A Gamma Ray-Powered Captain Future in Startling Comics #1, at Auction

Captain Future, the lead character of the debut of Startling Comics, is perhaps some of the complicated characters in Golden Age comedian ebook historical past.  The pulp character of that identify (and from the identical writer, Ned Pines‘ Standard Magazines group) was, in accordance with legend, created by Standard Magazines editors Mort Weisinger and Leo Margulies throughout 1939’s 1st World Science Fiction Convention. But between that second and the time that he hit Startling Comics #1 the subsequent yr, Captain Future would take some odd activates his technique to the comedian ebook web page.  The debut of one of many cornerstones of Ned Pines’ comedian ebook empire, there is a Startling Comics #1 (Better Publications, 1940) CBCS GD/VG 3.0 Off-white to white pages up for public sale in the 2023 February 23 The Thrillingly Exciting Heroes of Nedor Comics Showcase Auction #40219 at Heritage Auctions.

As we have not too long ago famous, author Edmond Hamilton‘s first story from the pulp Captain Future v1 #1 was tailored for comics with the principle character’s identify modified to Major Mars in Exciting Comics #1.  Major Mars by no means appeared once more, and a very totally different character utilizing the Captain Future identify was launched in Startling Comics #1.  While the character’s change in comedian books has by no means been definitively defined, there are some clues that recommend the explanation behind this transfer.  In the December, 1941 concern of Writer’s Digest, Standard Magazines editor Oscar J. Friend wrote a round-up of the present state of science fiction in which he famous that in the Captain Future title, they solely accepted freelance submissions for the backup tales which didn’t characteristic the title character.  He elaborated that the characteristic tales of the title, which means the precise Captain Future tales, had been written [by Edmond Hamilton] underneath contract.  It can additional be famous that of the Captain Future pulp tales that Standard printed 1939-1951, solely three of them weren’t written by Hamilton.  This all may recommend that Weisinger and Margulies created the Captain Future identify and a really primary idea, however that Hamilton developed and managed the majority of the related characters, ideas, and background through his contract.  This might have left Pines with management over the identify his editors had created however compelled him to make use of that identify with a unique character for the comedian ebook.

The comedian ebook model of the character was a scientist named Dr. Andrew Bryant, working for the Pacific Electrical Corporation. In a determined try and justify his costly experiments to company administration, he mixed infrared rays with gamma rays, ensuing in an accident that bombards him with radiation, giving him an unimaginable vary of superpowers, together with tremendous energy, flight, and the power to shoot vitality bolts from his fingers.

Notably, the Startling Comics model of Captain Future adopted the slogan “The Man of Tomorrow” earlier than the pulp model did. This was seemingly impressed by the Futurama exhibit of the New York World’s Fair and that exhibit’s slogan, “The World of Tomorrow” (which itself was additionally used because the title of a backup characteristic in the Captain Future pulp). A fascinating coincidence, contemplating that the quilt of a problem of Startling Comics years later would seemingly grow to be the inspiration for the Futurama animated sequence robotic character Bender.

Versatile author/artist Kin Platt was the preliminary artist of Startling Comics‘ Captain Future and should have additionally been the author and creator of this model of the character.  Platt was additionally the creator of Supermouse for Standard’s Coo Coo Comics, and that character would go on to grow to be the longest-running characteristic of the Pines comedian ebook empire.  Platt contributed work to all kinds of publishers throughout the Golden Age, together with Marvel/Timely, Standard/Better/Nedor, Fawcett Publications, and MLJ.  He took over the long-running Mr. and Mrs. newspaper sketch 1947-1963.  Platt did in depth writing work for TV animation throughout the Sixties, together with for The Jetsons, The Flintstones, and Jonny Quest.  The 1961 novel The Blue Man could also be Platt’s best-known work of science fiction.

The comedian ebook model of Captain Future would seem in Startling Comics #1-40, plus a number of problems with America’s Best Comics.  There are 34 entries for Startling Comics #1 on the CGC census, and three entries on the CBCS census.  A comedian ebook key worthy of extra consideration, there is a Startling Comics #1 (Better Publications, 1940) CBCS GD/VG 3.0 Off-white to white pages up for public sale in the 2023 February 23 The Thrillingly Exciting Heroes of Nedor Comics Showcase Auction #40219 at Heritage Auctions. For potential bidders who’re new to Heritage Auctions, it is strongly recommended to take a look at their FAQ on the bidding course of and associated issues.

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