a mob scene. Perhaps DC will see the success of Archie's new line of characters... should they stick with them and make them true to their core concepts... and create a new world for the refuges of Charlton. And we're not talking about the "pre-Watchmen" tales... but the originals themselves!

Yellowjacket Webnesdays: The Web, Cover Boy

The Web appeared in exactly ten golden age comics, in Zip Comics #27-37. Despite almost every cover having him and his pal Steel Sterling duking it out versus Axis thugs, he almost never battled foreign foes in his own tales underneath the front cover. And while generally shown as a brunette, in his first and another appearence he appeared as a red head, so apparently he was a fan of the hair dye which was quite unusual among his peers back in the day.

Cap may have had a Red Skull over at Timely Comics, but Web had the more nefarious "Green Skull" to butt heads with

DC Comics may have had the World's Finest Team, but MLJ's dynamic duo of the Web and Steel Sterling was "Top Notch"

This incarnation would then rest until being revitalized within the canon of MLJ/Red Circle in Mighty Crusaders #9, as an aged criminologist (long since retired and having bequeathed his costume to his henpecked son) called upon to testify in the trial of his old ally the Shield.

Yellowjacket Webnesdays: Horror in Hotel

The Web usually got knee-deep into trouble that his alter ego, Professor John Raymond, had initially gotten involved in. Which kinda makes sense, since he was a criminologist and crime writer on the side, not dissimiliar from Charlton's Yellowjacket. However, MLJ Comic's resident spider-man found threats not in Hollywood but in a hotel as in this weeks tale:



What secret does this mysterious stranger possess to engender such interest in these nefarious nimrods? What special gadget will the Web unleash on his adversaries? Let's find out...



That's it? What exactly was the purpose of all this chaos? Apparently the writer (not either superhero's other identity, we would hope) left this to our imagination. Which is okay but kind of a cheat, storytelling wise. And the gimmick at Web's disposal... a robe! Not exactly a webline or the exploding web-balls his son John Jr. would use decades hence, but still doable.

What will next tax the terrific talents of our two troubleshooters? Find out next week...

Marvel Mondays:Webheads Love Redheads

Think again, Spidey. Rose is more a nag than MJ. Course you don't have to worry about that these days, ey?

Friday Fiends: VS New Sentinels of Justice

Commando D was the last member of the Sentinels of Justice from the Americomics-verse, and followed similar elements to other smart superheroes. Originally, lab technician Kon-Nar of the parallel world of the Altrann was used as a template for a size-shifting super-soldier to combat the equally malleable menace known as the Vardax. These reptilian desired claiming the world as their latest conquest, and after being overwhelmed by their forces, Kon-Nar and his girlfiend Dorna escaped to Earth.

It was there that Dorna perished, bequeathing her ring to young Denny Bryant, a ring that housed a minaturized chamber which actived Kon-Nar's abilities. Using the dual identity of Connor Page the unassuming civilian and in his costume alias, Commando D! Like Earth-Four's Peter Cannon, the Thunderbolt, Commando also harnessed mythical might from the mental magnificence of a secluded civiliztion. And, like John Raymond aka the Web over on Earth-MLJ, he favored the colors green and yellow while having a red head drapped over his shoulder (a lot less nagging than Rose, Web's wife, we would imagine).

As for the Friday Fiends, the serpentile Vardax? They followed their prey to Earth-AC and drew the attention of the then formed Sentinels to retrieve imprisoned teammate Scarlet Scorpion. Yet their loss is Justice's gain in the form of a giant of man, literally and metaphorically.

DC Dopplegangers: Webhead Writers

Beating our favorite webhead to the printer a full nine months before his debut in 1942, there was the Tarantula busting on the scene with the Web waiting in the wings.

An obvious comparison between the two with several points of similarity:

• Jonathan and John, as in Mr. Law and Mr. Raymond.
• A noted mystery writer and a criminologist. The former dabbled in crime fiction and the latter in chronicling his profession.
• Neither willing to mat down their blond locks, they each wore half-faced masks.
• Both had a leaning towards using webs in the modus operandi and tools.
• Each battled crime during World War II solo while at times alongside others.
• They had short published runs, with Tarantula's lasting 19 issues of Star-Spangled Comics and Web's lasting 12 issues of Zip Comics.

Once more, B-listers on their absolute best days yet breaking the mode in their non-traditional backgrounds and sense of style.

Separated at Birth? Blonde Bombshells

Hart Druiter of the planet Myar petitioned for and obtained membership into the Legion of Super-Heroes with the intent of infiltrating their ranks. Soon thereafter betraying them and attempting to shift the blame onto a team mate, he was kicked out of the team. Years later he would return with a Legion of Super-Villains to torment his foes before his death.

While ordinarily we stick to Charlton and MLJ/Mighty characters here (with the except of kissing cousins in the publishing industry like Fawcett), in this case the resemblance between these two has to be commented on.

