THE ATLAS HEROES OF THE ATOMIC AGE by Dave Goode

Back when I was ten I laid out a quarter for Marvel Super-Heroes No.12 (Dec.1967). A new character named Captain Marvel was making his much hyped debut in it. The name "Captain Marvel" was magic to a comic fan even if this version had nothing to do with the wizard Shazam. In this origin written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Gene Colon, the reader was introduced to a science fiction based superhero. In an interesting twist he was a spy from an alien race called the Kree named Captain Mar-Vell. Some of his actions however led humanity to believe he was a hero which of course he would eventually become. And his name pronounced in English sounded like " Marvel ". The story was continued in the next issue which I came back for. But I stayed for the other features. Reprinted stories from the fabulous 50s when Marvel was known as Atlas Comics featuring Captain America, the Sub-Mariner, and the original android Human Torch. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I guess I was a retro kind of guy even back then before I had any idea what retro meant. I thought the art on those stories looked pretty cool if a little bit archaic. The Captain America stories were signed Romita. And looked sort of like Milton Caniff's work. Just a touch more dynamic. But then this was a comic book where the emphasis was on action and not story. I didn't think the artist was the same one who turned Peter Parker into a teen idol after Steve Ditko left The Amazing Spider-Man.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sub -Mariner stories were drawn by the character's creator Bill Everett. This was a Prince Namor that I hardly recognized. He was built along the lines of a light-heavyweight boxing champion. And instead of speaking like someone out of Shakespeare he spoke a sort of American slang. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then there was the Human Torch. Some of the stories were drawn by Russ Heath. 'Nuff said. The stories mostly revolved around the heroes smashing some commie plot or another. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Especially the Captain America stories. Later we would find that this wasn't the real Captain America*. Just a psychotic wannabe who got his hands on the super-soldier serum.

Over in Marvel Tales, Marvel's other reprint title, beginning with issue 13 and running through to issue 16 they reprinted some stories featuring Marvel Boy a sci-fi superhero from the 50s who had his stories illustrated by first Russ Heath and then Bill Everett. These reprints were my introduction to Marvel Comics of the Atom Age. Really fun stuff.
















*Thanks to Roy Thomas to retro-active writing



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THE 40'S PRINCE NAMOR by Dave Goode

If you're a fan-boy then you've probably heard of the talk from the early 50s about a proposed Sub-Mariner television show. It was supposed to have starred actor Richard Egan. And though the former army judo instructor and World War Two combat vet would have been good for the part , the person I always imagine as the Sub-Mariner is Johnny Weissmuller.

I picture a Sub-Mariner movie starring Weissmuller being made sometime between the MGM and RKO Tarzan film series. Namor's undersea kingdom (it wasn't referred to as Atlantis until the Silver Age) would probably have been a lot different than it was in the comics. Most likely a city under a dome of some sort. And there would be a lot of "shot through a fishbowl " photography. Brenda Joyce who played Jane to Weissmuller's Tarzan in the RKO series would have been ideal as NY policewoman Betty Dean. And Frances Gifford or Linda Christian could have been Lady Dorma. Weissmuller with his angular (if not triangular) features , whiplash eyebrows and lean swimmer's physique was a spot-on match for Bill Everett's comic book creation.

Truth is I cant help but think the Sub-Mariner's creator didn't have Weissmuller in mind when he brought the prince of the undersea kingdom to life. After all Weissmuller was the greatest swimmer of the era , setting records in distances from 50 meters to the half mile. The star of the 1924 and 1928 Olympics he was undefeated in official competition and was an accomplished water polo player as well.Who would have been a better model for the Sub-Mariner? Buster Crabbe? No. He's Aquaman.

Retro art by Vance Capley

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