Curiously Familiar #10: Captain Marvel and Marvelman

If you haven't been reading "Curiously Familiar" then you've arrived just in time for the finale! This is a series of posts where I examine various comic book characters who were published by at least two different companies, but wore a different name at each one. This is not the same as characters who were created in homage - in this instances, the two characters were actually intended to be the same entities. Let's go out with some style!

Young reporter Billy Batson learns that by saying the word "Shazam" he can transform into Captain Marvel, a super-powerful figure who fights for justice alongside his Marvel Family.

Young reporter Micky Moran learns that by saying the word "Kimota" he can transform into Marvelman, a super-powerful figure who fights for justice alongside his Marvelman Family.

The Story Behind the Story: When Fawcett decided to get out of the serial comic book business it left one of their UK packagers in a bit of sticky wicket, wot? Captain Marvel had been immensely popular around the world, including the environs of the insatiable Brits; the solution was to simply dye the hero's hair, give him a new costume and otherwise keep calm and carry on internet memes. Marvelman did eventually fold up, only to fall into the lap of one Alan Moore in 1982; Moore used the character as a starting point for a deconstruction of the super hero genre and saw his work repurposed in the USA under the title Miracleman, owing to the tender sensibilities of Marvel Comics.

Thankfully, that was the last time there were any complications in the publishing history of Fawcett's Captain Marvel franchise.

Thank you for following "Curiously Familiar!" There were many other characters whom I might have featured, but these were the ten I found most interesting.

Curiously Familiar #9: Doctor Nemesis and Doctor Death

Here we meet again for "Curiously Familiar," a series of posts where I've been examining various comic book characters who were published by at least two different companies, but wore a different name at each one. This is not the same as characters who were created in homage - in this instances, the two characters were actually intended to be the same entities. Today we have an interesting tangle!

Doctor Nemesis was an ordinary physician named James Bradley with an extraordinary gift for fashioning drugs, such as his own truth serum. When his daily work led him to crimes, he donned his surgical mask to fight for justice!

Doctor Death was an ordinary physician named James Bradley with an extraordinary gift in multiple scientific disciplines. When his daily work led him to crimes, he would don his surgical mask to fight for justice - until the Nazis made him a better offer!

The Story Behind the Story: Doctor Nemesis fought criminals and Axis threats in a brief, undistinguished run of stories at Ace in the 1940s. He might have remained in the musty history of comics but for Roy Thomas, who wanted his 1993 Invaders mini-series to feature Golden Age heroes who switched sides to the Nazis. Mark Gruenwald objected to this idea, so instead of using Golden Age Marvel heroes, Thomas employed non-Marvel characters, such as Doctor Nemesis - renamed Doctor Death. In fact, Doctor Death was the principal leader of the book's Battle-Axis; he also turned out to be the creator of the android Volton (somewhat outside the providence of a medical practitioner) and ended the limited series quite dead, electrocuted by an upset Volton.

More than a decade later, something quite curious happened; X-Men scribe Matt Fraction got hold of the character and brought him into his book's cast, taking advantage of his previous Marvel appearance but otherwise completely ignoring it; he was alive, again called himself Doctor Nemesis and was staunchly anti-Axis (to the point where his anti-Nazi rhetoric was practically a running gag). The only thing Fraction kept from the Invaders appearance was the idea that Doctor Nemesis was a practitioner of comic book science - meaning, he could do anything (and thus repeat various tired "science!" internet memes). Doctor Nemesis has, surprisingly, become a useful member of the X-Men cast, with his misanthropic ravings proving quite popular. His time spent living and dying as a Nazi collaborator have been forgotten. Depending on how you regard these circumstances, he's been either two different characters or three!

Come back tomorrow for the final "Curiously Familiar."

Curiously Familiar #8: Doctor Occult and Doctor Mystic

We turn once again to "Curiously Familiar," a series of posts where I've been examining various comic book characters who were published by at least two different companies, but wore a different name at each one. This is not the same as characters who were created in homage - in this instances, the two characters were actually intended to be the same entities. Step aboard!

Doctor Occult, the Ghost Detective, faced down weird supernatural threats, but was certainly capable of rising to the challenge due to his own vast array of supernatural abilities, including astral projection.

Doctor Mystic, the Occult Detective, faced down weird supernatural threats, but was certainly capable of rising to the challenge due to his own vast array of supernatural abilities, including astral projection.

The Story Behind the Story: Doctor Occult was a very early series conceived of by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, one of the many rejected comic strip proposals they were able to retrofit into a recurring DC Comics feature beginning in 1936. However, for some reason, early in the character's publishing history one of their stories wound up at Centaur, along with various other (retitled) DC strips. This proved to be an anomaly as the rest of Doctor Occult continued to appear with DC.

