Russkie-Smashers Double-Feature CAPTAIN AMERICA and FIGHTING AMERICAN

Wonder why Joe Simon & Jack Kirby created Fighting American?

Because Atlas (Once Timely, later Marvel) didn't ask them to handle this revival of the character they created, so they decided to show how it should be done!
Now., let's look at what inspired S&K to do a new patriotic superhero...

Written by Don Rico and illustrated by John Romita Sr (with a splash panel by Mort Lawrence), this story from Atlas' Young Men #24 (1953) ostensibly continued the adventures of Captain America, Bucky, and The Red Skull from the 1940s.
When Cap was revived in 1964, this (and other 1950s Atlas superhero tales) were considered apocryphal, since Stan Lee and Jack Kirby postulated the Star-Spangled Avenger had been frozen since the end of World War II until he was defrosted in Marvel's The Avengers V1N4 (1964).

But, in 1968, writer Stan Lee, pencilers Larry Lieber and John Romita Sr and inker "Mickey Demeo" (actually Mike Esposito), revealed the 1950s Red Skull was a Russkie imposter who killed CIA agents Richard and Mary Parker (Peter Parker/Spider-Man's parents) in Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5 (1968)!

Then, in 1972, writer Steve Englehart and penciler Sal Buscema revived the 1950s Cap and Bucky, showing them to be government-approved replacements for the original Cap and Bucky in Marvel's Captain America and the Falcon #153-156 (1972)...

...thereby bringing their 1950s tales (and, presumably the Sub-Mariner's and Human Torch's 1950s stories) into official continuity!
It also created the concept that others filled-in for Cap and Bucky during that era.
In fact, the "1950s Cap" is actually now considered the fourth official "Captain America", after already-existing patriot-themed heroes The Patriot and Spirit of 76 filled-in during the 1940s after Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes were believed to be KIA (Killed in Action)!
Now, let's have a look at Simon & Kirby's reboot of the "Patriotic Super-Hero" concept...

...later known as "Peter Piper's Red Vipers"!

You'll note that Simon & Kirby add an extra layer to the weak-but-valiant-experimental-subject concept by making both scrawny Nelson and crippled brother Johnny physically-helpless before the transformation!
You may note there's no SpeedBoy in this story!
That's because he wasn't introduced until the second tale, which we ran HERE!
Trivia:
This story was renamed "Peter Piper's Red Vipers" when it was re-presented in Harvey's Fighting American V2N1 (1966), modified to fit into a previously-unpublished tale.
As with Captain America's origin, this tale was reworked and re-presented continually, including during the title's seven-issue run at Prize (so that's twice in one year), the Harvey one-shot in 1966, and the various reworkings/updatings at Awesome, DC, and Titan!

Next Week,
We Take a Break from Russkie-Smashing & Nazi-Punching to Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of America with...
...You Really Thought We'd Ruin the Suprise???

Russkie-Smashers FIGHTING AMERICAN and SPEEDBOY "Second Assignment: Track Down the Baby Buzz Bombs"

As you may have noticed when we presented Fighting American's origin last week...

...unlike Simon and Kirby's first super-patriot, Captain America, he didn't have a sidekick from the first story onward!

Nope, this kid had to earn the job...

While the costume has a similar look (and color scheme) to Bucky's, at least his costumed identity isn't his real name (as Bucky's was)!

But "Speedboy"?

Really?
Do we blame Joe or Jack for that one?
This tale from Prize's Fighting American #1 (1954) concludes our presentation of this patriotic pair...for now.
While the duo had a number of other adventures, those involved other Communists like Chinese and North Koreans, as well as gangsters...and even aliens, so they don't fall under the "Russkie Smasher" category.
But fear not!
Beginning next week, we'll be rotating several other 1950s heroes' anti-Soviet exploits, including one of this summer's breakout-hit movie characters!
Which one?

You'll have to drop by each week to find out!
(Sneaky little devils, ain't we?)

Russkie-Smashers FIGHTING AMERICAN and SPEEDBOY "First Assignment: Break the Spy Ring!"

"Who He Is and How He Came To Be"...

...later known as "Peter Piper's Red Vipers"!

You'll note that Simon & Kirby add an extra layer to the weak-but-valiant-experimental-subject concept by making both scrawny Nelson and crippled brother Johnny physically-helpless before the transformation!
You may note there's no SpeedBoy in this story!
That's because he wasn't introduced until the second tale, which you'll see next week!
Trivia:
This story was renamed "Peter Piper's Red Vipers" when it was re-presented in Harvey's Fighting American V2N1 (1966), modified to fit into a previously-unpublished tale.
As with Captain America's origin, this tale was reworked and re-presented continually, including during the title's seven-issue run at Prize (so that's twice in one year), the Harvey one-shot in 1966, and the various reworkings/updatings at Awesome, DC, and Titan!
Oddly, this origin (and lead story) by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby from Prize's Fighting American #1 (1954) wasn't the cover feature!
(We ran that tale last week!)

Russkie-Smashers FIGHTING AMERICAN and SPEEDBOY "Assignment Three: Duel to the Finish Line!"

We're beginning the presentation of our Russkie-Smashers' premiere issue...

...when the concept was taken (relatively) seriously!

Here's the cover-featured (though final) tale from Prize's Fighting American #1 (1954)...

A solid action-adventure tale, as were all the stories in this issue.
But Simon and Kirby were looking for something more, and as you've seen from our other posts, they certainly found it!

Russkie-Smashers FIGHTING AMERICAN and SPEEDBOY "Assignment: Investigate the City of Ghouls"

As we return to our regularly-scheduled feature...

...we're presenting this startlingly-sinister story which earned the cover spot in Prize's Fighting American #2 (1954)!
Notice on the cover it's called "Ghost City", but the actual title of the tale is the far catchier...

Note that the creatures on the cover weren't just the inbred hooded devil worshippers of the story, but actual monsters, perhaps radiation-produced mutants!

It's another example of the cover probably being the springboard for the story...which took a different turn when it was actually written and drawn later!

You can see a similar situation HERE!