Both the Kid and John Raymond, the Web, were products of the mid-60's (albeit in the Web's case he was a revival of a golden age hero). Beyond the obvious comparison of color schemes and style in their uniforms, their blonde locks, and their charge-into-battle attitudes... there is something more. Nemesis Kid drank a potion allowing him to temporarily adapt to any individual foe, allowing his to meet his opponent. The Web similarly had a superhuman ability to match might with any fiend, even those with abilities far above his own, with only will power backing him up. Both were team players, only for opposite sides of justice.

What would a match of these two have been like, one wonders?

Mainstream Mondays: The Rich Guy/Bug Boys

Continuing our series on the integration of Charlton and Archie/MLJ characters in the DC Universe, we next consider that archetype of the rich industrialist turned vigilante. Relying on his wits and his gadgets as he was not born with natural superpowers, this spunky type hero would exercise a bravado unmatched by his more powerful contemporaries, such as the cornerstones whom we considered last week in the forms of Captain Atom and the Shield.

Blue Beetle was the alias adopted by Ted Kord in memory of his deceased friend Dan Garrett aka the original Blue Beetle. Using science to attempt to replicate the ancient scarabs of their predecessors, each Ted Kord proved to be a more viable Blue Beetle for a modern age. Hence, this character wasn't as reimagined as were others from Charlton.

The Beetle quickly gained prominence when he joined the Justice League, as had Captain Atom, only in Blue's case his jovial nature and a friendship developed between himself and new character Booster Gold would quickly become a defining feature in this hero's legend.

John Raymond became the Web over at MLJ and then Mighty Comics in order to right the wrongs commited by his felonious brother. While not possessing the gadgets of the Beetle, this bug-inspired crimefighter had a sharp mental disposition that aided him in combating the illegal element. Incorporated into the 1960's version was a wife named Rose who dispised this identity. Quickly the character devolved into a joke.

However, the newly integrated Raymond at DC Comics had a more serious edge to him. Now a spoiled playboy instead of criminologist, its John's brother who is the do-gooder and is ultimately murdered. Deciding to use technology to create new line of heroes around the world, wearing specialized Web suits granting the wearer certian abilities, it is John who actually becomes the information broker turned superhero relying now more on his courage then the world wide web.

Battling Blondes: Round 7 - Teamup Tribulations!

This week we shift gears away from the solo adventures of our pair of battling blondes, and dissect how well they work with fellow heroes. Actually we had a sneak peak into John Raymond's teammate chemistry, for when  last we saw him the Web worked well with his brother-in-law, Ralph (the Jaguar) Hardy. Only now, we review Web's inter-team dynamics with fellow Mighty Crusaders. And in a first, we consider Peter Cannon's sole documented case alongside the Sentinels of Justice! How well do both fare? Proceed if you dare...

Right from the start, the Web aspired to join the Crusaders, which we've previous joined fellow heroes Captain Flag and the Fox as potential recruits for the team. When that didn't go so well (in part thanks to John's aching back), they decided to go it as the terrific trio known as the Ultra-Men! They were so successful... they never reappeared. At least two of them bonded, that being the Web and Fox, no doubt due to the fact that both were sons of golden agers under the same monikers.

By the time the 1980's rolled around, John's stock had risen much like most of Wall Street, and he was immediately inducted into that decade's incarnation of the Mighty Crusaders. He carried such clout, he brought along good friend Doc Reeves in tow. In fact, he seemed to be the peacemaker in the group, no one had (or at least expressed) ill feelings towards him. However, on one occasion Web displayed some uncharacteristic prejudice towards Thunder Bunny, although he soon learned to trust the rascally rabbit rounding-up rough rogues relentlessly!

During an epic battle to save their allies from the Druid and his mercenary band of supervillains, the Web even faced death plummeting towards the Earth with death-defying fear and a tinge of remorse only for how his beloved Rose would be affected by her loss of her beloved husband! This same pattern of self-sacrifice for his teammates was reflected in his pursuit of evidence absolving his pal the Shield of a murder charge, and of his avenging the death of Reeves at the hands of Sting and the Brain Emperor.

Alas, Peter Cannon's record as a teammate was not quite as sterling! Mister "I can do it I must do it I will do it" was anything but when his world came under the influence of another Earth's Psycho Pirate. While the rest of the Sentinels of Justice were attempting to fight a perceived alien invasion under emotional duress, Thunderbolt uncharacteristically fled into a wall of white anti-matter. Saved by a superspeeding Jay Garrick aka the Flash, Peter was left in the next issue of Crisis on Infinite Earths as a hysterical looking rookie! What caused this change of demeanor for the normally cool/calm/collected hero? No one can say. Bad writing?

Battling Blondes Rating

1.) Story Drama: With more story to draw from and a solid track record of appearances alongside fellow Crusaders, the Web aces this category easily. Poor Thunderbolt needed some better P.R. when he was purchased by DC Comics, which leads to #2...