Considering the troubles Siegel & Shuster's families have had with the Superman rights, I wonder where Doctor Occult fits into everything? Did they also trade him for pennies? The existence of the Doctor Mystic episode certainly points to Doctor Occult being a work-for-hire series. At the very least, one assumes the estates could publish their own Doctor Mystic comics and DC wouldn't be able to stop them. Boy, that would get their goat, stealing away both of Doctor Occult's fans!

Curiously Familiar #7: Demon-Hunter and Devil-Slayer and Bloodwing

Welcome back to "Curiously Familiar," a series of posts where I'm examining various comic book characters who turned up at at least two different publishers, but wore a different name at each one. This is not the same as characters who were created in homage - in this instances, the two characters were actually intended to be the same entities. Today we have three for the price of one!

Former mobster Gideon Cross became Demon-Hunter after joining the Cult of the Harvester of Eyes. Although benefiting from his new psychic powers and mystical shadow-cloak which opens a portal to an endless supply of weapons, Demon-Hunter turned against the cult and sought to prevent Xenogenesis, the demonic invasion of Earth.

Former mobster Eric Simon Payne became Devil-Slayer after joining the Cult of the Harvester of Eyes. Although benefiting from his new psychic powers and mystical shadow-cloak which opens a portal to an endless supply of weapons, Devil-Slayer turned against the cult and sought to prevent Xenogenesis, the demonic invasion of Earth.

Former mobster Gideon Cross became Bloodwing after joining the Crimson Cult. Although benefiting from his new psychic powers, Bloodwing turned against the cult and... [story incomplete]

The Story Behind the Story: To comic book fans of a certain age, Rich Buckler was their Rob Liefeld; an artist whose tracings (usually from Jack Kirby or Jim Steranko) frustrated some, and who would never let a decent concept die, no matter how many times it had to be restaged. The story began with Atlas Comics in 1975, where David Kraft & Rich Buckler introduced Demon-Hunter. Like yesterday's feature on Howard Victor Chaykin's Scorpion, Buckler was a hungry and dynamic artist who could have helped Atlas win over Marvel Comics fans. However, the book didn't last beyond a single issue; Atlas' loss proved to be Marvel's gain. Just like Chaykin, they continued their story at Marvel, bringing him into (of all things) a story starring Buckler's Deathlok, who time traveled to the present-day Marvel Universe in Marvel Spotlight #33 (1977) for the sole purpose of meeting the renamed Demon-Hunter, who bore the same powers and origin, simply wearing a redesigned costume.

Although Kraft continued to use Devil-Slayer in the Defenders, Buckler's involvement ended there; perhaps he regretted losing control of his co-creation, because in his self-published 1981 magazine Galaxia he revisited the concept again, this time using the name Bloodwing (but again with the same costume, powers and origin and restoring Demon-Hunter's real name). Unfortunately, Galaxia didn't take off and whatever hope Buckler had for continuing Bloodwing (or completing his origin) was scuttled.

Devil-Slayer is still out there, showing up when (and where) you least expect it.

Curiously Familiar #6: The Scorpion and Dominic Fortune

And we're back for another week of "Curiously Familiar," a series of posts where I'm examining various comic book characters who turned up at at least two different publishers, but wore a different name at each one. This is not the same as characters who were created in homage - in this instances, the two characters were actually intended to be the same entities. What a concept!

When you need a man of action, look to that jack-of-all-trades Moro Frost, the Scorpion! This gun for hire has roved his way through episodes of daring-do throughout the 1930s!

When you need a man of action, look to that jack-of-all-trades Dominic Fortune! This gun for hire has roved his way through episodes of daring-do throughout the 1930s!

The Story Behind the Story: Howard Victor Chaykin was still young and promising when he launched the Scorpion for Atlas Comics in 1975. Unfortunately, he didn't hit it off well with the Atlas people and quickly exited, renaming his character Dominic Fortune (with only a minor change of costume and no real change of concept) and bringing him to Marvel Comics that same year. Atlas tried their best to imitate Marvel - what a blow to lose of their original properties and the fresh new creator who conceived them to the very entity they were in combat with! Dominic Fortune went on to become a memorable (albeit minor) part of the Marvel Universe while Chaykin moved onward and upward to greater things. The Scorpion had a promising start, but lost it all in the stretch.

Curiously Familiar #5: South Sea Girl and Vooda

Today I bring you another "Curiously Familiar," a series of posts where I'm examining various comic book characters who turned up at at least two different publishers, but wore a different name at each one. This is not the same as characters who were created in homage - in this instances, the two characters were actually intended to be the same entities. Here we go!

Alani, queen of the Vanishing Isles, proves to be an adept protector of her realm! Known as "the South Sea Girl," she uses her wits and daring to drive away those would exploit her land.

