Golden Age Green Lantern #24 had an odd story that reminded me once again of how different comics are now. These days, it's very rare that you can pick up a single issue in anything but the earliest installments of a series without feeling like you've walked into a very long movie and have to scramble to catch up. But back in the Golden Age, these stories were all self-contained, so they didn't care one fig about things like continuity. For example, in this particular issue, Doiby Dickles's cab "Goitrude" was actually alive:
There was no explanation for this and by the next tale the car was simply a car. But for one story, Doiby's taxi was a sentient being? Why? Because it made the story work. It's fun to see the freedom that the creators enjoyed back in the day. Imagine a story these days where the Avengers' Quinjet had a life and personality of its own! There would be an outcry in fandom of "Ben Affleck playing Batman" proportions!
Apropos of nothing, I was reminded of Saturday morning programs of my youth Speed Buggy:
and Wonderbug:
Herbie the Love Bug came from the same era, but didn't share the same level of anthropomorphism.
The next issue brought about a new foe for Alan, because you can't count on the Dandy to make every issue amazing:
and his main ability was being indignant:
and running out on tabs:
and did I mention he was called "The Fop?"
Yes, for those of you keeping score, the Golden Age Green Lantern had a nemesis called the Fop as well as one called the Dandy. It seems like DC should combine the two like Marvel did with Power Man & Iron Fist back in the 70's and 80's. And when it becomes DC's new cash cow, I expect some recompense from them.
Of course, you still have to resolve this little logistical hurdle:
Yeah, he killed himself in his first appearance. Why? Because like most "gentlemen," he preferred death to hard labor.
In the previous panel:
So, rather than work, he preferred to be a criminal. Failing that, he preferred to be dead. That's how some people roll. But that's also how you end up being remembered as a loser criminal called "The Fop."
Hey! It's time for Fun with Out of Context Dialogue (tm!), from Action Comics #202:
YEAH!
See you tomorrow!
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3 comments:
I don't leave enough messages here (OK, *any* actually) but I do read this blog a lot and get many chuckles along the way. This entry was particularly fun - has anyone in the history of comics ever written about the late Fop before? I'd imagine not. Just the sort of great stuff I always expect from you here. Thanks!
If the quinjet came alive and had a personality that wouldn't surprise me that much. Didn't they do something like that with Iron Man's armor once? Tony probably built and programmed the quinjet, so it wouldn't surprise me. Also the Fop being dead....in a comic book....really? Aside from the old "comic book death" thing. He could have taken pills that made it appear that he was dead. Or maybe him son or grandson could vow vengeance on GL for his fathers or grandfathers death. Many many ways around that.
Thanks, Patrick! I'm only as good as what I find, but when I find something like the Fop or the Bullfrog, it's like a birthday present! And yeah, Marv... the Fop should make a comeback. They made Catman awesome, so why not?
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