Tuesday, June 13, 2017

The World's Finest Models by Dave Goode


 If you are a Silver Age Kid chances are you probably owned the Superman model kit from Aurora. This was a decided must have for fan-boys of the era. Pure bosso-keeno coolness from 1963. It's coolness began with the illustration on the box cover of Superman (looking more than a little bit like George Reeves) smashing through a brick wall. That was an image burned into this Silver Age kid's mind from repeated viewings  of The Adventures of Superman. The man of steel more powerful than a locomotive and faster than a speeding bullet crashing through a wall to save the day.



A couple of years later during Batmania , Aurora would give comic book readers a Batman model kit. It had the caped crusader swinging on a tree branch brandishing his batarang. I kept the two figures on top of a bookcase in my room for years guarding a stack of books. It was just too bad that the figures weren't heavy or strong enough to use as actual bookends. Still later Aurora would come out with a couple of other superhero model kits. Superboy and his pet Krypto , the Superdog dragon-hunting. And Wonder Woman roping an octopus with her magic lasso. But the only other superhero model kit I picked up was Robin , the Boy Wonder heroically pulling the lever on some machine in the Batcave. Why oh why didn't they have him swinging on his bat-rope and brandishing his batarang?




 Aurora would also come out with a line of Marvel superhero model kits. The Amazing Spider-Man,the Incredible Hulk and Captain America , the Living Legend of World War Two. But after putting together the "World's Finest Team" I really had no further interest in superhero models. Now Aurora's line of classic Universal monsters was an entirely different story. I owned the model kits for Count Dracula , the Frankenstein Monster , the Wolf Man , the Mummy and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. All very cool stuff.


Speaking of cool superheroes, grab your self a copy of JUDO COMICS! 
 That's right, Judo Comics! Featuring brand new Atomic and Silver Age superheroes and adventurers! Including Dr. Judo, Mr. Incognito, the Golden Adonis, and the Phantom Gorilla! Super neat-o articles! Fun comics! Great price!

1 comment:

  1. Does anyone know who did the illustration on that Superman box?

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