#clue comics

[chernobog13]

From Clue Comics (vol. 1) #3 (March, 1943): the newest dynamic duo heading to a movie screen near you soon!

[kekwcomics]

NIGHTMARE AND SLEEPY (Hillman Periodicals, 1943)

Art: Alan Mandel and Dan Barry

[browsethestacks]

Nightmare And Sleepy

[jasenlex]

ISOLATED COMIC BOOK PANEL #1739 title: CLUE COMICS #10 - P14:1 artist: JOHN BELFI year: 1946

[browsethestacks]

5 Random Comics

[vo-kopen]

Got off my butt and finally read the origins for the public domain superheroes Micro-Face and Zippo. Both came from Hillman Periodicals and premiered in Clue Comics No 1 along with the more famous public domain hero Boy King and his Giant. Unlike then, Micro-Face and Zippo are inventors who built their powers. Zippo is pictured above, he’s a low level speedster whose max speed is like 65 mph to 85 mph. (I do not recall it coming up in his origin, but I saw both numbers cited on the public domain superheroes wikia) Micro-Face works more from the shadows, his mask has a microphone built in to broadcast his voice, and it also enhances his hearing and gives him telescopic and x- ray vision. He’s more the type to play mind games, confusing his enemies to have them turn on each other.

Micro-Face’s story is the worst aged of the two in my eyes, for one thing a gangster gets called the G-slur by a cop, and Micro-Face is the brother of a cop and my gut says ACAB. Also the villain’s plan is … weird. His gang randomly kills one cop at a time, and then use the dead guy’s badge for the winning number an underground lottery, then the winner of the lottery gets the money only to be later assassinated by the gang so they can take the money back. It is bizarre and complicated and I don’t get it. I do appreciate how distinct Micro-Face looks, and the idea of him listening in from afar and then broadcasting messages to confuse his enemies is unique in a book where punching is more the style, but his fight scenes then end up being not very dynamic. Likewise Micro-Face does not have much of a supporting cast in his origin, his brother dies and he’s like the only named character in his life. On the contrary, Zippo has a secretary, she’s barely in it and I cannot remember her name, but that’s still a bit meater.

Zippo is better in terms of aging, no slurs that I noticed. The plot of his is also a little weird but it felt more coherent, I believe the villain (who has a theme unlike Micro-Face’s gangsters) is using rumors to make factory workers jump ship from war plant to war plant, and the villain gets a cut of the profits for recruiting them. Meanwhile, the original factories have to rehire employees and those new worker have to be retrained so even though the experienced workers are still employed, it slows production. I think that’s a plot. I am not a fan of the war industry, (feels like there ain’t a war crime the U.S. hasn’t done) and it does get a bit “patriotic,” but the comic came out in 1943 so it was during WWII, so I will make an exception. Admittedly Zippo is a PI and that’s borderline ACAB in my gut, but the comic actually addresses that he’s a bit out of the system, and it does give his civilian identity a plausible reason to be investigating, and a reason people would ask him for help. His design is more generic superhero than Micro-Face save for the wheels on his boots, (head gear is fun though) but his action scenes are far more dynamic, and he uses his tech in unique ways. I mean yeah he can move fast, but as a minor spoiler, his wheels can work as sawblades. Also his enemy in this story is called the Pirate and after he kills his doubting henchmen there is actual blood on his sword. The Pirate instantly was more threatening than Big Boston or whatever the name of the gangster in Micro-Face’s story was, tell the truth I kind of already forgot it. But the Pirate, I would say he is an actual supervillain. Overall, Zippo’s origin was a good enough story, maybe not the best, but perfectly fine. And apparently his story got reprinted seven or so years back, so I might want to look that up. Could be cool to have a physical copy.

So yeah, enjoy these thoughts on the first appearances of two Golden Age inventor superheroes. And again, they both are in the public domain and are free to use for anyone. And that’s kind of why I looked into them, to see if I would want to use them in my original superhero stuff. I have kind of a rough concept for them crossing over with some of my characters, long story.

Tagging @espanolbot2 @nitpickrider @majingojira @paulsebert @akirakan @thefingerfuckingfemalefury @bear-of-mirrors @renaroo @heckcareoxytwit and anyone else who might be interested in my thoughts for the origin of two tech superheroes. Of them, I might try to check out Zippo’s next appearance the next time I get spellslots/spoons, as you might notice I vibed with his story more.