World's Finest Comics certainly gives you a lot of story for your 12 cents, but you'd never know it by the covers. F'rexample:
Are things so slow in Metropolis and Gotham City that these guys have nothing better to do? I mean, really? There's no one in danger, no crimes being committed, no parties to attend or news to report? This is the best use of our time?
Know why this was the Golden Age? Here's why:
Because you could stand around in an office, smokin' a cigar, talk about "punishing" your female subordinates without the HR department getting on your case, and you could talk disparagingly about a woman as if she weren't even in the room! I'd settle for doing any one of those things without fear, much less all of them at the same time.
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Every so often I discover a name of a current character has been recycled from a lesser-known character from long ago. Ladies and gents, I give you the original Bullseye:
Yeah, I know the spelling is a little different, but the name is still the same.
Even casual comic readers know the current Bullseye from Daredevil (movie or comics), Punisher or Thunderbolts. But as a foe of the Golden Age Green Arrow, he seems to borrow from another well-known character. See if you can guess which one:
DC didn't actually sue itself over this one, but they should have.
He wasn't nearly as entertaining as the Joker or the Bullseye we know today, which is why he disappeared into comic limbo, where he shall hopefully never be heard from again.
Meanwhile:
And by "something else is up," I'm referring to my wiener.
No, not really, but you can tell Roy is thinking it.
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You know what I haven't seen in a while? Batman steering a boat using one of those old-fashioned captain's wheels:
Yeah! Like that!
Tune in tomorrow, when the World's Finest Heroes meet their greatest challenge ever:
Okay, seriously, there isn't anything else they could be doing?
See you tomorrow!
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10 comments:
wow 'bull's-eye's' crime target was vastly dissapointing, it looks as if its some sort heinous wheel of fortune! but he just wangs a dart at the 'massive' with 'massive' categories. he should at least blind fold himself. . . . in his weird hideout with very ordinary if not dull looking lamps. maybe he grows corn in the bath or has a live bison in the kitchen. . . f'r example.
elrossiter
I like how "SILKS" and "RADIO STATIONS" present much larger targets than, say, "BANKS." Bulls-Eye was not one to go for the obvious sorts of crime.
Poor Lois. Somehow, she managed to choke back her silent tears, as she went to make coffee for Perry White. Addint the ground glass to the sugar was her only revenge.
I know you're not totally serious, but in the Golden Age I think it was the norm for anthology books like World's Finest to have these covers that featured the most prominent characters in some generic activity rather than a scene from one of the stories inside. Just look at all those Comic Cavalcade covers with Wonder Woman, the Flash and Green Lantern having foot races and celebrating the holidays. What I find interesting is that this dynamic did not occur in titles like Action and Detective and Sensation where the lead character (Superman, Batman and WW, respectively) was featured without the second stringers like Zatara or Wildcat. (and I may have just answered my own question)
Indeed, Michael. What I found interesting as well is that during the golden age, you didn't see a lot of dialogue balloons, either. Then, during the silver and bronze ages, you couldn't get characters to shut up. Nowdays, it's rare to have characters talking on the cover. Everything old is new again. I like the "silent" covers myself, but I know not everyone agrees.
It's also fun that Supes and Bats are together on the covers, but they don't appear in stories together. Kinda misleading in its own way.
Why DON'T they do the old story lines again? I think it'd be kinda fun.
Ok, picture this. Flash and Superman race again, but this time our super hero spectators must face the over-inflated concession prices set by Lex Luthor! OH THE HUMANITY!!!
Don't know about you, butI'm hooked already....
Seriously, the Marvel Bullseye should borrow from the Golden Age Bullseye and dress like a clown. Clowns are SCARY!
Bullseye obviously isn't the Joker, because he isn't talking about pulling a boner.
Green Arrow appears to be standing perfectly still on that window ledge and projecting One Way signs using mental powers.
Adam, I don't think that readers in the 40's thought those covers were misleading. They treated them as symbolic regarding the characters featured inside, and didn't expect that the story inside involved Superman and Batman screwing around (in a completely innocent non-sexual way of course) with Robin.
But then, what do I know? I'm probably the only person who enjoyed Roy Thomas's All-Star Squadron retcon that actually showed one of those Wonder Woman/Green Lantern/Flash foot races!
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