Bobby Benson's B-Bar-B Riders #5 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

12 year old Bobby Benson debuted on the radio airwaves in 1932. After the death of his parents, Bobby inherited the B-Bar-B Ranch, becoming the boss to a rag tag bunch of cow hands. In between dramatic stories of cattle rustlers, thieving bandits and angry Native American Indians, the tension was eased with campfire sing-alongs and tall tales told by the ranch's handyman, Windy. 

Though the stories were set in Texas and the fact that Bobby and his crew faced more than their fair share of desperadoes, there was a modern element to the adventures. In this issue, ranchers chase after a band of aspiring train robbers by commandeering a tour bus to catch the criminals. Then foreman Tex Mason in disguise as the vigilante, the Lemonade Kid, goes after a gang of bank robbers that use a helicopter to make their getaways.  Both stories are rather creative mixing Old Western action with mid-twentieth century technology. Though can anyone explain how those helicoptering baddies managed to get a hideout atop an inaccessible mesa?

Later, Windy regales some of the B-Bar-B's juvenile visitors to a story of the time the ranch was invaded by giant ants. Then there's a prose tale about a Texas Ranger outfoxing a wanted killer before Bobby Benson is kidnapped by horse rustlers in the closing story.

The 20 issue series produced by Magazine Enterprises under its Parkway Publishing Company banner. was the first all-new comic appearance by Bobby Benson. In the 1930s, ME released a pair of comics that collected stories from the short-lived newspaper strips based on the adventures at the B-Bar-B Ranch. Both books were radio giveaways issued by cereal producer, the Hecker-H-O Company, who sponsored the radio show for a time.

The first Bobby Benson program ran from 1932-1936 on CBS. A revival on the Mutual Broadcasting System debuted in 1949. A year later, Bobby made the jump to television in a  live action series. In response to the show, ME published a comic book series. Bobby Benson actually makes a reference to filming the TV show in the last story of this issue. The comic outlived the television show by about a year before being cancelled in 1953. Bobby Benson and His B-Bar-B Riders aired its last radio program in 1955. A number of child actors played the role of Bobby over the show's cumulative 10 year run including future Dead End Kid, Billy Halop. Other stars of note to work regularly on the radio series included Don Knotts, Tex Ritter and Billy's sister Florence Halop who was most well known for her brief role as Flo the Baliff on NBC's Night Court.

Bob Powell is credited with having penciled the cover and at least one of the 4 stories in this issue. Raymond C. Krank edited and is believed to have written the prose 2-pager, 'Job For A Ranger.'

Completing this review completes Task #1 (Comic from the Golden Age (1938-1955)) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Superman Smashes The Klan: The Graphic Novel (Family Comic Friday)

Based on 'Clan of the Fiery Cross', the classic story from the Superman radio story of the 1940s, racism rears it's ugly head in Metropolis. Set in 1946, the same year of the radio play, a new family has moved into the suburbs. 

The Lees are a Chinese-American family transplanted from the city's Chinatown thanks to a new job offering for dad. Though welcomed by the neighbors, the Lees aren't appreciated by all, when a fiery cross is lit in their front yard. As the family become the victims of increasing levels of violence, not only will Clark Kent and Lois Lane champion the Lee's cause- they'll also be under the protection of the Man of Steel! 

I've been longing for this story for a good 2 years. 2019 when the announcement for this graphic novel was announced. 2020 when the book dropped but I couldn't access it at my local library due to COVID. I must say, this was worth the wait. 

Superman Smashes the Klan is a powerful tale written by Gene Leun Yang (The Shadow Hero). I think setting this book in the 1940s with the 1940s era Superman was a smart idea. Mind you, during this era, Superman was strong and mighty. But he wasn't the god-like character he is today. This Superman doesn't use heat vision or cold breath. He can't fly-yet. And based on his fractured memories of his birth family, this Man of Tomorrow doesn't really feel like a part of the human race. Thus by having Superman being less powerful, it makes his war on racism and hate that much more poignant. 

A lot of time is spent from the perspective of the Lee children, Roberta and Tommy. The addition of rather young Jimmy Olsen helps keep their part of the story in the DC Universe. But I feel that there's just not enough Superman in this here Superman tale. 

I was also a little unsure about one of the characters. The chief of police is African American and I'm not sure how likely it would have been in 1946 for the head of security for a major American metropolitan area to be of color. I understand that by having the chief a black man, it makes the struggle between the boys in blue and the thugs in white robes more poignant. I just don't know how plausible this would've been in real life. (I welcome factoids in the comments to assist with this quandary!)

Great artwork. Yang collaborator Gurihiru gives this book a very retro while still looking sleek and cool. Superman and his city are illustrated in an art deco style not seen since the Max Fleischer toon takes on the Man of Steel.

I loved this read. Well worth the wait and incredibly meaningful!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.