2.) Imaginative Use of Abilities: While the Web eventually gained exploding "web balls" created by Doc Reeves during the Mighty Crusaders run, it was Thunderbolts unexplained ability to seemingly run at superspeed that earns him a nod. Again, bad writing not referring to the source material when introducing classic characters into today's comics.

3.) Adversary: Thunderbolt faced a faster foe and a more fearsome fiend than had the Web, yet the Web's variety of enemies were varied in their approaches and diverse in their motivations. Attempting to transform humanity into mindless snakes beats out scaring the pants of people such for cheese and grins any old day. Web claims this one by a mile.

4.) Intangibles that Worked: Both in the silver and modern ages, the Web's charm laid in his everyman approach to superheroing, and this was never more clear than how well he worked with other champions possessing greater abilities than he. Had the Pete Cannon we all read and loved in the 60's returned during Crisis, he might have had a chance here.

And so the Web has a clear cut victory in this round, and the score is now 3-2-2 with 3 wins for the Web, 2 for Thunderbolt and 2 ties for the lad. So, as Round 7 is where we finish this epic duel, the Web is the victor but not by much. Hence T-Bolt gains honorable mention.

Yellowjacket Webnesdays: Zip #38 Part Two

When last we visited with the Web, he was knee deep in the midst of a mystery involving a married woman and various missing men, including her husband. Would Professor John Raymond Sr get to the bottom of this mystery and save the sanity of this sultry sister of sorrow?

 

 

Yeah, those one-eyed Nazi's were a dime a dozen back then. You would've thought the monocle would have tipped his wife off as to his true allegiance. But then, we wouldn't have a rip roaring tale to present to you this eve. Well, at least the former Mrs. Freeman landed on her feet and in the arms of another man, while the Web? Well Rose was waiting for him, we're sure, and perhaps she is the mother of the silver age Web? Or perhaps not.

We'll try to bring some other Web and Yellowjacket tales from MLJ and Frank Communale Publications, aka Mighty and Charlton Comics, on a future Webnesday.

Yellowjacket Webnesdays: Zip #38 Part One

We carry on this week's edition of Yellowjacket Webnesdays, we continue the theme set by Yellowjacket of a missing husband, a panicked wife, and a detective in tights investigating a mystery. This is from Zip Comics #38, the Web's final golden age appearance:

Next week we solve the mystery alongside the Web on the missing men... and maybe an explanation on why John once more dyed his hair from its natural redish blonde?

Yellowjacket Webnesdays: Zip #29 Part 2

And now, part two of the Web's adventure in Nazi Germany from Zip Comics #29 as he attempts to extract opponents to this regime. Will he accomplish this feat and live to tell about it? How will he deal with the evil Captain Murder? Who is the famous individual we promised you would see towards the end of the tale? Let's see below:

So, in answer to last weeks queries: 1.) Web's hair is still red... for the moment that is, 2.) Not only did John Sr come out of Nazi occupied Germany unscathed and none the worse for well, he actually 3.) inspired Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of England during this period. to publicly thank this costumed hero for his courage! You go, boy!

Yellowjacket Webnesdays: Zip #29 Part 1

And now part 2 of of our power packed double helping of golden age goodness, with a rousing tale of Professor John Raymond Sr and his mission to Nazi Germany during the height of the war. This tale definitely distinguishes the Web from his silver age counterpart in a number of areas: first of all the time frame and this hero battled during World War II given his adversaries, as well as his different personality as a more assertive individual. In addition, his student/love interest Rose Wayne isn't the henpecker that Rose Hardy was. Let's now commence!

It is evident this week that John decides on a reddish tint to his hair color. Will he stick to this or revert back to his black dye job or blond bleach job? Oh yeah, and will he come out of Germany alive and unscathed? Found out next week when we learn how his example influenced one famous historical figure!

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!

Yellowjacket Webnesdays: Aid Damsels in Distress!

Our Back-in-the-Bygone-Day bug boys return with rousing adventures this week, aiding a pair of damsels in distress. For Yellowjacket, its aiding a possible new love interest caught in the tangled web of a racketeering/kidnap scheme of the underworld, for the Web its combating Nazi's that attempt to extract a secret formula by kidnapping a courageous gal in love through their own tangled web of deceit and corruption. Enjoy these twin tales of tenacious triumph!

Dontcha just love the web motif that ensnared the Web's adversary in the grip of fear, leading to his defeat? For Yellowjacket, it was some nifty "calling all bees" followed by a one-two punch. And apparently, whereas John Raymond Sr. likes to lounge around on his nice living room chair in his civies, Vince Harley finds it relaxing in his spandex tights. What will become of the aspiring romance between Vince and this issue's damsel? Who knows... it was the golden age when they didn't care about such frivolous stuff. I mean... Johnny has moved on from Rose Wayne... at least in this issue.  Still waiting for an actual memorable foe for Yellowjacket, at least Web had fang faced Count Berlin to...ahem... sink his teeth into!

What hair color will the Web sport next time? Will Harley actually write a book instead of living the vicarious life of a fictional hero? Will either leave a lasting impact on bugs everywhere? Find out in 7...