Posted By Dan Greenfield on May 13, 2024 | 6 comments

Don’t forget the Shield, the Fly and the Mighty Crusaders!

On Friday, we brought you the EXCLUSIVE news that Archie Comics is jumping into the Facsimile Edition game. The first issue, out in August, will be the risque classic Betty and Me #16 — a natural choice to launch a new line. In that vein, we here at 13th Dimension have put together 13 HISTORIC ARCHIE COMICS FACSIMILE EDITIONS WE’D LIKE TO SEE. (Click here.) But that’s not all! Our pal Paul Kupperberg — a former Archie writer himself — brought you 13 RISQUE ARCHIE COMICS FACSIMILE EDITIONS WE’D LIKE TO SEE. (Click here.) Here — just in case Archie decides to go the Mighty Crusaders route — we have 13 ARCHIE COMICS SUPERHERO FACSIMILE EDITIONS WE’D LIKE TO SEE. Dig it. — Dan

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By PETER BOSCH

The news that Archie Comics is going to start publishing Facsimile Editions of their past gems is thrilling. For me, it is the hope they will reprint my dream list, 13 superhero issues that go back as far as the late 1930s and into the 1960s, some of which were under the MLJ banner and included many of the greatest costumed heroes of the past.

(Dan adds: Archie is continually updating its superheroes — most recently the Jaguar. Releasing Facsimile Editions whenever they publish such issues is a natural.)

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Top Notch Comics #1 (Dec. 1939) featured the debut of the Wizard, as well as the Mystic (aka Kardak). Art in the issue included early work by Jack Cole (creator of Plastic Man) and future Batman artist Irv Novick. (As it happens, DC is publishing in August a Facsimile Edition of Plas’ first appearance in Police Comics #1. — Dan)

Cover art by Edd Ashe

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Pep Comics #1 (Jan. 1940) showcased on its cover the comic-book hero that would become MLJ’s most popular character (other than Archie), the Shield. The Shield was the first patriotic costumed character, beating Captain America to the newsstands by a year. The issue also introduced the Comet, created by Jack Cole. Of all the MLJ heroes at that time, his costume was the one that most looks like it was designed in the 1970s.

Cover art by Irv Novick

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Zip Comics was the home for Steel Sterling, real name: John Sterling, who covered himself with a secret formula and then dived into a vat of molten metal to give himself an impervious body (kids: don’t try this at home… or anywhere else, for that matter!). Zip Comics #1 (Feb. 1940) also introduced heroes Zambini the Magician, the Scarlet Avenger, and Mr. Satan. Artists in the issue included Golden Age giants Charles Biro, Novick, Irwin Hasen, and Mort Meskin.

Cover art by Charles Biro

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Top Notch Comics #9 (Oct. 1940) introduced the Black Hood, police officer Kip Burland by day, a masked vigilante by night. The Black Hood also appeared in pulps and in a daily radio serial. The issue also contained another new story of the Wizard.

Cover artist unknown

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Blue Ribbon Mystery Comics #9 (Feb. 1941) debuted Mr. Justice, a character who resembled the Spectre (whom DC had introduced a year earlier). Mr. Justice had actually been Prince James (yes, he was dead, too) and he was “brought” to America when his castle was sent here stone by stone, but freed when the ship carrying the stones was sunk. He assumed human form when he wanted to be with ordinary people but transformed into Mr. Justice when he wanted to hand out… um… justice to bad guys. This issue also contained a multitude of other characters, included masked hero the Fox, drawn by Hasen.

Cover art by Sam Cooper

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Pep Comics #17 (July 1941) introduced Bob Dickering, brother to the Comet. When the Comet is murdered, Bob becomes the underworld’s most feared enemy, the Hangman. The Shield, the Fireball, and Madam Satan were on hand, as well.

Cover art by Irv Novick

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In addition to appearing in Pep Comics, Archie popped up Jackpot Comics starting with the fourth issue. The very next issue, Jackpot Comics #5 (Spring 1942), featured the first appearance of Reggie Mantle. The cover was by Bob Montana, Archie’s co-creator, though the teenager did not appear on it.

Cover art by Bob Montana

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In 1959, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby took the character of the Shield and completely revamped the origin in the two-issue Archie series The Double Life of Private Strong (June and August 1959). The Shield’s rebirth here was a combination of elements from Superman and the Fighting American. Each issue also featured a quick, early appearance by the Fly.

Cover art by Joe Simon, Jack Kirby, and George Tuska.

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In The Adventures of The Fly #1 (Aug. 1959), Simon and Kirby use their storytelling magic to start up a return to costumed heroes at Archie (formerly MLJ).

Cover art by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon

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The Adventures of The Fly #4 (Jan. 1960) is noteworthy for one very special thing: Even though it was just one panel, it was the first published comics artwork by Neal Adams.

Cover art by Joe Simon

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The Adventures of the Jaguar #1 (Sept. 1961): The Jaguar is a character along the lines of the original Captain Marvel, with kindhearted zoologist Ralph Hardy putting on a magic belt and saying the words “The Jaguar,” which turn him into a human jaguar. In that form, he has supreme control over animals anywhere in the universe and can acquire any of their powers, which are multiplied thousands of times within his body. Written by Robert Bernstein and drawn by John Rosenberger. (He most recently appeared in the 2024 Jaguar one-shot. — Dan)

Cover art by John Rosenberger

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Of all the Archie comics published in the 1960s, The Mighty Crusaders #4 (Apr. 1966) contained the most superheroes of all in one issue. Writer Jerry Siegel (yes, that one) and artist Paul Reinman told a tale of the Mighty Crusaders (Fly-Man, Fly Girl, the Comet, the Black Hood, and the son of the original Shield) having a meeting when, suddenly, almost every Golden Age MLJ costumed character shows up, wanting to join the team, including Steel Sterling, Bob Phantom, the Fox, Blackjack, Mr. Justice, Captain Flag, the Web, Inferno, the Fireball, Firefly, Zambini the Magician, Kardak, the Jaguar, and Roy the Mighty Boy.  A mess to be sure, but a fun one.

Cover art by Paul Reinman

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MORE

— ARCHIE COMICS to Launch FACSIMILE EDITION Line — With the Classic BETTY AND ME #16. Click here.

— 13 Risque ARCHIE COMICS Facsimile Editions We’d Like to See. Click here.

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13th Dimension contributor-at-large PETER BOSCH’s first book, American TV Comic Books: 1940s-1980s – From the Small Screen to the Printed Page, was published by TwoMorrows. He is currently at work on a sequel, about movie comics. Peter has written articles and conducted celebrity interviews for various magazines and newspapers. He lives in Hollywood.