Alter Ego #192 March 2025 (magazine review).
In this edition of ‘Alter Ego’, writer Mark Carlson-Ghost disproves the myth that very few superheroes existed in the 1950s, providing over 50 pages of analysis on the subject. A few were resurrected, as with Timely’s top three, Captain America, Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner, but other comic book companies were also testing the waters. The common theme was that most had three issues to prove themselves to the audience or were cancelled. Some of them were lame as they sound, like Nature Boy and Tomboy – a girl, no less – or took aspects of previous characters, like the Captain Marvel family in Mr Muscles and his family.
Some resurrections didn’t really take off until the Barry Allen Flash appeared in National Periodicals/DC Comics ‘Showcase’ title; only he wasn’t gone in a flash. If anything, it demonstrates that they thought there was still life or interest in the superhero genre by them but just needed to find a new younger audience. Thinking about this, I wish there had been some analysis of why there was a failure to get the audience. I mean, what was distracting these new kids on the block?
Were people discovering TVs yet in the USA? Certainly, a lot of westerns and TV series were targeting children. One thing you’re most likely to come away from reading this article with is being able to identify the characters on the cover. Tomboy is on the far right on the cover.
The ‘Mr. Monster’ section has another look at Ramona Fradon (1926-2024), which is a good reminder that, of the time, she and Marie Severin were the only ladies in American comicbooks.
Lastly, the ‘Fawcett Collector’ has a tribute to Trina Robbins. All right, she didn’t work for Fawcett but she was a friend of CC Beck who was and, later in his life, regularly corresponded with him as part of his ‘Crime Circle’. Said correspondence is here discussing comicbook stuff.
This review might look smaller but that’s mostly because there are fewer articles. If you’re after early American comicbook history, then you’re in the right place with ‘Alter Ego’.
GF Willmetts
August 2025
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page illustrated magazine. Price: $10.95 (US). ISSN: 1932-6890. Direct from them, you can get it for$10.95 (US))
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_55&products_id=1819
