In the last post I focused on the lost cities in the fiction of Edgar Rice Burroughs and his Tarzan novels. I have another one for Tarzan fans coming up, but first lets look at some lost cities in the comics of the Golden Age. (I got a couple more in the Silver Age but those can wait.) The comics of the 1940s and early 1950s used lost cities in all kinds of comics: Adventure, Horror, Superhero, Western and even Funny Animals. Lost cities can pop up just about anywhere. Of course with so many types of comics, you get different kinds of ancient metropoli. African, South American, Mexican, even in the North American desert. The planet is dotted with old civilizations that have disappeared (or have they?)
The 1940s
“Queen of the Lost Empire” (Jungle Comics #1, January 1940) has explorer Jon Dale find a lost city in Africa that is ruled by the titular Camilla. The people of the city are white and wear Viking hats. Jon and two others are just in time for the Thunder Festival and the human sacrifice. Jon will be gone by Issue #5 and Camilla will truly become the star.
“Dr. Strange in the Lost City” (Thrilling Comics #2, March 1940) was written by Richard Hughes. This is a pre-War comic but Dr. Strange (no, not that guy. He won’t show up until 1963) faces off against Nazis, Mongols, lions and crocodiles and discovers a lost city. Just a Tuesday for DS.
“The Lost City of Tsol” (Prize Comics #2, April 1940) was written and drawn by Tarpe Mills (as Edgar Allan Jr.) Jaxon and the beautiful assistant of the archaeologist boss stumble upon Tsol where they must face leopards, snakes and a burning exit. They bring back gold but the professor tries to rob them. Jaxon punches him out, taking both gold and girl.
“The Lost City” (National Comics #13, July 1941) was written by “Jerry Maxwell”. Wonder Boy helps Darrow and his men find a lost city in the jungle. WB has to wrestle a crocodile and settle a feud between local tribes. Airplanes and TNT involved!
“The Lost City of the Aztecs” (Zip Comics #19, October 1941) has Nevada Jones and others discover a lost Aztec city in a cave. Only daring-do will see them to escape…
“The Lost City Part 1” (Great Comics #3, January 1942) This one is based on a Hollywood serial starring William Boyd, Kane Richmond and Claudia Dell. Bruce Gordon investigates weird events in Africa before falling into the clutches of Zolok, a man scientist who commands a lost city of giant natives. Watch the whole thing here.
“The Lost City of the Aztecs” (Cat-Man Comics #7, February 1942) has Cat-Man and his young sidekick discover a lost city of the Aztecs in the swamps of Florida. Meow!
“The Lost City of Kazar” (Whiz Comics #37, November 27, 1942) has Lance O’Casey discover his lost city on an island. This makes sense since the series is meant to be nautical. I really liked the Dragon Lizards. The rest is pretty routine. The use of Kazar is not a steal from the Ka-Zar comics that will come later but maybe the original Pulps by Bob Byrd.
Joe Palooka Visits the Lost City (1945) was written and drawn by Ham Fisher. This 159 page graphic novel (before such things existed) is lengthy with the lost city being in the middle. Joe and the army visit the city and its wonders. Later there is a boxing match. Natch! Joe will visit another lost city only three years later and at much less length.
“Adventure in the Gobi Desert” (Blue Beetle #45, June 1947) was written and drawn by E. C. Stoner. Blue Beetle goes into the desert to find Col. John Derwent, who has gone missing searching for a lost city. BB finds explorer and city.
“Adventure in the Hidden City” (Joe Palooka #21, June 1948) was written and drawn by Ham Fisher. Joe joins the French Foreign Legion and has another lost city adventure. There is another boxing scrap, of course.
“The Lost Princess” (Slave Girl Comics #2, April 1949) has two men find a cave in the jungle. There they find a woman frozen in the ice. After thawing her out, they go with her to find the lost city of Neptuna a ruin. When she is exposed to the outside air, she does a Lost Horizons routine and is reduced to bones.
“The Lost City” (Jack Armstrong #11, May 1949) has a nuclear ray that disintegrates vegetation. This is used to locate a lost city in the South American jungle. Jack and Billy are shoved into an ancient tomb with a live jaguar. They escape to catch the man who pushed them in, Professor Proteus!
The 1950s
“The Invaders” (Wild Boy #1, 1950) has young David get lost and become Wild Boy. He saves a black panther from a python and later falls into the clutches of the lost city people. The panther and David’s other animal friends save him. Shades of Mowgli and Tarzan here. Wild Boy isn’t done yet…
“The Lost City of the Sun!” (Bill Boyd Western #15, June 1951) has Boyd and some others looking for a lost city in the mountains. He finds it by following the clues. There is a shoot-out once the place is located, causing the old columns to fall.
“The Lost City” (Bob Steele #5, August 1951) has pretty much the same story as Bill Boyd above. Lost city found and bandits try to steal the treasure from the discoverers. Shoot-out ensues.
“The Lost Kingdom of Athala” (Strange Worlds #4, September 1951) has a trio use a time machine to go back in time. They are chased by a T. rex then saved by the cavefolk. Rance takes the beautiful Rhoa back to our time. This time we get to see the lost city before it falls. I have to admit it was the Wally Wood art here that started this whole thing.
“The Lost City” (Happy Rabbit #45, October 1951) begins with Happy and Buddy trying to sneak into a ball game before hearing about a lost city of gold in the Amazon. They go with the explorers and have wild adventures including cannibals before returning without a penny.
“Monsters of Evil Valley” (Wild Boy #4, October 1951) finds a lost city in a land filled with dinosaurs. (This should be a requirement of every lost city story if you ask me.) He and a friend escape, then roll a boulder to block the entrance in case others stumble upon it. The team of Ross Andru and Mike Esposito would make dinosaur comic history by drawing DC’s War That Time Forgot series in later years.
“The Lost City” (Young Eagle #7, December 1951) has Young Eagle acting as guide to two archaeologists. The younger one tries to get rid of his uncle so he can have the glory but ends up dead instead.
“The Axe of Death!” (Thun’da, King of the Congo #3, 1952) has Thun’Da fighting in a lost city, even rescuing his gal, Pha. Such a disappointment after the Frank Frazetta premiere. Bob Powell is great, but…
“Prisoners in a Lost World” (The Beyond #10, April 1952) has explorers in the Himalayas find a secret world with cyclops and griffins. The hero tries to take Tamar with him but it’s the old Lost Horizons thing and she shrivels and dies.
“The Creeping Death” (Chamber of Chills #16, March 1953) has a group of explorers discover the lost city of Ur. The ancient walls are decorated by octopus decorations. These tell of the guardian who still dwells in the city… Reminds me a little of A. Merritt’s The Dwellers in the Mirage.
Conclusion
Many of these comics feature in the supporting cast the doddering old scientist and his beautiful daughter. I immediately thought of Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Professor Porter and his daughter Jane, of course. Did ERB invent this? I doubt it. It feels older. It immediately gives the Pulp writer (and comic book writers) some useful props. The ditzy old explorer/scientist is usually looking for a lost city and will need to be rescued. The gorgeous daughter supplies a love interest. Our hero, who is a child of the jungle, can protect them and fall in love while everybody goes looking for old stone columns, etc.
Lost cities are a nice goal in these comics. You can’t have people staggering around in the jungle for no reason. It is much safer to stay home. But like Indiana Jones, they feel that old stuff belongs in a museum and must go find it. The lure of gold is often there too.
Next time…Lost Cities of the Silver Age…
