Dell is remembered because the writer of comics that includes licensed Disney characters, however that they had a superhero line together with Martan the Marvel Man.
Marvel was in the air in the second half of 1939. Within the area of some months, comics noticed the debut of a personality referred to as Masked Marvel, the launch of the Marvel Comics title and at last the unique Captain Marvel hit the newsstands in Whiz Comics proper earlier than the top of the 12 months. But forgotten amongst these is a personality who was referred to as the Marvel Man from Dell’s Popular Comics. Of course, Dell is greatest recognized through the Golden Age because the writer who put out licensed Disney comedian books, however additionally they had some reasonably fascinating and underrated superhero characters as effectively. Popular Comics accommodates a number of of those together with Supermind, Dr. Hormone, and Martan the Marvel Man, and there is a group of Popular Comics together with a number of points that includes Martan the Marvel Man up for public sale in this week’s 2023 April 30-May 2 Sunday, Monday & Tuesday Comic Books Select Auction #122318 from Heritage Auctions.
Martan the Marvel Man’s backstory has some common similarities to the Jor-El/Krypton side of Superman’s background. A scientist of the technologically superior Antaclea, Martan and his spouse Vana had been on their solution to see the start of a brand new planet once they got here below assault by Martians. The pair ended up on Earth, and shortly obtained concerned in Earth’s battle with Mars. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the time-frame, elements of the storyline had been impressed by actual world war-era occasions, as Martan took on a spy community from Eurasia — an analog for the Soviet Union in the story. The creation of Martan is credited to G. Ellerbock and artist William Kent, although these could also be pseudonyms. Dell had launched Edgar Rice Burroughs‘ John Carter of Mars in their comics title The Funnies just some months prior, so it is attainable they wished to capitalize on the success of science fiction that includes the purple planet in different methods as effectively.
Supermind (technically “Professor Supermind and Son”) was much more carefully impressed by Superman A scientist named Professor Warren developed a machine that gave his son superpowers. He was like Superman in many regards — robust, quick and almost invulnerable. And he might use magnetism to fly and generate pressure fields. Overall, Popular Comics’ superhero period is enjoyable and underappreciated. Martan was featured in Popular Comics #46-71, and there is a group of Popular Comics together with a number of points that includes Martan the Marvel Man up for public sale in this week’s 2023 April 30-May 2 Sunday, Monday & Tuesday Comic Books Select Auction #122318 from Heritage Auctions.
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