Super-obscure Android Human Torch Story Missing from MCP
Posted: Tue May 17, 2016 12:47 pm
I just learned of a super-obscure Torch story while reading The Secret History of Marvel Comics. This book is mostly about Martin Goodman's various pulp publishing companies and how many of the artists who worked on his comics also did artwork for his pulps (e.g., Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, Bill Everett, Carl Burgos, and Alex Schomburg). It reprints a lot of interior artwork from the pulps. Along the way, the book also reprints an original Human Torch story that only appeared in three of his pulps. The idea was that Goodman wanted a 1-page Torch story to try to entice his pulp readers to also try his comics. The story is of the Torch talking to Chief Wilson about whether or not "that Sub-Mariner will keep his promise and not disturb the peace again?" The conversation turns to the importance of being vigilant against "5th column disturbances." It's just a single page, but it's an original story, with the art by Burgos. So, where in the Torch's chronology should the story be placed? (If there's any doubt that it's a canonical story, remember that it's been established that Goodman's pulps are also 616 stories.)
According to the book, the story was published in:
Two-Gun Western Novels Magazine vol. 2 #3 (Oct 1940)
Best Western vol. 4 #5 (Nov 1940)
Marvel Stories vol. 2 #2 (Nov 1940)
The book adds that this story "ran about the same time as the release of Marvel Mystery Comics #13."
According to the book, the story was published in:
Two-Gun Western Novels Magazine vol. 2 #3 (Oct 1940)
Best Western vol. 4 #5 (Nov 1940)
Marvel Stories vol. 2 #2 (Nov 1940)
The book adds that this story "ran about the same time as the release of Marvel Mystery Comics #13."