Vooda, queen of a Congo kingdom, proves to be an adept protector of her realm! She uses her wits and daring to drive away those would exploit her land.

The Story Behind the Story: The short-lived adventures of Leader's South Sea Girl appeared from 1946-47 in Seven Seas Comics, a delightful series of swashbuckling adventure tales. By 1955, Farrell introduced their heroine Vooda (named so that they could continue to publish the comic Voodoo with a Comics Code-friendly name) but, being a publisher with very little in the way of original material, they looked to reprints of South Sea Girl to fill in most of Vooda's adventures. The fact that the South Seas are rather, well, in Asia-Pacific while the Congo is rather, well, all the way on the Atlantic coast of Africa mattered little. The Congo, Polynesia... they're practically the same place!

Curiously Familiar #4: Howard the Duck and Leonard the Duck

Today we continue "Curiously Familiar," a series of posts where I'm examining various comic book characters who turned up at at least two different publishers, but wore a different name at each one. This is not the same as characters who were created in homage - in this instances, the two characters were actually intended to be the same entities. On with the show!

Up until now this feature has been trapped in the Golden Age of Comics; let's jump ahead!

Trapped in a world he never made, Howard the Duck was an acerbic, cantankerous waterfowl who kept getting into trouble alongside his (human) female companion Beverly Switzler.

Trapped in a world he never made, Leonard the Duck was an acerbic, cantankerous waterfowl who kept getting into trouble alongside his (human) female companion Rhonda Martini.

The Story Behind the Story: Howard the Duck entered the pages of Steve Gerber's Man-Thing as a mere flight of fancy from artist Frank Brunner, but Gerber became so taken with the character's possibilities that he kept bringing him back until he finally landed his own series, later his own newspaper strip and even a presidential campaign! Howard was one of the most popular comic book characters of his time, but his success came almost entirely from Gerber. When Gerber attempted to assert his ownership of Howard, publisher Marvel Comics disagreed and Gerber exited; without Gerber and facing restrictions from Disney (who objected to Howard's resemblance to Donald), the character became mostly unusable (and particularly toxic after his terrible feature film became a particularly memorable flop).

Gerber went on to write similar characters (such as Stewart the Rat and Destroyer Duck) who failed to catch on, but occasionally returned to Howard. In the late 90s, Marvel became interested in Howard again and lured Gerber back for a Spider-Man/Howard the Duck team-up in Spider-Man Team-Up #5. However, Gerber took the opportunity to set up a cross-company crossover with Image's Savage Dragon/Destroyer Duck comic, which Gerber was also writing. Marvel had no idea what was happening in the Image pages, but it turned out Gerber had planned a heist far more interesting than the tale itself: in the Image book, Howard was cloned several times and it was a Howard clone who wound up returning to the Marvel Universe with Spider-Man; the real Howard changed his name to Leonard and changed his feathers' colors. Thus, Gerber had tricked Marvel out of their own property! You can imagine how thrilled the company was with Gerber after this. Having gone to this much trouble to regain control over Howard, it shouldn't surprise you to learn Gerber did almost nothing with Leonard afterward. Strangely, Gerber eventually came back to Marvel for another Howard comic, meaning by his own rules he was writing about Howard's clone.

Fortunately, there's a happy ending to this tale: now that Disney owns Marvel they can dictate terms on all of Marvel's creations instead of singling out Howard. And now that Gerber is deceased writers can use Howard again without feeling guilty! Everyone wins! ...Except for Leonard, the one true Howard, who remains forgotten.

Curiously Familiar #3: The Phantom Lady and the Blue Bulleteer

Today we continue "Curiously Familiar," a series of posts where I'll be casting some light on various comic book characters who turned up at at least two different publishers, but wore a different name at each one. This is not the same as characters who were created in homage - in this instances, the two characters were actually intended to be the same entities. Makes sense?

Dressed in a flimsy outfit, Sandra Knight waged war on crime in the 1940s with her black-light projector device and the identity of the Phantom Lady.

Dressed in a flimsy outfit, Laura Wright waged war on crime in the 1940s with her twin pistols and the identity of the Blue Bulleteer.

The Story Behind the Story: On the surface, these two would seem to have nothing in common - but scratch the surface and you find a story more interesting than any either has ever appeared in. The Phantom Lady debuted at Quality Comics in yellow outfit and, like most non-Jack Cole Quality characters, wasn't that memorable. However, Quality sold her off to Fox, where she fell into the warm embrace of Matt Baker, whose sexed-up blue & red Phantom Lady became one of the most notorious "good girl" heroines of the 40s! After Fox the character wound up at a few other publishers, but her brand of cheesecake couldn't survive the Comics Code. However, Quality later sold their properties to DC Comics... and somehow convinced them that Phantom Lady was still theirs to sell.

