The Lost Heroes of Novelty Press 

I was working in a comic shop when Dark Horse released their Basil Wolverton In Space trade with most of the Spacehawk stories in it. I'd already run in to his work, but most of our customers hadn't even heard of him. Must have convinced fifty people to give him a try, and most of them thanked me for cluing them in. The guy's style was just uniquely compelling, and (at least until the publishers forced him into prosaic anti-Axis stories during WW2) his storytelling was tremendously imaginative.

the funny thing about Blue Bolt's comics was that they pioneered the love triangle dynamics that would dominate the silver age especially when it comes to the superman staple of books, part of me wants to do an anthology that's just Blue Bolt and company getting into the shenanigans that you'd expect in Lois Lane or Superboy but I don't think I'd be able to get enough people together for it.

The Spacehawk stories are wonderful! Wolverton didn't just think outside of the box, it seems as though he didn't even know that the box existed. Such unique style and vision. One of the best.

What if Target became a mascot for Target? 🎯 😂

Some good batch of characters. And man that editors page letter somethings never change.

The Blue Bolt is a really great idea. I've been working on my own version of his story. It emphasises the John Carter background and scifi setting, while also presenting the Green Sorceress in a more relatable light. I actually have a reprinted collection of Blue Bolt comics for reference. Also, if you are writing your own stuff, be careful; Joe Simon's estate is notorious for their lawsuits.

Another exemplary foray into the Golden Age, Fizz! Your patented approach of taking the material -- but not yourself -- seriously, continues to delight. Long may you run! (I think another aspect that allowed Wolverton to develop such a unique style, along with his distance from the bullpens of power, was his vaudeville background. The relationship between comics and performance is a neglected avenue -- even if only as the road to revisiting Wally Wood's 'Separation Blues' :)

Once again yet another kickass upload my dude. Fun fact: I actually had a print out of a Target comics cover I really liked hung up on my bedroom wall and it actually was looking at that cover that got me into seriously bodybuilding when I was in my early teens. Something about the way Bob Wood drew the character seemed still impressive but more attainable than batman or superman. Years later I'm still only about three quarters way to that goal, but making progress lol. 😂

Great episode. I never thought of it before, but Space hawk reminds me -- somewhat -- of Russell Keaton's fabulous Buck Rogers Sunday pages from the early 1930s.

My hands are full with old characters that you introduced me to. There is a straight road between your Channel and our board Game. Many thanks! Great video as always

That flub with the Blue Bolt had me doubled over with laughter. Thank you for leaving it in. This video was a fun look at forgotten heroes of yesteryear(and the impressive talent behind them).

Interesting to hear about comic book publishers that didn't make it

HAHAHA! Very good Comic Book Guy impersonation! The Target was interesting... a kind of Anti-Bullseye if you will. When Dynamite resurrected him as part of their Project: Super Powers lineup, they made him the series' resident super-speed character -- making him the "Moving Target" -- as they were sadly at a loss for one from their regular selection of Nedor/Better Pub. characters to fill the role. Probably a smart move... once you get past the likes of GA Flash, Whizzer, Johnny Quick, and Silver Streak, I think all you had left was a guy -- don't remember his name -- whose "super-speed" was based on rocket-powered proto-roller skates.

Space Hawk’s artwork looks kinda similar to Little Nemo...or the guy how did the artwork for Where The Wild Things Are.

I love learning about fun, obscure old stuff like this!

Clicked as soon as this popped up

Great work as usual.

Thanks for this obscure line!

Blue Bolt and Spacehawk were my favorites (I enjoyed your Spacehawk video too), great stuff!!!

Great stuff! I really enjoy this channel :)

Spacehawk is a treasure.

Thank you this is awesome. Well appreciated.

You never cease to amaze me. You keep finding characters I have never heard of. In particular l love finding out how Golden Age characters influenced the Silver Age. I wonder what Stan Lee would have done without them 😜

Another solid video. Thanks for the history lesson. I was only familiar with the character Blue Bolt and didn’t know the history. I appreciate it. 🙏

awesome show buddy keep em coming

This is another great video on these lost superheroes awesome man.

Thank you I love your channel

Another great video. Always love finding out about the golden age of comics. Thanks.

Another good video I enjoy how you plant the seeds of wonder by mentioning which characters are public domain.

Interesting episode. I'm a big fan of GA heroes and comic history and knew very little about Novelty Press. Always a pleasant surprise to come across a new comic universe. I like how Target had several costumed sidekicks and how White Streak and Red Seal looked more like partners, than hero and sidekick. Kind of a Power man and Iron Fist deal. Looking forward to checking out more episodes.

Thank You Thank You!! Can't wait until the next one! Really enjoy your series "Lost Heroes of Golden Age"! Stay Safe!

