All-American Comics #16 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The 16th issue of All-American Comics marked the debut of the Alan Scott Green Lantern. Created by Martin Nodell and Bill Finger, Alan Scott was an engineer who was overseeing the inaugural voyage of a new train route he designed. The owner of a rival engineering firm bombs the train, killing all aboard except for Scott. Searching for survivors through the wreckage, Scott stumbles across an unusual green hued lantern. 

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.

Batman Arkham: The Riddler

It only took 2 issues for the Riddler to return after his debut in 1948. Yet, it was almost 20 years before the man born as Edward Nigma would return to perplex Batman and Robin. Just in time for being the first villain to appear on the live-action Batman series from 1966!

This is a fantastic collection of Riddler stories. Many of which I've never read before. A lot of folks think that The Joker is the best Batman villain. And while the Clown Prince of Crime is his most deadliest rival, I think that it's the Riddler who is Batman's most cunning, most cerebral and most infuriating. 

I think that Batman looks at Joker as a side project. Someone to try and cure. I feel that it's Riddler who really gets up in Batman's crawl because the two are just so much alike. Both are detectives. Batman uses his brains to solve the crimes. It's Riddler who uses his intellect to craft those crimes. And for a very brief, but fun time, Riddler was also a real deal detective, playing private investigator for cash and glory.

There's two amazing stories in which Batman and Riddler are forced to team-up. While I thought that ending to both stories was contrived, the build-up was this awesome buddy-cop thing that had some great one-liners. (It's here where you really see E.Nigma rubbing the Dark Knight the wrong way, like a wedgie from Hell.)

I loved this collection of stories that feature art and stories from a fantastic line-up of talent including Bill Finger, Dick Sprang, Gardner Fox, Jim Aparo, Paul Dini and Scott Snyder. Featuring stories from every era of Batman comics, you get a perfect, yet incomplete glimpse into the psyche of one of the greatest Batman foes of all-time.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Batman: The War Years (1939-1945)

   This collection of early Batman stories is the first of 3 volumes devoted to the World War II exploits of the DC Trinity. These books are edited by legend Roy Thomas, who also provides his unique take on the source material as a comics insider and devoted historian of the medium. Under Thomas' watch, 'The War Years' is divided into chapters focusing on each phase of the war effort such as life in the United States prior to Pearl Harbor, fifth column espionage, war bonds, and the spoils of war itself, as it pertains to the evolution of the Batman. 

    Most of these stories are pretty crude in regards to the art, dialogue, and plot. But I wouldn't change a single page. During World War II, every American was expected to make sacrifices. With rationing, shortages of able-bodied men drafted into the Armed Forces, and constant fear of an Axis invasion, if a mistake was made in a comic book it was nearly impossible to see it fixed in a timely manner if at all. 

   Comics were considered a vital tool to providing morale, instruction, and patriotism to American's youth and our fighting men, so it was of the utmost importance that publication deadlines were met no matter what. That level of dedication to seeing our world kept free from tyranny allowed me to overlook any and all errors contained within this book.

    This volume contains about 20 stories and numerous covers that highlight the Batman's role in the second world war. As you witness Batman go from a brooding solo act to an optimistic duo with the addition of Robin, and finally merge into an icon of justice, you'll encounter fellow heroes such as Superman, George Washington, and President Roosevelt. Featuring villains such as the Joker and the Scarecrow, the truly evil guest stars of this book are Hitler, Emperor Hirohito and Mussolini and their enemy agents. All this and more comes to you from the deft hands of Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, Bill Finger, and many more artists and writers who helped craft the Dark Knight into the legend he is today.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.