Showing posts with label George Marcoux. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George Marcoux. Show all posts

Friday, June 29, 2012

Reading Room: SUPERSNIPE "There Shall Come...a Costume!" Conclusion

This scene does not appear in the comic, but it's really cool!
After inadvertently saving a scientist neighbor from enemy spies (but not receiving credit for the deed), Koppy McFad aka SuperSnipe decides to adopt a distinctive costume...a pair of his grandfather's red flannel underwear, his father's blue "men's club" lodge cape, and a domino mask.
Suitably-garbed, the Man of 1955 follows some state Conservation Wardens as they prepare to battle an invasion of Japanese Beetles.
Unfortunately, the neophyte superhero thinks "Japanese Beetles" are like Navy SEALS (they're really insects), and screws up the Wardens' attempt to trap and exterminate the bugs.
Spanked and chastised, Koppy is sent to the grocery store where he sees a sign denouncing sugar hoarding as being unpatriotic...
And you thought Peter Parker/Spider-Man was the first "hero with problems"!
Speaking of which, this story is actually untitled.
The Grand Comics DataBase made up their own title "Invasion of the Japanese Beetles".
But since that plotline is less than half of the story, I thought something a bit more evocative would work better.
Since the big point of the story is Koppy gaining his distinctive garb, I thought a Stan Lee-esque phrase would convey the point.

Story and art for this tale from SuperSnipe Comics V1N6 (1942) by George Marcoux.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Reading Room: SUPERSNIPE "There Shall Come...a Costume!" Part 2

After inadvertently saving a scientist neighbor from enemy spies (but not receiving credit for the deed), Koppy McFad aka SuperSnipe decides to adopt a distinctive costume...a pair of his grandfather's red flannel underwear, his father's blue "men's club" lodge cape, and a domino mask.
Now suitably-garbed, the Man of 1955 follows some state Conservation Wardens as they prepare to battle an invasion of Japanese Beetles...
You'll find out...tomorrow!

Story and art for this tale from SuperSnipe Comics V1N6 (1942), which was Koppy's first issue, by George Marcoux.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Reading Room: SUPERSNIPE "There Shall Come...a Costume!" Part 1

He was so popular he took over Army & Navy Comics after one issue...
...but at this point, Koppy McFad, aka SuperSnipe, still didn't have a costume!
Will the now-suitably-garbed SuperSnipe save us all from an invasion of Japanese beetles?
Be here tomorrow to find out!
Story and art for this tale from SuperSnipe Comics V1N6 (1942), which was Koppy's first issue, by George Marcoux.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Reading Room: SUPERSNIPE "Kidnapping of Mary Lou"

Yeah, we're fanboys (and fangirls) here at Atomic Kommie Comics™...
...but even we are mere poseurs compared to Koppy McFad, aka SuperSnipe!
In one of the first comics metafictions, Koppy was a kid who read comics and then daydreamed about being a superhero himself, including interacting with other comics characters, who were fictional characters in his world, as well as real-life villains like Adolf Hitler!
Debuting in the back pages of Shadow Comics, he appeared briefly in Doc Savage Comics, then transferred to Army & Navy Comics, becoming so popular that the book was retitled SuperSnipe Comics as of #6!
In fact his appearance in Army & Navy Comics #5 (1942) was so important, it featured the only time Doc Savage and The Shadow appeared together (albeit in a cameo) in any story before the 1990s...as you can see below!
The Shadow and Doc Savage are holding up SuperSnipe. Can you name the other heroes? If you can, you're a real fanboy/girl!
BTW, you'll note that Koppy didn't start wearing the trademark red underwear (as seen in the cover at the top of the entry) until he gained his own title...
Ironically, SuperSnipe outlasted most of the superheroes who inspired him, with his title's run ending in late 1949.
Story and art by George Marcoux, an underrated master of humor comics with over 200 stories and covers to his credit.
In an amazing feat, Marcoux was the only writer or artist to render SuperSnipe during his run!
(How many characters have that distinction outside of a mini-series?)
Curiously, his adventures haven't been reprinted, resulting in his comics being among the most expensive on eBay and other venues!