Posted By Dan Greenfield on May 7, 2025 | 8 comments

Scott and Dan hit up the comics racks from 80 years ago…

This week for RETRO HOT PICKS, Scott Tipton and I are selecting comics that came out the week of May 7, 1945.

Last time for RETRO HOT PICKS, it was the week of April 30, 1961. Click here to check it out.

(Keep in mind that comics came out on multiple days, so these are technically the comics that went on sale between May 4 and May 10.)

So, let’s set the scene: The Nazis, 13 years after their inexorable rise to power, fell to the Allies. On May 8, at 9 a.m. ET, President Harry S. Truman announced Germany’s surrender, marking the end of World War II in Europe. “I call upon the people of the United States, whatever their faith, to unite in offering joyful thanks to God for the victory we have won and to pray that He will support us to the end of our present struggle and guide us into the way of peace,” his proclamation read. “I also call upon my countrymen to dedicate this day of prayer to the memory of those who have given their lives to make possible our victory.”

Churchill in London

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, about the same time, also reminded the British of the ongoing war against the Japanese in the Pacific: “Our gratitude to our splendid Allies goes forth from all our hearts in this island and throughout the British Empire,” Churchill said in his radio address. “We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing; but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead. Japan, with all her treachery and greed, remains unsubdued. The injury she has inflicted on Great Britain, the United States, and other countries, and her detestable cruelties, call for justice and retribution. We must now devote all our strength and resources to the completion of our task, both at home and abroad.”

Hitler’s bunker after being burned by retreating German troops and stripped of valuables by invading Russians.

The final collapse of the Axis powers, save for the Japanese, began April 27, when Benito Mussolini and his mistress were captured by Italian partisans while trying to escape to Switzerland. The next day, both were executed near Lake Como, and their bodies were hung upside down at a gas station.

On April 30, cowardly Adolf Hitler and his newly wedded bride Eva Braun killed themselves while the Russian army was less than 2,000 feet from his bunker. Despicable to the end, the genocidal Hitler — responsible for the death of 6 million Jews, and between 6 million and more than 11 million other civilians across Europe, plus an enormous body count of military casualties — ordered a doctor to give his dog Blondi a cyanide capsule to test its efficiency before he and Braun took the pills themselves.

This was fairly typical of Germany’s so-called Master Race leaders, in fact. Rather than face justice, dozens of government ministers and generals killed themselves as the war came to an end. The military also still tried to paint a dishonest, rosy picture of the Nazi war machine by perpetuating the myth of the “clean Wehrmacht”: “Every soldier, therefore, may lay aside his weapon proud and erect and set to work in these gravest hours of our history with courage and confidence to safeguard the undying life of our people.”

The horrors of the Holocaust could not be contained however, with the Russian newspaper Pravda reporting the findings of a Soviet inquiry into Auschwitz. There was, however, no mention that the majority of the prisoners were Jewish. The English-language press picked up the story soon after and eventually the full, horrendous truth came to the surface.

Meanwhile, on May 3, the United Nations Conference on International Organization began work in San Francisco on a U.N. charter.

And, as both Truman and Churchill made clear — and as the world was well aware — the war was far from over in the Pacific. The Battle of Okinawa, the bloodiest conflict of the region, had begun April 1 and was still raging…

Still, Americans had their diversions. Child actress Elizabeth Taylor had become a major star thanks to the popularity of National Velvet. Son of Lassie, the second Lassie movie, was released in April. One of the year’s most successful films — The Valley of Decision, starring Greer Garson and Gregory Peck, was released May 3. On May 5, Yosemite Sam made his first appearance in the Bugs Bunny short Hare Trigger.

On radio, big hits included The Pepsodent Show, starring Bob Hope; The Kraft Music Hall, starring Bing Crosby; The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show; The Lucky Strike Program, starring Jack Benny; The Charlie McCarthy Show; Fibber McGee and Molly; The Lone Ranger; The Green Hornet; Inner Sanctum Mysteries… and The Adventures of Superman, whose current storyline was Lair of the Dragon.

The most popular songs included Don’t Fence Me In by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters; Rum and Coca-Cola by the Andrews Sisters; Johnny Mercer’s Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive and Candy; and, My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time and Sentimental Journey, both by Les Brown and His Orchestra, with Doris Day. Frank Sinatra had begun an eight-week USO tour.

Top-selling albums included The King Cole Trio, Glenn Miller, and the original Broadway cast recording of Song of Norway.

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Scott Tipton, contributor-at-large, 13th Dimension

Marvel Mystery Comics #65, Timely. Intricate, violent and just a touch lurid, there’s nothing like an Alex Schomburg cover.

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Sensation Comics #43, DC. H.G. Peter draws one chubby horse.

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Whiz Comics #65, Fawcett. It’s hilarious whenever Captain Marvel is just toting a large thug under his arm.

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Captain Marvel Jr. #30, Fawcett. Mac Raboy’s legendary Cap Jr. covers have a wonderfully nostalgic Forties feel.

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Dan Greenfield, editor, 13th Dimension

Star Spangled Comics #46, DC. How’s this for a Golden Age lineup: The Newsboy Legion (with the Guardian), Robotman, Star-Spangled Kid, and Liberty Belle! It’s like a Roy Thomas fever dream!

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Green Hornet Comics #24, Harvey. Including a 10-page Green Hornet comics story (possibly illustrated by Jerry Robinson) and a two-page texter that the cover (also possibly by Robinson) is based on. Love the bubble helmets!

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Captain Midnight #31, Fawcett. The radio show was so popular, it spawned a serial, comic strip, a comic book and (later) a TV show. The comic-book version was given the superhero treatment, as opposed to being an aviation-squad leader. All about branding, though!

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MORE

— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale The Week of April 30 — in 1961! Click here.

— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale The Week of April 23 — in 1981! Click here.

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Primary comics sources: Mike’s Amazing World of Comics, the Grand Comics Database.