If you missed the last one…
Fiction House‘s Planet Comics was the single largest producer of space heroes in comics. The comic ran for 73 issues, producing 25 different characters. Some lasted only one story while others like Star Pirate had over 40 different episodes. Every issues of Planet Comics was filled with pulse-pounding excitement. The comic was a companion to Fiction House’s Pulp, Planet Stories, which ran quarterly from Winter 1939 to Summer 1955.
Planet Comics appeared only a short time after in January 1940. It ran to Winter 1953, meaning it ended before the Pulp did. From Issues 44-56, “The Visigraph”, a letter column was run. This single-page text feature was named after the letter column in Planet Stories.
The type of characters found in both Planet Stories and Planet Comics were brawny space adventurers or beautiful space girls. (The evolution of Gale Allen’s title is pretty telling here. In her first appearance in Issue #4 she was “Gale Allen of the Women’s Space Battalion”. The next issue she had been demoted to “Gale Allen of the Girl Patrol”. Some later episodes she was simply “Gale Allen”.) In Planet Stories, these were written by Leigh Brackett, Gardner F. Fox, Vaseleos Garson and other top space opera writers. In the comics, the authors hid behind house names like Ross Gallun and Thornecliffe Herrick. Sadly, we don’t know who they were.
The predecessors of these colorful actioneers is not hard to figure. Buck Rogers of the 25th Century and Flash Gordon had been in the newspaper comic strips since 1929 and 1934. Others like Auro, take their inspiration from Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs. In 1940, everybody knew what a “space hero” was all about. Fiction House had made their fortune on providing excitement wrapped in a great cover. These comics were no exception with great work by Joe Doolin and Dan Zolnerowich.
I have arranged these characters by appearance. I have not listed reprints in later issues. It is my hope that eventually I will write individual articles for each entry. Until then, this post will act as an overview.
Flint Baker by Star Gayza/Al Schmidt/Huxley Haldane
Flint Baker was the very first comic to appear in Planet Comics. He was in the next twenty four issues. Issue #3 was written by Herman Bolstein. Artwork for the comic was provided Dick Briefer, Art Peddy, Will Eisner, Bob Powell, Nick Cardy, Leo Morey, Frank Schwarz, Art Saaf and Joe Doolin. I think it is fair to say that there was never a consistent look to this strip.
After Issue 25, Flint had a second career along with Reef Ryan in “Star Rangers”.
Auro, Lord of Jupiter by Nick Charles/Jed Ganey/Hans Corben/Dick Charles
Auro, Lord of Jupiter was Planet Comics’ king of the jungle. Inspired by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the early issues were written by Herman Bolstein. Auro defied the odds. Most Fiction House characters who stop, never start again. Auro did it twice. There was a gap between 7 and 11 but more impressive a long gap between 29 and 41. He ended up going all the way to Issue 61. Artists for the comic include Malcolm Kildale, R. Louis Golden. Bob Powell. Sid Greene, Don Rico, Seymour Reit, Rafael Astarita, Robert Webb, Joe Doolin, Alex Blum, Arnold Hicks, Richard Case, August Froehlich, George Evans, John Celardo and Graham Ingels.
The Red Comet by Major Thorp/Thomas Marlen/Arthur King
The Red Comet debuted in the first issue, skipped #2 then went on to #20. He appeared in reprints in some of the later issues. The first two episodes were written and drawn by Ken Jackson. After that art chores went to Alex Blum, Dan Zolnerowich, Don Rico, George Appel, John Celardo, Reed Crandall, Joe Doolin, Leo Morey, Saul Rosen and Rudy Palais.
Captain Nelson Cole of the Solar/Air Force by Beekman Terrill/Aurelius/Cy Thatcher
Captain Cole ran for the first fourteen issues but changed artists often. He was originally drawn by Alex Blum, then Malcolm Kildale, Leonard Frank, Charles Sultan, Dan Zolnerowich, Arthur Peddy, Bob Powell, Chuck Mazoujian, Witmer Williams, Don Lynch, the Igor Shop and George Carl Wilhelms. Switching artists pretty much every issue, the look was never that consistent.
Spurt Hammond, Planet Flyer by Wm. S. Mott/Orsen Herr/Doc Tully
Spurt Hammond was one of the lucky ones, getting a dedicated artist in Henry Kiefer. Of the Issues 1-12, Kiefer drew the first eleven. Some unknown artist did the final episode before the strip was dropped.
