“Yesterday’s” Comic> The Blue Beetle #42

Dan soon regretted opening an Instagram account.

The Blue Beetle #42

Fox Features Syndicate (July/August, 1946)

I got sick before I could review this last week, so it seems fair to come back on it. This second Fox run hasn’t been the greatest, and I’m sure I’ll be complaining again, but there are still some positives to this run despite the inconsistent art, weird stories, and meh at best experiences. The Holyoke run added an unnecessary sidekick via blackmail (makes me wonder if the writer was projecting his own experience being forced to add Sparky/Spunky), but he’s gone now. Mike is finally warming up to our hero, or at least was last issue. Also, with the exception of a back-up, poor attempts at comedy, and a text story everything is about the Blue Beetle and his friends.

So for all they’ve done wrong, and I’ve listed quite a few of their sins, it’s still somehow an improvement. I still wish they could get back the writers from the first run, but I’ve seen slight improvements, even if only in the Joan Mason solo stories. Let’s see how that trend goes into this issue.

[Read along with me here]

Pirate Treasure

Something strange is going on with a nearby island because geography is a guessing game in this comic. Not as bad as Paw Patrol holding all the ecosystems in a small radius but I still want to know what city this is. The Secret Service asks for Dan and Mike’s help and they actually turn to Joan for any info she might have. And her info is helpful…which is the only actually serious help she or Mike are in this story. The plot’s okay, both the story and the criminal’s, with some mild 1940s “we’re not quite over the war yet” racism since this is a Japanese plot that was ended by the war and the crooks decided to take advantage (I called counterfeiters when I saw the big barrels of ink). The art isn’t too bad but the dialog is a bit clunky.

Murder On Stage

Looks like this issue has nice, clear titles. Sometimes I have to turn to the Grand Comic Database, but it’s been getting better knowing what the story title is. Hope the trend continues. I’m noticing a trend of our trio going to Italian restaurants together this issue. Dan invites Joan out to dinner but she has an extra ticket so Mike can join her at the theater, where she is doing a play review. Not even looking into a crime. Just sent by the paper to see a new play. Joan might not be that into you, Dan. Of course a murder happens and our group get tangled into a jewel ring, but this isn’t our Joan Mason story for the issue–in fact there sadly isn’t one–the Blue Beetle gets involved. Not as bad as the previous story when it comes to clunky moments, but still some odd panels that I have to think were due to space limits. Overall this was an improvement.

Bronze Man: The Liberty Bell

Is this a new superhero? Apparently he can fly, is bulletproof but can still be knocked out (wonder how that works) and wears a bronze mask…except he doesn’t. The story says he was disfigured but his “mask” looks like a normal human face. According to the Grand Comics Database: “The creator of Bronze Man was Alvin C. Hollingsworth, born in Harlem, New York, and was one of the few African-American artists to work in comics during the 1940’s and 1950’s. At age 12, he assisted on the art chores for the hero known as Cat-Man. He meant for Bronze Man to be of African-American heritage, wearing an iron mask whenever he appeared as Bronze Man, but the published version was Caucasian and sans the mask.” Too bad. Hollingsworth’s version might have been interesting. They could have had a black Bronze Age character and been the history setter. Instead the winner is Silver Age cowboy Lobo. You done goofed, kid. Or someone confused him for Doc Savage, the “Man Of Bronze”.

This is our last story for the issue, as Major Randy Ronald (whose real? face we never see) visits the home of Paul Revere as their local Liberty Bell is stolen. I thought the Liberty Bell was in Philadelphia and couldn’t be rung because of a crack in it, not in Boston and easily rung and stolen. Nice twist on who the thief is and why. It’s a good story to end on, and at least it wasn’t another bad comedy strip.

There does seem to be less stories this issue, and no Joan solo adventure, which is too bad. Perhaps the times were changing with story count, but a Joan solo would have been better than this new hero, even if it was one of the better stories this issue. The others are indeed an improvement. What this means for Fox’s second run of Blue Beetle going forward we’ll get an idea about next time.