Scott learns from the lantern that it was forged centuries ago from a meteorite that fell in China. Over the years, the lantern changed hands, blessing its owners with an array of miracles. The lantern promises Alan Scott unimaginable powers should he make a ring from the lantern. If Scott touches the ring daily, he'll be given protection and ability to master the elements of the universe. Except for wood, which Scott learns is the Ring's only weakness, the only other limitation for the ring is the wearer's imagination.
As the story progresses, Alan finds the man behind the railroad tragedy. The fiend confesses. But in his panic, has a heart attack which prompts Alan Scott to not use his powers for revenge or selfish gains. Donning a wild costume made of a red tunic, green pants, a yellow cape and a domino mask in order to strike fear in the hearts of villains, Alan Scott becomes the Green Lantern!
Along with the first appearance of the Green Lantern, this issue marks the debut of the title's new logo. The first logo that looked more like a highway route marker shield. It's replacement was a banner that used stylized art deco lettering. If the font looks familiar, that's because it's just like the lettering used for National Publication's (later DC Comics) flagship title, Action Comics. There's only one problem with this; All-American Comics was owned by rival publisher All-American Publications. Green Lantern and friends such as the Flash, Wonder Woman and Hawkman would join the ranks of Superman and Batman when National bought out All-American in 1946.
All-American Comics was an anthology series that utilized reprinted newspaper strips with all- features. Ripley's Believe It Or Not and Bud Fisher's Mutt and Jeff were some popular strips that appeared in All-American Comics.
New material that appears in the pages of All-American Comics included the child cartoonist Scribbly. Created by Sheldon Mayer, Scribbly would later introduce the character of the Red Tornado who wasn't an android but a hefty stay at home mom who wore red Long Johns and a stew pot on her head when she fought the bad guys. Don Shelby's futuristic Gary Concord: The Ultra-Man fought off mad scientists, alien menaces and fawning good girls in distress. The Navy's secret weapons of soldiers Red, White and Blue are tasked with a mission to find spies operating under the cover of international maritime law.
In the very middle of this issue was a segment sponsored by frozen confectioner Popsicle. The company unveiled a redemption program for it's customers where fun prizes could be redeemed for the paper bags that acted as wrappers for the frozen treats. Stamps from around the world were highlighted in the campaign. An advertising feature starring the character of Popsicle Pete extends into the world of the philatelist. The center story sees Popsicle Pete and his buddies going into the stamp collecting supply business after they buy a rare stamp for a very good price.
The 2023 facsimile edition of All-American Comics #16 was a time capsule of cartoons, swashbuckling heroes, retro advertisements and the cultural norms of the day. Originally published in 1940, the war in Europe looms in some of these adventures that are peppered with spies and European monarchs looking to destroy America from within. This issue's Scribbly feature wears evidence of racism with a black horse trainer looking more like a brown teddy bear than a human being. There are also elements of misogyny with the manly heroes berating and even manhandling their fairer sexed costars.
In spite of these archaic tropes, I applaud DC Comics for not editing a work such as this. Keeping the good with the bad and the ugly shows how far we've come from a pre-war US of A. Hopefully younger generations will still be able to appreciate the quality of these works while identifying what societal missteps are still in need of fixing.
Completing this review completes Task #41 (A Facsimile Edition) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.
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