Buzz Crandall and the Space Patrol by Bob Jordan/William Hyer
Like Captain Cole, Buzz Crandall appeared in the first fourteen issues. He started with an unknown artist who was pretty terrible but by issue 6 he was drawn by Gene Fawcette. After Gene came Fletcher Hanks, Charles Sultan, Leonard Frank and Frank Schwarz.
Quorak, Super Pirate
Quorak only appeared in the debut issue. He was drawn by Alvin Charles as Albert Charles.
Planet Payson by Morley Starr/Dusty Rhodes
Planet Payson debuted in issue #2 then disappeared until #6. He went two more after that. The early ones were written by Herman Bolstein. George Tuska provided the art for #2, followed by an unknown then Witmer Williams to issue #8.
Tiger Hart of Crossbone Castle by Carlson Herrick
Tiger Hart of Crossbone Castle appeared only once in issue #2. He was written and drawn by Fletcher Hanks.
Amazona the Mighty Woman by Wilson Locke
Amazona was a female superhero who only appeared in Issue 3. She was written by Toni Blum and drawn by Alex Blum and Dan Zolnerowich. Read more here
Kenny Carr of the Martian Lancers by Stan Ford
Kenny Carr appeared only once in issue 4. He was drawn by Larry Antonette.
Gale Allen of the Women’s Space Battalion/ Girl’s Patrol/Squadron by Fred Nelson/Douglas McKee
Gale Allen had a long, convoluted history. She began as Gale Allen of the Women’s Space Battalion in issue #4, where she was drawn by Ray Burnley. For issue 5 she returned as Gale Allen of the Girls’ Patrol with art by Bob Powell. Later she would simple be Gale Allen with no need to mention where she worked. Lastly she was Gale Allen of the Girls’ Squadron. In all that she skipped issue #7 then came back in #8 until Issue 42. Later she was reprinted. Her artists include Ray Burnley, Bob Powell, Witmer Williams, Al Byrant, George Appel, Sid Greene, Robert Webb, Art Saaf, Frank Schwarz, George Carl Wilhelms, Saul Rosen, Lee Elias, Richard Case, Fran Hopper and Joe Doolin.
Jim Giant, The Strongest Man in the Universe
Jim Giant only appeared in issue #4. He might have been drawn by Alex Blum.
Fero, Planet Detective by Allison Brant
Fero, Planet Detective had a rocky run from Issues 5-8. He began as a horror character but soon morphed into a standard space dude. He was drawn by an unknown artist for two of the issues, though Gene Fawcette drew #6. Read more here
Space Admiral Curry in the Doomed Universe by Walt Scott
Space Admiral Curry only appeared in issue #5. Not surprising. Badly done. Nobody wants to take credit for it either.
Don Granval in the Destruction of the Atomic Universe by G. O. Garsh/Walt Scott
Don Granval debuted in Issue #6 and looked like he would be a contender but fizzled out at issue #11. His scientist character was drawn by Nick Cardy, Sid Greene, John Celardo, Witmer Williams, Robert Webb and Al Saaf.
Crash Barker and the Zoom Sled /Crash Parker by S. A. Selwyn
Crash Barker and the Zoom Sled debuted in Issue #6 and went on for two more issues, all written and drawn by Charles Quinlan. The character got a make-over and became Crash Parker in Issue 9-16. The name was probably changed to Parker so he wouldn’t sound like Flint Baker. Where the Zoom Sled went, we don’t know. Issues 9 to 16 were drawn by Harry Kiefer, Dick Briefer, Pierce Rice, Arturo Cazeneuve, Joe Doolin and George Carl Wilhelms.
Cosmo Corrigan by Ray Alexander
Corrigan appeared in Issue #9-11 with George Tuska art in the first two issues. Issue 11 was drawn by Sy Reit. Another spaceman who appeared for a short time then disappeared (and nobody really cared).
Norge Benson by Olaf Bjorn
Norge Benson was not another space clone like Cosmo Corrigan. He appeared in Issues 12-32. His adventures take place on the snow covered planet of Pluto. To make his planet more like the poles of the Earth, he had penguins and a polar bear for friends. Having such a long run, twenty issues, he was drawn by different artists. Issues 12-22 were done by Al Walker. Fran Hopper did Issue 23-26 while later Spider-Man artist, Jim, Mooney did Issue 27. (Jim got his start doing Pulp illos for Weird Tales.) The fabulously talented Lily Renee finished the run from Issue 28-32.