I browsed through Novelty Press’ comics and favored quite a bit of their art, with artists like Jack Warren, John Jordan, Ray Ramsey, Ken Battefield, and Nina Albright. Novelty was probably the comic book publisher Albright ended up working for the most, even more so than the reputably woman-staffed Fiction House. Although much of the interior art from Star Publications was either re-printed or standard, horror artists such as Lee Loeb and George Peltz stuck out to me, and then there’s Jay Disbrow, whose probably the artist people subsconciously picture when it comes to early 1950s monster comic art. I think he only did one cover, so much of his art could only be seen looking past the cover, and was one of the few who drew interior art that truly lived up to Cole’s covers.

Excellent choice of review👍😄

I think you should do an entire episode on The Target or redo the Spacehawk epside, those seem like interesting ideas

I love these forgotten heroes videos.

I ❤️ your clips

thanks for the tip about comics museum on line

"45", ha! Love it! Great episode

You have the best comics content on RU-vid. I really look forward to your vids. I’m off to your PayPal site now to support you. Thanks!

Is it just me, or did Manowar look an awful lot like The Vision?

Very Cool.

I love this old comicbooks

Awesome! You should do a video about the Quality and Charlton comics characters that were snatched up by DC and explaining the distinctions between public domain/copyright and trademark.

I once saw an indie group was printing the further adventure of these public domain characters . I was kind of interested but I haven’t read comics in thirty plus tears so I had no idea how to find them .

Something about a kid from the 40s calling superheroes "out of date" gets to me.

BTW Spacehawk has the most incredible inking and linework. Basil Wolverton, wow

Awesome. Hope to see a video on fox features syndicate in the future.

8:38 I guess we know where the artist for the Mega Man NES box cover got inspiration from.

Love the more jokey attitude you got going on here btw.

I'd say The Sub-Zero Man looks a little bit more like DC's Icicle than Iceman.

2:00 love the mispronunciation)))) haha wonderful moment

May I suggest a rundown of the Warren magazine heroes? Most people think of the Warren mags as just being monster mags, but while going thru my collection I realized they had many recurring superheroes. Vampirella is the obvious choice, but Eerie magazine began to focus on sci-fi and superhero characters.

is there a line of british comics you could do a video on . i do remember the q bikes being in the whooper

I just imagine how Hollywood film studios can adpet thise story in the form of films and TV shows

Certain aspects of Blue Bolt remind me of Adam Strange in addition to John Carter.

There was a B-Movie made in 47 called T-Men. Wonder if one has anything to do with the other. Great video fellow buckeye.

Another great video. You documenting comics in my comfort zone. Go read digital copies!? Come on, Fizz. Let's get out there and track down the origin copies. There's nothing like having one of these in hand and the sweetness of golden age potpourri pulp wafting through the air taking it in with the four color stories of fantasy.

Dynamite brought back Target as part of its project superpowers run

Saw the name White Streak and instantly thought Ray Stevens lol

Their character Captain Future was made in a Anime series in 1980.

Are you going to do an episode on the works of Fletcher Hanks?

Do you think you can do a video on centaur publication or nedor?

Wait a minute is it possible that Ed boom was inspired by sub zero Man that led to the creation of Sub-Zero

Working on remaking some Public Domain Characters will contact you soon

Clarence -P- Tool sounds like's in dire need of a therapeutic wedgie.

I don't find enough information about: Krisko and Jasper, Dink, Fearless Fellers, Old Cap Hawkins, Karen Drake. 🙄

They should make movie about blue bolt!

Do you recommend a book that showcases a variety of Golden Age Art?

Golden age of comics started before that with comics in newspapers Hugo Hercules was similar to Superman and in comic strip in 1903.

👍

I bet Clarence Pool is whining right now about the food in his retirement home.

Does that mean if Simon & Kirby's Blue Bolt run had been more successful they never would've created Captain America? Thanks for leaving the the flub, by the way

Manowar - Similar look to the Vision ... both androids

Hook us with the museum links of the comic

Different video called Radium Girls and radium more likely to cause weaken bones, teeth that fall out and cancer.

The target the first super hero who wants to be shot

When I heard about sub-zero and professor X I went.... 🤔 hmmmmmmmm

5:30 No, Hulk was a direct rip off of The Amazing Colossal Man. At least in origin.

Wow! Trolls were ruining comic books even in the Golden Age.

Subversive Comic art in the thirties !? Must have shown leg

I wonder why these kids lost interest in superheroes after the war ?

Shouldn't make fun of poor Clarence Pool... good chance at this point you are mocking someone long dead.;)

People were burning comics back then with the idea to censor them. The movement started the decline in comics.