Tuesday, July 3, 2012

June 1940: All-American Comics #17



Cover by Sheldon Moldoff

'Green Lantern' (by Bill Finger and Martin Nodell): In this story Green Lantern tackles the commissioner of public works, who is taking kickbacks from the companies that he assigns jobs to.  It's a disappointingly small-scale story for his second outing, though I did enjoy the scenes where he pretends to be his own ghost to terrorise the crooks.  The only other thing of note is that the story takes place in Metropolis.  If this were a modern comic Superman would have made a guest appearance.

Also, in light of recent news:  Signs of Alan Scott's homosexuality - zero.  Signs of Alan Scott's heterosexuality - also zero.

In other stories: In 'Adventures in the Unknown' (Carl H. Claudy and Stan Aschmeier) Ted and Alan continue battling the invisible invaders from Venus. 'Hop Harrigan' (by Jon L. Blummer) helps stop a would-be kidnapper with help from members of his aviation club.  It's a sickening bit of advertising, really.  'Gary Concord the Ultra-Man' (by Jon L. Blummer) deals with a pair of profiteers trying to drive America into a war.  'Ben Webster' (by Russell Cole) escapes from some crooks and then gets captured again in a bit of time-wasting filler.  'Popsicle Pete' (by Art Helfant) does his best to shill a stamp promotion.  In the text story (by Evelyn Gaines), Jimmy Stone is framed for the murder of his teacher.  'Scribbly' (by Sheldon Mayer) becomes the owner of a horse named Widow-Maker.  And 'Red, White and Blue' (by Jerry Siegel and William Smith) deal with a group of propagandists trying to undermine the spirit of America.

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