Now, enter Bill Black, a fanzine publisher and "good girl" enthusiast. Believing Matt Baker's Phantom Lady to be in the public domain, he began releasing his own Phantom Lady comics (often, however, lacking the restraint of Baker when it came to nudity). As Black's comics went from the fan pages to professional productions, DC finally had the presence of mind to object; thus, Black salvaged the character by renaming her Blue Bulleteer and further modifying Baker's costume (notably by the addition of a mask) even though DC didn't own the Baker iteration. He also developed the character Nightveil to serve as Blue Bulleteer's present-day counterpart and gave her a costume and power set which pretty neatly removed any lingering connection to the Phantom Lady.

And thus it stands: DC Comics owns the unpopular version of Phantom Lady and occasionally press her into service to stand around in crowd scenes or get killed; within any 10 year span, Black has likely made more use of the popular version of Phantom Lady than the property's entire DC Comics history. And now thanks to the wonders of the internet, we can all enjoy the public domain Phantom Lady for free! Thanks for buying the wrong property, DC!

Curiously Familiar #2: American Ace and Lieutenant Lank

Today we continue "Curiously Familiar," a series of entries where I'll be casting some light on various comic book characters who turned up at at least two different publishers, but wore a different name at each one. This is not the same as characters who were created in homage - in this instances, the two characters were actually intended to be the same entities. Did you understand any of that?

Perry Webb is a rugged, two-fisted ace American pilot who finds himself in the European nation of Attania when neighbouring country Castile d'Or launches an invasion, spearheaded by their cruel Queen Ursula. Webb takes to the skies in his plane to defend Attania!

Lieutenant Lank is a rugged, two-fisted ace American pilot who finds himself in the European nation of Attania when neighbouring country Castile d'Or launches an invasion, spearheaded by their cruel Queen Ursula. Lank takes to the skies in his plane to defend Attania!

The Story Behind the Story: We have to begin with Paul J. Lauretta, a member of the Funnies, Inc. studio who had been kicking around a comic strip proposal which hadn't sold; Funnies, Inc. repackaged it to appear in Motion Pictures Funnies Weekly, but that book was canned; however, most of Funnies, Inc. wound up seeing their work printed at the newly-formed Marvel Comics and Lauretta's first two American Ace tales appeared in Marvel Mystery Comics. Then, for unknown reasons, he sold the last two chapters to another publisher, Centaur, changing his hero's name to Lt. Lank but otherwise telling the same continued story. Centaur broke the last two installments up into Amazing Mystery Funnies and the Arrow, seemingly daring interested fans to try and follow the story. One must wonder if Marvel actually owns American Ace, considering Lauretta had the freedom to shop his stories elsewhere. One might also wonders "who cares who owns him?" but considering Marvel have actually made use of the character within the last five years, it's not an unreasonable question.

Of course, the larger matter is this: call him "American Ace" or call him "Lieutenant Lank," by any name he's simply a Captain Easy rip-off.

Curiously Familiar #1: Hoppy the Marvel Bunny and Hoppy the Magic Bunny

Welcome to the first of a ten-chapter run of blog posts I'm calling "Curiously Familiar." In these entries I'll be casting some light on various comic book characters who turned up at at least two different publishers, but wore a different name at each one. This is not the same as characters who were created in homage - in this instances, the two characters were actually intended to be the same entities. Let's begin!

Hoppy the Marvel Bunny was a pink rabbit person who got into all sort of humourous antics with his girlfriend Millie. Also, by uttering the magic word "Shazam" he could transform into the super-powerful Marvel Bunny (who looked just like Captain Marvel).

Hoppy the Magic Bunny was a pink rabbit person who got into all sort of humourous antics with his girlfriend Millie. Also, by uttering the magic word "Alizam" he could transform into the super-powerful Magic Bunny (who looked just like Captain Marvel).

The Story Behind the Story: Worn down by a lengthy lawsuit from DC Comics, Fawcett finally decided to be rid of periodical comics in 1953 and sold some of their properties to Charlton, including Hoppy the Marvel Bunny! By 1953, Hoppy seldom dressed up as Captain Marvel, having long-since become a typical funny bunny cartoon character. When Charlton brought his alter ego back into the series, they had to change both his magic word and his costumed alter ego, those having evidently been retained by Fawcett as part of the Captain Marvel property rights (the costume was mostly intact). By 1955, Hoppy would even change his name to Happy, further divorcing him from his Fawcett origins. Decades later after DC purchased Fawcett's back catalog they began making occasional use of Hoppy in their comics, despite the Charlton sale; Charlton might have complained except... they had been brought by DC too. And so, everything came full circle.

Thankfully, that was the last time there were any complications in the publishing history of Fawcett's Captain Marvel franchise.