UPDATE: I’m so glad to have found 13 and how he is particularly resonant with me and my fellow citizens of Vermont! Interested? Then read on true believer!
Click Here For a HERO-SIZED VERSION!
Truly one of the least popular, most obscure and oddly named Public Domain Superhero is 13. Created by writer Dick Wood(!), co-creator of Airboy, and artist Bernard Klein(Dr. Fate, Green Arrow).I couldn’t find any anecdotes to explain why this numerical nonpareil of nomism and his nitid nupsom, Jinx , were created, other than to be another half-baked Batman and Robin crime-fighting duo that Lev Gleason hoped to cash in on(and likely fill pages in the latest issue of Daredevil Comics). (more…)
For a Super-Sized version – CLICK HERE.
In an effort to stay on task with my PDSH-a-Day project- Here’s a LADY LUCK SKETCH CARD! I would like to return to Miss L with a full-figured(vava-voomie) drawing soon. Till then enjoy her visage, trademark hat and a bit o’ shoulder! (more…)
WOW, I keep getting later and LATER with this really cool blogging concept- that never happens, ever- on any blog, no never! I guess i better make this a weekly thing for now. To prime my lazy pump(don’t tell my girlfriend)- I bring you MISS MASQUE!
Miss Masque premiered in Exciting Comics #51, September 1946 by Standard/Better/Nedor Comics- I’m not sure which iteration of that company. Quoting Bill Black’s The Official Golden Age Hero and Heroine Directory , a steal at FIVE BUCKS from AC’s bookstore.
By way of Wikipedia :
Miss Masque is the secret identity of Diana Adams, a young socialite who decides to fight crime and injustice in disguise. Miss Masque has no super powers but relies on her wit and a pair of pistols. Her original costume was a mini-skirted red dress with red hat, gloves and cape, and a domino mask; yellow double “M” emblems on her chest and hat completed the ensemble. A later version of the costume had a bare midriff and shorter sleeves
Miss Masque first appeared in Nedor Comics’ Exciting Comics #51 (September 1946). She also appeared in America’s Best Comics (not to be confused with the DC Comics imprint (see below)), Fighting Yank, and Black Terror; her final Golden Age appearance was America’s Best Comics #31 (July 1949).
There was no writer or artist credited for Miss Masque’s first appearance. Alex Schomburg and Frank Frazetta provided art for later cover appearances, and Ralph Mayo penciled some splash pages.[1]
D. W. Griffith and, later, Godard, “all you need to make a great crimefighting superhero is a girl and a gun.”
Ok- so I’ve given up on trying to fix the one day gap in my PDHaD. Forget this “make up” thing! I’m just giving myself a freebie and letting -snif- go of the past. Except for public domain heroes, natch! So here is today’s hero- KID TYRANT!
I’ll finish this post tomorrow. Until then you can read about him here:
http://pdsh.wikia.com/wiki/Kid_Tyrant
http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/k/kidtyran.htm
Ciao!
I’m still off by a day finishing off these characters- ah well, that’s the way it goes. I’m catching up though! By tomorrow I’ll have Jan. 6th’s KID TYRANT and Jan. 7th’s done. I’m thinking of going with either PHANTASMO, MAGNO or BLUE TRACER, not sure yet. Let me introduce you to BLACK SATAN!
Created by Charles Sultan for YANKEE COMICS #1 (published by the Harry Chesler company)- Black Satan only appeared one time. Too bad.
Quoting his entry on the Pdsh Wikia:
“Black Satan was a district attorney [named Howard Flynn ] during the day, but at night, he became the Black Satan to fight against crime. He had no powers, but he did carry a special gun that could blind his foes temporarily.”
So Howard goes out at night slappin’ those criminals silly in a costume eerily similar to that of AMERICOMANDO or MR. AMERICA. The gun-device that blinds his foes comes up again in the silver age of Charlton comics with their 2nd revival of BLUE BEETLE. Many interesting bits and details considering Black Satan was abandoned by its readers and publisher after only one appearance! He wasn’t a prolific character, but he had a kind of swagger and panache that resonates with me. Plus, seriously, any superhero with Satan in his name is definitely cool.
Now on to my drawings. On the left is old Howard- pretty much as he comes(click the image for full size). There are a few minor changes- I gave him a Zoot Suit gold chain and watch, no clue why. also some inverted pentagrams and, finally, a complete redesign of his pistol. i made it bigger- deco-styled and gave the projector lens an inverted pentagram, too. My thinking is the weird ray that blinded enemies might bedazzle them with a vision of a pentagram! Cool right? On the right, you can see more additions. I thought he needs horns and facial hair. Gives him a bit more “Satan-y” appearance. 
Now for my last variation. I decided to take some liberties with his colors- Now Black Satan is actually BLACK, or at least allot more-so. this is the version I like best color-wise- although I think I like version 2 as well.
FYI-you can download a .cbr format scan of Yankee Comics #1 and the sole appearance of Black Satan here.
Jan. 4th’s hero is THE STEEL FIST! Look him up here- http://pdsh.wikia.com/wiki/Steel_Fist and here: http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/s/stelfist.htm Now I have to run and make pizza for 20- Wish me luck!
UPDATE!
A quick note about this sketch. if you check out the links above you will see that Steel Fist had 2 costumes What I did was combine the various elements, redesigned the helmet and added detailing that I thought would he in line with previous versions- the boot and belt and collar- which match the existing left bracelet. I thought if he’s “the Steel Fist”, the costume needed more iron work motifs.
You can read a few Steel Fist stories at BCHAT’s My Opinion Doesn’t Matter Golden Age comics blog. GO GO GO!
Back again for the new year- hope you all didn’t miss me too much! I decided that since I was back to blogging regularly that I’d return to my “sketches every day” routine- with a new angle of course. I decided to take on the discipline of sketching a public domain superhero every day. I really love these golden and silver age heroes; too some they are more than a bit dated but I think they’re real gems. My first – ATOMAN!
 |
| ATOMAN From SKETCHES 1-10 |