The Star Pirate by Leonardi Vinci/George Vincent/Len Dodson
The Star Pirate, “The Robin Hood of the Spaceways”, was another character with a long run, from Issue #12-64. Star Pirate worked more with his cunning than mere brawn, tricking his enemies, corrupt space cops, bandits and monsters, to turn on each other. He had three companions over the issues: Trody, a one-eyed alien, Guro, a green alien and Blackie, a fellow pirate. The last was a self-serving pirate in his own right with an invisibility helmet. Artists included Al Gabriele, Pagsilang Isip (better known as Rey Isip), George Appel, George Tuska, Joe Kubert, Murphy Anderson, Jack Keller, Maurice Whitman, Leonard Starr, Frank Bolle, John Rosenberger and others in the Igor Shop.
Reef Ryan by Hugh Fitzhugh
Reef Ryan was another hero with a particular environ in space, the oceans of Neptune. He found plenty of underwater cities on that planet. Later he and his girl, Vara, were retrieved from Neptune by Flint Baker for some new adventures in Star Rangers. His solo career ran from Issue 13-25, with art by Al Gabriele, George Appel, Rey Isip, George Tuska and Lee Elias.
Mars, God of War by Ross Gallun
Mars, God of War was an unusual strip drawn throughout by Joseph Doolin, the master of Pulp illustrations and later comic book covers. The comic ran from Issue 15-35. In those twenty issues, the god of war hovers over different tales of interplanetary war.
The Lost World by Thorncliffe Herrick
This lengthy serial featuring Hunt Bowman ran from Issue 21-64. Artists on the comic include Rudy Palais, Nick Cardy, Rey Isip and then longer runs by Graham Ingels, Lily Renee and George Evans. The entire run has been reprinted by Roy Thomas.
Space Rangers (Flint Baker/Reef Ryan) by Hugh Fitzhugh
When Flint Baker and Reef Ryan looked like they had run their race, the editors decided to save both of them by putting them together in this strip. (Not to be confused with Marvel’s Space Rangers in Mystic Comics, 1940). It ran from Issues #26-37, took a one issue break then Issues #39-60. Artists included an initial long run by Lee Elias, then single issues by Jack Keller, Ruth Atkinson, Regina Levander, Charles Sultan. Then the artists hung around for three or four issues at a time with Joey Cavallo, Bob Lubbers/George Evans, Frank Doyle, Frank Fermonetti, then George Roussos and the Iger Shop finishing the series.
Mysta of the Moon by Ross Gallun
Mysta of the Moon was a new space chic, being another version of Gale Allen I suppose. She appeared in Issues #36-62. Mysta’s popularity was obvious by the covers she received. These were done by Joe Doolin, who also drew the first adventure (and returned for Issue 42 as well). After Joe, Fran Hopper did several issues, then Ruben Moreira, and back to Fran Hopper. After this Charles Sultan, Howard Larsen, Maurice Whitman, Matt Baker/Ray Osrin and finally Charles A. Winter.
Futura by John Douglas
Mysta proved popular so why not another space chic? Futura ran from Issue 43-64 with Chester Martin, Walter Palais and Enrico Bagnoli doing the artwork. Despite having different artists, the look of Futura remained the same, having a stronger Alex Raymond vibe. She was the last original series character to be created for the comic.
Text Features
The text features in Planet Comics ranged from space opera fiction to awful articles on UFOs. Two characters were continuous in the stories: Dexter Ames (#2-8) and Jeff Drake (#14-19). It seems odd that a Pulp that could produce stories worthy of The Martian Chronicles, could not put out two pagers worth reading. (This may have been done on purpose so the comic would not compete with the Pulp?)
Conclusion
With Issues #71-73 (Summer-Winter 1953), the editors dropped all their continuing characters and used single space stories like those found in most issues of DC’s Mystery in Space or Strange Adventures. This change to a more mature style of comic could not save it. The complete abandoning of continuing space characters seems a bit harsh but the Pulp world’s (and Fiction House’s) days were numbered. Dr. Fredric Wertham’s Seduction of the Innocent and the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency would target Fiction House’s space sirens as a bad influence on teenagers. (Oh, Mysta and Futura, you naughty girls!)
Next time...Avon’s Space Detective!
