Question for my fellow comic geeks...

Cathy C · Jun 17, 2010

Okay, I'm doing a blog article (a paid one) and have chosen to talk about the transition from the Golden Age of comics to the Silver Age and Bronze Age with regard to the beginnings of magical urban fantasy.

I know Dr. Fate and Green Lantern were created near the end of the Golden Age and Dr. Strange and Scarlet Witch were in the Silver and Ghost Rider and Son of Satan were in Bronze, but I think I'm missing some early magical heroes/anti-heroes of the Silver Age.

Not mutants or "natural" causes (radiation, etc.) but actual magic wielders. I'd considered Jonah Hex, but he didn't actually manifest any magic when fighting. He was just cursed.

Any helpful hints? Thanks!

Axler · Jun 17, 2010

Strictly Silver Age--

There was Magicman and Nemesis from ACG...Zatanna, the daughter of Zatara who was a Golden Age character...the Silver Age Blue Beetle was sort of magical, with his ancient scarab.

The Enchantress, from Thor...

As well as DC's character of the same name from Strange Adventures...

Dr. Droom, who appeared in Marvel's Amazing Adventures and who later reappeared in the Bronze Age as Dr. Druid...

Those are just the ones I recollect off the top of my head.

FYI...Jonah Hex had nothing to do with magic, despite his name.

Shadow_Ferret · Jun 17, 2010

Not sure if this is what you're looking for, but "Haunted Tank," was in the Silver Age. It was a feature in G.I. Combat about a WWII Sherman tank haunted by the spirit of Jeb Stuart, a Confederate calvalry leader.

The Specter was Golden Age. About a cop, who was murdered, and his spirit became this entity assigned to eliminate the earth of evil.

What about Thor? Silver Age. He was the Norse God living in contemporary New York.

Silver Age DC had a character called Deadman, a ghost.

Bronze Age Marvel got into the monster thing full swing with Werewolf by Night and Tomb of Dracula.

This all off the top of my head.

sunandshadow · Jun 17, 2010

Do the witches in the Casper the Friendly Ghost comics count, or are you just doing super heros?

Cathy C · Jun 17, 2010

COOL! Had completely forgotten about some of those. I remember well the Enchantress in Thor. Loved that series!

Also remember Dr. Druid (at least vaguely).

Yeah, I know Jonah Hex was non-magic, but he was cursed by an Indian medicine man (part of the scarring of his face) so "sort of" magic. Hadn't thought about the Specter. Hmm... But I am including Ghost Rider, so probably should. Or at least remove Ghost Rider.

I must mull....

But keep them coming! Thanks.

bladestalker · Jun 18, 2010

you shoudl check out comicbookresources.com there is a lot of info in the comic book urban myths section that will help you on just this subject, but you will have to search for it.

Shadow_Ferret · Jun 27, 2010

I was looking at something yesterday and it talked about The Black Widow. Not the Marvel Russian spy lady, but from Marvel's predecessor Timely Comics. She killed bad buys and gave their souls to Satan. She first appeared in Mystic Comics #4 (August 1940). Her real name was Claire Voyant and she was a medium.

slcboston · Jun 27, 2010

I can't keep any of the various "ages" straight, for the most part - all before my time, and I have just a vague notion of when Golden vs Silver goes (never even heard of Bronze before...) but...

Dr Doom, the FF's main nemesis, is also a magic wielder.

I'm also not sure how far back Etrigan goes, or whether he'd qualify at all, but to my mind he falls under the category of "magic".

And there's a DC equivalent of the Enchantress... might just be Morgan Le Fay but comic-ized... but again, not sure when she entered the DC universe.

Cathy C · Jun 28, 2010

slcboston said:
I can't keep any of the various "ages" straight, for the most part - all before my time.

Then you should definitely watch for my blog post at Tor.com!

It'll give the various periods and what identified them. They're deciding right now whether to make it one post or put it up in parts. I . . . um, sort of wrote it too long. LOL!

Torgo · Jun 28, 2010

I was curious about this so I dug a few links out of Wikipedia, which may or may not be helpful:

Doctor Occult, a Golden Age magical P.I.
The Gentleman Ghost
Ibis the Invincible
Mysto, who frankly sounds kind of a putz.
The mighty Phantom Stranger.
Sargon the Sorcerer.
Prince Ra-Man.
White Witch, who once worked for a guy called Prince Evillo, which ought to have told her something.
Wizard, who isn't trying hard enough to come up with a cool moniker.
Zatara.
Mandrake the Magician.

Shadow_Ferret · Jun 28, 2010

slcboston said:
I can't keep any of the various "ages" straight, for the most part - all before my time, and I have just a vague notion of when Golden vs Silver goes (never even heard of Bronze before...) but...

Dr Doom, the FF's main nemesis, is also a magic wielder.

I'm also not sure how far back Etrigan goes, or whether he'd qualify at all, but to my mind he falls under the category of "magic".

Not like you asked. But the Golden Age was from the dawn of comics, with the release of the first Superman comic, and extended from the late 1930s through the 1940s.

The Silver Age started sometime around 1956 or so when DC reintroduced The Flash.

Not sure about the Bronze Age, that came about in the 1970s and I think it's related to Marvel's release of Conan the Barbarian.

Jack Kirby's The Demon was part of the Bronze Age.

Wolvel · Jun 29, 2010

There was also The Son of Satan(Damian Hellstrom) who was magic based as well.

Question for my fellow comic geeks...

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Axler

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

sunandshadow

Impractical Fantasy Animal

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

bladestalker

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

slcboston

Pasture-ized

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Torgo

Formerly Phantom of Krankor.

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

Wolvel

Write the Damn Book!