Mystery Men and Comics History

All-Star Squadron #3 (DC, November 1981, 60 cents)
"The Dooms of Dark December" Writer/Co-Creators/Penciller: Roy Thomas and Rich Buckler, Embellisher: Jerry Ordway, Letterer: John Costanza, Colorist: Carl Gafford, Editor: Len Wein.

The conclusion of the All-Stars's first mission finds the team—comprising Johnny Quick, Robotman, Libery Belle, and others—on the parallel world Earth-Two in late 1941. Per Degaton has traveled back in time with a group of cronies to engineer a pre-emptive Japanese attack on northern and southern California. Safe in his sub-oceanic carrier, he revels in the defeat of the Justice Society of America on an active volcanic island in the Pacific.

The Shining Knight and geologist Danette Reilly have infiltrated Degaton's submarine and face Wotan, Professor Zodiak, and Solomon Grundy. They escape and return with the All-Stars just as hypnotized pilots approach Monterey, California. Hawkman, Robotman, and Johnny Quick fend them off, and the JSA is revived by the Spectre to square off against Grundy and the others, who are soon returned to their own times as Degaton flees.



Even isolated from the first two issues, Thomas's story holds up reasonably well as a standalone, and Buckler and Ordway's artwork is solid, if not surprising. Page layouts often incorporate smaller panels—seven or eight per page—and the image of the Spectre looking above the active volcano on page 21 is wonderful. Thomas's retelling of Degaton's gathering of the other villains from across time—Wotan from the late '40s, Zodiak from 1948, Grundy from 1947, so so on—establishes some sympathy for the lesser criminals, mere pawns out of time, "expendable," even, in Degaton's plans.

The issue also includes a Red Tornado Hostess Cup Cake ad ("My computer brain informs me we must bait the Vacuum Vulture with something dark and delicious.") and a "Super-Villain Fact File" profiling Grundy, Zodiak, Wotan, and Sky Pirate. Page five includes an off-hand mention of King Canute, king of Denmark, England, and Norway, referring to the legend of King Canute and the tide, which in later tellings portrays him as a deluded monarch who believes he has supernatural powers.

Availability: This issue is included in Showcase Presents: All-Star Squadron Vol. 1.

A Cartoon Bombshell

Fritzi Ritz Comics #6 (United Feature Syndicate, 1949, 10 cents)
Fritzi Ritz is the beautiful and leggy aunt of Ernie Bushmiller's comic strip creation Nancy. This comic largely collects single-page gag strips (reformatted newspaper comics) featuring Fritzi, her boyfriend Phil Fumble, and other characters—with a center section of six one-page Abbie an' Slats strips by Raeburn Van Buren.

The humor focuses on Phil's affection for Fritzi and her attention from other suitors, Phil giving the eye to other gals, the giving of gifts, taking a long time to dress for a date, the need for exercise, and other gentle cleverness. One strip even includes a single-panel Nancy cameo.



Bushmiller's art and writing is just crackerjack. The jokes are loving and positive, and his artwork is great. While Nancy and Sluggo are simple and cartoony, his attention to Fritzi and the other good-girl characters in these strips is more attentive to detail, the fine line of various fashions, and the female form. Fritzi is kind of a cartoon bombshell.



The section of Abbie an' Slats is an excellent counterpoint. The strip is more of an adventure story, with more realistic artwork. Groggins heads to Boomistan to spend a found attic trove of "droopees," only to remember how he acquired them and realize he's not welcome in the country. It's a promising story—and a strip with which I was not familiar. Van Buren's art reminded me a little of Milton Caniff by way of Al Capp.



What a great comic this was. It was refreshing to see Fritzi away from Nancy—and strongly shows that comic strips can attract varying age groups—as well as support multiple levels of storylines.

Availability: While the Fritzi Ritz comic strip—which actually predated Nancy—is not currently in print, you might find back issues. Nancy comic strips are available in several volumes, including Nancy Is Happy: Complete Dailies 1943-1945 (Vol. 1), Nancy Likes Christmas: Complete Dailies 1946-1948 (Vol. 2), and Nancy Loves Sluggo: Complete Dailies 1949-1951. Ken Pierce Books's Abbie an' Slats reprint volume is still available.