Hero Histories

Monday, November 13, 2023

Russkie-Smashers BLACKHAWK "Case of the Missing Blackhawk"

Easily the busiest Russkie-Smashers of the 1950s were the "Dark Knights"...

...who were using that phrase long before The Batman co-opted it in the 1970s!

They would fill entire issues, like the never-reprinted Blackhawk #96 (1956) from Quality with nothing but Commie-crushing comics tales like this!

You didn't think Andre was really dead, did you?

And why was he wearing that leather Blackhawk uniform under a business suit?
Written by Joe Millard, penciled by Dick Dillin, and inked by Chuck Cuidera...as were all the Russkie-smashing stories in this issue...as you'll see over the next two weeks!

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Blackhawk

by William Rotsler

Monday, November 6, 2023

Russkie Smashers ATOMIC SPY CASES "Operation H.M."

Think we're paranoid about an (unnamed, but obvious) enemy discovering our atomic secrets?

Look at how nutso we were back in the 1950s!

(BTW, the "Based on TRUE Stories" caption is a total lie!)

The lead story from this Avon Comics 1950 one-shot with a Norman (Mars Attacks) Saunders cover exemplifies the "commies under the bed" paranoia of the era!
With imperialist running dog Putin going Don da Con-level bonkers in Ukraine, perhaps it was, in fact, justified!
Regrettably, neither the writer nor artist(s) are known.

Sunday, October 29, 2023

CountDown to Halloween 2023 Rutland Halloween Parade Comic Book Tales CheckList

Here's a list of stories we've thus far presented...in chronological order...

1970

(The first Rutland Parade story in any comic!)

Marvel's Avengers #83
Come On In...the Revolution's Fine!
Part 1
Part 2
We haven't run the 1971 tale from DC...yet!

1972
There are actually four comics set in Rutland, more than any other single year!
One of the Marvel stories is a standalone, not linked to the other three.
We haven't run that one...yet!
The other three (two Marvel and one DC, are linked, Rashamon-style, showing the same events from different viewpoints, and featuring different characters...though the characters don't realize it!
Marvel's Amazing Adventures (The Beast) #16
...and the Juggernaut Will Get You...If You Don't Watch Out!
Part 1
Part 2
DC's Justice League of America #104
A Stranger Walks Among Us!
Part 1
Part 2
Marvel's Mighty Thor #207
FireSword!
Prologue
Part 1
Part 2

1974
Marvel's Avengers #119
Night of the Collector!
Prologue
Part 1
Part 2

1975
Gold Key's Occult Files of Doctor Spektor #18
Masque Macabre
Prologue
Part 1
Part 2
There were two separate DC Parade tales in 1976...which we haven't run...yet!

1977
DC Super-Stars (Phantom Stranger & Deadman)
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
After 1977, there are only occasional stories set in Rutland, none of which we've run...yet!
Bonus:
Introduction to the Rutland Parade in Comics!
The Real-Life Rutland Halloween Parade!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Countdown to Halloween 2023 OCCULT FILES OF DOCTOR SPEKTOR "Masque Macabre" Conclusion

We Have Already Seen...

Doctor Spektor, his friend and companion Lakota Rainflower, and his cousin, Annie, are invited to participate in the annual Rutland Halloween Parade.

The parade is a trap!

Annie is possessed by the spirit of the sorceress Princess Neffram who animates statues of Spektor's deceased foes and other creatures who then hypnotize cosplaying paradegoers into serving the sorceress!

Note: These two are not the actual Owl or Doctor Solar: Man of the Atom, but cosplaying parade-goers!

Written by Don Glut (who wrote almost all the 1970s Gold Key Multiverse tales) and illustrated by Jesse Santos, this story from Gold Key's Occult Files of Doctor Spekor #18 (1975) was typical of the admittedly less-dynamic, but still quite entertaining material the company produced.
BTW, this was the only Rutland Halloween Parade-themed comic done by any comic company in 1975!

Next Week: a recap (with links) of every Rutland Halloween Parade tale we've run both here and on other RetroBlogs!

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